ASIA

Mediacorp Singapore has launched its inaugural podcast competition – “Be a Podcaster”, to find the next superstar podcaster.Open to participants between the age of 15 and 25, the competition is accepting entries from June 26 to August 31.Applicants may submit a five to 10-minute podcast in English language in any genre, but it must be original and with copyright free music.Shortlisted submissions will be open for public voting from Sep 18 to 29, which will make up 20 per cent of each entry’s overall score. The remaining 80 per cent will come from professional evaluation by a panel of judges comprising industry and podcasting experts, based on content and creativity, presentation and production.The panel of judges includes:
Danny Koordi, podcast content strategist in Mediacorp’s growth and audio team
Norman Chella, co-founder of Malaysia’s premier podcast network Renegade Radio
Raven Lim, co-founder of the Tomboy Tirade podcast series and founder of podcast firm MeaVox Live
Winners of the competition will be announced in the final quarter of 2023. The grand prize winner will receive S$5,000 in cash and podcasting equipment. They will also secure an exclusive podcast partnership with Mediacorp and be featured on melisten, the firm’s digital audio service.The two runner-ups will receive S$200 each and podcasting equipment.To help interested parties prepare for the competition, Mediacorp organised a free two-day boot camp on June 24 and 25.Featuring guest speakers like Mediacorp 987 DJ Sonia Chew as well as Haresh Tilani, host of the podcast series Yah Lah But, the camp equipped participants with the practical skills and knowledge required to create compelling podcasts, such as the basics of editing and finding one’s audience. […]

Media Prima group’s Fly FM has become the first station in Malaysia to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) radio DJ on June 19.The AI DJ, named Aina Sabrina, was and conceptualised by strategic advisor Jake Abdullah and developed by Fly FM’s production engineers.Sabrina is equipped with a vast music database and operates with a full backend team that runs the AI in real time for her on the air show, according to Moots, the group network director for Media Prima Audio.The backend team also allows Sabrina to engage with listeners during her show when they call in, offer personalised music recommendations as well as create and mix music according to a listener’s mood.Sabrina hosts a two-hour contemporary music show every weekday from 2pm to 4pm, and has her own Instagram handle @aina_flyfm.“This is my first day as Malaysia’s first AI radio DJ!! Thank you, flyfm958, for welcoming me to the team. Honestly, who would’ve thought I’d ever be one?” Aina wrote on her Instagram account.“With the introduction of Aina, we are extremely excited to introduce a brand new phase of the Malaysian radio industry, and Aina is the definition of this,” said Fly FM’s content director Sean Matjeraie. […]

According to BPR’s latest study on the All-Audio listening landscape, Streaming continues to dominate listener preference across all formats in the audio landscape – with the majority of audio listener’s favoring the on-demand platforms.But there is some great news for radio, with it still holding the top spot for cumulative listening across all audio platforms – meaning it still manages to hold the highest audience overall.A study conducted by BPR late last year, which focused on the listening habits of people from a wide range of regions and demographics, retuned some fascinating results.4500 surveys were conducted in September 2022. The study was conducted with 18-54 Men & Women, who had listened to some form of audio in the past week.As a global study, it featured 500 respondents from 9 different key international cities to give a wider perspective on the trends in audio listening across many western markets, with the results of all 9 markets averaged as the total used in this report. Those cities are:
London, United Kingdom
Berlin, Germany
Paris, France
Prague, Czech Republic
Stockholm, Sweden
Madrid, Spain
Sydney, Australia
Los Angeles, USA
New York, USA
The results we are seeing here highlight the shifting allegiances within the audio space. Radio has the wider reach, but music streaming is the first choice for a slightly larger portion of the marketplace.
47% of Radio listeners said it was their main source of Audio, with 34% for Music Streaming, 12% for YouTube & 5% for Podcasts.
For Music Streaming listeners, 62% said Streaming was their main audio source, 15% said Radio, with 10% for YouTube & 7% for Podcasts.
Just 21% of Podcast listeners said it was their main audio type, with Radio at 17%, Music Streaming at 43% & YouTube at 10%, again highlighting that podcasts are a supplemental choice for many of its listeners.
The lower performance of podcasting is also worth highlighting here, with just 8% of respondents saying it is their main audio type. Podcasting is still seen as an ancillary medium even amongst its users, something to supplement their radio & streaming listening rather than being the main attraction in of itself.With the un-deniable success that on-demand streaming has seen over recent years, it has been difficult for other formats to compete with. Many have fallen in and out of style with listeners over the years, but Radio, deservedly, still manages to hold the top spot for cumulative listening.We think this really demonstrates the strength of Radio as a format, with the majority of audio listeners still turning to it for its enjoyable and informative moments.Despite the numerous trends in popularity with different audio formats through the years, Radio as a format still manages to grip and entertain its audience, resulting in many listeners of streaming taking a break from their on-demand platforms from time to time to enjoy the comfort and familiarity that radio continues to bring them.Survey information provided by the BPR All-Audio Report 2022. Download the full report here […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonMy travels often give me life lessons on how to provide great customer service. Sometimes those lessons are positive as noted in my previous post. Sometimes they are perhaps even more powerful in what NOT to do. Thus the subject of today’s newsletter.On my way back from the Idea Bank meeting in Kauai, I had to overnight in Las Vegas. Hoping to save a bit of money at the end of my trip, I made reservations at the Artisan Hotel. I had stayed at this small boutique hotel several years ago and found it nice. It is off the beaten path a bit (read, you can’t walk anywhere from there) but for one night was to be a good place to stay.After arising at 3:30AM, flying 6 hours without food (I love Southwest but they aren’t known for their gourmet meals) I landed in Las Vegas, called an Uber and headed with my 4 bags to the Artisan. We drove into their circle drive and my driver began to unload my bags. We were met by two burley security guards that refused me admittance to the lobby. Totally confused, I told them I had a reservation. In fact, the day before I had received an email from the Artisan welcoming me to the hotel. They were adamant I couldn’t come in. I asked for the manager. She appeared, glanced at my email, then informed me this was a private party. She disappeared into the building. 30 minutes later we were still waiting in the parking lot.Now, I must mention that my Uber driver, Samuel, volunteered to wait with me. He loaded and unloaded my bags 3 times. He went above and beyond and is an example of going the extra mile (literally) to help a customer in distress.While waiting for the manger to reappear, I dug through my luggage and produced my printed reservation, complete with pre-pay. She had demanded to see it, not accepting the email version as legitimate. When I found it, I asked again for the manager. She came back out, looked at the printed page, and disavowed it. She said I wasn’t in her system, so leave. I asked that she help with an alternative reservation. No. Not her problem. She was rude, and completely oblivious to my situation.Not knowing what else to do, I got on my phone, luckily located another hotel with an open room, and my driver took me there. Should I mention he didn’t charge me for the 30 minute wait or for the second trip? He got the “hero” award from me that day. With the location of the Artisan, had he not waited with me, I would have been concerned about finding another mode of transportation.Now, to the moral of this story. When one of our customers (that would be me) encounters a problem with us (our stations), how we handle the situation determines whether we win a loyal advocate or whether we fan the flame of discontent. Today, this discontent can go viral.What to say when one of our customers has a problem:• No problem• Great• I’m sure there’s a way…• That’s my favorite problem to solve• I think we can solve…Starting with a positive statement immediately calms an upset client. Remember, all they want is to get their problem handled quickly and efficiently.Here’s what never to say:• It’s our policy• I don’t handle that• That’s the way we’ve always done it• We don’t, we can’t• That’s not my job• You can talk to the manger but she’ll tell you the same thing.• Let me transfer you to the people who can handle thatOr, what I heard:• You’re not in our system• You can’t enter the building• Not our problemWhatever you say to an upset customer, put “grandma” at the end of the sentence. “It’s our policy, grandma!”I don’t know who had rented out the entire hotel. Judging by the two skimpily dressed young ladies who were allowed to enter the building while I melted in the parking lot, I probably don’t want to know. What I did want was someplace to drop my bags, a good dinner, and sleep. I did receive the latter at Resorts World, including a welcome bottle of water. Who knew water could taste so good?We learn from our experiences. Whatever the problems we might encounter with our clients, if we start on a positive note and do our best to correct the problem, we will earn loyal customers. Think “Nordstrom’s”. They are legendary for their service. We should be too.Happy problem solving!P.S. The day after my aborted stay at the Artisan, I receive a “How was your Stay?” survey. […]

The Radioinfo Asia Podcast Awards will recognise the most outstanding individuals, teams and organisations working within the medium from across the Asian media and marketing landscape.There are 21 categories, which will be judged by some of the most respected leaders and rising stars in the world of podcasts, alongside radioinfo’s panel of international senior editors who cover the growing medium each day.CategoriesPodcast of the Year (Major).Podcast of the Year (Indipendent)The Podcast of the Year (independent and major) will be the one judged to be the Best of the Best from each of the following 12 Podcast categories – each of which offer winners’ certificates for indie and major producers
Best Comedy Podcast• Best Society & Culture Podcast• Best Health and Wellness Podcast• Best Sport Podcast• Best News Podcast – journalism• Best Factual Audio Documentary (any genre)• Best Crime Podcast (true or not)• Best Children’s Entertainment Podcast• Best Education Podcast• Best Interview Podcast• Best Radio Podcast (can contain content that aired along with new non aired bespoke content)• Best Significant Other Podcast
Individual Categories 
Podcast host or presenter/s of the year• Podcast executive producer of the year• Podcast audio producer of the year
Win one of two  Grand Prizes – Flights, accommodation and conference fees to Radiodays Asia 2023 Organisation Categories:• Podcast publisher of the year (major)• Podcast publisher of the year (indie)• Branded podcast of the yearRegistration is Free. You can browse all the rules and entry details as well as start your entry and come back and update it as often as you like before completion  at the check-out. The ENTRY FEE is USD 25.00.ENTRIES CLOSE 30 July 2023Eligibility Criteria:• All entries must be submitted via theradioinfo.asia awards platform. Entries submitted via any other means or format, including email, post and in-person delivery, will be disqualified.
Individual category awards are only open to Asian citizens or Asia-based residents living and working in Asia – defined as one of the countries listed below.
China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam,Turkey, Iran, Thailand, Myanmar, Sth Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Saudi, Arabia, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgzstan, Kuwait, North Korea, Nepal, Lebanon, Israel, Singapore, Palestine, Georgia, Mongolia, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Armenia, Oman, Bahrain, Timor-Leste, Cyprus, Bhutan, Laos, Qatar, Maldives, Brunei.
Each individual category entrant must include a high-resolution headshot with their entry.
Organisation category awards are only open to organisations that are registered as a business entity, including (but not limited to) sole traders, companies (public and private) and not-for-profit organisations, in any one or more of the countries listed above.• The majority of the work for which the individual or organisation has entered must have taken place between June 2022 and May 2023 in order to be eligible for the awards.Entry Criteria:•The deadline for entries is 30 July 2023 (11.59pm GMT+10).• Individuals and organisations can submit entries in multiple categories, provided they meet the requirements and subject to the per-category entry fee of USD 25.00.• radioinfo.asia reserves the right to move an entry from one category to another.• Entries cannot be made without the permission of the nominee(s) and must be submitted by an authorised representative of the copyright owner(s).• Entries may not be obscene or defamatory and may not endorse any activity that is illegal in any of the countries listed above.• All information (except personal contact info) supplied may be published on radioinfo.asia, related sites and/or used for marketing purposes including on social media and through electronic mail.• All sections of the entry must be completed in order to be judged – except for sections marked “optional.”• Entry fees must be paid by credit card and paid prior to submitting completed entries.• All entries, preferably, should be submitted in English. Where there is no English version, an English translation must be submitted with the entry.Judging Process:• The awards have a specially curated judging panel, formed by mixing peers with those elsewhere in the value chain, to make sure that the judgement is informed and considered from all relevant sides of the industry.• radioinfo.asia will publish the full list of judges during the entry period.• Judges will be required to score each submission against specific criteria.• The system is designed to ensure the highest level of integrity and transparency and be fair to all parties. The editorial team has the capability to identify any potential bias or inconsistency. Judges are encouraged to recuse themselves from judging entries in the event of a conflict of interest.Contact UsIf you have any questions or need help, please contact us at the radioinfo awards team. […]

The international service of the Sri Lankan Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) recently doubled its Tamil Service airtime to two hours, on 873 kHz AM (medium wave) from Puttalam transmitter. The new schedule is 0130-0330 UTC (7.00 am to 9.00 am IST).This is partly in response to individual efforts of listeners, many in the southern part of India, in Bengaluru.Introducing this change, Colombo International Radio also announced that shortly they are going to use DRM on 1548 kHz.This will be done by using the old transmitter of Deutsche Welle located in the north of Sri Lanka at Trincomalee. The Sri Lankan public broadcaster has started airing the DRM announcement here.The publicity for the new DRM service is also in full swing. See video: […]