ASIA

EBU Director General Noel Curren urged the industry to challenge those who portray radio as ‘legacy media.’He told the Radiodays Europe conference:“We need to resist this positioning from others towards us. It doesn’t reflect the dynamism of radio. 84% of Europeans still listen to radio, three quarters of those are young poeple.“Radio is the most widely consumed and trusted medium… a hard earned relevance that has been hard won, we should protect it.“We need to emphasise radio’s dynamism. The strongest growing demographic for spoken word audio is 13-24 year olds, so young people are still listening to radio and are listening to spoken word content.“In a world where young people are increasingly getting news from social media, radio has a unique opportunity to transfer the extraordinary trust it has into the social media space… Podcasts can offer the solution-based journalism that young people can engage with.“Radio has come into its own in recent years… anyone who forgot this got a daily wake up call from the front lines of covid and Ukraine to remind them of the relevance and trustworthyness of radio.“It is not a dying medium… yes we have a legacy, but we also have a dynamic future… we can leverage our legacy into the online audio world.He urged people who work in radio to believe in the ability of radio’s talented presenters, producers and teams to adapt and innovate to ensure that the medium continues successfully into the next 100 years.[embedded content] […]

“Radio is the mothership of the audio industry,” said Stefan Moller, the President of the Association of European Broadcasters, to a round of applause at the official opening of RadioDays Eueope.Getting straight to the point, Edita Kudlacova, the ABU’s Head of Radio named some of the most important battle grounds for radio in the evolving media environment:
Radio should be easy to find on any device.
We will need to be very transparent with how we use date.
Data must be everywhere, on air, online and on podcasts.
Commercial and non commercial radio companies have to work together to make sure that radio is a first thought for everyone.
Stefan Moller added to the list of important issues for radio:
Media freedom
Easy access to radio on any device
Fair competition – radio is a regulated medium, but others online media platforms are not
Copyright
Unfair advertising restrictions
“There are many challenges, but also many possibilities as radio moves into the future.“We are in the middle of an audio revolution… the content will be fine, we know how to do that, but we must be able to be found on every audio platform… Radio rules, it is the mother ship of audio!”Richard Dawkins president of Bauer Media group, tackled the question, ‘How do we strengthen Radio reach and credibility in times of unprecedented change?’“Amongst all complexities we must never loose sight of an industry that brings joy, by combining the old and mastering the new. “We need to keep our focus on customer-centricity. More than 80% of European populations invite us into their homes, cars and workplaces as new friends… we must engage, listen and respond, to understand their needs. We can do that by combining artistry and data in this new environment.”Radio companies have solid fundamentals:
Creativity, which allows us to combine new content and new platforms
Trust and reliability…  no fake news
Purpose and connection to community
Cultural enrichment… supporting culture, music, etc
Effectiveness
Innovation… we are living the digital future
“We are keeping one eye and one ear on the fundamentals and the other on the future,” said Dawkins.Fighting back tears, Andriy Taranov, from the Ukrainian Public Broadcaster Suspilne Movlennya received a standing ovation from the audience.At last year’s Radiodays Conference, he and a colleague spoke via zoom from a bunker, where they were continuing to broadcast while under attack from Russian forces. This year he was present in person in Prague to deliver a keynote speech.He thanked the world’s radio community for their support during the past year. “I wish I had a much more boring life and that I was not here… but since I am here I would like to offer my thanks to you all for your support during the war.”[embedded content] […]

In a podcast workshop on Day 1 of Radiodays Europe, DW Akademie introduced a process to help podcasters streamline their creation process.The DW Method Kit encourages podcasters to distill the process down to its components by using a series of cards laid out on a table. “We use it to stimulate things that a podcaster must think about in their production process,” DW Academie’s Julia Minner and Ola Möller explained.A South African podcaster, who has used the method told participants, “it made me think about how to create a podcast series differently and communicate it to people.”The cards cover the many steps required from development through production to publishing. Workshop participants wrote their questions and tips about each step on the table, making them available to others for learning and discussion.Some of the valuable points that emerged from the process included:How frequently should you publish? Set a frequency that works for you then stick to it, it can be once a week, daily, monthly, but keep it consistent.Don’t try to copy trends. A lot of tips flowed from the ‘originality’ card. “If you can find what makes you unique, you will find that other solutions will flow from that.”For audio quality, use good but low cost equipment “such as Rode, rather than using just your phone to record your podcast.”Independent podcasters can work with advertising agencies to find sponsors. “I finance my daily podcast by working directly with agencies… I don’t take political advertising or other types of advertising that are not in line with my podcast, based on my ethics.”Use targeting and re-targeting techniques on social media to reach your market.Use a QR Code to link to your podcast, make posters with the QR code and put them in locations where your audience goes.In Germany, ad rates (CPM) for podcasts are more than the current CPM radio advertising payment rates.Some of the key points for podcasters to think about include:DEVELOP
Branding
Cover Art
Duration
Episodes
Goals
Impact
Metrics
Pitch
PRODUCTION
Audio Quality
Equipment
Editing
Sound Design
Location
Research
PUBLISH
Communication Channels
Community Engagement
Episode Titles
Platforms
Promotion
Teasers and Trailers
DW has developed a detailed kit from the training activity that is available to podcasters. For more information contact DW Akademie.The Method Kit is available for free from DW here. […]

The crisp and cool Autumn weather is shining on the Czech capital Prague as RadioDays Europe gets set to begin tomorrow.radioinfo will have exclusive coverage from the conference, which will draw over 1500 people from 65 countries to the Congress Centre near the ancient Vyšehrad castle high atop the city of Prague.

Snow is expected later in the week, but today there were clear skies and crisp temperatures as preparations took place for the three day workshop and conference event, which has become known as one of the world’s greatest radio conferences.Over 30 sponsors will exhibit their products in the exhibition that accompanies the conference, with 170 speakers scheduled to share insights into all aspects of the radio, audio and podcasting businesses.
Register today to join us in Prague for Radiodays Europe!#RadiodaysEurope2023 #RDE2023https://t.co/WBSmhPTFGi pic.twitter.com/UslV21rsDx
— RCS Works (@RCS_Works) March 16, 2023
In its 13th year the conference has become the leading radio, audio, podcast conference of its kind in the world. The audience is senior managers, content creators, technology specialists, production experts, on-air talent, talent managers and agents, podcast talent, podcast producers, platform providers, researchers, data specialists, jingles producers, some superstars and then some people who just make it all work flawlessly for their audiences everyday.As Easter approaches, the city of Prague is decorated with Easter markets to welcome the radio and podcast industry visitors.Through radioinfo’s media partnership with the conference, our readers will have the inside running on all the most important presentations in the schedule, so stay tuned for reports over the next 3 days. […]

Leading Australian-Tongan musician and producer Hau Latukefu joins the ABC Radio Australia weekly line up with a new musical offering every Friday at 2pm PNG time.Come hang with Hau as he spins his favourite tunes to get you in the weekend mood. In The Fale promises a mix of genres and eras to keep the kids and the aunties happy. From dance hall to disco; calypso to country; reggae to roots; hip hop to house music. If it has a pumping groove, Hau’s bringing it to you with the perfect party soundtrack for your next knees up.“When you’re ‘in the fale’ with me,” says Hau, “You will be hopping in the back of the ute, taking a journey through the musical landscape of a typical Latukefu house party. We’ll be cruising through hills of hip hop, dipping into the valleys of country, speeding through the plains of dancehall, and four-wheeling driving through the shallow waters of classical music. I’m excited to start this new show and share all the musical memories of my past, and also create musical memories from the present.”

Hau’s inspiring musical career spans more than 20 years. As the front man for ARIA award- winning Australian hip-hop duo, Koolism, Hau has also hosted radio programs including 14 years at the helm of ABC youth radio network triple j’s Hip Hop Show. In addition, Hau is a record label owner and mentor for emerging artists.Hau is proud of his mixed Australian-Tongan heritage which has always been at the heart of his music and career.According to Hau: “I was born in Australia to Tongan parents, which gave me access to two cultures that I could draw from when it came to writing lyrics and performing on stage. It’s such an important part of who I am as a person and artist.”ABC Radio Australia Manager of Audio Output and Strategy Justine Kelly said: “We are delighted to announce the addition of this exciting new show to our music offering. Hau is an icon of Australian and Pacific music, and we know In The Fale will be ‘music to the ears’ of our audiences.” […]

Inovonics announced the 7th anniversary of the RackPack, the bundled product concept that is popular with customers using Inovonics´ INOmini reduced-size products. INOmini products range from professional monitor/receivers to audio processors and other Toolbox solutions.Few people know the back story of how the RackPack idea was born. It harkens back to a dinner at New York New York Hotel Casino in 2016. After a long day working the Inovonics booth at the NAB show, the Inovonics crew were dog tired but still energized about the activities of the day.Inovonics was presenting a record 6 new INOmini models at NAB. At the show, customers were asking about special discounts on INOmini´s bundled together in the 19” Rack Kit. Great idea, but how do you maintain profit margins by giving away more discount? After much discussion, the Inovonics crew realized that if three INOmini models were pre-installed in the 19” Rack Kit, some of the extra parts could be eliminated to bring down materials costs. That would allow Inovonics to offer more discount.

Jackpot! The idea crystalized for a new product concept that would allow broadcasters the flexibility to choose a variety of the INOmini models and bundle three units into single 1U 19” Rack Kit. Inovonics would preinstall the INOmini´s and offer the bundles at a special discount to both the dealer and the broadcast end-user. A win-win for everyone!But what to call this new bundle? Being in Las Vegas, the Inovonics crew toyed with the idea of naming it after the legendary Rat Pack of entertainers, with different models like the “Frank Sinatra Pack” or the Sammy Davis Jr Pack.” But in the end, practicality won out and they settled on the more straightforward but equally fitting “RackPack”.Since then, the RackPack has become popular with broadcasters and has also led to new INOmini models to add to the Inovonics product portfolio. Inovonics even has a mascot – the INOmini Man. He helps promote the products and RackPack concept. INOmini Man has become the perfect ambassador for the RackPack and INOmini products. What´s a RackPack?  Today, the INOmini RackPack bundles allow customers to choose from a wide selection of INOmini or Half-Rack monitoring options and combine them for a customized solution at reduced cost. Fill the Rack Pack with three INOmini 1/3-rack sized units, two 1/2-rack sized units (such as NOVIA, SOFIA or 610), or any combination of one INOmini with one 1/2-rack size unit.  Units come fully mounted in a 1U 19” Rack Shelf with one Power Supply, Jumper Power Cables, and blanking panel when appropriate. […]