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Pat  Bryson’s December ReflectionsDecember is one of my favorite times of the year. Although I’m usually home for the holidays, I have in the past traveled to far lands and experienced their Christmas traditions. I’ve found them as far away as Pakistan. Poland was especially memorable because I happened to be there on Santa Claus day and got to witness hundreds of Santas marching through the streets handing out candy to the children. Their main square was decorated to the hilt.This year I spent the week after Thanksgiving in Helper, Utah. I was there for the first of two parades they hold on December 1 and 2. It was magical.

One of the best things about these parades is that anyone can be in them. There is no entry fee. If you’ve always wanted to be in a parade, this is your chance. There were extravagant floats, old cars, groups marching with twinkling lights. Everyone was having a great time.Our stations there broadcast and narrated the parade. Before the parade started, Mallery, one of our announcers, oversaw “dancing in the street”. The parade-goers gathered around the reviewing stand and DANCED while Mallery and staff threw out light sticks, small gifts and beads. It was mayhem, but fun!One of the most poignant parts of the parade was the first responders who drove their fire trucks, police cars and emergency vehicles in the parade. Their long-time fire chief had entered hospice that week and was not expected to live to Christmas. As each vehicle drove by the reviewing stand, they blasted their sirens three times in his honor.Later I found out that he did indeed pass on that night. What a great sendoff!I recount this story because we need to know that in today’s troubled and chaotic world, there are still places like Helper where the population comes together to celebrate the season. There were no demonstrations. No protestors. Just people enjoying one another’s company and remembering the reason for the season. The word “family” extends farther than your blood relatives. When you come to Helper, they adopt you.The magic of Christmas is in part that most of the world stops on that date to reflect, to celebrate, to join those they love and to spend time together. Christmas Eve 1914. Throughout December, Pope Benedict had appealed to the leaders of Europe to call a truce for Christmas, hoping that this might lead to a negotiated peace. The leaders weren’t interested. But that didn’t stop the soldiers at the front. The German emperor had sent Christmas trees to the front in an effort to boost moral that was sorely lacking after a constant soaking rain had plagued the soldiers for days. As Christmas Eve approached, the German soldiers began putting their Christmas tress outside their trenches. Soon hymns rang out: Stille Nacht. These were answered by voices from the Allied lines by singing other Christmas carols. Then the remarkable happened: the soldiers came out of their trenches, moved together, exchanged cigarettes, shook hands, intermingled and talked with one another. Even speaking different languages, they managed to communicate. And for a few hours, the bloodshed stopped. Soldiers saw one another as human beings, not as enemies. They were all wishing to be home with loved ones instead of in miserable conditions under fire. It is unfortunate that in the morning , the truce ended and the war continued.The magic of Christmas is that a tiny infant born centuries ago in an obscure land still has the power to stop wars, to change lives, to bring peace to the world. If the powers that be would but let him. The magic of Christmas starts with each one of us. If we could but bottle the feelings of love and goodwill that we experience at Christmas and sell it on Amazon we’d all be better off. I’d buy a few cases and I bet you would also.I returned to Tulsa with my faith renewed that the heartland of the United States is still good. Is still kind, no matter what you hear on the news. We live in a wonderful country and this is a great time to be alive. We are all here on a mission and perhaps that mission is to spread love and caring to those we meet, no matter their faith or politics. There is much evil in the world but there is also much good. When good becomes as vocal as the evil has been, it will overcome.Perhaps you view the babe in the manger as a prophet. Perhaps you are still waiting for the Messiah to come. Perhaps you have no belief in any God. Nevertheless, it’s hard to deny the power of December. The power of Christmas. The power of love that the season elicits.I am signing off to sit under my tree and stare at the hundreds of lights that now adorn my home. The presents are wrapped, the Christmas music is playing, my calendar is full of activities with friends. I plan to remember those who are no longer here to celebrate with me and to enjoy those who still are.I wish you and your friends and family a very wonderful Christmas. I know the PC term is “Happy Holiday” but for me it will always be “Merry Christmas” or “Buon Natale”.The Bryson Broadcasting Newsletter will return on 15 January, 2024. Until then, enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! […]

Audio Intelligence with Raoul Wedel –Every now and then, I still see some articles popping up with the headline ‘The AI Hype is Over.’ So, instead of looking back on 2023, here’s my outlook on what’s to come in 2024.2023 saw the start of arguably the most hotly contested technology race in history. OpenAI released GPT-4 and included multi-modality, with pictures, speech, and file support. Google is arguably back in the game with their competitor, Gemini, although parts of it remain unreleased. Voice technology has seen major adoption across many industries. Many companies like Google, Meta, and others have published AI tools for music, voice, and sound effect generation.

What We Will See in 2024Widespread AI Implementation: In 2024, almost all companies will be implementing some form of AI. As 2023 was the year of the hype, it found many companies scrambling to assess the risk and define policies concerning AI. Many broadcasters have seen new positions for AI created, both in commercial and public radio.AI in Music Production: AI will produce better music than humans by the end of 2024. Last week, Microsoft partnered with Suno.AI to include their AI Song Generator into Copilot, their AI Assistant for Windows and Office. Suno.AI is completely mind-blowing. It will generate complete songs in any language and style with just a description. The impact on the music industry, radio, entertainment, and many others will be profound. Windows and Office now come with a song generator. When every person in the world can generate unlimited songs, it will dramatically change how people consume music and what they listen to. The first court cases on AI-generated material have ruled that there is no copyright on AI-generated work since the US and most other copyright laws use the terminology ‘person’ as someone who created the work. Not just having your own playlist with music optimized by AI as is now on Spotify, but having AI generate the music altogether is the biggest threat to the industry since its inception. AI Generated music will also be one of the most heated debates and legal battles.Advancements in Voice Technology and Cross-Language Capabilities: Another impact on how people consume audio will be the development of cross-language capabilities, where you can take your own voice and make it speak another language. This exists today but has not yet gained traction. It means that all spoken audio content in the world can be available in any language.OpenAI and AGI: OpenAI has pretty much achieved all their goals with multi-modality in the past months. You can speak to it, it speaks to you, it can analyze pictures and other documents. It actually accepts an audio file but can only analyze the technical info and not the content. AGI stands for Artificial General Intelligence. Unlike the current models, AGI can reason and solve complex problems on its own. The recent mutiny at OpenAI is rumored to have been caused by part of the team’s concerns over a perceived threat to humanity that AGI poses.The Pace of AI Innovation: Last year saw an unprecedented level of development in supercomputers and chips as the demand for NVIDIA GPU Cards went through the roof. 2024 will see a rise of these new supercomputers that will accelerate the pace of innovation even more.Other AI Developments to Watch in 2024: Just to name a few: AI image generation will surpass any image generated by a human. AI video generation will mature and will be able to generate a short video that is indistinguishable from one made by a human. OpenAI just announced they will be producing phones and hired one of the inventors of the iPhone. Robotics technology is making massive steps with AI making robots perform complex tasks.AI for Humanity: 2024 will see further acceleration in healthcare where AI is driving improvements in drug discovery and diagnostics like PathAI’s system that significantly enhances cancer detection. Education will further embrace personalized learning experiences with platforms like Coursera. As AI was pivotal in addressing climate change in 2023, 2024 will see more of these innovations in climate modeling, where Google and ClimateAI have made major breakthroughs. But other aids will become mainstream like Verdigris, which optimizes energy consumption in buildings.The Impact on Radio Groups: The rise of AI in 2024, particularly for U.S. radio groups, will be the perfect storm. Those that follow the U.S. stock market know that 2023 has been a bloodbath, with almost all radio group stocks losing up to 90% of their value. As interest rates have risen and most of these groups still have major debt, paralyzing the industry’s ability to innovate in a time it’s needed most. The lack of resources and appetite for innovation, also due to the average age of the people in the industry, will unfortunately have a catastrophic effect on these groups. Internationally, groups have been more open to innovation, and a great deal of countries still see growth. However, the state of the US industry will have an effect on the rest of the world, where the major advertisers and agencies operate globally.Final note: 2024 will see AI impacting all business, people and society, sometimes in ways we could never have imagined. It will also pose great challenges for humanity.About the AuthorWith a career in the radio industry spanning more than 30 years, Raoul Wedel is CEO of Wedel Software, a leading international provider of broadcast software solutions. In 2021 he launched the Adthos Ad Platform, bringing broadcast-quality AI and synthetic voice technology to the audio advertising industry for the first time. The platform continues to deliver more market firsts, including the option of creating 100% AI-generated audio ads.Adthos is an international advertiser on the radioinfo group of sites.Read more at: https://radioinfo.com.au/news/embracing-the-ai-wave-how-media-companies-can-successfully-integrate-ai-technologies/ © RadioInfo AustraliaMain Pic: Shutterstock60’s style radios: Raoul Wedel […]

Leading AI Audio Platform Adthos announced the release of a groundbreaking new feature that uses AI technology to turn a picture into a fully produced audio ad.With this latest innovation, users can now generate a complete audio ad simply by uploading a picture such as a productimage, billboard ad, or even a photo of a storefront. This cutting-edge feature leverages the latest AI technology to analyze visual elements to create an engaging script before selecting suitable AI voices, music and sound effects to deliver a fully produced audio ad.The platform uses AI to analyze the content of a picture, identifying brands, slogans, styles, target audience and much more to write a creative brief. From the creative brief an ad script is created, voices, music and sound effects are curated before mixing all the elements together in a matter of minutes.

“Adthos is committed to revolutionizing the way audio advertising is produced,” says Raoul Wedel, CEO of Adthos.. “Our new feature is a game-changer, instantly unlocking the potential of audio advertising for anyone that can take a picture”Adthos Creative Studio’s new feature is an exciting addition to the Self-Service portal, designed to streamline the ad creation process and bring the power of AI to businesses of all sizes. Whether a seasoned marketer or a start-up business owner, anyone can leverage this feature to create dynamic and engaging audio ads that resonate with their target audience.The makers of Adthos have created a short video introduction to the feature to provide more insight on the possibilities. Thoseinterested in experiencing the creative power of this new feature for themselves can apply for a free trial via the website. […]

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) announced that Sultan Ali Jawadi, the director of Radio Nasim in central Daikundi province, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Taliban’s primary court.While Taliban officials have not commented on the verdict, sources told AFJC that Jawadi was found guilty of “propaganda against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” and “espionage for foreign countries.”Earlier on September 27, Jawadi, along with Saifullah Rezaei and Mojtaba Qasemi, two reporters of Radio Nasim, received summons from the Daikundi intelligence office, and the station was forcibly closed on charges relating to the reiteration of Radio Azadi (RFE/RL’s) programs and propagating against the Taliban government. Subsequently, Jawadi, Rezaei and Qasemi were interrogated for several hours.

On October 7, the three were re-arrested. Qasemi was detained for 6 days, Rezaei for 11 days, and Jawadi for 17 days.AFJC denounced the sentencing as unfair and unacceptable due to the absence of a defense lawyer during the trial process, resulting in an unclear proceeding, demanding a thorough review of the case, immediate and unconditional release of the journalist, dismissal of the charges against him, and the reopening of Radio Nasim.“Taliban authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Radio Nasim director Sultan Ali Jawadi and stop detaining Afghan journalists and media workers,” said Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “This is a grave injustice. Jawadi’s conviction on vague charges during shoddy legal proceedings shows how the Taliban’s sweeping measures against journalists are impeding even basic newsgathering.”Photo: AFJC […]

The New York Festivals® 2024 Radio Awards competition has appointed Andrew Mark Sewell, Creative Director/Founder at B7 Media to the NYF Radio Awards Advisory Board.Sewell joins the esteemed 15-member Advisory Board, a distinguished panel comprised of globally renowned storytellers and industry leaders, each offering expertise across a spectrum of diverse audio genres. His addition to the advisory board promises to elevate the standards of the NYF Radio Awards and foster a platform that champions excellence in the ever-evolving world of audio storytelling.“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Mark Sewell to the Radio Awards Advisory Board this year. An acknowledged leader in all aspects of award-winning dramatic and narrative storytelling, he brings vast expertise in creating radio dramas.  With his addition to the Board, we gain the perspective of someone with deep insights into the paths of audio drama’s robust future.”–Rose Anderson, EVP & Executive Director New York Festivals Radio Awards

“It’s a real privilege to be invited by the New York Radio Festival to join the Radio Advisory Board offering me an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience to the next generation of audio drama makers,” said Andrew Mark Sewell, Creative Director/Founder, B7 Media.Sewell, a distinguished BBC executive turned acclaimed radio drama producer and director, brings over 26 years of invaluable experience and numerous impressive accolades for award-winning creative storytelling to the NYF Radio Awards Advisory Board. As the visionary founder of UK indie B7 Media, Sewell has left an indelible mark on the industry, co-creating the groundbreaking audio platform Audioteria.com, dedicated to showcasing exceptional audio dramas by independent producers.“Audio drama has and always will be my first love. Ever since I heard Orson Welles’ seminal radio adaptation of “The War of the Worlds” I’ve been enthralled by the power of audio storytelling. Under our production banner B7 Media we’ve been recognised for our ambitious and diverse range of radio dramas and with the recent launch of Audioteria.com we’re proud to be behind a platform specifically created to celebrate the very best of indie audio drama,” said Sewell.Sewell’s illustrious career is marked by a string of prestigious accolades, including the 2022 ‘Best Drama & Fiction Producer’ at the Audio Production Awards, he brings unparalleled expertise to the NYF Radio Awards, having previously secured 4 Gold, 7 Siver and 2 Bronze, including; Gold, Best Director “I, Robot” (BBC Radio 4) in 2017 / Gold, Best Digital Drama “Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures” in 2018 / Gold, Science & Technology “The Space Race” in 2020 / Gold, Best Podcast Drama, “The Effect” (Audible) in 2022. Sewell’s impressive works, including the reimagining of Dan Dare and the cult classic Blake’s 7, underscore his commitment to pushing creative boundaries.Impressive achievements include serving as the Series Producer for Audible Originals’ compelling docudrama series chronicling the history of The Space Race. His BBC Radio 4 ventures showcase his versatility, from adapting Ray Bradbury’s sci-fi classic, “The Martian Chronicles,” to crafting gripping narratives like the courtroom drama “Barred” and the much-praised modern retelling of the Mahabharata Now in which the law, capitalism, and politics jostle for power in a gripping family retelling of the epic poem set in modern day Mumbai.Sewell’s noteworthy films credits include “Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont” and a collaborative effort with Canadian director Paul Andrew Kimball on four films— “The Cuckoo in the Clock,” “Roundabout,” “Exit Thread,” and the acclaimed “The Colour of Spring” (2020). Currently, Sewell is attached to the production of the crime horror film “Kill Everything,” alongside Ed Polgardy, renowned for producing the hit horror film “The Wretched” (2019).New York Festivals invites award-winning industry leaders from 6 continents around the world to become members of their world-class Radio Awards Grand Jury. The 2024 Grand jury will be recruited in the coming weeks. Those jurors will include some of the world’s most recognizable voices and captivating content producers in the radio industry. Entries are judged on production values, creativity, content presentation, direction, writing, achievement of purpose, and audience suitability. […]

Riedel Communications announced an expansion of its leadership in APAC to better align with market needs and position itself for continued success in 2024 and years to come. With significant growth in sales and team size, the company will divide the APAC region into two separate teams — Asia and Oceania — to reflect its commitment to a full-service presence in Australia and enhance customer relationships through more focused and direct sales and support services.Effective this October, Chris Johnson has been promoted to the role of director Oceania, overseeing Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding countries. With almost two decades of experience in broadcast and live events, Johnson has been instrumental in leading the region to new heights since joining Riedel in 2016.“We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far in Australia and New Zealand,” said Johnson. “Our success is the result of a great team and our decision as a company to work locally and be close to our customers. We believe that close customer relationships are critical, especially as the broadcast and events industries are undergoing so much technological evolution. Having truly local technical support, service, and operations allows us to further improve our full-service offering across both our Product and Managed Technology divisions throughout Oceania.”

To bolster the Product Division business in the region, Erik Miehs will assume the role of regional sales director, starting Jan. 1, 2024. With close to a decade of experience at Riedel, Miehs brings a wealth of technical and managerial knowledge to his new position, having previously served as the Europe system consulting manager and most recently as sales manager ANZ.“I’m proud to be playing a part in writing the next chapter in Riedel’s strong 15-year history in Australia and New Zealand,” said Miehs. “I’m thrilled to take on the new role and continue our team’s expansion in the Oceania region.”Guillaume Mauffrey will continue to lead Riedel’s Asian business units as sales director Asia with an increased focus on developing major markets such as China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Here, he can rely on a strong management team of regional general managers, with Peter Chen (China), Vincent Lambert (Japan), and Marion Dimayuga (Southeast Asia).“Our new organizational structure reflects the massive growth we’ve seen in both Asia and Oceania,” said Daniel Url, CCO, Product Division. “We are very pleased that we can entrust two very experienced colleagues, Chris and Guillaume, with leading these important regions. Asia remains in good hands with Guillaume, whose leadership has already had a great impact on the region and our growing teams in Tokyo, Singapore, and Beijing. In ANZ, we are building on a well-established and well-attuned team that has been exceeding customers’ expectations under Chris’ leadership – and is sure to continue doing so with Erik at the helm. With this organizational change, both regions can continue their path to success with increased focus.” […]