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Coming hot on the heels of the Adthos Ad-Server, Chapter 2 of the Adthos Platform launches today. Adthos Creative Studio is the world’s first browser-based Digital Audio workstation. Not only that, it also brings broadcast-quality, AI-generated synthetic voice technology to the market for the very first time, with synthetic voices that have been specifically trained for use in audio advertising.Using Creative Studio, advertisers and broadcasters will be able to collaborate online to create and edit powerful targeted ads that combine music, live recording and synthetic voices.According to the creators of Creative Studio, it offers more than just a text to speech tool, also allowing users to bring the audio to life with comprehensive audio mixing tools including trimming, equalizers, compressors and more.

There are also multiple possibilities to target ads based on location, demographics and – thanks to dynamic data insertion – even changing conditions such as weather, sports match results or pricing catalogues and inventory.Users will be able to record their ad live or choose from a library of synthetic voices to create their audio, from standard AI voices, right up to professional voiceover artists, including Emmy award winners, actors with more than 100 listings on IMDB, and some of the TOP 10 US Market On-Air Talent. There are currently 40 synthetic voices available in different price categories, with more being added all the time.CEO of Adthos, Raoul Wedel, says: “This might be the most exciting project I’ve ever been involved in, and it’s no exaggeration to say it’s going to revolutionize the industry. I can’t wait for people to experience it for themselves. It’s feels really good to put some power back in the hands of traditional broadcasters, giving them the tools to compete with online and big tech companies.”  More information is available at www.adthos.com/creative-studio […]

Content from BPR“And that’s the way it is”

There is a diminishing trust in digitally delivered news, particularly news disseminated via Google or Facebook.  Leaving aside the current tussle between the tech giants and the Australian Federal Governments new legislation designed to ensure Google & Facebook remunerate Australian news content creators appropriately for news content they monetise on their respective platforms, the bigger strategic issue for news organisations is that an increasing number of people are coming to regard Google and Facebook as cesspools of misinformation rather than enlightenment when it comes to news.  Facebooks decision this week to ban access to news and information pages across Australia will only serve to reinforce the view that Facebook is a platform that cannot be trusted.Regardless of the outcome of the stoush between the Australian Feds and the tech Oligarchs, radio is well positioned to gain usage from people seeking succinct, factual information.  Radio still maintains an extraordinary image for news compared to other sources, particularly in the morning.  Radio news is generally the leading source of breaking news at breakfast time for adults and radio news commands a high degree of trust.  Unfortunately, some radio operators across the globe see investment in news as an inconvenient necessity while others have lost faith in radio’s competitiveness as a source of news.  This last point was indeed a consideration at the beginning of the digital delivery boom however the tech giant’s business goals do not support a fact checked operational environment and more people each day are coming to realise it.  Googles threat a few weeks ago to terminate its search engine in Australia allied with Facebook’s behaviour this week only serves to reinforce perceptions of mistrust in online platforms and that is good for radio.The brevity and frequency of Radio news is ironically it’s greatest advantage (compared to other media).  There is no motivation to beat up a dodgy story into a single masthead headline nor is there the time to manufacture a story to be longer than it needs to be.  This is not to say that you necessarily make radio news better by making it shorter.  There is a point where a radio stations news service loses all credibility if it is too short and perceived to be tokenism. Worse still is leaving listeners frustrated by a lack of sufficient detail in a particular news story.I have come to form the view that great radio news is simply the most relevant facts placed into a meaningful context for the listener with any changes in that information updated across the day.  Good radio news is not about conjecture, opinion or what @zap321 thinks.  Radio’s news opportunity lies in being a beacon of regular fact-checked information across the day.  Let your personalities provide the conjecture, opinion and feedback.Whenever I think about the way news should be, I am inevitably drawn to the great Walter Cronkite. For decades he was voted “the most trusted man in America” which was largely the result of his single-minded dedication to being factual and providing the news in a context everyday people could understand.  There was also a refreshing simplicity to his news sign-off which wrapped up his approach to the task of delivering the news; “And that’s the way it is”By Wayne Clouten, BPR […]

Radio veteran Andre Hoeden has been appointed to the newly created role of content strategist for SPH Radio stations Kiss92 and ONE FM 91.3 in a move to develop even more effective quality content to meet both advertisers’ and audiences’ needs.Having the operational experience of a radio DJ for over 14 years, the technical experience of a producer and a business background, Hoeden is well-placed to be the driving force behind tailoring the right mechanics for radio campaigns in order to maximise engagement with the listeners to achieve advertisers’ business goals.Hoeden commented: “Listeners have a sea of entertainment options. How then do we get them to pick the radio, keep them listening and not switch between radio stations? We tackle these questions constantly to stay relevant; after all, content is king. I enjoy the process of creating new segments, games and campaigns for radio because I feel that I know the medium best, having presented and produced alongside legends in the industry since 2007. Clients expect more and we need to deliver ideas that create buzz, excitement and engagement to cut through the clutter. I’m excited to use my experience to develop fun and engaging campaigns for our clients and listeners.”

True to his nature, Hoeden also jibed: “Waking up at 4am for more than a decade surely adds to my botakness. With this new role, I see my hair finally making a comeback and hopefully happier SPH Radio clients too.”Ignatius Low, Chief Commercial Officer of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), said: “Content marketing is an integral part of any serious marketing campaign today, so it is timely that SPH Radio has dedicated resources to help clients conceptualise customised campaigns. Audio is a growing medium thanks to the increasing popularity of podcasts and the enduring appeal of live radio stations. At SPH, marketeers can find a solution that marries the strengths of both and justify putting marketing spend in this exciting medium.”Bernard Lim, Programme Director for SPH Radio’s English music stations, said: “I’m very excited to work with Andre on this. Because we have a media footprint across social media, print, out-of-home and more, Andre’s role of a content strategist is more pertinent than ever in order to sharpen our communication across all channels to ensure that our content is relevant, engaging, and win-win for both listeners and our trade partners.” […]

Content from BPRMany radio people stress the importance of “being local”. And there is a valid argument to the concept but great networked shows perform strongly too.

But “being” local and “sounding” local are two very different things. Just because an announcer broadcasts from the same city they broadcast to doesn’t always mean they “sound” local.This was brought home to me recently when listening to the Kyle & Jackie O Show (the #1 FM morning show in Sydney, Australia). Kyle was broadcasting from Sydney while Jackie O was in Melbourne for the filming of a TV show. She made the comment about how people in Melbourne use different names than Sydney-siders to refer to the same thing. It was a very entertaining piece of content.For example, a slice of potato which is battered and deep fried is called a potato scallop in Sydney but if you order that in Melbourne they wouldn’t know what you were talking about. In Melbourne it’s called a potato cake.In Australia, the swimming costume creates even more confusion. In the state of Queensland, a swimming costume is called “togs”, in New South Wales they’re called “swimmers”, in Victoria …”bathers”.In the US, there are many regional differences in the names used for the same object or activity. In many parts of the country a water fountain is called just that….in the Northeast, it’s called a “bubbler”. Shopping carts are called “carriages” in the Northeast. And don’t refer to a roundabout as a roundabout there….. they’re called “rotaries”. The University of Wisconsin has even written the Dictionary of American Regional English that documents words and phrases that vary from one place to another across the United States.And then there are pronunciations. The suburb of Coogee in Sydney is pronounced very differently to Coogee in Perth.My point in mentioning all this is that most people in radio will work in many different parts of the same country, sometimes even different countries. To “sound” local on air, talent should research the different regional linguistic nuances. Being in the city to which you broadcast is only one part of “local”.If you are new to a city you can make this part of your show content just as the British broadcaster Christian O’Connell did when he arrived in Australia to do mornings at Melbourne’s Gold 104.3. Obviously his accent made it clear to the listeners that he didn’t grow up in Melbourne so he made “getting to know” the city part of his daily content.And guess what……. The Christian O’Connell Show remains the #1 FM morning show in that market.David Kidd […]

ABU and UNESCO have launched a new competition called T4P Media Awards, which will highlight and promote the crucial role of independent, ethical journalism and citizens’ media literacy for building positive peace in the minds of men and women.The Awards will honour innovative and creative Radio, TV and Digital Media content, which informs and educates audiences on best practices of building positive peace in three critical areas that have increasing urgency in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and “building back better” from the COVID-19 pandemic.The three sub-categories for each of the Radio, TV and Digital Content categories are:

Transformative EducationLiving in harmony with nature, including coping with climate change and biodiversity lossLiving well with diversity, fostering human flourishing and intercultural understandingPrograms broadcast between 5 August 2019 and 5 August 2021 on Radio or TV stations or online and smart devices are eligible to enter the competition. There are no entry fees. The deadline for submission is now 30th September.Entries are open to everyone, including non-ABU members and has a global reach.The Entry Form, Competition Rules and Topics Covered by the Awards can be accessed here.The Jury of the T4P Media Awards consists of internationally recognized media professionals and practitioners in the field of peace – building. The judging will be conducted online in two steps – shortlisting and final judging.The winners of the 2021 T4P Media Awards will be announced during the ABU Prizes Gala Ceremony, to be held online on 19 November 2021 in association with the ABU General Assembly. […]

Two children died in a blaze at Papua New Guinea’s National Broadcasting Corporation in Boroko, a suburb of Port Moresby, the capital, on Friday, August 27.The fire gutted two units of a four-unit property of the public broadcaster in Tanatana Street.According to the broadcaster’s staff and families who reside in the compound, the fire started from one of the rooms on the ground level at about 2 pm.

Two small children, whose father is a senior archivist with the PNG’s oldest radio station, were trapped inside. Firefighters tried to put out the fire but could not save the children.The water used to control the fire damaged the other two units of the building.Staff have blamed the management for negligence over the rundown building.NBC Managing Director Kora Nou said: “NBC’s immediate concern and care is for the eight families affected.  We provided cash to all of them to keep them going for the weekend until we assess the situation more this week. NBC will meet all funeral expenses, including taking the remains of the two kids to their final resting place later this week. We will ask the affected families to temporarily move in with other NBC staff or relatives in NCD. We have also started the process of building new accommodation for the affected staff on existing NBC land. We have sourced quotations for prefabricated houses and will start clearing land this week.” […]