AM/FM/HD/Satellite

All forms of broadcast.

NPR completes promised layoffs, discontinues four podcasts in “existential” cost reduction

Posted on by Brad Hill

A month after announcing upcoming layoffs, NPR has started and possibly completed the 10% workforce reduction. CEO John Lansing calls the action “existential.” The action is NPR’s largest layoff since 2008. Four podcasts will be discontinued. Individual and departmental targets are not specified, but it’s a broad sweep across many functions and types of work. NPM is not affected. Click for more details. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Can your presenters publish to your website?

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In today’s guest column, James Cridland discusses difficulties with the BBC, and a strike among BBC Local Radio journalists. Then, coverage of the imminent disappearance of AM radio reception in U.S. cars — “Broadcasters relying on AM for their flagship services need to have an urgent plan to fix it.” Finally, James’s list of links. Continue Reading →

1

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Robot radio comes closer, with RadioGPT – but is it any good?

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

“Live, local, and powered by AI.” Here, guest columnist James Cridland broaches the tricky subject of artificial intelligence applied to radio — RadioGPT from Futuri Media. James expected to hate it, and surprisingly liked it. There are caveats, though; “smoke and mirrors.” Click through to read. Continue Reading →

Spotify adds AI-powered DJ to music listening

Posted on by Brad Hill

If broadcast radio felt disgruntled by on-demand listening apps before, now there is a new offense: Spotify has introduced a DJ feature which uses a synthetic voice to create a radio-like presentation of the user’s saved music. It is called AI DJ, and the tool uses generative artificial intelligence to intro and extro a mix of tracks from the user’s library. Click for a launch video. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: CBC to turn off transmitters (but not yet)

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

A packed column this week from James. The CBC will stop broadcasting, in a projected move to all-digital. But the move doesn’t appear to be imminent, and James notes that in Britain the BBC laid out the same intent — they are planting flags in the future. Beyond that coverage, James gives us notes about Australia’s ABC network falling off the internet, interesting facts about the U.S. radio industry, and links to his personal blog.
Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Radio on the Telly

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In this week’s guest column, James reviews the newly launched TalkTV to start. It went well until technical problems interrupted a call-in critical of the show. “As a way to run TV and radio output as one service, it works very well,” James says. Then, the BBC fixes technical problems with its Radio 4 interviews. And more.
Continue Reading →

Over five years: Terrestrial radio -13%, podcasting +266% (Cumulus/Edison)

Posted on by Brad Hill

Cumulus Media / Westwood One has released its 2022 Audioscape bundle of research metrics under the banner of its Audio Active Group brand led by Chief Insights Office Pierre Bouvard. It’s a big book of data; today, we look at the growth of podcast listening share compared to terrestrial radio. Continue Reading →

Vox’s news podcast “Today, Explained” extends to public radio in rare crossover

Posted on by Brad Hill

Media giant Vox has notified us that Today, Explained, the company’s flagship daily news podcast hosted by Sean Rameswaram and Noel King, is now carried by over 50 public radio stations across the country. The arrangement is made via WNYC Studios. Each host has a public radio background. Continue Reading →