Radio & Podcast News – Programmers take on PPM efficacy at Radiodays NA

FEATURE: Has PPM made radio worse? That question, posed by Edison Research President Larry Rosin, was followed by a long pause at Radiodays North America as a panel of programmers tackled the efficacy of the measurement system as it marks its 10th anniversary. One point the panel agreed upon was that programmers have become better at responding to the limitations of PPM, which initially saw stations overwhelmingly move to shorter talk breaks in response to the finding that when the music stopped, metrics would go down. Rosin agreed with the assertion that it had led to a lack of proper talent development, saying the methodology had led to the minimization of personalities – the one thing that differentiates radio from an app-based environment. Read more here.

LISTEN: Among the recurring themes out of the many discussions that took place – both on stage and off – at the inaugural Radiodays North America event, were the need to attract younger audiences, shifting consumer listening habits, including the ongoing battle for in-car, and of course the artificial intelligence vs. authenticity debate. On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we talk to conference veterans including PodNews editor James Cridland, Radioplayer Worldwide General Manager Lawrence Galkoff, The Creativity Business founder Steve Pratt, and Radiodays GM Peter Niegel on their personal takeaways and highlights from the conference’s North American debut.

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) and Futuri Media have partnered to use Futuri’s RadioGPT AI technology on GHQ, UFCJC’s audio research and development platform. GHQ will use the technology to create “Q,” an AI personality to develop and read scripts with hourly updates on weather, events and other news around Gainesville, the home of the University of Florida. As part of the R&D partnership, UFCJC and Futuri will analyze how effective the technology is in connecting with the radio station’s audience. The research and development effort is aimed at helping the radio industry develop best practices in the effective and ethical use of AI in their operations.

Coast to Coast AM is back on Canadian airwaves joining the lineup on Bell Media’s AM800 CKLW Windsor. The syndicated Premiere Networks program, hosted by George Noory, hasn’t been heard in Canada for three years. Featuring discussion on everything from time travel to aliens and the paranormal, the show has garnered criticism in the past for fueling “pseudo-scientific” conspiracy theories. It’s being distributed by Orbyt Media.

Kelly&Kelly, the boutique Vancouver creative studio, is behind newly-launched iHeartMedia podcast, Supreme: The Battle for Roe, featuring a star-studded cast led by Maya Hawke and William H. Macy. The nine-part scripted podcast delves into the historic Roe v. Wade case. The Webby award-winning Kelly&Kelly have been working behind-the-scenes, producing and directing the series, for the last two years.

This is That is returning to CBC Podcasts for 10 episodes this summer. Veteran comedians and co-hosts Peter Oldring and Pat Kelly return with their improvised send-up of public radio.

CBC Podcasts’ Nothing is Foreign is coming to an end. Launched in early 2022, the weekly world news podcast attempted to tackle global events from a perspective outside the western lens. Host Tamara Khandaker moves over to CBC’s daily news podcast, Frontburner, for the next three months, announcing earlier this month she has plans to relocate from Toronto to Berlin.

Brynn Griffiths and Dave Jamieson are now more than half a dozen episodes into Cancer In The Room, their sports podcast interviewing cancer survivors like Montreal Canadiens broadcaster Bryan Mudryk, Blue Jays announcer Buck Martinez, and Sportsnet host Jamie Campbell, among others. Griffiths, a veteran Edmonton sportscaster, lost his stomach to cancer, while Jamieson, a former TSN 1260 (CFRN-AM) host, previously battled throat cancer. 

SOCAN says it saw a significant year-over-year increase in digital royalties for members as the Canadian music industry gradually emerged from pandemic restrictions, but that not all creators are benefiting. SOCAN’s annual report, reflecting 2022 data, indicates digital collections continued their upward trajectory nearly surpassing traditional broadcast revenue. Total collections from use of music on the internet increased 24% year-over-over to $167M, with reproduction rights climbing 35% in the same period to $15M. Total collections of $484-million, were up 16% over 2021. SOCAN says not all creators are gaining from the increase in digital royalties, with Canadian music creators not receiving the same visibility in digital spaces, compared to traditional outlets like radio. Read more here.

LISTEN: Kattie Laur, the podcast producer behind the Pod The North newsletter is on the Sound Off Podcast. Designed around the idea of creating a community for Canadian podcasters, Laur is also a freelancer for Canadaland and AM 640 (CFIQ-AM) Toronto. Among other things, Laur and Matt Cundill discuss Bill C-11 and whether or not it will actually lead to positive change in the Canadian media space. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:

94.9 The Rock (CKGE-FM) Oshawa marked a first at Craig & Lucky’s Rockin’ The Ridge Invitational this year, as listener Chuck Collie of Brampton nailed a 167-yard hole-in-one at Lakeridge Links in Whitby. After hosting and playing in many tournaments over the years, morning show co-host Craig Venn said he was left “totally shocked that someone has actually done it.” Collie’s effort won him a brand new 2023 Chevrolet Malibu RS from Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac in Whitby.