Clive Dickens‘ message to RadioDays Europe attendees was collaborate for success in the new environment, where businesses are using AI to enhance not replace the human connection and shared experience of media.
Dickens is Meliora‘s International Managing Partner.
He outlined the challenges facing the industry:
- A consumption problem
- A sustainability problem
- An investor confidence problem
But his message wasn’t pessimistic, it was a call to action.
“The solution is collaboration,” he said.
According to Dickens, the audio industry must take cues from others that are already working together on shared technologies and platforms.
Investment should be focused on what truly matters: storytelling, distribution, and marketing.
Analysing how American consumers spend their time with media, Dickens had data showing that audiences still spend significant time with audio and tv, but have added social media and YouTube to their main consumption schedule. Browsing the internet, gaming and AI are growing while other activities (including reading books, magazines and newspapers) are just 6% of time spent on daily activities.
He urged media companies to embrace AI, rather than fear it.
Consumers are already ahead: People aged 13 to 34 now spend more time with Al than reading and over 50 percent of adults use AI weekly.
He encouraged audio companies to empower teams to use AI, learn from it, and better understand it, while still to remembering the need for human connection in the radio business.
As Meliora expands its investments, the company has also accounced the expansion of its Asia-Pacific presence through the acquisition of New Zealand digital strategy, performance and content agency Backchat Media.
The deal will see Backchat founder Mel Lee join Meliora as an equity Partner, establishing Meliora’s presence in the New Zealand market while bringing Backchat’s boutique strategy and marketing capabilities into the Meliora international offering.
See our other reports from RadioDays Europe:
“Like making mayonnaise” – Radiodays Europe explores the dynamics of an on-air duo RDE26
“This moment demands explanation.” The rise of The Daily podcast and its importance: RDE26