For some, this Momentum is their first-ever, and they’re coming to get “indoctrinated” into all there is to know, see, and experience about the Christian media industry. 

For many, this annual pilgrimage to Orlando to reconnect, network, and to learn is a highlight of your year. The spectacular opportunity that Momentum offers – which is a testament to the CMB team’s dedicated effort and exceptional standards – is VERY rare. 

In advance of this year’s conference, I’m issuing 4 challenges to all of us “Momentum Vets” (myself included) to ensure that this year is not just another “rinse and repeat” of previous years, and that we truly capitalize on this week for ourselves and for the industry we serve. 

They are:

Be Invested – For us “seasoned” Momentum veterans, remember the exciting journey of the week ahead for first-time attendees – many just starting out in their careers. We have a special opportunity to positively shape their experience by intentionally connecting with a first-timer, engaging in conversation, asking questions, and simply investing something of yourself in them. Find some time during “the crazy” to welcome someone new.  

Be Present – It’s truly disheartening to see phones and laptops come out when our artist partners (many of whom we call our friends) are on the Momentum stage sharing their new work. Imagine how discouraging it must feel for them to perform for a room of seemingly disinterested radio partners. Let’s be present and give them the gift of our full attention.

Be gracious – Putting together a conference to the standard of excellence that Momentum achieves every year is not cheap, and the involvement and support of the record labels and business sponsors is critical to the event’s success. Engaging with sponsors, thanking label reps for the swag, artist experiences, etc., goes a long way toward reinforcing the value and importance of their partnership with CMB in the future. 

Be ready – Radio is in a really fragile state right now (just ask our neighbors in mainstream radio!), and while there is tremendous hope and opportunity on the horizon, seizing those opportunities will require us to embrace new thinking, change, and taking actual risks. 

It’s why the theme of Momentum 2025 is Risk.

We must all be open minded enough to examine everything we do with new eyes, from new perspectives, and drop our old wineskins for new future-forward thinking. 

Attending Momentum while remaining close-minded to the realities that we face and the change that will be required to navigate these next chapters is, in my opinion, short-sighted, exploitive, and poor stewardship.

Instead, let us be ready to grow, lean into risk, and forge a magnificent future together.   

See you in Florida!

The post Maximizing Momentum first appeared on CMB.

The post Maximizing Momentum appeared first on CMB.

Data-Driven Music Broadcasting

The key to this transformation lies in data. In the past, radio stations relied on call-in requests, expensive call-out and auditorium research, and intuition to decide what music to play. Today, they have access to a wealth of data that can inform their decisions. 

Data about listener preferences, music trends, and even the time of day can all be used to curate playlists that resonate with listeners. This data-driven approach allows radio stations to stay ahead of music trends and keep their content fresh and relevant.

Competing with Music Streaming Platforms

Music streaming platforms have gained popularity due to their personalized music recommendations. They use powerful algorithms to analyze a user’s listening history and suggest songs they might like. 

However, radio has a unique advantage. While streaming platforms offer personalization, radio offers a sense of community. Listening to the radio connects people to their local community, something that a playlist generated by an algorithm can’t replicate.

To compete with streaming platforms, radio stations can use data to offer a level of personalization while maintaining their community focus. They can use data to understand the music preferences of their local community and tailor their playlists accordingly.

The Role of Advanced Analytics

Advanced analytics can take this data-driven approach to the next level. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that might not be apparent to the human eye. 

For example, an algorithm could analyze listener data to identify when people are most likely to listen to the radio and what type of music they prefer at different times of the day. This could allow radio stations to optimize their music programming to attract more listeners.

 Looking Ahead to 2029

As we look ahead to 2029, the future of radio broadcasting is exciting. With the power of data and advanced analytics, radio stations will be able to offer personalized, relevant content that resonates with their listeners. 

While music streaming platforms will continue to be a major player in the music industry, radio has the potential to hold its own. By leveraging data and focusing on their local community, radio stations can offer a unique listening experience that keeps listeners coming back.

In the end, the future of radio isn’t a battle against music streaming platforms, but a journey of adaptation and evolution. With data as their compass, radio stations are well-equipped to navigate this journey and thrive in the music broadcasting landscape of the future.

The Power of Real-Time Data

One of the most significant advantages that data offers is the ability to make real-time decisions. In the context of radio broadcasting, this means being able to adapt the music programming based on current trends, events, or even the mood of the listeners. 

For instance, if data shows a sudden surge in popularity for a particular song or artist, radio stations can quickly include that in their programming. Similarly, if there’s a local event or festival, stations can tailor their content to reflect that, creating a stronger connection with their listeners.

The Intersection of Radio and Streaming

As we move towards 2029, we can expect to see a more significant intersection between radio and streaming. Radio stations can leverage the best of both worlds by integrating data-driven personalization from streaming platforms with the communal experience of traditional radio.

Imagine a radio station that not only plays music that resonates with the local community but also offers personalized segments or channels. These could be based on data collected from listeners, providing a unique blend of radio and streaming that caters to individual tastes while preserving the communal listening experience.

The Role of AI in Radio Broadcasting

AI will play a crucial role in the future of radio broadcasting. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data much faster and more accurately than humans, providing valuable insights and predictions.

AI can help radio stations understand their listeners better, predict future music trends, and make more informed decisions about their programming. It can also automate certain tasks, like playlist generation or ad placement, making operations more efficient.

Conclusion

The future of radio is bright and exciting. As we approach 2029, radio stations that embrace data and advanced analytics will be best positioned to compete with music streaming platforms and captivate their listeners. The key to success lies in leveraging data to enhance the traditional radio experience, not replace it. By doing so, radio can continue to be a vital part of our music-listening experience for years to come.

The future of radio is bright and exciting. As we approach 2029, radio stations that embrace data and advanced analytics will be best positioned to compete with music streaming platforms and captivate their listeners. The key to success lies in leveraging data to enhance the traditional radio experience, not replace it. By doing so, radio can continue to be a vital part of our music listening experience for years to come.

As we approach the end of the 2020s, the landscape of music broadcasting is undergoing a seismic shift. The rise of music streaming platforms has challenged traditional radio broadcasting, forcing it to evolve and adapt. However, radio is far from being a relic of the past. With the power of data and advanced analytics, radio is poised to compete and even thrive in this new era.

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The post 2029 The Future of Radio: How Data is Transforming Music Broadcasting first appeared on CMB.

The post 2029 The Future of Radio: How Data is Transforming Music Broadcasting appeared first on CMB.

This article said, “Online communities have become pivotal for engagement. Marketers face challenges navigating between owned channels and social media. The evolution of community-building resources provides great ownership and purpose rather than solely relying on the influence of external platforms.” This piqued my interest because we’ve been having this same discussion over the CMB Forums. Over the past few years, people have asked us to consider moving them to an alternative platform, such as Facebook Groups. This article by TINT noted that 67.4% of consumers feel more connected through community than social media. After much research, discussion and prayer, we decided to make a concentrated effort on our Forums. 

We all crave a sense of belonging, a place where we connect with others who understand what we are going through. That is why the CMB Forums were created over 20 years ago (shoutout to Bob Thornton). They bring our radio community together offering support, shared resources, problem-solving, connection, authenticity and more. Each forum is tailored to meet the specific needs of radio. 

If you are looking for community, we hope that you’ll consider joining us on one of our eight topic based forums. Get started here >> 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

“Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:4

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When I run training workshops on Email marketing, Email marketers often ask “how do our campaigns compare“? They’re looking for email statistics to compare subscriber engagement for average email open rate, clickthrough, delivery, unsubscribe and complaints rates, ideally within their sector. That’s what we cover in this regularly updated compilation of the best email marketing response statistics for different sectors and countries.

Fortunately, there are a number of good options to benchmark email response across different sectors. The best stats sources are compilations by email marketing service providers who produce statistics across their clients’ campaigns. We have grouped the stats into the top eight questions asked including:

• What are the email engagement rates by industry?
• What are the email engagement rates for larger businesses?
• What is the breakdown of market share for email clients on mobile and desktop?
• What is a good open and clickthrough rate? How do they differ by type of email?

For the most meaningful comparisons, we need to go beyond industry averages and drill down to the comparison of email types. For example, transactional emails such as a welcome sequence tend to have much higher interaction and click-through rates than a regular newsletter.

The benchmark statistics on email response vary depending on the types of email platform vendor used to send email. Lower-cost platforms tend to have SMB customers who are less well-known brands and this will mean that they have a different response from higher-cost enterprise email platforms which are better-known brands.

Email statistics – January 2023 update

We will continue to update these stats through 2023 as new reports are produced by the main email platforms which we link to show the latest open rates and clickthrough rates.

We have a wide range of tools and templates for marketers looking to make data-driven marketing decisions. Whether you’re looking for channel excellence or marketing strategy advice, we’ve got resources to support your digital marketing optimization journey.

Q1. What are the email open and clickthrough rates by industry?

This table, from data for B2B and B2C businesses published in January 2023 by Constant Contact, gives the average email open and clickthrough rates by industry. The overall average open rate is 16.97%, with a 10.29% CTR – how do your email rates compare?

The most recent 2022 GetResponse Email marketing benchmarks sector summary also includes unsubscribe and spam rates. The Getresponse data is also useful since it gives a worldwide average of open and clickthrough rates by both B2C and B2B sectors. This gives one of the best sources for comparing email response statistics by country and region.

It’s a useful report because it has the breakdown of opens, clicks and unsubscribes by industry for B2B and B2C markets. This shows a much lower response in some sectors such as Events, Education, and Legal Services.

If you’re working for a retailer I recommend taking a look at the Barilliance Retail email marketing statisticswhich have good insight on engagement with different types of retail email and the impact of personalization.

I also like that includes Click to Open rates which is one of the best ways to compare the effective of your email creative.

Q2. What are the email engagement rates for larger businesses?

The results for Getresponse and Constant Contact are more typical of smaller and mid-size businesses, rather than large brands.

This Email benchmark compilation 2021 from Accoustic (formerly IBM marketing and commerce) represents 750 companies representing 3,000 brands in 40 countries. So breakdowns by EMEA, UK, US and APAC are available too. I’ve selected the breakdown by industry which is more useful to compare your performance with.

But what is the average email open rate? Here are the open rates with the mean showing the variation from the poorest performing sectors like publishing and tech to consumer brands and non-profits.

Rather than click-through rates that are also available in the report, I have picked out Click-to-open which shows engagement with the copy and creative. As a rule of thumb you should look for 10 to 15% CTOR, so can compare emails against this benchmark.

Finally, from this benchmark, I thought it would be useful to share the data on list churn as indicated by hard bounce rates and spam complaint rates. You don’t want to go too high on these since you could have a problem with inbox delivery and likely your ESP will get in touch.

Q3. What is the breakdown of market share for email clients on mobile and desktop?

Litmus, one of the best sources for stats on email marketing, regularly produces a summary of reading environments and email clients, so you can see the latest figures for 2023. Note that Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) has the effect of reducing open rates, so when comparing sectors and countries, open rates are now skewed by different proportions of people using Apple Mail.

Did you know more than one third of emails are opened on an Apple iPhone?

The latest Litmus compilation of email client market share shows why it’s so important to consider how well your emails render on mobile. It’s based on the percentage of opens on different platforms.

Q4. What is a good open and clickthrough rate? How do these differ for different industries?

Although we are presenting averages in this article, to answer this question it’s important to go beyond averages in your analysis of your email marketing so you can compare ‘apples with apples’. It’s worth segmenting your email response in this way:

• By email type (see below)
• By offer type
• By audience demographics

This will give you a better indication of performance as will analysis by revenue per 1000 emails sent. To show the difference of email type, the GetResponse Email marketing benchmarks include these averages by email opens.

It’s no surprise that triggered and autoresponder (welcome) emails have higher open and click rates since they are more relevant or immediate, more in the context of an action that a subscriber has taken. It shows the power of marketing automation.

Sales Cycle also has some good insight showing response rates for remarketing emails like cart abandonment email rates in their 2019 E-commerce Remarketing report.

Q5. How do engagement rates vary by email frequency?

Deciding on frequency is a key part of your email contact strategy. GetResponse has some useful data showing how open and clickthrough rates decline as frequency increases.

First for enewsletters…

Then for number of autoresponder messages…

This is useful insight since it shows that higher frequencies will produce higher overall responses. Note that in the case of autoresponders – typically used for welcome sequences, the majority only send a single message, so they are missing out by only sending one.

Q6. How do the number of characters in the subject line affect response?

Get a response also have some useful insight on how engagement varies depending on the number of characters. In the subject line. You can see that there is a sweet spot between 20 and 60 characters where they open and click through rates are highest.

They also present insight on the impact of including emojis in the subject line. While this is often thought to increase open rates, their data suggest that on average it decreases both open and click through rates so it is a technique to use sparingl

Q7. How to email open and click-through rates vary based on the day of the week?

Knowing the best day of the week to send your emails is really useful so this is another frequently asked question. The data from get response shows that open rates are actually fairly constant on different days of the week, but with Friday slightly higher than other days, the weekends are definitely lower note that this varies for business-to-business and business-to-consumer Email marketing. For mid-week Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday tends to be higher.

Q8. How do I open and click-through rates vary based on the time of day?

The best time of day to send and newsletter early email campaign. It’s another frequently asked question. This tends to vary a little more after the time zones have been normalised. You can see that around breakfast time, lunchtime and especially early evening are the best times – we can speculate that these coincide with commutes and starting/finishing work.

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The post 2023 Email Marketing Statistics first appeared on CMB.

The post 2023 Email Marketing Statistics appeared first on CMB.

Edison data shows smart speakers are still seeing more users: the fourth quarter figure was up eight percent from a year earlier. But there was no holiday gift-giving “pop” for the devices in either 2021 or 2022. That compares to the period from 2017 to 2019 when smart speaker ownership soared from 7% to 33%.

Liz Mayer, Insights Manager at Cumulus Media and Westwood One, says that while forecasters initially predicted a significant number of use cases for smart speakers, that outlook may have been overly optimistic. “Perhaps ownership rates have stalled due to limited consumer applications besides playing music and answering simple questions,” she says. “Since smart speakers are inherently at-home devices, consumer interest and attention might be more focused on out-of-home activities in the post-pandemic era,” Mayer says.

The latest data shows the gains smart speakers are having are among older Americans. Edison says the rate of ownership doubled to 26% between Q4 2018 and Q4 2022 among people aged 55 and older. That compares to an 88% growth rate for 13 to 34 year olds, who may be more focused on the latest mobile phone than smart speaker.

The rate was higher among 35- to 54-year-olds, which Edison tracked a 96% growth rate for ownership of the devices during the four-year period. Yet there may also be a ceiling for interest in smart speakers. Edison says about half (47%) of 13- to 54-year-olds own one.

“Only one in four Americans over the age of 55 own a smart speaker, perhaps due to limited perceived benefits,” Mayer says.

Despite the slower growth rate, Mayer says that smart speakers remain “vital” to AM/FM since they are now more likely to be the only radio device inside the home. Edison’s 2022 Infinite Dial study revealed that 40% of smart speaker owners do not have a radio in their home, which was up from 28% in 2018. “It is impressive that in five years, over a quarter of total AM/FM radio streaming is now occurring via smart speakers,” she writes.

Even so, Triton Digital reports the proportion of total U.S. AM/FM radio streaming occurring through a smart speaker is also no longer growing at the pace in has been during the past few years. During the past two years, AM/FM radio streaming via smart speaker has grown slightly, rising from 23% to 26%.

The latest Edison Share of Ear data, also made public by Cumulus, points to on-air promotion paying off for AM/FM radio. It says that more than a third (36%) of the ad-supported audio time on smart speakers goes to AM/FM. That is ten points higher than second-place podcasts.

Those numbers are likely higher in the big cities. Mayer points out that in the top 10 DMAs, smart speaker ownership is 12% more likely than average according to Nielsen Scarborough. In markets 51 and smaller, ownership is 20% less likely. Salt Lake City had the highest rate of smart speaker ownership. There, people were 47% more likely to own one, with higher than average rates also in Austin, Chicago, Dallas and Indianapolis.

Mayer says Cumulus Media has seen first-hand growth in how important smart speakers are to its streaming success. Nearly a third (32%) of all streaming to its more than 400 radio stations during February went to a smart speaker. That is up 168% from February 2019.

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The post Smart Speakers Have Become ‘Vital’ To Radio, But Device Ownership Growth Is Slowing appeared first on CMB.

The solution, Studio.AI, intelligently syncs audio files with script lines and selects relevant data triggers for personalized ad experiences, the firm says. 

The goal is to help advertisers “build and launch campaigns that are tailored and high-performing, thereby reducing the barriers to entry for advertising on digital audio,” says Steve Dunlop, founder and CEO of AMA.

The tool is available for use in such audio platforms as Spotify, Pandora, Acast and iHeart.

AMA is exploring integrations with AI tools, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

According to AMA, Studio.AI provides these benefits:

Audio-Script Synchronization– Studio.AI automatically matches the ideal audio voice elements to each script.

Hyper-Personalization with Data Triggers–Studio.AI  enables advertisers to deliver tailored audio ads to based on data triggers like location, date/time, weather, device type, events and ad rotation.

“Brands, big and small should be equipped with creative capabilities enabling them to develop experiences that are scalable, performant and cost-effective,” Dunlop argues.

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The post New AI-Based Tool Would Help Advertisers Place Personalized Ads In Audio Content first appeared on CMB.

The post New AI-Based Tool Would Help Advertisers Place Personalized Ads In Audio Content appeared first on CMB.

Today, despite the easing of COVID-19 restrictions globally, metaverse gaming platforms continue to be popular sites for digital events. Ariana Grande’s 2021 Fortnite concert drew in as many as 27.7 million unique visitors globally, with many attendees streaming the concert on other platforms like Twitch and even more viewers watching the event on YouTube. After its end, many attendees shared their perspective of the experience on other social media apps such as Twitter and TikTok via screen recording. Other events showed similar success, such as Travis Scott’s 2021 Fortnite concert that brought in 12 million viewers—a record at that time—and a recent Charli XCX concert in Roblox that spanned several weeks of interactive material in the digital world.

Looking even further ahead, music giants are preemptively entering partnerships with decentralized metaverse spaces ahead of the anticipated Web3 boom. Warner Music Group entered a strategic partnership with The Sandbox earlier this year, while the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was brought to Decentraland via its sponsor, Absolut Vodka. Metaverses are only becoming more popular, with market forecast reports estimating that the metaverse industry will reach a market valuation of over $1.5 trillion USD by 2029, at a CAGR of 47.6% in that period of time. Currently the market is estimated to be around $100 billion.

Metaverse Events Could Be the Key to Broadcaster Success

Many media and broadcasting companies have struggled in recent years to reach Millennial, Generation Z and younger audiences. Data shows that Generation Z and Millennial media consumers prefer internet video apps such as Youtube and TikTok, online streaming platforms, and video games over traditional broadcast media platforms.

Integrating with metaverse platforms is a great way to meet younger audiences where they are already. Just like with more traditional forms of social media, content opportunities and activations within the metaverse can help broadcasters reach new audiences while strengthening their presence in a changing digital landscape. News media companies could host digital events, podcasters and radio hosts could do live interviews that interact with their audience, and traditional television platforms can stream their metaverse events live on their television networks for additional coverage.

The advantage that traditional media does have is its ability to disseminate content to a large and trusting audience. This can be a great way to get users online to interact with traditional media platforms. Just like how people are eager to get on TV in the real world, offering chances to appear on television through the metaverse can spark interest among demographics that would otherwise choose their phone or computer first.

Broadcasters Have a Unique Advantage in Their Established Audiences

Brands have gamified their products within the metaverse to bring activations that can increase sales in the real world. Chipotle, for example, released a burrito builder game in Roblox that rewards users with something called Burrito Bucks, a digital currency that can then be used to purchase products in-store. Facebook, on the other hand, plans to open its own metaverse that users can immerse themselves in to do things like attend work meetings, interact with friends and family, or even shop online.

What makes metaverse music events so unique—and so attractive to music fans—are the immersive spaces they’re held in. Each digital concert venue is designed around the overall experience, and integrates gaming with the music to let players compete and play games inside a digital world that matches the aesthetic of the concert itself. For Ariana Grande’s show, players were able to travel around a colorful open-world game as a virtual Grande performed a handful of her hit songs. Today many internet users are more interested in metaverse events than they are in other online activities like online shopping and, unbelievably, live sports.

Metaverse events like the Ariana Grande Fortnite concert are free for users. These spaces are accessible from any device that can connect to the network, meaning that fans in remote locations can attend a concert in the digital world much easier than in the real world. For music fans in cities, states and countries that don’t often see live events from their favorite artists, metaverse concerts are a great way to foster unique memories based around music.

The Metaverse for Local Broadcasters

The same concept can apply to broadcasting. While streaming platforms dominate the live comedy industry right now, broadcasters could get ahead in the emerging digital world by investing in comedy events in the metaverse, as well as concerts with local performers and other unique opportunities that take advantage of their vast and established networks. Local broadcasters could connect their local communities in the digital world, and even offer things like educational workshops to foster learning opportunities in a unique online space, or offer a place for local artists and business owners to showcase their work in a new way.

For tourism, local broadcasters can create activations in the metaverse that are digital replicas of what tourists can expect when they visit in the real world. These activations can also function as digital advertising space for local businesses and organizations to take advantage of high traffic advertising opportunities, which ultimately increases value in the broadcasting network as a whole.

The music industry learned a hard lesson in the early years of digital music platforms when it failed to offer a product that would slow illegal music downloads. Today, as music giants like Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group pour investments into metaverse opportunities, it’s clear that they’re focused on seeing emerging technology as an opportunity rather than a competitor. For broadcasters, following these cues will be key in the coming years in order to maintain relevance in a changing market.

The post What Broadcasters Can Learn from Metaverse Concerts first appeared on CMB.

The post What Broadcasters Can Learn from Metaverse Concerts appeared first on CMB.

5 AI Uses In Radio

1) Cloning Radio Presenters Voices

At the end of a programme on Radio Sweden (Sveriges Radio), listeners get a recommendation. Radio Sweden wanted to use a popular presenter for these recommendations. 

But the station has hundreds of shows and podcasts. So it would be a lot, for one presenter to record the names of each of these programmes. Especially as their catalog is forever changing and expanding.

So, they brought in AI. They used AI to clone their presenters voice – based on only 7 hours of content! This AI tool can now read the name of any podcast or radio show – and it sounds just like their presenter.

The actual (or human) presenter recorded a short message, along the lines of:

“Thank you for listening, here’s an episode we think you might like from …”

Where there is a gap, the AI voice fills in the recommended show.

Pros

• Humans need to eat, sleep and generally have a life. Cloning a radio hosts’ voice can provide round-the-clock content from a trusted voice, and free up the labour demands of humans.
• Can be a cost-effective means of increasing accessibility via audio.

Cons

• Means fewer the opportunities for humans, so they miss out on the financial gain as well and the professional experience.
• Overuse of cloned voices could mean listeners could hear fewer, different voices. Meaning radio is at risk of becoming less diverse and more homogenized.
• Voice cloning would be at risk of bad actors. Radio hosts voices could be cloned without their permission and used purposes they didn’t consent to.
• Could be regarded as misleading listeners if the AI version of a voice isn’t clearly identified.

2) A Whole New Branded AI Voice For Football (Soccer)

Prisa Radio are the leading talk-radio network in Spain. They pull in 4 million listeners a day and have 200 local stations.

As almost 25% of their streaming is coming from smart speakers, they work closely with Amazon. And the companies identified Prisa Radio had a sports content gap.

To plug their gap, they created an AI voice that’s become their brand voice for football: Victoria.

Victoria provides listeners facts and comments about football. And listeners will hear the voice in two settings. The first is as an Alexa Skill, the second is as an additional “personality” on radio shows.

Victoria’s even lined up to co-host one of the network’s programmes about Spain’s 100 years of radio.

Pros

• An AI voice could arguably have more widespread and in-depth knowledge than a human.
• An AI voice is accessible on demand, unlike human hosts and presenters.

Cons

• Means fewer opportunities for humans, so they miss out on the financial gain as well and the professional experience.
• False representation of certain groups, without giving an opportunity to someone belonging from that group.

3) AI Language Translation Within the European Broadcasting Union

Within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), broadcasters show news from their counterpart countries.

These are public service broadcasters that mainly feature news from their own country. But they share a feature called the “European Perspective”. This pulls in stories from other countries within the Union.

But this continent-wide outlook obviously incorporates many different languages. So, the EBU have deployed AI as its translator.

They use a product known as EuroVOX, which is an:

Open toolbox for transcribing and translating audio, audiovisual and text content.

This AI tool will translate the language of the story, into the preferred language of the viewer or listener. For TV, this appears as translated subtitles. For radio, it’s an audio transcription using an AI voice.

Before the translation is broadcast, staff can make corrections. The voices aren’t perfect yet, that’s why the EBU is working on the next generation of voices.

This translation tool can be used for speech in any language. This proved to be beneficial when Norweigan broadcaster, NRK, broadcast an interview with a Turkish builder following the recent earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.

The EBU say the benefit of EuroVOX is:

Removes the complexity of integrating with different vendors and tools by providing a single, unified API, as well as a web-based tool to easily transcribe, translate and transform content.

Pros

• Increase accessibility of news stories and a reduction of language barriers.
• Quicker translations for instant news reporting.

Cons

• Reduces work opportunities of translators.
• Still prone to error so requires human oversight.

4) AI To Create Dynamic and Automatic Radio Adverts

The ad-sales platform, Adthos, have a self-service platform for creating adverts. And it’s powered by AI. The platform is a complete production tool. It incorporates:

• Synthetic AI voices.
• Real voice recording.
• Music and sound effects management.
• Audio processing.

By entering a brief into the platform, the AI tool will generate a radio advert for you in seconds. It follows these steps:

1. Writes a script.
2. Chooses an AI voice from over 50 options.
3. Selects music based on the script context.
4. Adds sound effects and audio processing.

Pros

• Could lower the barrier of entry for someone to create a radio-ad for their product or service, one Adthos is more accessible.
• Can create and edit targeted radio-ads in a matter of minutes.

Cons

• Reduces the opportunities for those working in radio-advertising.
• Disregards human creativity.
• Unclear if AI would adhere to advertising standards, and if there would be need for human oversight.

5) An AI Radio Host: RadioGPT

Colorado-based software company, Futuri Media, recently unveiled Radio GPT.

They say Radio GPT will be the world’s first radio host entirely powered by AI. The key functions of the tool will be:

• Identify what’s trending by scanning social media & other sources of news and information.
• Write scripts using GPT (generative pre-trained transformer) technology.
• Reading the generated scripts on-air via up to three AI “personalities” (i.e. radio hosts)
• Be trained to impersonate a radio station’s host.

RadioGPT isn’t out in the wild yet, Futuri are currently working with their chosen partners to unleash it to the world. We’ve taken a deeper dive in to this tech here. 

Pros:

• Can scan thousands of information sources to help radio hosts stay current as they know what’s about to trend.
• Can help radio hosts have an ear to the ground and know what’s popular in their area.
• Can complement existing radio hosts.

Cons:

• Reduces the opportunities for radio hosts and presenters.
• RadioGPT uses technology that doesn’t incorporate its own fact-checking. Meaning misinformation could be spread.
• Voices at risk of being pirated.
• Radio content will be determined by what’s trending, so indirectly a result of social media algorithms.

To Sum Up AI In Radio

We suspect there’ll never be a clear-cut answer to whether AI in radio is good or bad. At best, work opportunities in radio will shift to those that work with AI. At worse, many jobs will be lost. Especially considering broadcasting is fraught with underfunding as of recent years.

There are creative advantages to working with AI models. They serve as powerful automation tools, which can reduce labour and costs. But broadcasters should be wary of losing the human connection that makes radio so popular.

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The post AI in Radio? The Pros and Cons of 5 Case-uses first appeared on CMB.

The post AI in Radio? The Pros and Cons of 5 Case-uses appeared first on CMB.

Keeping pace with future developments in the world of technology is not an easy task. If you find this concept difficult to grasp, you’re in good company!

But like it or not, AI is now being implemented in a million different ways and its rapid growth is bringing about new and exciting opportunities for nonprofits. It’s important to get a grip on what’s happening in order to access what it means for your organization.

So let’s break it down…

What is AI?

In essence, Artificial Intelligence is technology doing the computing and making decisions in the place of humans.

Historically, you might tell your computer what to do (coding) and it would perform that task. But now, we’re giving technology thought processes to plan the next steps until it is then ‘intelligent’ on its own. This may include things like website building, copywriting, or graphic design.

How is it used?

AI, or machine learning, is meant to codify the past, not necessarily invent the future. When we look at things that leverage logic or different work responsibilities, the technology assesses what has been done before and says, “Based on this logic, this is the right thing to do next.”

“Make my presentation,” “Write this copy,” “Edit my video,” the opportunities are more expansive than ever. And every day we see more growth. One latest development, ChatGPT (generative pre-training) allows users to communicate with a robot through detailed and natural dialogue as if they were speaking to a real human.

AI has been a part of our lives for a while inside our smartphones. For instance, when you open the Photos app, you can search for photos of dogs and your phone knows just what to do. When you talk to Siri, you’re seeing AI at work.

The difference is, since the rise of GPT, the barriers to entry have all but disappeared. For a long time, you needed specialized knowledge and skills to be able to use these tools. Now it’s available to everyone, and it’s often free.

Getting practical…

At the end of the day, the goal is impact. If we can leverage opportunities to better serve our clients and explore how they can create content through some of these technologies, it’s a win. At Dunham+Company, we’re constantly testing new ways to do that, including creating productivity within our internal teams.

Take for instance an internal meeting in which we need to record a lot of notes. Using something like ‘fireflies.ai’ can capture those notes, transcribe them, and share that knowledge internally. Not to mention how much faster we can get the insight we need around fundraising metrics.

AI has the potential to radically transform how much we’re able to produce and how quickly we can do it. This includes ways in which we’ve never even considered. The ability to generate content at a very high quality, very quickly, and at minimal cost is just extraordinary. We’re seeing recent AI copywriting tools and content creation tools that are very affordable and performing well.

As a ministry, what should I consider before implementing AI?

• Is it efficient (and ethical)?

When it comes to AI, the value is efficiency.

But just because something is trending, it doesn’t always mean it’s best for every ministry or organization. It takes wisdom to consider whether this IT investment is efficient for your organization. For ministries, translation, copywriting, or content creation must align with your message, theology, and cause. And it must be ethical. Being very thoughtful as you enter this realm is crucial because it’s simply not all black and white.

• Lean in and pay attention.

We often see technology as either a fad or something that’s here to stay. We can say with great confidence: AI is not a fad. On the contrary, it’s ramping up rapidly.

When we began to Google search, we never started Google searching less, we started Google searching more and getting better at it. AI in many ways will be like that.

Experiment with ChatGPT by asking what the new name of your organization should be. Most likely, the more you use it the more you will see the opportunities that lie in front of you. Become familiar with it, pay attention to recent articles, and see where it takes you.

But remember: Whether or not you decide to implement AI within your organization, keep the focus on your people. This technology is no doubt useful, but it’s the people who are using and understanding the technology that matter most.

The post Artificial Intelligence: Bigger Than Ever and Here to Stay first appeared on CMB.

The post Artificial Intelligence: Bigger Than Ever and Here to Stay appeared first on CMB.

One thing is for certain. ChatGPT has wildly positive or negative implications for just about everyone on the planet.

How’s that for a teaser?

ChatGPT is a chatbot powered by Artificial Intelligence. How you feel about AI will likely drive your initial thoughts on the product. My son Ryan is taking a coding class at Columbia and completed an assignment over the weekend. Just for fun, after he finished his coding, he gave the same assignment to the ChatGPT bot.

It completed it correctly in 2.3 seconds.

The same task took Ryan six or seven hours.

Ryan went to his professor and showed both versions of his work, which inspired a lengthy discussion in class.

Right now, ChatGPT is offering the bot to try for free to show what it can do. Is it like Google or Alexa? In that it can prepare a custom shopping list and explain Newton’s laws of motion, sure. But if you ask Google or Alexa to write your term paper on US History in a sarcastic tone, and then ask it to expand on the Civil War parts and provide an alternate viewpoint, you won’t have something ready to turn in to a college professor. But with ChatGPT, you could.

So…how about the way media brands may use ChatGPT?

I asked the bot, “Write me a news report about the hottest new trends” and here’s what it wrote:

The hottest new trends for the season are starting to take shape, and there’s something for everyone.

In fashion, sustainability and comfort continue to be major themes. Brands are increasingly offering eco-friendly options, such as clothing made from recycled materials or natural fibers. Comfortable and practical clothing, such as loungewear and athleisure, are also gaining popularity as more people work from home.

In the beauty industry, natural and minimalistic looks are on the rise. This includes a focus on skincare and using fewer, but higher quality, products. The “no makeup” makeup look, which emphasizes a natural and youthful appearance, is also becoming more popular.

In terms of technology, virtual and augmented reality are gaining traction. Virtual reality headsets are becoming more affordable and accessible, allowing users to experience immersive entertainment and educational content. Augmented reality, which overlays digital information onto the real world, is being used in a variety of applications, from gaming to interior design.

Overall, these trends reflect a desire for more practical, sustainable, and natural products and experiences.

I asked the bot if it could make it longer.

“Sure, here is a longer version”

As we enter the new year, it’s time to take a look at the hottest trends that are shaping up for the season. From fashion and beauty to technology and entertainment, there’s something for everyone.

One of the biggest trends in fashion is the focus on sustainability and comfort. With more people working from home and looking for clothing that is practical and easy to wear, brands are offering more options in the loungewear and athleisure categories. In addition, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly clothing made from recycled materials or natural fibers, as consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their fashion choices.

In the beauty industry, the minimalistic and natural look is becoming more popular. This includes a focus on skincare, with people using fewer, but higher quality, products to achieve a healthy and radiant complexion. The “no makeup” makeup look, which emphasizes a natural and youthful appearance, is also gaining traction. This trend reflects a desire for a more natural and low-maintenance beauty routine.

Technology is also seeing some exciting new developments. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are becoming more mainstream, with VR headsets becoming more affordable and accessible. VR allows users to experience immersive entertainment and educational content, while AR overlays digital information onto the real world, offering a variety of applications, from gaming to interior design.

In the entertainment world, streaming services are continuing to dominate, with new content being released all the time. However, there is also a trend towards more interactive and social experiences, such as live-streamed concerts and virtual reality gaming.

Overall, these trends reflect a desire for more practical, sustainable, and natural products and experiences. Whether you’re looking to update your wardrobe, improve your beauty routine, or try out the latest tech, there are plenty of exciting options to choose from.

How long would it take someone in the newsroom to write this? (It took ChatGPT about five seconds).

There are already options to use AI for the narration, which will continue to improve.

As an aside, when I asked ChatGPT to write me a news report about Volodymyr Zelenskky, it glossed over the war with Russia and focused on peace talks. When I asked it to write a news report about Taylor Swift, it wrote about the release of Evermore, not her latest album. So, it’s certainly a work in progress.

ChatGPT’s usefulness is a work in progress, as it referenced outdated Taylor Swift information when writing a news story. (Credit: Brian Friedman, Shutterstock)

Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster wrote a piece on ChatGPT, positing how, despite the fears of AI replacing human jobs and the work they do, tools like ChatGPT can play an important role in helping humans do their work better.

Generally, I buy that. There are pretty cool implications for amplifying search for life hacks. Instead of Googling the generic “Questions to ask in a job interview,” I asked ChatGPT “What are good questions to ask an interviewer for a TV anchor job?”

Its response was impressively focused on the position:

• Can you tell me more about the specific responsibilities and expectations for this position?
• What is the company’s vision for this role, and how does it fit into the overall goals of the organization?
• Can you provide more details about the team I would be working with and the support that would be available to me in this position?
• What opportunities for professional development and growth are available for anchors at this company?
• Can you tell me about the typical work schedule for anchors at this company?
• What is the company’s approach to news coverage and storytelling, and how does this position fit into that approach?
• How does this company support anchors in maintaining a work-life balance and managing the demands of this job?
• Can you provide more information about the equipment and technology that anchors at this company use to produce their segments?
• How does this company support anchors in staying current with industry trends and developments?
• Can you tell me more about the opportunities for on-air and off-air collaboration with other members of the news team?

When we consider how it will change jobs in media, you can imagine how it could speed up show prep, help write commercial copy, and yes, write news stories.

But what we can never lose sight of is the personal human touch that can only come from a human’s tone of voice.

I asked ChatGPT to write a blog in the tone of Sam Milkman, and it told me “As a large language model trained by OpenAI, I don’t have the ability to write in the specific style of a specific person.”

Yet.

AI tools like ChatGPT will disrupt our world. They will make your job easier in some ways, but have the potential to make us lazy and miss our very specific individual voices and attitude. So perhaps we should use it as a tool, but not the tool.

Back to the original question posed at the top of this blog. Did I even write it? Or did ChatGPT?

The answer: I did. I don’t think ChatGPT has the ability to write like someone on my level – ha ha.

At least, not yet.

Link to Original Source

The post How ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence May Impact Media first appeared on CMB.

The post How ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence May Impact Media appeared first on CMB.