James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: BBC cuts; TechSurvey, RAJAR
by James Cridland
A packed column this week from James. The title outlines a big scope … plus, BBC Radio 5 turns off its AM. And more.
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Thought Leaders
Interviews with, and contributions from, the most perceptive voices in the online audio industry.
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Radio on the Telly
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.
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“We deliberately did not want to be big.” Eric Nuzum on Podcast Business Lunch (transcript)
Eric Nuzum’s podcast roots go deep. From his perch as co-founder of elite production house Magnificent Noise, Eric is both a creator and radical thought leader. Eric’s appearance in the RAIN Podcast Business Lunch turned into an epic survey of his audio career. A must read.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: A radio receiver for people with dementia
by James Cridland
In this week’s guest column, James reports that he has The Thing, after returning from Podcast Movement Evolutions — he speculates it was the trip, not the event, which gave it to him. Anyway, the temporary illness didn’t stop him from reporting a week of interesting news bits from around the world including Ukraine, A clever TalkTV-and-radio programming gambit, a BBC Radio show on Patreon, and (as the title promises) a radio set for people who have dementia.
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“Indies should not be discouraged” — Wondery CEO Jen Sargent
“Indies should not be discouraged” was the encouragement offered by Wondery CEO Jen Sargent to a hall full of podcasters at Podcast Movement Evolutions 2022 in Los Angeles Wednesday morning. Brought onstage by The Infinite Dial presenter Tom Webster, Sargent talked about podcasting’s growth, and how podcaster’s could view the future. Click for a bunch of quotes. Continue Reading
Transcript: Heather Osgood at Podcast Business Lunch: “We have to go to programmatic”
Heather Osgood, Founder and CEO of podcast ad-rep company True Native Media, joins Brad Hill for the RAIN Podcast Business Lunch. The conversation roams across the needs and expectations of podcast advertisers, both new and experienced, and how podcasters deliver to those needs. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Shortwave radio: who owns the receivers?
by James Cridland
An English-language Russian radio station is taken off the air. So was Echo of Moscow — and a journalist from that station was asked about what’s next. James also shows off a speaker badge from a Ukraine event at which he spoke. And a detailed review of shortwave radio. And more — among the news items: Union Jack Radio in the UK has closed.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Emergency broadcasting, radio’s market share, and the launch of Alfred
by James Cridland
James maintains his column schedule even as his home town of Brisbane (Australia) is flooded with nonstop rain. He tuned into radio during this time of weather emergency, and has things to say about public network ABC — “a good calming listen” (especially as the studio had to be evacuated). Then, his traditional linkfest, including a graph showing U.S. radio ad revenue market share. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The curious case of the radio station that broke peoples’ cars
by James Cridland
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, an HD Radio debacle that breaks receivers in some Mazda cars, which cost $1,500 each to replace, but Mazda is offering a free replacement because apparently the problem is with Mazda, although one Seattle radio station seems to have started it all, and anyway, no receivers are available. Whew … and there’s much more here, including Absolute Radio giving a station to a listener.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The end of open, as audio goes exclusive
by James Cridland
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James laments two business moves that restrict access to audio. The BBC will “window” some of its podcasts into the BBC Sounds app — a maneuver which James calls “another disappointing move from a broadcaster that should be widening its potential audience, not limiting it.” Also, Bauer Media plans to remove its radio stations from TuneIn. Other media groups in Europe don’t escape James’s withering gaze. But later, the BBC is redeemed with an audio piece which is “sublimely excellent.” And much more in this generous column.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Is no news good news? And: funding the BBC
by James Cridland
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James considers the length of news bulletins, citing examples from Radio 2 and other outlets. Upshot: Radio news has changed more than the style of news bulletins. Then — how to fund the BBC. Also, the demise of the Audio Content Fund. And more. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The BBC’s fight against stupid
by James Cridland
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James utters a phrase never before seen in this space: “dangerously dim-witted oxygen-thieves.” The word “stupid” appears too many times to count. It’s a bracingly frank argument on behalf of the BBC, in an argument with the UK government. Then, after a deep breath, a dozen links to interesting news items and columns. Continue Reading