ASIA

“AI is here to augment us, help us and, at the moment, not to replace us”, said Mike Russell founder of Creator Magic at RadioDays Asia.Here is his selection and explanation of the best tools to use:1. Parrot App
AI celebrity app, useful if you’d like Joe Rogan or Tom Cruise to make an appearance.
2. Adobe Enhance
Takes recorded audio and makes it sound better. Use any microphone and have studio quality sound.
3. ChatGPT
Useful in finding sales and marketing leads, for example, download a list of conference attendees, get ChatGPT to find the best prospects
ask it to find relevant exhibitors in a large conference
it gives reasons to connect with exhibitors
4. Perplexity
Useful in news and identifying trends
Will find sources and attribute sources
Click on one story and ‘ask for follow up’ and you’ll get more stories.
Ask to make this into easy bullet points summary for a radio host.
5. Elevenlabs
Voice clone and voice changer
Speech to speech feature
Note that it can’t translate an accent so Mike’s tip is to use text to text speech to get a specific accent.
Useful when creating an automated voice podcast
6. UVR
Voice remover
Upload a file and run conversion
Gives a seamless, vocal track, with background music and splitting. Spits out a bunch of different stems.
7. Auphonic
For post production use
Your AI sound engineer for radio – all in one hit
Does noise gating
Has presets
8. Playphrase
Searches and presents movies quotes
9. Midjourney
Images
Set a scene where, what, who? e.g..in a garden,
Use flags in your prompt
Sample prompt: powerful wizard standing inside a circle of standing stones.
10. Face fusion
Face swap for thumbnails.
Mike answered a question regarding the responsibilities of AI users for copyright compliance. He suggested using ‘commercially safe AI tools’ such as Replica.When asked if there is any way an on air personality could ensure their voice was safe from being replicated, he answered that he wasn’t aware of a way you could protect yourself when your voice and images are out in public. […]

Strategy, technology, innovation and monetisation were the four main topics on the agenda in the RadioDays Asia Big Discussion session when radioinfo’s Steve Ahern led the conversation with Abe Thomas and Jake Abdullah.Abe Thomas, CEO of BIG FM and Jake Abdullah, fomer Astro CEO and now advisor to Media Prima Audio, shared their views on the four industry pillars in the fast changing media landscape across Asia. “One way we encourage innovation in our organisation is by focusing on an Innovation of the Month,” said Abe. “Recently we trialled using Dhun to create and produce a song for friendship day. The key learning was the importance of using prompting to get the desired product.”“Innovation is key in Media Prima,” said Jake. “We are the first to initiate an AI D.J. We need to look at AI from the macro side not just the audio… AI will replace people who don’t know AI.”Steve urged delegates to “embrace the technology, understand and know how to use new innovations such as AI.”Jake, who is also an executive coach, responded, “as a coach for CEO’s I begin my day at 5am and I work without digital devices until 6.30 am, but I also maintain a good online profile. I’m enjoying building a following and having the opportunity to persuade and improve someone’s life.”“There’s talk about advertising money decreasing”, said Steve. “Is monetization more difficult at the moment?”Abe said listenership is growing but advertisers have more choices where to spend their money. “Radio is growing every year. Radio is a medium that seamlessly integrates and amplifies other mediums. Radio is now in the age of personalisation, we must communicate that message to retain advertising.”Abe also suggested tapping into the trends for influencer marketing, satisfing the demand for micro-level activations and harnessing digital assets such as social media, commerce and gameification.“Attention is currency. We’re all fighting for the same attention, 94% of all Malaysian’s are connected.“TiKToc is the fastest growing social media, AI influencers are now in the market… We have to think about the requirements of advertisers to be integrated,” said Jake.Steve asked about changing media buying trends. Abe said, “We shouldn’t sell only radio or only digital, we must sell ideas that come from and include audio and digital, then advertisers will be convinced.”“Big influencers are making money on social media. Do we want them in radio? asked Steve.Abe said his station, Big FM in India, has now developed new deals with the talent that recognise what they bring to the station and share revenue appropriately. Jake said influencers are important but it depends on their credibility because people are now becoming more skeptical of influencers.  “Micro influencers are dependent on how credible they are.”Commenting on trusted personalities Jake said there are different levels of trust in Malaysia. “In rural areas, public broadcaster personalities have an advantage.”“Brands that have a well articulated purpose are trusted… Influencer marketing is about content not followers,” said Abe.“If trust is eroded, what do we have to offer in this sea of misinformation?” asked Steve.The pair agreed that regulations and compliance are an important part of trust. The radio industry has long ago worked out how to meet its social obligations. “We don’t discuss politics and religion on radio in Malaysia, but unregulated podcasts can discuss anything. Whatever you like to consume a podcast will give it to you.”Talking big picture strategy, Abe said: “For great execution you need a great culture in the business… every individual needs to be aligned with what we have to do.”the strategy for media companies must be focused on audience attention, according to Jake. “I’m always competing for your attention. What are your triggers? For example empathy, can I harness that to keep you listening or watching longer… I’m winning when I have their attention.”  […]

Over three days in Kuala Lumpur, RadioDays Asia 2024 showcased the latest technology and ideas for the radio, podcast and audio industries.radioinfo spoke to some of the exhibitors and companies at the annual Asian conference.Capital of Media, a Dutch audio agency, was represented at Radiodays Asia by Dave Albers. He explains what Capital of Media has to offer.[embedded content] […]

“Market researchers are continuing to evolve so they can grow and improve their understanding of the market base,” said June Pang, Regional Senior Manager, Media Measurement, GfK. “Our experience in Australia with 360 measurement shows that we can collect data that is more representative of audience habits than the current methods we employ.”“We’re partnering with Astro to adapt the Australian experience with 360 measurement to the local Malaysian market,” said June. Since 2016 GfK have used a hybrid measuring system of paper diary and and online diary, RAM, to capture radio listening habits across different locations and devices.GFK Radio 360 Malaysia, has brought together both the current measurement diary system and streaming data from station server logs to provide information on AM/ FM and streaming audiences. This allows for additional media platforms to be measured more accurately than previously.Radio 360 data for Malaysia allows for deeper insights to be uncovered, including that radio listening home is consistent between AM/ FM and streaming. AM/FM listening is also high in the car, where as listening to radio streams is higher in the workplace.The line graph shows that streaming peak times ( green line) are different from traditional AM/FM peaks (yellow line) and that day time streaming exceeds AM/FM listening during working hours.Radio 360 data for Malaysia can drill down further than previous to give programmers and advertisers the ability to curate lifestyle content to reach audience segments more accurately.For more information about Radio 360 in Australia see previous report […]

GatesAir, a subsidiary of Thomson Broadcast dedicated to wireless content delivery, introduces new high-efficiency, low-power solutions for two award-winning product lines that offer insights into the changing requirements for RF infrastructure. To be introduced at IBC2024, GatesAir will unveil the third entry to its groundbreaking IMTX Intra-Mast series, which consolidates miniature transmission modules inside a common chassis with minimal infrastructure. GatesAir will also showcase the two latest models for its Flexiva GX family of FM transmitters, one that is new to IBC visitors and the other which begins shipping in time for the show.GatesAir has added to both lines in response to global customer demand for high-efficiency, low-power solutions that solve problems, reduce costs and reliably operate over the long term.“Five years ago, GatesAir laid the groundwork for a new era of low-power innovation with three key new product lines: the PMTX-1 outdoor weatherproof series, the MultiD Series of multicarrier DAB systems, and the IMTX Intra-Mast series,” said Ray Miklius, Vice President of Technology, GatesAir. “Through the unique vision of our European engineering team, these TV and DAB systems shed new light on the possibilities of transmitter design while solving existing problems and preparing customers for future opportunities in content delivery. The spirit of these high-efficiency designs are found in our Flexiva GX line in ways that best serve the FM market. All four award-winning lines will be on our IBC stand, and we’re excited to share the benefits of our latest IMTX and GX products.”GatesAir’s Flexiva GX line now includes five low power models from 50 W to 3 kW, with the new GX2K 2kW model receiving its IBC debut. GatesAir will also be shipping the GX3K (3 kW) announced at IBC2023 before the show floor opens on September 13.The compact, high-density architecture of the GX2K accentuates the value proposition of the Flexiva GX line for the FM engineer. Flexiva GX transmitters provide radio customers with a strong power-to-size ratio for all six power levels — including the higher power 5 kW and 10 kW models — by leveraging the latest LDMOS technology. The design packs exceptional power density into a compact chassis, with overall efficiency ratings up to 76 percent.New for IBC, GatesAir has enhanced the GUI for all six GX models, including integrated audio playback and a supporting playlist manager. Options include GPS receivers for SFN support, and GatesAir’s Intraplex IP Link 100e (IPL-100e) module. The IPL-100e integrates within Flexiva GX transmitters, enabling direct IP connectivity of FM audio and data from the studio. The IPL-100e also provides support for optional integrated professional ten-band audio processing software, which can save users thousands of dollars in auxiliary equipment.The Flexiva GX family is available worldwide, and can be configured to serve large national or regional FM single-frequency network (SFN) deployments. Using GatesAir’s MultiSystem Controller (MSC) technology, Flexiva GX transmitters also support N+1 configurations, enabling large national network operators to build very flexible and consolidated transmission sites that meet stringent uptime requirements.IBC2024 takes place September 13-16 at the RAI Amsterdam, where GatesAir exhibits at Stand 8.C74. […]

The Malaysian government is set to go ahead with a regulatory framework which will make licenses mandatory for all social media and instant messaging platforms.According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the framework was introduced to combat the increasing cases of cybercrime, including online fraud and gambling, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes against children. It will come into effect on January 1, 2025.“With the enforcement of this framework, all Internet messaging service providers and social media service providers with at least eight million users in Malaysia must apply for an Applications Service Provider Class Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588). Any service provider operating without a licence after this period is committing an offence and appropriate legal action can be taken,” it said in a gazette notice on August 1.If convicted, the service provider can be fined up to RM500,000, or face imprisonment up to 5 years, or both. The platforms can be liable for a further fine of RM1,000 for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.During the grace period (August 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024), MCMC said it will develop comprehensive guidelines detailing the conduct requirements and responsibilities that must be proactively adhered to by the said service providers in Malaysia.The move has raised concerns from the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an organisation representing tech giants like Meta, Apple, Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Rakuten, X, and LinkedIn.AIC has issued an open letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to raise concerns about the latest framework and urged the government to pause it and consider how it aligns with its broader economic goals before implementing it.It believes the framework introduced by the MCMC is unworkable for the industry and will adversely impact innovation by placing undue burdens on businesses. It added that the move would hinder investments and deter future ones due to the complexity and cost of compliance.AIC also says the proposed implementation time leaves the industry with insufficient clarity and inadequate time to fully grasp the implications.Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil responded: “AIC does not represent all companies, just a few, and there are also others that are unrepresented. They are big tech, but our laws are bigger, and if they want to operate in Malaysia, they have to respect and comply with the requirements.“The Malaysian government still stands by our position that social media and instant messaging platforms need to have a regulatory framework to ensure a safer internet landscape for Malaysians, especially children and families.”Expressing his willingness to meet with any parties regarding the licensing requirements, he said: “We will continue discussions with companies. We have yet to make a final decision, and Malaysia is very open to discussions.” […]