ASIA

Mediacorp Singapore is launching ‘The Star Voice’, a radio DJ talent hunt that seeks out aspiring young talents who want to be the next radio voice.Previously named ‘The Sound Makers’, the competition has discovered and seen many personalities who have risen to fame over the years, including YES 933FM’s Chen Ning, Hazelle Teo, Zhong Kunhua and Lee Teng.Organised by Mediacorp YES 933, LOVE 972 and CAPITAL 958, the competition returns in a brand-new format – an unscripted reality show.Hosted by YES 933 DJ Hazelle Teo, the six-episode series starting from July 21 will see contestants go through debate and storytelling challenges, learn to host radio programmes, produce radio dramas and audio advertisements and be guided by experienced mentors – Pan Jiabiao, Dennis Chew and Zhong Kunhua.The winner will walk away with with more than S$80,000 worth of cash and prizes and an opportunity to experience being a radio DJ with Mediacorp’s Chinese radio stations.The Star Voice will be available every Thursday on meWATCH, meLISTEN and Mediacorp Entertainment’s YouTube channel from July 21, with the finale set to broadcast on Aug 25. […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonRecruitment Is A Hot Category NowIf you’ve called on any businesses at all in the past year, you’ve heard this sentence: Finding enough people who want to work is one of the biggest challenges our clients face.We are in a perfect position to help them with this problem.Radio has been a source for finding employees for decades. Those of you who remember X number of years ago (I’ve quit referring to specific decades for obvious reasons), will remember having recruitment specialists on staff who worked with the HR departments of businesses. This person targeted large manufacturing firms, hotels, anyone who employed a lot of people. Even then, the newspaper classified was waning and HR managers were searching for other avenues to fill their openings.If you’ve tried using Indeed or Zip Recruiter or Seek, in Australia today, you’ve probably had mixed results. So have your clients.Why does radio work so well?

If I personally am not looking for a job, I won’t be trolling Seek or Indeed, the newspaper, or any other dedicated source. But, I am probably listening to the radio, as 93% of all Americans and Australians do. If I happen to hear an ad for a job opening, and I know someone who is (or should be) looking, I may pass on the information. Radio provides a wider reach. Often times, it IS another person who introduces a candidate to a job opening.
Radio yields less applicants, but better applicants. Why is that important? I’ve been interviewing salespeople for my clients. Some of them have been advertising on Indeed as well as on their own airwaves. I’ll recount my latest experience with Indeed candidates:
30 applications received.
15 MIGHT have had some work history that could recommend them for this opening.I contacted those 15: Seven responded.I set zoom meetings with the 7: Four stood me up.
I bet some of you have had similar results. Now, I’m not advocating ignoring other avenues to search for employees. I am saying that our clients may have had the same experience. They wasted a lot of time dealing with flaky applicants or those filling out unemployment forms. They, too, are looking for other avenues. That would be us! We may deliver less applicants but we deliver more qualified candidates.
Plus, many of us now sell digital advertising, print, outdoor as well as radio. We can combine the forces of all these media to deliver qualified candidates.
Whom do you prospect? Anyone with a “help wanted” banner. Ask all your current clients. Then, branch out. Are there manufacturing firms in your area? Reach the HR director. Get to know their needs before they arise. Make it simple for HR directors to buy from you. Have a preestablished campaign that can be activated with a simple call from the HR director.
What does that plan look like? We’ve had good response with Sunday-Wednesday schedules with 10-15 a day. Heavy frequency at a time when people are dreading returning to a less-than-satisfactory job. Depending on the number of openings, schedule for 1-3 months. We work with several businesses that run recruiting campaigns year round. They always have openings! For companies that have large staffs, this works well and keeps their pipeline full of good candidates.
Our businesses need our help. Without enough good employees, the business cannot run at its maximum capacity. In 2022, they must be able to fully serve their customers if they are to rebuild from the last two years.
Happy Selling! […]

Radiodays Asia 2022 has announced more speakers for this year’s conference, to be held in-person and online on September 6 and 7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.These include:Richard Sutherland is the Head of News for RNZ, New Zealand’s pre-eminent public broadcaster.  In a career spanning more than three decades, he has worked in TV, radio and online.June Peng has been working in the media research industry for 10 years. Since joining GfK in 2018, she was the key person in servicing the media clients in Malaysia. As the head of the Malaysia Media Measurement Division of GfK, June ensures contractual requirements are met, KPIs are delivered and explore new opportunities to continue raise the bar for radio measurement in Malaysia.David Hua has over 20-years’ experience in the media industry. He has held a number of senior executive roles at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and has been responsible for diverse portfolios across content, marketing, commercial, radio, and digital. Prior to coming to SBS, he led the ABC’s international services including Radio Australia, ABC Australia (TV), and digital services that connect audiences around the world with Australian stories.This will be the third edition of the new conference from the team who produces Radiodays Europe, the world’s largest and leading conference for radio and audio development, in collaboration with broadcaster organisations in the Asia-Pacific.Radiodays Asia includes a fantastic line-up of speakers, leading experts and professionals from around Asia, Australia and across the world. Topics ranging from radio and podcast strategy, new digital developments, successful formats and content development, fact checking and investigative journalism, podcast storytelling and business, social media, audio advertising, sales and the latest research about consumer behaviour. The most important trends and new ideas worldwide in one place.The main conference runs over two days with two parallel tracks of sessions. It will have meet-ups and interactive sessions as part of the programme to facilitate networking and sharing of ideas. There will also be an exhibiton area where you can learn the latest about services from our commercial partners. In addition four educational training workshops will be included in the offer, as well as an evening networking event.

The main Radiodays Asia conference will be hybrid – in-person in Kuala Lumpur and online for those who are unable to travel.The first Radiodays Asia was held in Kuala Lumpur in 2019. It got fantastic feedback from participants, coming from 30 countries. Attendees gave the event an astonishing 4.25 rating on a 1-5 scale.  The second, virtual event in March 2021 saw attendees from 40 countries and the same high rating: 4.25.Click here to register with the Early Bird Price before July 15. […]

India’s Big FM network in India and Hungama ArtistAloud, are setting the stage for hardcore English music lovers and independent artists with ‘The Blue Mic- English Edition’.After the roaring success of the first edition called ‘The Blue Mic’ which gives a platform to Hindi artists, the second edition will play a role in giving budding English artists, bands and their fan base a platform to celebrate independent music.Testing versatility and originality, the show will witness the best of diverse singing talents coming together on a common platform to reach out to their ever-growing fan-base.The show will air Monday-Friday from 4 pm to 5 pm in selected markets and feature Easy Wanderlings, Aditi Ramesh, Druv Kent, Takar Nabam and other popular acts. Each week, the complete video episode will be released on Big FM and Hungama Artist Aloud’s YouTube Channels.Each week, as episode will feature an ‘Artist of the Week’ and delve into their journey, music, inspirations, passions, future plans, interactions, on-air jam sessions and requests from listeners.Sunil Kumaran, COO, BIG FM said: “The last couple of years witnessed the inclination of Indian audiences towards powerful music in the indie segment. The youth are turning to such artists and a parallely strong fan base is mushrooming besides mainstream commercial music. BIG FM and Hungama ArtistAloud are united to serve that trend with a platform wherein emerging artists prove their mettle and music lovers get their next sensation. The overwhelming response of the first edition has catapulted into presenting the second edition exclusively for English music and its thriving fandom in India.”  Soumini Sridhara Paul, Senior Vice President, Hungama Artist Aloud, said: “The resounding success of the property’s first edition is a solid affirmation of the popularity of independent music and a clear indication that independent music and artists can thrive as much as commercial music.” […]

The New Zealand government has committed to spend NZ$4.4 million (US$2.8 million) for a new transmitter for Radio New Zealand Pacific.RNZ Pacific broadcasts into the wider Pacific on shortwave 24 hours a day, collaborating with 22 broadcasting partners across the region.Its current primary transmitter is nearing end of life, and its other transmitter has in effect already been retired.The announcement was made as part of Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi’s plans for the new public media entity which is set to operate next year, following the merger of RNZ and TVNZ.Faafoi said RNZ Pacific’s shortwave transmitter was critical for providing the most trusted and comprehensive news service for Pacific peoples in New Zealand and across the Pacific region.RNZ Pacific Manager Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor said the investment showed the government recognised the significance of RNZ Pacific in the region.The commitment to spend on a new transmitter is in addition to the NZ$327 million (US$209 million) in public funding pledged for the new public media entity during its first three years of operation. […]

All Malaysian talents aspiring to make waves on the radio can participate in the Hitz Announcer Search 2022 contest.The contest, which runs till July 3 offers the winner a chance to take home a RM10,000 cash prize and a contract as a radio announcer on the English language radio station.To participate, listeners need to follow Hitz FM on TikTok (@hitzdotmy) or Instagram (@hitz). Using their own style and creativity, participants need to record a video of themselves doing a duet with the prompter script given.Participants must post their recorded video on their own TikTok or Instagram accounts which must be set to ‘Public’, and also use the hashtags: #HITZAnnouncerSearch and #GoBeyond in the caption. They should then submit the video link and their details on the contest form via www.hitz.com.my. OShortlisted candidates will be contacted by the Hitz FM team via social media platforms. Ten shortlisted contestants will undergo challenges and preparation to be next Hitz FM announcer.As part of the elimination process, there will also be daily eliminations determined by votes from listeners and the Hitz FM team.The final round of the Hitz Announcer Search 2022 featuring the top 5 contestants will be in mid-July. […]