ASIA

Leading AI Audio Platform Adthos has released a new demo showcasing the latest technologies in AI generated music and images. Not meant as a commercial offering for the creation of jingles, this homage simply celebrates one of the radio jingle greats, PAMS Productions.PAMS Productions was a Dallas-based company renowned for creating some of the most memorable jingles and radio station identification packages from the 1950s to the 1970s. They were particularly well-known in the radio industry for their work in creating distinctive and catchy jingles that helped radio stations establish a unique sound and brand identity.The company’s innovative approach often involved the use of a signature melody or motif that would be adapted and customized for different radio stations. This allowed each station to have a unique yet recognizable sound. PAMS was a pioneer in this field, and their jingles were used by radio stations all over the world, contributing significantly to the distinctive sound of radio broadcasting during that era. Their work remains influential and is often studied and celebrated by those with an interest in the history of broadcasting and audio branding.

Using PAMS Productions legendary WABC ‘where the action is’ jingles made famous in the 1950’s and 1960’s as the inspiration, Adthos has created a variety of jingles that include speech and music and packaged into a promo video (featuring AI imagery) which you can experience here.Raoul Wedel, CEO of Adthos says: “This tribute has been created as a homage to one of the great radio jingles and is purely a fun way for us to demonstrate just what is possible with today’s AI technology“. […]

IP audio innovator Barix adds a new flavor to its encoding family with MultiCoder M400 new low-latency, multi-format solution that can send audio streams to receive points in four different formats. To be introduced at ISE 2024 in Barcelona later this month, the new hardware device also adopts Barix’s next-generation FLEXA platform to enhance buffering performance, application development, and device prototyping among other benefits.For the MultiCoder M400, the enhanced buffering performance of the FLEXA platform eliminates all stream buffering within the device — an important benefit given the presence of multiple encoding engines under the hood. This means that customers can encode audio into four formats, including OPUS, AAC+, PCM and 320KB mp3, and send multiple audio RTP/BRTP streams to receiving devices without delay while retaining exceptional quality.These capabilities make the MultiCoder M400 a unique sibling to Barix’s existing Instreamer IP audio encoders, which accommodate different use cases. For example, the Instreamer Classic supports more streaming protocols, ideal for Live IP Audio Encoding for Streaming Applications while the Instreamer ICE is perfect for organizations streaming solely to an Icecast server without latency concerns for online audio services. The MultiCoder M400’s greater CPU capacity also ensures plenty of space for new features and applications, providing a stronger foundation for ongoing customization and development.

The MultiCoder M400 is also the first Barix encoder to support high-efficiency AAC+ and OPUS codecs, allowing customers across a broad range of verticals in the Pro AV and entertainment industries to send a greater number of streams within the same bandwidth, and at lower bitrates than lower-efficiency codecs.“The MultiCoder M400 is the perfect solution for an organization that needs a secure and reliable solution to serve an array of receiving platforms, including a mix of Barix Exstreamer IP audio decoders and online media players,” said Reto Brader, CEO, Barix. “Our customers and their IT departments can also rest assured that the Barix FLEXA platform at the device’s foundation supports today’s strictest security standards, including HTTPS for the setup of the device.”The MultiCoder M400 pairs well with the recently introduced Exstreamer M400 for customers that want to use the AAC+ and/or OPUS formats for their audio streams. The device also pairs with legacy Exstreamer decoders, meaning that the MultiCoder M400 can serve all existing Exstreamer decoders across a large enterprise organization.ISE 2024 takes place January 30-February 3 at the Fira de Barcelona. Barix exhibits at stand 7C400. […]

New WorldDAB President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, has set out her vision for the next year and beyond.Last November, at WorldDAB Summit in Munich, she set out its vision: that every person can enjoy free-to-air digital radio on the move, at home or work – with DAB+ at the heart of this listening experience.With 2024 now firmly underway, she re-stated WorldDAB’s mission for this year and beyond: to position DAB+ as the free-to-air broadcast backbone for radio’s digital future.

Its top three objectives are:
Sustain the core: Making sure that DAB+ stays a priority in countries where DAB+ is well established, by motivating all stakeholders to promote DAB+ and share best marketing practices, and by making sure in the respective countries the sale of consumer devices is being boosted.
Strengthen automotive: Ensuring that all new cars in and outside the EU have DAB+ as standard in the car dashboard and keep on innovating DAB+ in the hybrid solution with our partners in connected cars.
Develop new markets: Offering help where needed to make sure all information, knowledge and expertise is shared with new territories to roll out DAB+.
For all three points, execution and collaboration are the key to success, she said.“These objectives will be achieved through the dedicated efforts of the various WorldDAB committees, taskforces, and the Project Office, which all work tirelessly to drive and foster cooperation with all stakeholders, and ensure the seamless execution of our initiatives, ultimately leading us toward our goals.” […]

Content from BPRI was fascinated by this study on air talent goals as conducted by Jacobs Media. “Being happy and working with good people” far outranked everything else by a wide margin. When I think back on my radio career, my favorite memories most often are linked to the individuals and the teams with whom I worked. Ratings success, market size and personal achievement remain an afterthought. I don’t think that I’m alone in feeling this way. When I talk to people with whom I worked over the decades, the memories that we share inevitably revolve around the people with whom we worked and the good times that we shared.

The radio business has changed dramatically over the years but the radio experiences that we most cherish have not changed. Building teams of people who work together harmoniously and enthusiastically should be a top priority for radio owners and managers throughout the industry.I got into radio because it seemed like a lot of fun. Of course, there were times when it was really difficult and challenging but, in the end, a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie made it all worthwhile.By Andy Beaubien, BPR […]

As you begin planning your year for 2024, our calendar can help you.Included are our Advertising Feature topics for the year, World Radio and Podcast Conference dates, Survey release dates, Asian and Australian holidays and other important dates for your calendars.Click on any item to see full details.

For AdvertisersHere is our list of features for the year across our Australia/NZ, Asia and Africa sites. Plan your advertising early:100 Years of Radio: All through 2024 with special coverage of stations as they turn 100February: World Radio DayMarch: Digital Broadcasting Symposium and RadioDays EuropeApril: Transmission and Streaming technologyMay: Broadcast AsiaJune: Playout and Music Systems July: The Business of PodcastingAugust: Microphones & Production ToolsSeptember: RadioDays Asia & IBC ConferencesOctober: Audience Research & Broadcast IndiaNovember: Broadcast Consoles & Mixing DesksDecember: Apps, Receivers & Streaming PlatformsAdvertising contact: [email protected]Major Radio and Podcast Conferences & Events in 2024Click on the calendar event for more details of each entry and website links.February:Paris Radio Show: France 6-7 FebWorld Radio Day, 13 FebHEARD, Commercial Radio Australia: Sydney 15 FebGlobal Conference on Media, Communication, and Film: Birmingham, 21-23 FebMarch:ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium: Kuala Lumpur, 4-7 MarSMPTE MetExpo: Randwick, 5-7 MarRadioDays Europe: Munich, 17-19 MarApril:NAB Show: Las Vegas, 13-17 AprPacific Media Partnership Conference: Brisbane, 29-30 AprMay:The Podcast Show: London, 22–23 MayBroadcastAsia: Singapore 29–31 MayJune:July:August:Podcast Movement Conference: Washington, 19–22 AugBeijing International Radio, TV & Film Equipment Exhibition: Beijing, 20–24 AugSeptember:RadioDays Asia: Kuala Lumpur, 5-6 SepIBC Conference: Amsterdam, 13–16 SepOctober:Broadcast India: Mumbai, 17–19 OctIf you would like your event included in our calendar, please email [email protected]. […]

To welcome the Year of the Dragon, Radio Free Asia (RFA) announced its latest QSL card.This is RFA’s 84th QSL design and will be used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from January – April 2024.RFA says it wanted to highlight a value it holds dear  – Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Tibetan (including Uke, Amdo, and Kham dialects), and Uyghur.RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest.  More information about RFA, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is always available at www.rfa.org

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports.  Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help it evaluate the signal strength and quality of its transmissions.  RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.  RFA welcomes all reception report submissions not only from DX’ers, but also from our general listening audience.

Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America […]