ASIA

WorldDAB Summit next week: more speakers added

More expert speakers have been added to WorldDAB Summit 2023, the event highlighting the global growth of DAB+, in Munich, Germany on November 8.We’ll hear from global keynote speakers including:Dr Thorsten Schmiege, President, Bayerischen Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM) on long term strategies for radio and audio

Hervé Godechot, Board Member of Arcom on their plan to increase DAB+ coverage in France to 60% by 2024WorldDAB President Patrick Hannon will reflect on ‘change and continuity’, reviewing his ten years in office, and passing the baton to the newly elected President.With one of the hottest topics right now, Luigi Troiano, Founder and CEO, Kebula with Yann Legarson, CEO, Radioplayer look at how radio broadcasters are strengthening their brand and leveraging opportunities with AI.And in “Android Automotive – continuing the conversation”, Joseph D’Angelo, Senior Vice President, Broadcast Radio, Xperi and Gregor Pötzsch, Product Owner, Radio, CARIAD, Volkswagen Group will discuss support for DAB radio in Android Automotive’s latest release.The event will also explore exciting new and emerging DAB+ markets in Africa, MENA and Asia, and hear about unique academic research on the development and implementation of “small-scale” DAB+ and how this innovative approach can help the adoption of DAB+ around the world.WorldDAB Summit 2023 will be hosted by award-winning Bavarian radio presenter, Larissa Schütz from HITRADIO RT1.It’s free to register online. […]

ASIA

The One Word That Most Radio Talent Fear

Content from BPRAnd that word is …………. Aircheck.In a competitive market, with each music format filled with multiple stations, often the only USP a station has is the talent.

Some program directors find working with talent daunting and overwhelming; talent can find the aircheck session threatening and disheartening. And the worst end-result is for talent to fear air-checking and for program directors to avoid it.

From the talent’s perspective, some of them may be gun shy of the aircheck due to a series of bad coaches in the past.  To gain the talent’s trust, the program director must be respected; the talent must value the program director’s advice.  Talent shouldn’t leave an aircheck session with the thought “well, that’s just your opinion…what would you know”.However, sometimes that is just what they think.So how do you, the program director, avoid that happening?Easy…. put the aircheck into the listeners’ hands!That is why BPR developed Talent Check.Talent Check graphically captures the listeners’ points of engagement and disengagement instantly and demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of content using an online “worm”.Talent Check can be used to test the appeal (or lack of) shows, individual presenters and programming elements such as contesting, features and benchmarks.The graphic display means talent can see what content is working and what isn’t from the listeners’ perspective.While talent may disagree with the program director’s opinion, it’s hard for them to disagree with the opinions of a couple of hundred listeners!Here’s a link demonstrating how Talent Check works.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2cUIclaH4cNow remember, Talent Check is the start of the process; it pinpoints what the audience likes and doesn’t like. It’s the program director’s job to then show the talent where improvements could be made. Coach, direct and nurture them.Main Photo: ShutterstockIf you have any questions…. please contact us.By David Kidd, BPR […]

ASIA

India’s Radio Mirchi and Radio Orange bid to buy Big FM

According to local media reports, Indian FM Radio network Radio Mirchi, a part of Entertainment Network India Limited (ENIL), Radio Orange and Sapphire FM have each bid Rs 2.51 billion (US $30 million) to acquire Big FM Radio network, which is undergoing an insolvency process.Big FM, owned by Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (RBNL), is the country’s largest radio network with 58 stations and reach of over 1,200 towns and 50,000 villages.In February this year, India’s bankruptcy court admitted RBNL under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) on the plea of IDBI Trusteeship Services Ltd., which had approached the tribunal after the company allegedly failed to repay its dues of over Rs 1.74 billion.

Of the total admitted claims of the lenders of Rs 5.78 billion, IndusInd Bank’s claim is Rs 1.72 billon, HSBC Asset Management Rs 2.38 billion, Franklin Templeton MF Rs 1.03 billion and Reliance Commercial Finance’s claim is Rs 640 million.After considering the cash at Big FM, the total recovery for lenders could be as high as 55 to 60 per cent against the total admitted claims.Sources close to the process said that the lenders are likely to ask both the bidders to revise their bids upward. […]

ASIA

ENCO, Benztown and Yamanair partner for AI Ad Spec Creation and Sales

ENCO has joined forces with Benztown and Compass Media Networks to bring its SpecAI ad creation solution to an expansive customer base in the North American radio broadcast market. The three companies will work together on strategic business development initiatives that emphasize how the technology can help broadcasters create spec ads for sponsors on demand, alleviating the time, energy, and costs of traditional production methods while accelerating the sales process and time to market.SpecAI leverages generative AI models to create audio content and automate voice tracking for new spots. ENCO will demonstrate SpecAI at the NAB Show New York beginning tomorrow at Javits Center, where the company will exhibit at Booth 517. Representatives from Benztown and Compass Media Networks will also share insights into their contributions, which include sales, marketing and product design responsibilities.Compass Media Networks, who will lead the sales and marketing efforts,  is among the fastest growing radio networks in North America, offering a large portfolio of branded audio programs that reach tens of millions of listeners daily on broadcast and streaming platforms. Their Yamanair division has been the leader in providing spec commercials and creative  services to radio broadcasters over the past decade through their Specbyte and Cash by Creative product lines which currently serve thousands of radio stations. SpecAI will expand this portfolio  for local radio sales teams.

“AI adoption has swiftly moved forward over the last few months, and as the largest player in spec commercials for over 10 years we recognized it was time to offer an AI solution for our clients,” said Hiram Lazar, Chief Financial Officer, Compass Radio Networks. “Using Benztown’s libraries, we can now give our clients the option to produce ads with an AI voice or a live voice to customize prerecorded spec commercials.”Benztown, a longtime ENCO partner, is a global leader in radio imaging, production library, programming, podcasting, jingles, and voiceover services with more than 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown will supplement Compass Media Networks’ sales and marketing efforts with an emphasis on international clients.Benztown and Compass Media Networks have worked closely with ENCO’s engineering team on SpecAI’s development. Specifically, Benztown has added their sonic design expertise to the solution, including user-selectable music beds that run underneath the AI voice while Compass Media Networks added their user interface expertise from their Specbyte and Cash by Creative platforms.SpecAI’s workflow is simple. The user, typically an account executive within a media organization, first answers a few questions to determine spot length (30 or 60 seconds), writing style (casual, humorous, uplifting), and sponsor details (company name, address), using a web browser or mobile device. SpecAI generates three scripts to choose from, which users can manually be edited or re-generated through phonetics to perfect the copy. The user then selects their preferred sound of the AI voice and music bed underneath before downloading the final down-mixed audio file. The process can be completed in seconds.Dave “Chachi” Denes, President and Co-Founder of Benztown, adds that the music options will help set the tone for each spot. “The music in SpecAI is categorized by format,” he said. “For example, an account executive for an Adult Contemporary or Rock station has many options to add music that aligns with the client and station’s demographic. There will also be themed music available for holidays throughout the year.”NCO’s sales and business development team will also contribute to the collective go-to-market strategy, though ENCO President Ken Frommert believes that the existing relationships that Benztown and Compass Media Networks have with affiliates will ultimately create broader awareness for SpecAI. “SpecAI is a gamechanger because account executives can now walk onto a customer site and create a ready-to-air spec ad in seconds,” said Frommert. “Compass Media Networks brings exceptional value through their experience selling human spec ad services, and Benztown is a force in radio imaging and music libraries that we have enjoyed working with for years. We are excited to work together with these companies to bring our vision for AI to the broader radio community.” […]

ASIA

Why Failure Can Lead To Success

Content from BPRRadio, like any business, needs people who are willing to take well-calculated risks to continually improve their product offering. Building that new morning show, implementing a format that no one has done before, redefining the way you undertake tactics etc.But sometimes, things don’t always go according to the script.

However, there are many valuable lessons to be learned from failure which can lead to success in the future. Failure is a necessary part of innovation.

Failure can often be a stepping stone to success for several reasons:Learning and Growth. Failure provides valuable lessons and insights. When we encounter setbacks or make mistakes, we have an opportunity to analyse what went wrong, understand our shortcomings and learn from them. This process of self-reflection and learning helps us gain experience and develop new strategies for future endeavours, increasing our chances of success.Resilience and Perseverance. Failure tests our resilience and determination; it presents us with challenges and obstacles that require us to push through adversity. When we face failure head-on and refuse to give up, we build resilience and develop a stronger mindset. This resilience can be a powerful tool in achieving long-term success because it helps us bounce back from setbacks and keep going despite obstacles.Innovation and Creativity. Failure often forces us to think outside the box and explore new approaches. When our initial plans or methods don’t work, we are prompted to seek alternative solutions. This need for innovation and creativity can lead to breakthroughs and new ideas that we may not have considered otherwise. Failure encourages us to experiment, take risks, and explore uncharted territories, which can ultimately lead to success.Motivation and Drive. Failure can fuel our motivation and drive to succeed. Experiencing setbacks can ignite a strong desire to prove ourselves, overcome the odds and achieve our goals. Failures can serve as powerful reminders of our aspirations, pushing us to work harder, improve our skills, and persist until we achieve success.

Perspective and Adaptability. Failure provides us with a fresh perspective and an opportunity to reassess our goals and strategies. It prompts us to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement and adapt our approach accordingly. By being open to change and willing to adjust our course, we increase our chances of finding success in new and unexpected ways.Now let’s make one very important point. As Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said, “There are two kinds of failure…and only one is something to be proud of”“I always point out that there are two different kinds of failure,” Bezos said. “There’s experimental failure — that’s the kind of failure you should be happy with.” These are the big, bold bets that either “move the needle” or involve a public face plant”.But Bezos also notes there’s “operational failure,” and entrepreneurs should attach no mystique at all to these sorts of misfires.  “We’ve built hundreds of fulfilment centres at Amazon over the years, and we know how to do that. If we build a new fulfilment centre and it’s a disaster, that’s just bad execution. That’s not good failure,” Bezos explains. Extending your existing business is known territory and, if executed properly, should not involve much in the way of risk. If you screw up something you should already know how to do, that’s nothing to celebrate.”Thomas Edison may hold the record for the most failed attempts before reaching success on a single project, having failed several thousand times before inventing a functional light bulb. His response has become famous to entrepreneurs: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”And finally, in the words of Bill Gates: “It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”By David Kidd, BPR […]

ASIA

Russia detains Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist

Russia has detained Alsu Kurmasheva, a Prague-based editor at US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).Kurmasheva, 47, holds both US and Russian passports and works for RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir service. She travelled to Russia on May 20 for a family emergency. She was temporarily detained on June 2 and arrested again on Wednesday, October 18.She has been charged with not registering as a ‘foreign agent,’ according to RFE/RL. If proven guilty, she could face up to five years in prison.

She is the second western reporter to be jailed on spy charges in Russia in the last seven months. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for alleged spying in March. Since then, he has appeared in court several times since and unsuccessfully appealed his detention.“Kurmasheva is an accomplished journalist who has long covered ethnic minority communities in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in the Volga-Ural region of Russia,” RFE/RL said.“She has reported on initiatives to protect and preserve the Tatar language and culture from Russian authorities, who have exerted increased pressure on Tatars in recent years.”The Committee to Protect Journalists said: “CPJ is deeply concerned by the detention of U.S-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva on spurious criminal charges and calls on Russian authorities to release her immediately and drop all charges against her,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Journalism is not a crime and Kurmasheva’s detention is yet more proof that Russia is determined to stifle independent reporting.”Photo: YouTube […]