Following ARN Media’s half year financial results the other week I had the opportunity to speak to that company’s CEO and its Managing Director,  as well as the Chairman of CRA all of whom are embodied in one Ciaran Davis.

We spoke of the numbers, of course, and how the revenue is down despite audiences going up. And why regional stations, in particular, have shed around four percent in revenue since the same period last year.

We spoke of podcasting and how few people make money from it.

And then we spoke of AI and who amongst  us, employed in radio, should be worried about it. Mr Davis says, “Everybody should be very worried about AI. I think the conceptual benefits sound terrific. But, equally sound terrifying as well.”

Finally, we got onto how one approaches contract negotiations with high profile talent such as, say, for instance – without singling out anyone in particular – such as Kyle and Jackie O.

Plus, we covered some other bits and pieces in between.

Peter Saxon & Associates