Radio Tomorrow with James Cridland
I had a conversation a while ago about FM RDS, that thing which tells you what radio station you’re listening to on a big screen in your car, so you don’t forget. For some reason, this US radio company that I was talking to didn’t have RDS. The fundamental question from the radio guy? “Yeah, but how can I earn money from it?”
There was an interesting article recently in a US publication – Can Podcasting Increase Your Ratings? – and another from Dick Taylor, asking What’s Radio’s Why? – in essence, what’s the point of radio?
For some reason, these two articles made a lot of things make sense. It reminded me of what drives people.
Some people reading this will think that they do radio to get ratings and revenue. That’s the reason why we do anything – ratings or revenue (and ideally both).
Others, though, think that they do radio for a different reason – and it’s a little simpler than “get ratings or get revenue”. Simply, we do radio (or a podcast, or a website, or a newsletter, or a conference, or any type of work) for one reason alone: to delight someone.
If we delight someone, ratings and revenue will surely follow. But I suspect that for many people, ratings and revenue isn’t why they’re in the business. They’re in it because they have an overwhelming urge to delight other human beings.
We can delight them by doing a good job covering stories they’re interested in. We can delight them by playing songs they love. We can delight them by being good company when they need it.
Global, the media and entertainment company headquartered in London, has an “Obsession Statement” rather than a corporate one. It’s a great thing, and I’ve been known to read it aloud in meetings where people are violently disagreeing or getting highly emotional about what they do. Because it’s OK to feel strongly sometimes.
Valerie Geller, when speaking at Next Radio about four years ago, said that our listeners’ health and safety should be our first priority. She didn’t say ratings and revenue (though she’s also seen plenty of that). Instead, caring for our audiences is number one.
Perhaps those who are in radio for the “ratings and revenue” lack the passion of those who are in it to delight audiences. And maybe, just maybe, that lack of passion results in some of what we hear on the air.
Are you in the business of ratings and revenue? Or are you in the business of delighting our audience?
About The Author
James Cridland, the radio futurologist, is a conference speaker, writer and consultant. He runs the media information website media.info and helps organise the yearly Next Radio conference. He also publishes podnews.net, a daily briefing on podcasting and on-demand, and writes a weekly international radio trends newsletter, at james.crid.land.
Contact James at [email protected] or @jamescridland
Both RDS on FM and text display on DAB+ apart from displaying addional station ID, song now/later, weather and news bites could well be opportune for running advertisements and competitions.
Most radios have a one line text display and have a slow-running text display and the rate of display of text cannot be adjusted. Are potential customers willing to wait to read an advertisement.
In the case of DAB+ there are not many receivers with an elaborate colour display which may be conducive for monetisation of running text services. There is an Australian-designed kit https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DAB-FM-Digital-Radio-Development-Board-Pro-/142016258850.
Unfortunately it requires knowledge of electronics and radios with elaborate displays appear to be few and far.
Therefore unless there is some kind of incentive such as competitions for prizes in order for people to watch the text display, there is the risk that the 'running text' display may be 'blocked' by switching to display mode of time, signal strength and date.
Regards
Anthony of exciting Belfield
I wish to comment briefly on one aspect of the article, on RDS and text services broadcast via FM and DAB+.
Both RDS on FM and text display on DAB+ apart from displaying addional station ID, song now/later, weather and news bites could well be opportune for running advertisements and competitions.
Most radios have a one line text display and have a slow-running text display and the rate of display of text cannot be adjusted. Are potential customers willing to wait to read an advertisement.
In the case of DAB+ there are not many receivers with an elaborate colour display which may be conducive for monetisation of running text services. However, there is an Australian-designed DAB evaluation kit made by "6th logic dab evaluation board made by "6th Logic". Google search terms "6th Logic", dab, evaluation kit.
Unfortunately it requires knowledge of electronics and radios with elaborate displays appear to be few and far.
Therefore unless there is some kind of incentive such as competitions for prizes in order for people to watch the text display and unless some other information such as news and weather are deleted because of the slow scrolling speed, there is the risk that the 'running text' display may be 'blocked' by switching to display mode of time, signal strength and date.
Regards
Anthony of exciting Belfield