Truth be told, initially many internet radio stations seemed to be little more than young people slapping together a mix tape/disc of their favorite song and setting up a radio station. Some folks took it a step further and really tried to piece together a more professional sound. I think conceptually, a lot of it was good but in truth the commitment wasn’t really there with a lot of internet radio station owners.

But as happens in the shake down of any new “thing” the strong survive. In the case of internet radio, those who survive we’re able to stay committed to their primary goal of sharing their music while also securing an advertising arrangement that would allow them to pay their bills and even keep a little some thing for themselves.

One of my clients is one of those long haul pioneers in internet radio who has stayed true to his programming objective and kept the money flowing as well. It’s eclectic, relaxed and cool in sound and attitude. I hope you’ll spend some time listening to Roo Radio and enjoying the true spirit of broadcasting that I think many of my fellow voice talents respect. Also here is a sample of some of the recent voice imaging I did for the station.

LISTEN TO ROO RADIO STATION IMAGING
[audio:http://www.audioconnell.com/clientuploads/audio_for_blog/080914_audioconnell_RooMontage.mp3]

Tags: advertising, commentary, commercials, internet, radio, voice talent by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »

As this blog is “where the worlds of voice over, marketing and advertising collide” I try and make sure individual posts cover one or more of those areas each week. This post covers all three.

If you earn your living as a voice talent, a marketer (for your own company or on behalf of someone else) or in advertising (either for yourself or someone else) there is a trend developing that you need to think about. Why?

Because it affects how much money you’re going to make in the future. Think mortgage payments, new cars and education.

With me now?

Double click on the chart below and then click back for some thoughts.

That chart is part of a much more in-depth study produced in August, 2008 by the Pew Research Center for People and The Press. Maybe its stuff you thought was happening and maybe it even reflects your personal changes. But this is now quantifiable. And that means a lot to how we all make our livings. Pay attention:

You have just read a 15 year trend in media usage, specifically how people get their news.
* 24% fewer people in that time period get their news from newspapers
* 12% fewer people get their news from the radio
* 31% fewer people watch the nightly network news
* On line and cable news consumption is through the roof

This is about more than just news, I think. This is a game changer for people who work in media (including voice over), marketing and advertising. Most are dealing with this and thousands of pages of similar data already but I’m guessing you may not be, so let us ruminate for a moment, shall we?

Let’s just for the sake of this post take out concerns of the bias of cable news outlets as it affects their presentation of the news to the growing majority of American cable news consumers and how that impacts how people think, act and vote about issues of the day. Great topic and just considering it gets your head to throbbing but back away from it just for this discussion.

Let’s do say you’re a voice talent and you’ve been charging $200 for a :30 second commercial on local broadcast television and $150 or even $100 for cable TV spots because there are fewer viewers. Survey says that number is changing a bit (though broadcast ratings are still higher). Should you consider changing your cable fees? Is that change justified? Survey says maybe.

Let’s say you’re in advertising and you’ve been specializing in print ads which mostly go in newspapers or you’ve been doing lots of radio spots on news talk stations. Shouldn’t you at least reconsider either your primary business services or your media recommendation to clients? Survey says it’s probably worth some brainstorming.

Let’s say you’re in marketing for a grocery store and you do weekly inserts with specials and temporary price reductions and the like. Has coupon redemption gone up or down on those inserts? Any reasons you know of for a change? Survey says maybe.

Let’s say you are a consumer that can be influenced by commercials you see on cable TV, print ads or weekly grocery store inserts (we’d all like to say “not me” but we’d be lying). Could your buying habits be impacted by this change in media usage? After all, you’re the one changing the usage. What if you’re not finding out about all these new special offers because the media vendors haven’t changed their marketing plans for their clients? Clients whose products you normally buy or would consider buying.

The point is not that any of these industries need to play catch up because that’s what we’re all doing everyday anyway. A trend arises and we react. Tuesday go left. Wednesday go right. Thursday is too far away to consider.

The point is to be aware that there are very specific changes in media usage. This information is but one small part.

But do you comprehend the change? Do you even feel it, maybe? Is the change impacting the way you do business? Should it change the way you do business?

Is it impacting the way you buy things? Does it alter your opinion of brands? Could it alter the opinions of consumers of your brand?

That box below here is where the discussion begins…be a part of it, now. Thanks.

Tags: advertising, commentary, commercials, internet, marketing, media, radio, technology, tv, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover advice by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
9 Comments »

Thursday, September 4 was ABC Radio broadcaster Paul Harvey’s 90th birthday.

And he is still on the air.

And his ratings are still unbelievable (promoted as “the most listened-to newsman in the world”.)

And he is still one of the top paid of ALL American broadcasters.

While missing his dear wife Angel, who died only recently, Paul continues an active although somewhat lessened broadcast schedule.

He is an icon….truly an icon in the world of broadcasting.

Not an icon of radio or TV. Not of national or international work.

Paul Harvey is an icon in the world of broadcasting.

Since you’ve heard him, you know why.

And if you haven’t heard him, listen. Do it now.

Happy birthday, Mr. Harvey. Good day!

Tags: ABC News, announcers, commentary, radio, tv by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »

Writing good classified ads is tough for most people and its really hard for radio station managers.

Why?

Well unless junior has fallen directly off the turnip truck into the radio station’s lobby, anyone with any experience knows radio is a low pay, sometimes tense work environment where more often than not creativity is stifled (unless you work mornings and sometimes even then) and weekend and holiday hours are demanded.

If you have a passion for radio (and most voice talents do) you understand why people stay in the business. But it does make it challenging for managers to make their available positions sound

a) Enticing
b) Legitimate
c) Profitable

Like the odd classified ads we sometimes see in newspapers “Call Mr. C at 555-5555 for an appointment about this amazing opportunity” trade ads for radio jobs are also kind of unique in their “points of difference” shall we say?

Now I’m not looking for radio work but sometimes stations put out a call for imaging help so very occasionally I troll through on-line radio trade listings. Today all I came up with was a topic for a blog post. Sometimes that’s just how the fishing goes.

Some examples (find the red flag words or statements in these well meaning ads):

We’re getting ready to sign on a new AAA in a smaller mid-western market. Our city is one of the most livable in the country and the radio station fits right in. Since this is a start-up, it will be a labor of love.

We’re looking for a PD that can come in and DO EVERYTHING to help us get our “new baby” off the ground. We have the format and the component pieces put together. We don’t need a strategist as much as we need a hard worker and executor.

You must be okay with doing an air-shift (probably mornings) and then get off the air and work like a maniac the rest of the day.

You must be able to coach our air staff to present the station in synch with the mission of the radio station (understated, conversational adult presentation).

You will be working long hours and pouring everything you’ve got into your job so you’ve got to be highly organized and follow through.

With me, as soon as they try and sell the city as small yet livable, I roll the eyes. If you mention a labor of love, it means your holiday bonus will likely come in the form of movie promo t-shirts and baseball caps. Oh and if Miss October 1995 comes into town for the car show, we’ll let you expense the $10 fee for having your picture taken with her.

WE HAVE A GROUP OF 3 VERY PROMOTIONALLY ACTIVE RADIO STATIONS. I NEED SOMEONE THAT IS TIRELESS, IS READY TO JUMP IN AND HELP TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I NEED A GO GETTER THAT IS READY TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME AN AMBASSADOR OF OUR COMPANY.

BRING YOUR IDEAS. WE MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS, NOT SOME CORPORATION. WE HAVE A SMALL STAFF, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN. IF YOU LIKE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT, OR LIKE TO COMPLAIN, THAN SAVE YOUR TIME AND DON’T EMAIL ME. THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THIS POSITION WOULD INCLUDE SOME ON AIR DUTIES AS WELL.

SO IF YOU ARE READY TO WORK HARD, HAVE FUN, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAN EMAIL ME. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

Promotional ads are even tougher to write than jock ads. This person’s using all caps. That makes me think it will be a low paying job working with a boss who yells a lot but who still might let you use the station van when you move from your apartment to the homeless shelter (so you got that going for you, which is nice).

Let’s try this again…

-You’re a GREAT, PERSONABLE, ON AIR PERSONALITY
-You LOVE getting involved with your COMMUNITY
-You have experience and vast knowledge of radio broadcast software systems.
-You deal well with the Sales personalities.
-Your production skills are incredible.
-You’re a little bit engineer.
-You’re a computer wiz.
-You can build and maintain the station’s web site.
-You insist on giving all of the above 100%
-You have a great desire to make ALASKA your home.
-You have a great desire to be a part of a radio company that is growing quickly in a market that is growing quickly.
-You have a strong desire to succeed and to work to help the company succeed.

The above position is extremely intense at times. You must have an incredible amount of knowledge, patience, and energy. The job is fast-paced in a market with LOADS of competition. In the end…the rewards are great! The pay is not what you’d expect from on owner-operated radio station and is more than any big radio corporation would ever THINK of paying you.

They lost me at “let’s try this again.” Was it that they didn’t find the right person in the first round of interviews or didn’t they find someone who was willing to work for food stamps and live in an Alaskan igloo?

Here we grow again! We’re expanding our flight crew and adding another daily flight on Dayton’s New FLY 92.9. We’re looking for another true communicator who can serve as host in a natural, unaffected manner. Please …”DJ’s”, “announcers”, “jocks” or “personalities” need not apply. Your conversational skills take priority over your format experience, but a broad knowledge covering several decades of contemporary music is desirable.

Additionally, candidates should thrive out in front of the public, be immersed in pop culture, possess strong production skills, and be tech savvy enough to maintain their own strong web presence.

Takeoff time’s quickly approaching, so rush your package now, and be sure to include a photo.

OK, this is too cutesy for me and I’ll give lots of leeway for someone to be creative. The aviation references are um, what’s the French word….silly! And now it looks like you need a photo to work in radio so if, like me, you have the perfect face for radio you needn’t apply.

Y94 is Fargo-Moorhead’s Number One Hit Music Station and is seeking part-time personalities for nights, holidays and weekends. You’ve heard of paying your dues? This is it.

Ah, honesty. Always the best policy. I think I’ll apply.

Your observations herein (even in defense) or experiences elsewhere are genuinely welcomed.

Tags: advertising, announcers, commentary, internet, radio, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »

Only occasionally on this blog do I impose my musical tastes on you and it really has been a while. The primary reason is because most of the music I hear is ultimately unremarkable. The secondary reason is because I just don’t listen to a ton radio.

But I have found three songs that I really like this summer. Two of them are totally uncool for a guy like to me be liking so I’ll keep them to myself. The air check demo was embarrassment enough for one week.

This is from Coldplay and it’s the kind of song that would make me listen again and again on my record player if…I…still…had one.

Tags: commentary, radio, silliness by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »

Want to know the name of the female voice over talent whose voice has been used to attack Obama in McCain commercials?

Her name is Joan. The rest is on a need to know basis.

Tags: advertising, announcers, commentary, commercials, radio, voice actors, voice casting, voice talent, voiceover by peter k. o'connell, your friendly, neighborhood voice-over talent
2 Comments »