Yesterday, I showcased Alpha’s team of swashbucklers, the ones responsible for integrating AI into their Top 40 station’s on-air lineup. And did you ever react to this post, featuring our exclusive interview with Phil Becker (EVP Content, Alpha), Dylan Salisbury (Content Director, Live 95.5/Portland, OR), and midday host Ashley Z / AI Ashley, midday personality on Alpha’s Live 95.5. (You can read yesterday’s post here.)
In today’s second and final installment, the group talks about how AI technology fits into the pecking order of radio innovations throughout the decades, how they secured the green light from Alpha’s higher-ups, and what they expect AI will be capable of in the years ahead.
It’s an important conversation, and this group has earned the right to be in the mix. After all, they’re the first to turn over a prime daypart on a major market station – and actually admit they’re doing it. As you read in yesterday’s post, these Alpha teammates trust each other, a key ingredient if it is going to succeed without tearing apart radio stations and the people who work there.
There’s been a lot of criticism of this bold move by Alpha in general, and of “The Three AI Musketeers” specifically. And that’s too bad on the one hand, and grossly undeserved on the other. Every pioneer in this industry was rejected before they and their ideas were accepted. And they have the scars to prove it. Radio is a medium that claims to like innovation…until, that is, it shows up.
I went through it with Classic Rock, and later The Edge. Many others have been subject to a chorus of “It’ll never work.” Until it does. Whatever ends up happening to our Portland
triumvirate, they will be stronger, smarter, and savvier as a result of their ballsy decision to do this thing. They will look back at this episode with a sense of pride, experience, and wisdom. But that doesn’t make what they’re going through any easier.
Too often, discussions about technology – and AI is a prime example – attempt to simplify its effects in a binary, black and white manner. “Is it good or bad for radio?” is often THE question. But if you read the comments posted here yesterday, as well as on my socials, you know it’s never that simple. In fact, this one’s especially complicated because of AI’s sweeping effects, the fact that it is early days, and the reality that even its creators are struggling to pinpoint how it may change our world.
Like it or not, it’s here. And it’s not going to go away. How broadcasters can and will use it remains to be seen, but that’s what our two-day discussion is all about.
I hope you enjoy and appreciate the second part of my convo with Phil, Dylan, and Ashley Z. And I hope it spurs follow-up conversations in your company, your social media group, or at your favorite drinking hole. Whatever the case, it is an unescapable condition of the business world, and of course, radio is no exception. In fact, there are several reasons to believe broadcasting is especially compatible with this burgeoning technology, but perhaps not in ways you immediately think.
Wouldn’t you know it? – FJ
Fred Jacobs: So, what’s the plan, Phil? On how many stations and in how many markets are you planning Alpha’s AI rollout?
Phil Becker: We’re doing it in one. We have 206 stations. Were doing it one. So we’re trying it. We’re going to look for our use cases, our recommendations, all the things that Ashley Z and Dylan are experiencing right now in real time. Before I go to another market (with this technology), I want to have those answers for them. So we’re not ready yet to go outside of this core group. We’re just trying a self-driving car now, but we’re not ready to put it on the lot yet.
Fred: But you’ve thought of the capabilities – the other stuff this technology can do, beyond AI Ashley?
Phil: I’ll just give you a list. I think it could not only do the dayparts that are forgotten. I think it will deliver a radio station in a different language. I think that Dylan and Ashley Z will run Live 95.5,
but they’ll have an alternate version of it in Spanish. In Russian. In Vietnamese. In Italian. The same promotions. The same songs. The same breaks. Different language. I think it’s going to go that far.
I think it’s going to save lives. I think that it’s going to access the automation systems in earthquakes and fires and tragedies and shootings and get the information to the audience faster than we’ve ever done it before.
Fred: What else?
Phil: We’re going to have the ability to do things that we’ve always thought weren’t possible. We’re going to have the ability to localize content, I actually think down to the city block that you live
on.
I think it’s coming and it won’t be any extra work. Dylan will write into the AI and he will say, “Tell me the impact of the Rose Festival Parade on the following blocks.” And it’s going to generate that. And then he’s going to take that audio, and he’s going to put that on social media because he can already do that.
And he can say, “If you live between 5th and 10th Avenue, here’s the impact of the parade. If you live between 10th and 15th Avenue, here’s the impact of the parade. And eventually we’ll target to your phone because we’ll know where you’re at and we’ll serve you exactly the block impact.
So it’s more than just the evolution of voicetracking. I think that’s what people are hung up on. They think this is voice tracking 2.0….and it is. But so much more.
Fred: How sweeping will the impact be?
Phil: I think it’s one of the biggest revolutions that will ever occur in the business. I think that it’s going to create emerging ideas and copy ideas that never would have crossed any content person’s mind.
I think that you will ask it to help you create 15 Father’s Day sweepers, and it’s going to know what that means and it’s going to know to turn that sweeper on on Sunday and to turn that sweeper off on Monday. It’s going to evolve us and push us because major market radio stations are being run by just one, two and three people.
Fred: Any benefit for the sales department?
Phil: Let’s talk for a second about spec spots. Ashley Z doesn’t have to go write them all. All the seller has to do is copy the copy into synthetic Ashley And here’s your spec spot.
Let’s talk about changing the spot every single day based on the weather, based on the topicality, based on the moment. It can be done.
There’s so many things that from a revenue standpoint, we haven’t even broached. Direct to consumer as a category that radio’s never been involved in. Now it can be.
All of these new technology ad categories that could become a part of radio because the Silicon Valleys and the Madison Avenue agencies of the world might look at our business and say “They’re not a legacy medium anymore, they’re on the front side of it.”
So I see that being a benefit. I see I doing client CNA’s (customer needs analysis) in real time. Writing the copy and emailing them the spot in less than ten minutes. Yep. So I really think that from the airstaff to the programming team to the production team to the account executive, all four departments are going to benefit from this. It’s just our job to show them, convince them, and make them feel okay about it.
Fred: What’s it like right now for you, Dylan and Ashley Z, because there’s a lot of people in radio who will never experience this. What is it like to be at the center of a phenomenon where everybody wants to listen to what you guys are doing? I mean, that just doesn’t happen in radio anymore. I can’t remember the last time that anyone created a must-listen to buzz like this. Ashley Z, what’s it like?
Ashley Z: Well, scary. It’s not sitting back in the fear of the “what if?” It’s not even really a fear. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just a feeling of like, this just happened so fast and there’s no stopping this right now, so I better have made my choice.
It’s a different kind of fear, but it doesn’t feel like fear because it’s like this is a leap of faith and a lot of ways for me and I believe in myself enough to know that.
I think they chose the right person. I think I did, too. That’s how it feels for me. Now I’m just excited. It feels like a lot. It feels fine. It feels a little bit like home for me. I think that doing things that are big, you have to be a strong, confident talent. If you’re not secure in your abilities as a talent, this isn’t going to work. All the pieces need to be there.
Fred: Dylan, how does it feel for you?
Dylan Salisbury: It’s exciting, and yeah, it’s hectic. There’s a lot going on. I don’t even know if I’ve had time to kind of take it all in yet.
But what’s what’s the alternative, Fred? Am I going to be against it? You know, why wouldn’t I try to embrace the inevitable? This is the first time in a long time that we have something to be excited about. It’s a once in a career opportunity for me and Ashley to be a part of history.
Fred: Will we look back on AI as one of those big epic things?
Phil: I think this will be one of the nine biggest changes in the business.
Fred: Like the “9 Wonders of the Radio World?”
Phil: I actually wrote these down today. AM to FM, deregulation, ratings measurement, syndication, voicetracking, streaming, podcasting, and apps.
Fred: And now, AI makes nine.
Phil: AI makes nine. Quite a list.
Fred: I want to backtrack and talk about how the system will either read what you write in AI Ashley’s voice or it will write its own copy. What does that look like?
Dylan: It will either read copy verbatim how I wrote it – a literal read. There’s also an artful read where it comes up with its own script and I get a read.
Below is a literal read, followed by an artful read, both in the voice of AI Ashley:
Fred: Phil, you’re the mastermind here. None of this would have happened without you wanting to do it. And green lighting it, and frankly, having the stones to do it.
Phil: I want to shine the light on (Alpha President/CEO) Bob Proffitt for letting us do it. I think that’s really important. I don’t know that every CEO would have given us the “go sign.”
He wrote me an email after I brought this to him, and he just wrote “Be bold.” I don’t know that everybody gets that breadth, so I want to celebrate him. I think that’s important to acknowledge.
This is not a DJ eliminator, it’s a DJ amplifier. It’s not a cost cutting tool. This is not going to replace more people than the industry has shed over the past 15 years.
Fred: Thanks for the time, Phil, Dylan, and Ashley Z. Now let’s see what your brothers and sisters in radio have to say.
There’s a lot here.
A lot to think about, a lot to talk about, and a lot to get our heads around. I hope this exclusive look at Alpha’s bold initiative, as well as the opportunity to meet Phil, Dylan, and Ashley Z has been helpful in your understanding of this technology, whether it excites you or repels you.
If we can help facilitate that conversation with your team, don’t hesitate to contact me. It is crystal clear to me, we’re looking at a very unique set of conditions with AI both in the world – and with our radio properties and companies
The decisions made now around this technology could determine how we fare as a platform, a business, and a medium in the coming years.
Whether your net takeaway from these two posts is excitement and joy OR fear and loathing, make it a point to learn as much as you can about this technology – what it can mean to your company as well as to your career.
We’re all in the process of thinking about smart applications for this technology, as well as the development of best practices. Our three crusaders from Alpha have opened some heavy and important doors. Now, we need the courage and vision to walk through them. – FJ
You can read Part 1 here.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Thanks Fred for presenting this. After more than 4 decades in this crazy business, it sure makes me wish I was 30 years younger so I could watch how it all plays out. You can bet there will be those who love it and those who hate it, just like any change, but the fact is it is here and moving forward fast. I can’t wait to see what’s next. Tray table up and seat belt fastened!
“This is not a DJ eliminator, it’s a DJ amplifier. It’s not a cost cutting tool. This is not going to replace more people than the industry has shed over the past 15 years.”
I have a bridge that spans the East River in New York City that I would like to sell you.
>>> This is not a DJ eliminator, it’s a DJ amplifier <<<
"Don't worry, the O-Rings will hold."
"I sent that check out last week"
…ad nauseum…
Ashley's "Hey Howareya" read is pretty convincing, but how fast can she shift gears and go down-tempo on slow songs or major news tragedy stories? I get that we're still in the "Wright Brothers" stage of AI-DJs so it will only get more refined as we go. But go back and re-watch "Up In the Air" with George Clooney to see how and where this may eventually end up.
Understand what the audience expects.
Don’t underestimate the audience.
Breaking those two rules have been the main reason for radio’s slide over the past two decades.
Music without interruption is the reason a listener STREAMS.
Music and COMPANIONSHIP is the reason a listener tunes into a radio station.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines companionship as “the enjoyment of spending time with other PEOPLE.” (my emphasis).
Revealing that the the person on the radio is A-I is admitting to the audience that the station does not provide human companionship. Conversely, not telling the audience about the AI jock is underestimating the audience. I talk to many people outside of radio, and they can usually tell me which stations in their markets or which times of day are tracked. Do you think it will be any different with A-I? Do you think this technology will give people MORE reasons to listen or will it simply maintain a status quo of mediocrity?
A lot to unpack here. Thank you for this interview.
I remember taking a typing class in high school, after having to run by the dinosaurs walking to school. After using a word processor I’d never go back. its an improvement. Some technology isn’t an improvement.
Is this technology discussed in this interview gonna be here in 1 week? 1 month? 1 year? Who knows.
But Its disingenuous to say this technology wont result in job losses. Its all about the money. I can recall stations going automated and locking the door at 6pm. The AM and FM were all satellite fed programming. And that technology was amazing in its day.
I agree with one of the comments on the previous page that radio needs to address. 10 minute programming free commercial stop sets and music that is repetitive to say the least.
I dont know if AI Ashley telling me to watch out for the parade that is tying up traffic then saying “kicking off another 10 in a row with Rick Astley” is the solution just yet. But it might be.
But then there are some folks who dont what getting “rick-rolled” is either.
A tool can make, repair, harm, or help.
Having AI available can/will be an asset.
That being said, a couple cautions:
Just like the ‘dot com’ boom and bust of the late 90’s…
On a macroscopic level—
It will be best to be both amenable and cautious.
And then there’s this scenario:
“OK, let’s see…I have to do three music logs…Then track my show…Two Zoom calls…Write those promo’s for the national contest…Get that July 4th imaging done…Then I have to write out EVERY talk break for the AI jock…While I’m at it, might as well write the AI breaks for ‘her’ weekend show…Gotta remember to have her mention the remote we’re doing…I hope it doesn’t rain while it’s going on…
What Phil said here is the big public service opportunity, “We’re going to have the ability to localize content, I actually think down to the city block that you live on.” Combine this technology with Spotify & NPR One style personalization algorithms and an important door for audio (podcasts, digital streams, etc.) opens. Yes, you lose the magic of human to human connection, but the information benefits aren’t to be overlooked.
Thanks for sharing. Like all new technology there are costs and benefits.
“you lose the magic of human to human connection, but the information benefits aren’t to be overlooked.”
Did AI write this?
Maybe my head’s too far up in the clouds, or too far up somewhere else, but the question for me isn’t what AI is able to do for radio (or any other industry), but rather what can AI not do. Which seems to be a question that the AI enthusiasts/marketers haven’t spent a lot of time delving into. And to be fair, perhaps that’s because nobody knows what AI can and can’t do yet, and perhaps the only way to find out how fast this bad boy can go is by flooring the gas pedal. But it’s my understanding that the one thing we do know is that generative, natural-language AI is inherently and unchangeably formulaic.
I’ve played around with a variety of AI tools–ChatGPT, Google and Bing SGE, Photoshop’s Generative Fill and Edit, Murf, Snapchat, etc. Like most people, I’ve been impressed (aka shocked) with the realism, thoroughness, and speed of these tools. I am a staunch believer in the cost-cutting/efficiency-boosting power of AI. However, I’ve consistently been underwhelmed by its creative prowess. Which is not at all surprising given that natural-language AIs simply regurgitate patterns learned from previous material and in order to be most accurate spit out the most common patterns it has learned. Which I think leads to the question, will radio benefit from an increased amount of easily produced, perhaps somewhat bland content? My guess is in many ways, yes. As Mr. Becker points out, filled dayparts, hyper-localized advertising, and new linguistic markets would all be great for radio.
However as a Tik-Tok carrying member of Gen-Z, I don’t think simply more content is going to be what returns radio to the forefront of media for future generations. Michele Elam wrote an article for Stanford’s HAI (Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence) entitled “Poetry Will Not Optimize” that I believe touches on this issue. For radio to stay a competitive media choice it has to be connective and inspiring, two qualities I have (thus far) not seen AI possess.
That being said, anyone who’s spent much time on the youth’s side of social media knows that as bland as Family Guy clips playing underneath Subway Surfer gameplay are, they do major numbers. So these issues are never as simple as one random person’s rambling in a comment on a blog makes them out to be. And I think it’s safe to say the leadership at Live 95.5 and many other organizations are actively thinking through these issues. Props to them for being willing to put their car on the AI dragstrip and see what happens.
Setting the corporate speak aside and the mention of “trust” to try to humanize it – this is here to save money and beef up the bottom line. I wouldn’t trust anyone to do the right thing with my voice. Alpha will scale this up quickly. Last time I checked Alpha’s owners post bankruptcy included MetLife Equity, and different investment funds and they were trying to drum up foreign dollars. All of these people want a return on their investment. AI Ashley, AI Dave, and AI stuntboy all coming to a radio near you sooner than you think across the chain. It will be neat to see how they approach a client that requests an AI talent to do a remote broadcast. “Well see in order to meet stakeholder expectations, Timmy the intern will be on site for your remote.” Sounds like an upgrade to me.
At first Mr. Becker put me at ease when he said “This is not a DJ eliminator, it’s a DJ amplifier. It’s not a cost cutting tool. This is not going to replace more people than the industry has shed over the past 15 years” .
But then he said: “So it’s more than just the evolution of voicetracking. They think this is voice tracking 2.0… and it is. But so much more.”
And what does “so much more” mean?
“We’re going to have the ability to do things that we’ve always thought weren’t possible:
I think it could not only do the dayparts that are forgotten.
I think it will deliver a radio station in a different language.
I think that Dylan and Ashley Z will (…) have an alternate version of it in Spanish. In Russian. In Vietnamese. In Italian. The same promotions. The same songs. The same breaks. Different language.
I think it’s going to save lives.
I think that it’s going to access the automation systems in earthquakes and fires and tragedies and shootings and get the information to the audience faster than we’ve ever done it before.
We’re going to have the ability to localize content, (…) down to the city block that you live on.
Dylan will write into the AI and he will say, “Tell me the impact of the Rose Festival Parade on the following blocks.” And it’s going to generate that. And then he’s going to take that audio, and he’s going to put that on social media because he can already do that.
And he can say, “If you live between 5th and 10th Avenue, here’s the impact of the parade. If you live between 10th and 15th Avenue, here’s the impact of the parade. And eventually we’ll target your phone because we’ll know where you’re at and we’ll serve you exactly the block impact.
(…) you will ask it to help you create 15 Father’s Day sweepers, and it’s going to know what that means and it’s going to know to turn that sweeper on on Sunday and to turn that sweeper off on Monday. It’s going to evolve us and push us because major market radio stations are being run by just one, two and three people.
Ashley Z doesn’t have to go write (spec spots). All the seller has to do is copy the copy into synthetic Ashley And here’s your spec spot.
Let’s talk about changing the spot every single day based on the weather, based on the topicality, based on the moment. It can be done.
There’s so many things that from a revenue standpoint, we haven’t even broached. Direct to consumer as a category that radio’s never been involved.
I see I doing client CNA’s in real time. Writing the copy and emailing them the spot in less than ten minutes. So I really think that from the airstaff to the programming team to the production team to the account executive, all four departments are going to benefit from this.
It will either read copy verbatim how I wrote it – a literal read. There’s also an artful read where it comes up with its own script and I get a read.”
Now I am seriously concerned.
There’s a good argument that most of Phil’s 9 wonders were bad for radio and contributed to it’s decline. Here’s a thought – why not experiment with replacement of top management with AI? I wonder what Chat GPT would recommend for radio to reverse it’s slide and how different it would be from it’s current path.
I did it. This is long, but a cut and paste from our artificial consultants at Chat GPT. Warning – this is long (Fred may choose to kill this for that reason), but a cut and paste from my prompt. This is a pretty good set of recommendations from a short prompt.
How would you recommend the radio business turn itself around? The more competition it gets, the more it cuts costs and targets those cuts on the very things that radio’s own research shows its audience likes the most and attracts the most listeners. It has also all but abandoned anyone under 40 as a potential format target, so the median age of radio’s audience gets more than a year older each year. Radio has also cut sales compensation quite a bit and takes a much more reactive approach to sales. It is also undercapitalized and mostly run by people with little or no experience working at radio stations. What should radio do to reverse the slide?
ChatGPT
The challenges you’ve outlined for the radio business are indeed significant, but there are several strategies that can be employed to help reverse the slide and revitalize the industry. Here are some recommendations:
1. Embrace digital platforms: Radio stations should expand their presence beyond traditional broadcasts and leverage digital platforms such as online streaming, podcasts, and mobile apps. This allows them to reach a wider audience, particularly the younger demographic that consumes content predominantly through digital channels.
2. Develop engaging content: Invest in high-quality programming that resonates with the target audience. Conduct thorough research to understand the interests and preferences of listeners, especially those under 40, and create content that caters to their tastes. Experiment with new formats, including talk shows, podcasts, and interactive segments to keep listeners engaged.
3. Strengthen listener engagement: Encourage two-way communication with the audience through interactive features like call-ins, text messaging, social media, and online forums. Engage with listeners by hosting contests, conducting interviews, and seeking their input on content and programming decisions. Building a strong sense of community and interaction can help retain and attract listeners.
4. Invest in talent and training: Hire experienced professionals with a deep understanding of the radio industry and its changing landscape. Provide training and development opportunities to enhance their skills in content creation, production, and digital marketing. Emphasize the importance of talent and creativity in delivering compelling and unique experiences to the audience.
5. Enhance sales and marketing efforts: Adopt a proactive sales approach, targeting both traditional advertisers and new digital advertising opportunities. Offer customized advertising packages that cater to the needs of local businesses, ensuring a strong return on investment. Invest in marketing campaigns to raise awareness about the value and relevance of radio in the digital age.
6. Collaborate with other media platforms: Seek partnerships and collaborations with other media platforms, such as streaming services, podcasts, and online publications. Cross-promote content and explore opportunities for content sharing, joint marketing campaigns, and bundled advertising packages. This can help expand the reach of radio stations and attract new listeners.
7. Improve financial stability: Address the issue of undercapitalization by seeking additional funding sources, such as investors or partnerships with media organizations. Develop a sustainable business model that balances cost-cutting measures with investments in content quality and innovation. Prioritize long-term growth over short-term financial gains.
8. Embrace data analytics: Utilize data analytics to gain insights into listener behavior, preferences, and trends. Leverage this information to make data-driven programming and marketing decisions. Understanding audience engagement patterns can help identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to attract and retain listeners.
By adopting these strategies, the radio business can position itself for a turnaround and regain its relevance in the evolving media landscape. It requires a shift in mindset, embracing digital technologies, investing in talent, and focusing on audience needs and preferences.
Funny thing, Bob — I put your question into ChatGPT and got the same answer. Brings up the question..will AI eventually make every radio station sound the same? Is it possible that the “George Noory”/”Red Eye Radio” syndrome will pervade “the forgotten dayparts”? Having said that, it appears that Chat GPT does have the solution. Unless I missed it, nothing in the interviews of the last 2 days addresses those solutions.
All of the things that AI can do -can be done by humans. If AI Ashley is on in 6 different languages, all created with AI – isn’t that replacing 6 other humans? Listen, as Dylan puts it “…what’s the alternative, Fred? Am I going to be against it? You know, why wouldn’t I try to embrace the inevitable?”
Those excited by the technology are (no doubt) looking at the bottom line. Those who are raising appropriate red flags are on the creative end. We’re pretty smart on this blog, Fred. If I were one of those charged with making it work, I’d (on the surface) be all in on it. I’d also probably be updating my resume and looking to another career before mine is gone.
Checkin’ out “Live 95.5” -rather disappointing. I’d love to hear what others thing of the formatics (or lack of) on this jukebox. It’s very little Ashley (AI or otherwise), a lot of sweepers and promos and really long stop sets-and some nice pauses where the music should be. Someone’s paying too much attention to the AI stuff and not enough attention to making sure the automation flows. (Yesterday’s discovery of a commercial “slate” ahead of a QVC spot shows that). Does AI make a “hot” sweeper go into a ballad? Not a lot of matching going on there. 2nd day in a row I haven’t heard one mention of “AI Ashley”.
Other comments here are much smarter than mine, but the “Live” experience is anything but. Come to think of it, I’ve had 3 listening sessions (about 3 hours) and not ONE mention of what “Live” means. I rest my case for the moment.
“Fear Is The Mind Killer”- Frank Herbert… as you said”Learn as much as you can”
Frank knew what he was talking about, Tom.
I had laryngitis last week. I do imaging and promo voicework for radio, and couldn’t turn around the scripts coming in. I tried using AI to recreate my own voice for a few stations. Inflections were wrong, I didn’t know how to fix it, they couldn’t use any of it. Fortunately the stations I work with were great, and I was back in action pretty quickly. But I do see the future potential for AI to fill in when we’re out of sorts. Or dead. Heard a “new” Joy Division song yesterday – seems AI brought Ian Curtis back to life, like Paul McCartney is doing with John Lennon to create a “new” Beatles song.
It’s not ready yet, Jeff, as you well know. But it will be. As I like to say, today’s state of the art of AI is the worst it will every be. And yes, resurrecting voices is an obvious application. As the Classic Rock guy, I’m more than a little interested in how this plays out.
Love the idea that AI can create spec spots. They’re a pain in the ass for anyone who’s had to do them five times for the same client (due tomorrow!), and to have that taken off the plate is a blessing for multi-taskers.
Not convinced that we need personalized reports of traffic tie ups on air. It’s kinda like the lost dog reports that listeners call in. Sure, you want to help…and it’s great to have a social media feed where you can do that. But do you really need ALL your listeners tuned in to it?
If you’re streaming, yeah, you can get specialized, but you’re taking out the human factor, and that’s a tricky tradeoff, no matter how friendly the voice sounds.
Mike McVay has said MANY times we don’t need someone just reading PSAs for local content. However, it sounds like that’s the big selling point here, a sop to those concerned about losing local voices.
AI can absolutely be a boon to radio, especially when it comes to curating content and garnering local information. And yes, I won’t deny there are plenty of announcers who will read that info right off the sheet without any personal insight or interpretation (because they just rushed into the studio after creating five versions of that spec spot from hell,) and maybe an AI DJ won’t sound any different than they do at that time. But wouldn’t it be better to give your talent time and inspiration to create a great show, instead of investing your dollars in a new computer program to replace them?
The radio road is littered with “great ideas” that have proven to be not so great. AM Stereo anyone? RDS? HD Radio? Digital AM? Artificial Intelligence?
How does “artificial meat” sound? “Artificial girlfriend/boyfriend”?
Thankfully, time will tell which part of AI will (or won’t) work for radio. It doesn’t look like the industry is swarming toward adopting it. Congrats to Alpha for “being bold” -and not utilizing this potentially evil concept full-time.