ASIA

New WorldDAB President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, has set out her vision for the next year and beyond.Last November, at WorldDAB Summit in Munich, she set out its vision: that every person can enjoy free-to-air digital radio on the move, at home or work – with DAB+ at the heart of this listening experience.With 2024 now firmly underway, she re-stated WorldDAB’s mission for this year and beyond: to position DAB+ as the free-to-air broadcast backbone for radio’s digital future.

Its top three objectives are:
Sustain the core: Making sure that DAB+ stays a priority in countries where DAB+ is well established, by motivating all stakeholders to promote DAB+ and share best marketing practices, and by making sure in the respective countries the sale of consumer devices is being boosted.
Strengthen automotive: Ensuring that all new cars in and outside the EU have DAB+ as standard in the car dashboard and keep on innovating DAB+ in the hybrid solution with our partners in connected cars.
Develop new markets: Offering help where needed to make sure all information, knowledge and expertise is shared with new territories to roll out DAB+.
For all three points, execution and collaboration are the key to success, she said.“These objectives will be achieved through the dedicated efforts of the various WorldDAB committees, taskforces, and the Project Office, which all work tirelessly to drive and foster cooperation with all stakeholders, and ensure the seamless execution of our initiatives, ultimately leading us toward our goals.” […]

Content from BPRI was fascinated by this study on air talent goals as conducted by Jacobs Media. “Being happy and working with good people” far outranked everything else by a wide margin. When I think back on my radio career, my favorite memories most often are linked to the individuals and the teams with whom I worked. Ratings success, market size and personal achievement remain an afterthought. I don’t think that I’m alone in feeling this way. When I talk to people with whom I worked over the decades, the memories that we share inevitably revolve around the people with whom we worked and the good times that we shared.

The radio business has changed dramatically over the years but the radio experiences that we most cherish have not changed. Building teams of people who work together harmoniously and enthusiastically should be a top priority for radio owners and managers throughout the industry.I got into radio because it seemed like a lot of fun. Of course, there were times when it was really difficult and challenging but, in the end, a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie made it all worthwhile.By Andy Beaubien, BPR […]

As you begin planning your year for 2024, our calendar can help you.Included are our Advertising Feature topics for the year, World Radio and Podcast Conference dates, Survey release dates, Asian and Australian holidays and other important dates for your calendars.Click on any item to see full details.

For AdvertisersHere is our list of features for the year across our Australia/NZ, Asia and Africa sites. Plan your advertising early:100 Years of Radio: All through 2024 with special coverage of stations as they turn 100February: World Radio DayMarch: Digital Broadcasting Symposium and RadioDays EuropeApril: Transmission and Streaming technologyMay: Broadcast AsiaJune: Playout and Music Systems July: The Business of PodcastingAugust: Microphones & Production ToolsSeptember: RadioDays Asia & IBC ConferencesOctober: Audience Research & Broadcast IndiaNovember: Broadcast Consoles & Mixing DesksDecember: Apps, Receivers & Streaming PlatformsAdvertising contact: [email protected]Major Radio and Podcast Conferences & Events in 2024Click on the calendar event for more details of each entry and website links.February:Paris Radio Show: France 6-7 FebWorld Radio Day, 13 FebHEARD, Commercial Radio Australia: Sydney 15 FebGlobal Conference on Media, Communication, and Film: Birmingham, 21-23 FebMarch:ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium: Kuala Lumpur, 4-7 MarSMPTE MetExpo: Randwick, 5-7 MarRadioDays Europe: Munich, 17-19 MarApril:NAB Show: Las Vegas, 13-17 AprPacific Media Partnership Conference: Brisbane, 29-30 AprMay:The Podcast Show: London, 22–23 MayBroadcastAsia: Singapore 29–31 MayJune:July:August:Podcast Movement Conference: Washington, 19–22 AugBeijing International Radio, TV & Film Equipment Exhibition: Beijing, 20–24 AugSeptember:RadioDays Asia: Kuala Lumpur, 5-6 SepIBC Conference: Amsterdam, 13–16 SepOctober:Broadcast India: Mumbai, 17–19 OctIf you would like your event included in our calendar, please email [email protected]. […]

To welcome the Year of the Dragon, Radio Free Asia (RFA) announced its latest QSL card.This is RFA’s 84th QSL design and will be used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from January – April 2024.RFA says it wanted to highlight a value it holds dear  – Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Tibetan (including Uke, Amdo, and Kham dialects), and Uyghur.RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest.  More information about RFA, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is always available at www.rfa.org

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports.  Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help it evaluate the signal strength and quality of its transmissions.  RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.  RFA welcomes all reception report submissions not only from DX’ers, but also from our general listening audience.

Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America […]

BBC News Urdu has added TikTok to the social-media platforms delivering its content. The @bbcurdu feed on TikTok brings fast-paced, easy-to-understand videos, offering perspective and insights into news stories and issues of relevance to Urdu-speaking audiences.Venturing into TikTok, BBC News Urdu further expands its major presence on the Urdu-language social media scene where millions of subscribers connect with the BBC on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube.BBC News Urdu Editor, Asif Farooqui, says: “BBC Urdu is known for its unbiased and trusted news coverage, investigations, documentaries and explanatory content. As we expand into TikTok, we will deliver the same journalism that we know our audiences will engage with, accessing BBC News in dynamic, concise formats tailored for them.”

Launched ahead of Pakistan’s general elections, the BBC News Urdu feed on TikTok will also bring election-specific content aimed to help audiences make informed decisions. As with all other platforms, tackling disinformation and misinformation will be an integral element of the BBC News Urdu content on TikTok. […]

Content from BPRIn many countries this year the number one issue for many is the increasing cost of living… inflation and the increase in the costs of everyday goods, rents and interest rates have added new pressures and strains onto the typical family budget.Christmas time and other holidays are often a time when families get together. These occasions are also strong drivers of nostalgia – when thoughts and conversations turn to past times, often seen as simpler and better times.

In times of economic pressure, the desire to return to simpler and better times favours oldie-based formats when music reminds listeners of better times and places. This can be seen in increased ratings for Classic Hits in general and Christmas music stations in the US in particular.There are variations of these formats in other countries too, examples such as Santa Radio in Australia (on DAB) and Christmas FM in Ireland and Magic in the UKChristmas songs are the staple of many formats and stations around the world. Stations have the choice of a playing little or a lot of Christmas music…This year, Christmas songs maybe adding a new dimension to programming choice. Not only a seasonal lift, these songs may also provide welcome nostalgia and some relief from everyday living pressures.Oldie-based stations, AC, Full Service or Soft AC format have an advantage in terms of available songs. Contemporary formats may have a more limited choice. However, recent Christmas music research projects have shown some surprising results with older (and more traditional) songs scoring well among contemporary radio listeners .What this shows is that Christmas songs represent more than just music style or music age – there is a deeper emotional connection involved here.While most stations will still play Wham‘s ‘Last Christmas’, and Mariah Carey ‘All I want for Christmas’ The US the list of ‘most Played Christmas songs’ includes many artists whose time on contemporary Radio has long since passed.The current US list of most played Christmas songs includes:10. Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens9. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms8. It’s Beginning To Look A lot Like… – Michael Buble7. Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran & Elton John6. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee5. Stick Season – Noah Kahan4. Fairytale of New York – Pogues Ft. Kristy Maccoll3. Lovin on Me – Jack Harlow2. All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey1. Last Christmas – WHAMIn some cases, these songs have been re-recorded by contemporary artists but many survive in their original versions – even ‘White Christmas’ is still played in the Southern Hemisphere in the middle of summer….Christmas Music lists may vary by location. Band Aid’s – “Do they know it’s Christmas”, Chris Rea ‘Drivin home for Christmas’ The Eagles ‘Please Come Home for Christmas’ and now ‘Fairytale of New York’ have become modern-day classics in many countries.There will continue to be new or updated additions to a number Christmas songs playlists and these may be supplemented by stations that have carried out their own Christmas Music surveys …This year Christmas songs may have an additional role as Christmas music plays its part in relieving the pressure at the end of a tough year.Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all from the BPR team.By Peter Don, BPR […]