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ftm Radio Page - week ending June 28, 2019

Ad people short radio for tech
"I have no future"

Advertising people, they tell us, embody innovation. What they do, really, is adapt. Ad strategies have long adapted to emerging social themes, like the “Come Alive. You’re in The Pepsi Generation” anthem to young people of the 1960’s separating from their elders. Current teens, oft referred to as GenZ, separate with technology. And the ad people have adapted.

Organizers of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, also known as the Cannes Ad Fest, make regular changes to the festival program and, importantly, awards. The ad people know the importance of “new and improved.” The Radio Lions are now the Radio and Audio Lions to include al those new digital messaging platforms.

“It's one of those categories that's gone through difficult times,” said Radio and Audio Lions jury president and MullenLowe Group president Jose Miguel Sokoloff, quoted by Ad Age (June 20). “We're always saying that radio is hard to create. But right now you find that the boundaries of radio - and audio particularly - are expanding. It's almost exploding. But it still retains the magic of being one of the few categories that has zero barriers for a person with a pen, paper, an idea and a voice to change the world.” (See more about radio advertising here)

The Grand Prix in the Radio and Audio category was awarded to Dentsu Aegis subsidiary 360i for an “immersive voice game” promoting the HBO sci-fi series Westworld: The Maze. The game’s platform is Amazon’s Alexa. Every stop in this supply chain is pure GenZ.

The Gold Lion in the category, again leaning toward audio, was awarded to ad agency DDB Chicago for the “Broadway the Rainbow” theatrical furthering the unique branding of Skittles, the sweet treat of Mars Wrigley Confectionary. Nothing traditional here; it was staged - once - on Super Bowl Sunday, in lieu of a TV spot in that football game. It won a total of 12 Cannes Lions.

Another Gold Lion in the category was awarded to David Miami, subsidiary of Ogilvy, for the Burger King campaign BK Bot Tastes Like Math. The spots were spoofs on ads generated by artificial intelligence, voiced like a robot. Tagline: “I have no Whopper. I have no future.”

TBWA\Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg was awarded the remaining Gold Lion in the Radio and Audio category for City Lodge Hotel Group. The six-spot campaign was cited for scripts and production.

The future, once digital, now mobile
"bet on the wrong card"

Digital transition is never ending, we have learned. With that, consumer choice is, to be generous, unruly. Platforms used to access media content, and their affixed devices, are constantly evolving. This poses risk to, for one, radio broadcasting.

The Niedersachsen (Germany) parliament last week approved a motion to abolish the DAB+ digital radio standard. It was put forward by the centrist Free Democratic Party (FDP), which called DAB+ “only transitional” and a “waste of money.” The “For A Digital Radio Future” petition asks the Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) state government to "work for the termination of DAB+ in favor of the development of future-oriented technologies.” Essentially, the measure calls for an end to public funding for DAB+ technology. In Germany, state governments have control over their own budgets, obviously, as well as distributions to public broadcasters from the household license fee. No other German State has taken firm positions on the future of DAB+ or, for that matter, FM distribution with the exception of requiring DAB+ receivers in new automobiles by 2021. (See more about media in Germany here)

The German private media association VAUNET called this “a landmark decision.” (See VAUNET statement here - in German) The DAB+ platform has not prevailed in the market despite many years of advertising campaigns and is far behind the possibilities of digital distribution channels,” said VAUNET radio chairman Klaus Schunk. Plus, operating two platforms (FM and DAB+) is expensive, confuses consumers and 5G mobile technology is coming soon. “If politicians continue to bet on the wrong card, they will lose the future of radio broadcasting.” (See more about digital radio here)

"From our point of view, DAB+ is the responsibility of all federal states or of the whole of Europe,” responded digital radio support group Digitalradio Büro Deutschland spokesperson Carsten Zorger, quoted by public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk (June 24). The decision in Niedersachsen is “great PR impact,” he added, but “virtually no impact.” For broadcasters, the 5G mobile standard “will take at least another ten to fifteen years until it is resilient.”

Radio Page week ending June 21, 2019
radio in Poland, Eurozet, Agora Group, mergers and acquisitions, radio in the Czech Republic, Radio Zet, Czech Media Invest, Lagardere Active Radio, Media Bohemia

Radio Page week ending June 14, 2019
radio in Africa, radio in Malawi, talk radio, Capital Radio, elections and media, radio in Germany, media credibility, news credibility, radio news, public radio, radio in Denmark, elections and media, Radio24syv, DR, DAB

Radio Page week ending June 7, 2019
Vatican Radio, Latin language, Hebdomada Papae, Radio Bremen, Radio FREI, podcasts, Deezer, drama series, climate change, Spotify, Barrack Obama

Radio Page week ending May 31, 2019
media in Slovenia, Radio Student, Radio Koper, RTV SLO, radio brands

Radio Page week ending May 24, 2019
Spotify, playlists, European Parliament elections, elections and media, Vengaboys, radio in France, Europe 1, Lagardere Active

Radio Page week ending May 17, 2019
radio in the UK, radio audience, RAJAR, BBC Radio, public broadcasting, commercial radio, Radio 2, Radio 4, Radio 1, Five Live, Magic, LBC, Heart, Classic FM, Kiss, Smooth, digital transition, millennials, radio in Sweden, Sveriges Radio, public broadcasting, online radio

Radio Page week ending May 10, 2019
radio in Russia, Radio Day, Alexander Popov, radio in Ireland, radio audience, JNLR/Ipsos, RTE Radio 1, Radio 2FM, Today FM, Newstalk, Communicorp, Wireless Group, Bay Broadcasting

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Europe's Radio - Southern Europe

Radio broadcasting in southern Europe ranges from highly developed to developing highly. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese radio is unique, creative and very popular. Radio in Croatia, Serbia and Greece has had ups and downs. The ftm Knowledge file includes Resources. 126 pages PDF (June 2015)

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Europe's Radio - Western Europe

Opportunity meets tradition in Western Europe's radio broadcasting. Change has come fast and yet oh, so slowly. This ftm Knowledge file contains material and resources on public and private radio broadcasting in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Netherlands and Switzerland. 244 pages. Resources. PDF (September 2013)

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Europe’s Radio – Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe’s radio writes new rules. In fact, most everything about radio in this region is new... and changes often. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. 159 pages PDF (April 2013)

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Europe’s Radio – Northern Europe

Northern Europe’s radio has a very digital sound. And change is in the air. Economic challenges abound for both public and commercial broadcasters. The ftm Knowledge file reports on Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the UK. 144 pages PDF includes Resources (November 2012)

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Digital Radio - Possibilities and Probabilities

Digital radio has many platforms. From broadcast platforms to internet radio and rapidly emerging smartphone platforms, listeners and broadcasters have choices galore and decisions to make. Some regulators have made up their minds, others not, some hedging their bets. This ftm Knowledge file details the possibilities for digital broadcasting and the probabilities for success. Includes Resources 149 pages PDF (August 2012)

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The Six Radio Brands is about the uniquely European development of radio brands. Competition among broadcasters - and certainly between the public and commercial sectors - gives radio in Europe a rich dynamic. As consumers become more media-literate and demand more attachment broadcasters find target markets illusive.
Regulators, advertisers and broadcasters take turns trying to influence radio brands. Culture and technology makes an impact. More and more, the greatest influence comes from consumers.
The Six Radio Brands describes advantages and pit-falls of brand strategies, with illustrations from current radio practice.

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