ASIA

India’s Big FM launches independent music platform

India’s Big FM network is celebrating independent music in the country by partnering with Hungama Artist Aloud for their latest offering ‘The Blue Mic’.Starting October 11, the show will air Monday-Friday from 4 pm to 5 pm.Each week, it will feature one exceptionally talented artist or band and delve into their journey, music, inspirations, passions, future plans, interactions, on-air jam sessions and requests from listeners.

Every Saturday, the ‘Artist of the Week’ will also perform exclusively on BIG FM’s Facebook handle through their property BIG Café Online to entertain and engage with fans.The show will kickstart with Euphoria as the first band and will see many artists with their distinctive musical styles be part of the show.Sunil Kumaran, Country Head, Product, Marketing & THWINK BIG, BIG FM, said: “Over the last couple of years, Indian audiences have turned to independent music like never before and its loyal following is snowballing by the day. We are glad to provide a platform for the renowned as well as budding talents through which they can showcase their passion and give our audience fresh content that they can enjoy.”Soumini Sridhara Paul, Senior Vice President, Hungama Artist Aloud, said: “Today, almost everyone we know takes solace in music to relieve their stress and anxiety. At a time like this where we are fighting a global pandemic, we feel it is the need of the hour to provide our young listeners with content that they like and enjoy. Independent music has been on the rise and we are thrilled to present these talented artists with a platform that takes them to further heights.”Singer and Euphoria’s lead vocalist Palash Sen shared: “Having been so closely associated with independent music space over the years, I am glad to be a part of the show which celebrates independent music and artists. With new artists being discovered, it’s great to see these talented voices get the opportunities that they deserve. I am sure listeners will instantly connect to the show as they explore fresh music.” […]

ASIA

“The Essence of Strategy is Choosing What Not to Do.”

Content from BPRThis quote comes from Michael Porter, an American academic known for his theories on economics and business strategy. He is credited for creating Porter’s Five Forces analysis, which is instrumental in business strategy development today.

But the quote shouldn’t be taken out of context……it applies to one of his five “tests” of good strategy.Strategic planning in most businesses often focuses on what to do….what the goals are and how to achieve them. Makes perfect sense.In radio, we determine the strategic goals and articulate what the station will be…the means by which we will achieve those strategic goals….the format, the talent, the brand image, the “sound” etc.But Michael Porter makes a great point…….we should also articulate what the station is NOT.By establishing what you are NOT, you further define and refine the format by not only making it a much clearer value proposition for the listeners but also by crystallizing the programming vision for internal stakeholders.What a station is NOT depends on the format and the target audience. Here’s an example for a station taking a “family friendly” position targeting females with young children.We are NOT:
Boring
Loud
Fake
Smutty
Rude
Out of Touch
Try hard
Negative
Condescending/Patronising
Obnoxious
Soul less
Controversial
You now have additional filters through which every element on your station should pass before going to air, which will ensure that all content adheres to the brand promise.By David Kidd, BPR […]

ASIA

Shifting listener priorities

Content from BPRFor years it was accepted that people listened to music stations primarily for music. Everything else was secondary. Now that may be changing. A recent study conducted by Jacobs Media suggests that music may not necessarily be the reason why listeners tune to their favourite station. The study shows that listeners are now more likely to choose a station because they like the presenters.The above graph tracks the appeal of music versus personalities over a 7 year period. At the start of the study, radio listeners chose music over presenters by a 13% margin. However, in the 2021 survey, listeners chose presenters over music by a 6% margin. This is a remarkable shift. (***)Let us examine the specific question/answer used in this survey. One answer option is “I like particular DJ’s/shows/hosts” and another is “I want to hear my favorite songs/artists”. The first answer option is clearly focused on presenters and their programs. The second is focused on a person’s favourite music.

What could have caused this shift in listener priorities? Look to the Internet.In the past few years, people’s music listening options have expanded dramatically. Spotify, one of the earliest music streaming pioneers, initially gave listeners the option to hear playlists based on a particular music style or artist. However, music streaming services now give the user the option of hearing specific songs on demand.  Listeners can hear their favourite songs as often as they like. Not only are they available on demand but they can be downloaded as well. This makes listening to one’s favourite songs and artists easier than ever before.Now we turn to presenters and their programs. If a listener wants to hear a specific presenter’s program, there is usually only one practical option: tune to the radio station where that program airs. Because the presenter’s program is proprietary to that station, it cannot be accessed any other way. Presenters and their programs give a station a unique selling proposition (USP) whereas music playlists do not offer this advantage.A word of caution. The presenters who are most attractive to listeners are the presenters with a personality and who have something to say. In other words, they are real communicators and not just slogan readers. Talented presenters require enough format flexibility to allow them to express themselves in a way that is interesting and convincing.It is ironic that in an era when station operators are increasingly reluctant to use live presenters, they are perhaps becoming an increasingly valuable and necessary asset to a station’s brand. Radio operators need to invest in the development of air personalities as if the station’s existence depended upon it.First published by Jacobs Media. Read original here By Andy Beaubien, BPR […]

US

Cumulus to Syndicate Kincaid & Dallas To 25 Country Stations

Cumulus Media is taking “New Country 101.5” WKHX Atlanta morning hosts Kincaid & Dallas national via Westwood One. The show launched in January 2019, when JJ Kincaid joined Dallas McCade on the newly relaunched station. Kincaid had previously spent his entire career in Top 40 hosting mornings at KPTT Denver, nine years in afternoons at […] […]

US

Jenn Hays Departs 98.7 The Bull Middays

Jenn Hays has departed middays at Alpha Media Country “98.7 The Bull” KUPL Portland OR after nearly four years with the station. In a Facebook video, Hays noted that it was her choice not to renew her contract so she can spend time with her young kids. She may remain with the station in a […] […]