ASIA

Radiodays Europe 2024, one of the world’s most significant events for audio professionals, starts in Munich tomorrow. Running from the 17th to 19th, this year’s conference is themed “Shaping the Changing Audio Landscape.”Over 1400 attendees from the commercial and public sectors are expected to attend, with the speaker line-up including Ellen K from KOST 103.5, Greg James from the BBC, Paula Schuzman from the New York Times, and Maria Lorenz-Bokelberg from Pool Artists.This year’s conference will focus on five key pillars, reflecting the most pressing issues and opportunities in the industry:

Change: As the audio landscape continues to evolve rapidly, Radiodays Europe will explore the latest trends, technologies, and strategies for adapting to change and driving innovation in radio and audio broadcasting.

Diversity: Representation and diversity are essential for ensuring that all voices are heard and reflected in the content we create and consume. Radiodays Europe will examine ways to promote diversity, inclusivity and innovation within the radio and audio industry.

Youth: Engaging younger audiences is critical for the future sustainability of radio and audio. Radiodays Europe will discuss innovative approaches to attracting and retaining youth audiences in an increasingly digital and fragmented media landscape.

AI: Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the way we produce, distribute, and consume audio content. Radiodays Europe will explore the potential of AI technologies and their impact on the future of radio and audio broadcasting.

Podcasting: Podcasting continues to experience exponential growth, presenting both challenges and opportunities for radio professionals. Radiodays Europe will examine the latest trends, best practices, and monetisation strategies in the podcasting industry.

Peter Niegel, General Manager of Radiodays Europe, emphasized the event’s role in fostering industry growth: “We are excited to bring together industry professionals from around the world to explore the future of radio and audio broadcasting. With our focus on change, diversity, youth, AI, and podcasting, we aim to inspire innovation and creativity while addressing the most pressing issues facing our industry.”As well as the sessions and workshops, with conference will provide networking opportunities for industry stakeholders to connect and exchange ideas.For more details on Radiodays Europe 2024, including registration information and the full conference program, visit www.radiodayseurope.com. […]

StreamGuys will unveil a modernised version of their RevenueStream service at this year’s NAB show.The platform first hit the market in 2008 to provide radio and television broadcasters with a secure and controlled service to help them monetise their live streams and on-demand media.This second-gen revamp of RevenueStream introduces a suite of new capabilities, including new subscription management, branding and payment features, along with more flexible monetisation options for all customers. The latter includes metered paywalls, freemium access, membership plans, and donation support, supporting everything from one-time events to recurring subscriptions that support ongoing revenue models.StreamGuys has natively integrated SGplayer media player with RevenueStream to support these new features, although third-party players can also be integrated behind the paywall. The new subscriber management platform, powered by Pigeon.io, aims to help users manage their subscriber lists, membership plans and account renewals, while new customisable integration options aim to help organisations easily visualise their branding elements within SGplayer.Customers also have the option of adding StreamGuys’ SGcontrol tokenization service to fully lockdown and secure content from being stolen as streams occur. Additionally, RevenueStream has expanded its transactional options, providing consumers with more payment choices while ensuring secure transactions that protect subscriber data.Eduardo Martinez, VP of Technology at StreamGuys, highlighted the platform’s role in opening up new revenue avenues and supporting diverse subscription models: “We are excited to bring customers in all verticals a modernized service to market that helps them offer more adaptable subscription models, drive audience loyalty and retention, and maintain a steady revenue flow. Furthermore, integration with our other tokenisation and playout ensure our customers can enjoy a proven and reliable streaming ecosystem.”The NAB Show, where the service will be showcased, runs from April 14-17 in Las Vegas. […]

The DRM Indian automotive group and the DRM Consortium have urged the Indian government to protect significant milestones reached with the DRM digitisation and to approve the extension of DRM to the FM broadcasting band.As the public TV and radio company, Prasar Bharati, has built a new infrastructure around the digitisation of the AM frequency bands, millions of Indian cars on the road (over 6 million) have radios capable of receiving DRM transmissions. Through the efforts of Prasar Bharati, DRM reception in the AM band has considerably improved, as demonstrated recently at BES2024 in Delhi, even in enclosed and covered spaces. This was largely due to the simple optimisation of transmitters, like the one in Nangli (Delhi), and the optimization of the DRM signal configuration, as the recent effort in December 2023 has impressively demonstrated.The next stage in improving and upgrading the DRM Digital Radio reception is to extend the open, non-proprietary DRM standard to the FM band as software upgrade solutions, already comprehensively demonstrated for automotive receivers, can achieve this goal.As stated in the letter, the DRM Indian car industry group, the Indian automotive industry,now require aclear decision from the Indian government on the digitisation of the FM band following the good work done already for AM bands. DRM FM could become easily available through an upgrade or retrofit in the existing cars already fitted with a DRM receiver.Following the example of Europe, the signatories of the letter urge the Indian government to mandate digital radio in all cars in India and to mandate the Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), native to the DRM standard, in all cars, thus fulfilling one of the great goals of the Hon’ble PM of India.Alongside this the public radio, AIR, needs to increase digital broadcast power and optimize the configuration of existing DRM AM-band transmitters and extend pure DRM transmission hours to ensure they also cover peak traffic hours. AIR is also urged to provide a clear and comprehensive, multi-platform communication plan so that drivers and listeners understand that digital radio, with its extra benefits and enhanced audio, is available to them in cars, at no extra cost. Such good communication is vital not only for the car manufacturing industry but also for the growing mobile and portable receiver industry as well.In the opinion of the car group, a clear decision and subsequently, good communication will give the automotive market stability and certainty. Therefore, a decision to mandate digital receivers in cars, make EWF obligatory in receivers and extend DRM to the FM band is forward-looking and makes perfect sense. It will also lead to huge power and spectrum savings, provision of multiple radio services and textual information in most of the Indian languages. […]

Radiodays Europe, set to take place in Munich from March 17 to 19, will feature a host of sessions on AI.There will be a summit which is dedicated  entirely to diving into where we are now and predictions for the future, along with a number of other sessions on Monday and Tuesday.AI & Radio Best CasesEverybody talks about AI in radio but how does is actually work, and how does it sound? In this session, you’ll go behind the scenes of ChatGPT & Co., and hear from people who are actually doing AI-based radio every day – open to share the successes and the learnings.AI in Creative Audio: The Matrix Dilemma ExploredDelve into the transformative impact of AI on the world of audio creativity. Featuring a compelling showdown between AI optimist Lars Bastholm and AI skeptic Kåre Vedding Poulsen, this discussion will challenge and enlighten you and hopefully leave you more puzzled than ever.5 things you must do because of AIIn this session, we’re breaking down the essentials of what AI currently means to the audio business, but we also give you five things you should do starting tomorrow, so you won’t feel left behind.  Plus, you can ask the speakers anything.AI tools for radio stationsNew tools are popping up all the time for radio and podcasting and in this session radio futurologist James Cridland demonstrates some of the latest tools that could save you time and effort, and allow you and your team to concentrate on making great radio.AI and Audio Content Production Exploring the boundless possibilities of artificial intelligence in the realm of audio content production, with a primary focus on news and journalism. AI has rapidly evolved into a pivotal tool within numerous newsrooms, and it’s poised to become an even more integral part of our daily work in the foreseeable future.Register here. […]

Korean Brodcasting System (KBS) President and CEO Park Min unveiled theKBS Future Vision during the 51st anniversary celebration held at KBS headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on March 4, 2024.The announcement detailed the reorganization of KBS into three pillars. Min emphasized the importance of preparing for the next 50 years of KBS while presenting the organization’s future vision. He announced that KBS will be reorganized into three pillars: a division dedicated to fulfilling the mission of public service broadcasting, a high-quality production studio (tentatively named Content K), and a complex broadcasting cultural space (tentatively named K Studio).Future Vision 1KBS’ primary goal is to serve as a public broadcaster by prioritizing current affairs and cultural programming, international broadcasting services, and audience engagement. This will be accomplished by maximizing the value of its TV license fee.Future Vision 2The second future vision is to establish a content production division, named Content K, which will consolidate KBS’ production capabilities. This division will create a high-quality production studio similar to the BBC Studios in the UK and will play a comprehensive role in the production, distribution, and sale of various high-quality content, including dramas and entertainment.Future Vision 3The third vision aims to build a new broadcasting and cultural complex, tentatively namedK Studio, that will serve as a hub for K-pop and K-content. This multi-faceted space will host exhibitions, performances and experiences covering all aspects of culture, from K-pop to drama, food and beauty.Min emphasized that: “The future KBS will be transformed into a comprehensive public media group integrating these three divisions, and a reorganization will be implemented in the first half of the year.”“KBS is dedicated to serving the public, even in challenging circumstances, and will further this commitment by minimizing audience inconvenience and improving the system. This includes implementing mobile ticketing for audience convenience and remodeling the KBS broadcasting tour hall, which is scheduled for September 2024. Also, KBS plans to improve communication with future generations, increase collaboration with community radio, and make KBS content more accessible to the public.” […]

The DRM General Assembly 2024 will be ground-breaking, attractive and innovative. For the first time the annual meeting of the DRM Consortium, together with a newly announced DRM Masterclass, will be held in the Middle East, in Dubai, UAE, on May 19-20.
Participants from all over the world will be invited on May 19 1100-1300, local time, to a “DRM Masterclass” on the DRM standard.
It will be a clear and simple presentation of the standard with plenty of time set aside for questions and brief demonstrations. The “DRM – the What, Why and How” is open to registered guests.
May 20 will be fully dedicated to the General Assembly. This will be an opportunity for the Consortium to provide a general update on all the DRM activities marking a very successful year, to invite VIPs to contribute with their views on digital radio and to involve all participants in strategic discussion sessions. All those present will have a chance during the sessions and break times to network together and meet delegates from key regions.  […]