Thursday, 8 May 2014

Radio Playlists and Audiences

  • In a blog post, talk about all the different types of radio where you would find music playlists that have been especially formulated e.g. radio, in-store radio, internet radio etc.
  • Talk about specific radio stations, different programmes on these radio stations and the types of music that they play on them.
  • You should discuss who the audiences are for these programmes and how successful you think the shows are at reaching their audience with their music playlists.

ESSAY / POWERPOINT


There are many different types of radio. These include in-store radio, internet radio and normal broadcast radio to name a few. The music playlists that the stations use can be broadcast online, but only if they publish them. BBC Radio One are a good example of a station who publish their playlists online. BBC Radio One plays all the up to date hits with A, B and C playlists to draw from. The main show is Nick Grimshaw's breakfast show but the station airs many other different genres of shows. An array of in house DJ's play everything from Rap to House to Rock in shows at all hours of the day and night.

An example of the music variety is Fearne Cotton's 10:00am - 12:45pm show. She is in charge of Radio One's Live Lounge. This is where various well known and up and coming artists or bands perform live versions of their own songs and covers of other peoples songs. They put their own twist on the songs and with the whole show shrouded in mystery, the show is very popular due to it's uniqueness.

Classic FM is a station completely different to Radio One with a target audience of the over 30's and playlists full of classical music. Their Hall of Fame Hour from 9am - 10am is described on their website as 'Classic FM’s flagship morning programme is the biggest show of the day'. They play songs from the Top 300 chart voted by their audience which means whatever they pick will be suitable to the audience.

Each off the shows has, due to the size of the companies, access to reliable stats on their audiences (www.rajar.co.uk - Radio Joint Audience Research Limited). From that information and over time they will have perfected their format. This means they will tailor their content (music, talking etc) towards their audience. A simple example of that is with BBC Radio One having 29 year old Nick Grimshaw as the Breakfast Show host, instead of Chris Moyles. Having a presenter within the intended audience age bracket (15-29 years old) ensures relevant topics will be talked about.


Internet radio is the most diverse of the broadcast types because anyone can air any genre of program. Platforms that host these stations include iTunes Radio and Shoutcast. Most internet radio shows, like normal broadcast radio, can be listened to for free. They can also list their playlists online and post podcasts up from the show. The audience for these internet shows tends to be younger adults and teenagers due to their knowledge of the internet and their natural openness to explore new music, artists and genres. 

In-store radio is basically radio played within shops. It is tailored to the purchasing audience in several ways. ASDA FM is the radio station that plays in every Asda store and is run by the company themselves. They target their music towards all their customers but host specific genre radio shows at different times in the day and night to correctly target the music at those walking into the supermarket. For example in their 24 hour stores they play upbeat clubbing/party music to suit the party goers returning from a night of clubbing. Asda FM use their music playlists to increase morale within the shop. Putting people in a good mood has the potential to increase sales because everyone is feeling more optimistic. Also without music in the store, customers would become more aware of the time they are spending. The longer people stay in store, the more money they spend.

594 words

Monday, 27 January 2014

Pre-Production Planning Sheet

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8FgFRE1qGEZNHotNUJIQi1wbjQ/edit?usp=sharing

Regulation & Codes of Practice

A) What are the names of the two companies that licence radio stations to play music? 
- PPL & PRS.

For a bonus point, what do the above acronyms stand for:
C) Phonographic Performance Limited
B) Performing Rights Society

D) What else do the above companies collect and distribute for music artists/songwriters/publishers?
- Wills, Kate and George (Royalties).

E) What would happen if a shop / club / radio station didn’t purchase licences from these bodies and were found out by the PRS/PPL? 
- They'd get a huge fine and potentially a prison sentence.

F) What is the name of the regulator of the Broadcast and Telecommunications Industries? 
- OFCOM.

G) The document that sets out the principles, meanings and "practices to be followed” by the Broadcast industries is called: 
- The Broadcasting Code.

H) Name three of the areas (sections) of the “Code” and two examples of what that section states you cannot do on Radio.

1) Crime
- Can’t broadcast material likely to encourage crime or to lead to disorder.
- Can’t broadcast descriptions or demonstrations of criminal techniques which contain essential details which could enable a crime, unless cleverly edited.

2) Privacy
- Broadcasters must not play audio of people for annoyance, embarrassment or to cause distress to people.
- To have a person under the age of 16 on air, consent must be gained from their parents or guardians to maintain their privacy unless it is warranted as well as them being asked about private matters.

3) Fairness
- The guest must be aware of what questions they will be asked during the radio show.
- When the program is edited, if it is pre-recorded, then contributions should be represented fairly.

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Assessment [1b]

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How effective is Asda FM at appealing to it's varied target audience through it's music schedule?

Asda FM is the radio station that plays in every Asda store and is run by their managing company Wal-Mart Stores, Inc themselves. They target their music towards all their customers but host specific genre radio shows at different times in the day and night to correctly target the music at those walking into the supermarket. For example in their 24 hour stores they play upbeat clubbing/party music to suit the party goers returning from a night of clubbing. In any store from in the mid afternoon to early evening they play Disney music so as to appeal to the children coming in to the store after school, accompanied by their parents. At any other time they are likely to play charting songs because pop music is the most generalizable genre to all kinds of people.

Asda FM is useful to the stores because it can increase morale within the shop. Putting people in a good mood has the potential to increase sales because everyone is feeling more optimistic. Also without music in the store, customers would become more aware of the time they are spending. The longer people stay in store, the more money they spend.

The station can play their own adverts over the tannoy without people noticing too much. Alot of customers, as soon as they recognized it was an advertisement, would zone out and not listen any more. Interspersing messages with music keeps the audience's attention.

The music also advertises the stores music section with all the songs played being available on CD within the shop.

To conclude, I think Asda FM effectively appeal to their audiences. They change their music genres according to who is likely to be in store at that time and they play appropriate adverts between the songs to drum up business and increase sales. Overall the whole concept is purely to increase profits and most of their audience would never realize that.

321 words

Monday, 30 September 2013

Assessment [1a]

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Critically comment and evaluate - How effective the station is at serving the target audience of 15 - 29 year olds through the station's music scheduling.

The station aims its music at the target audience very well. They consistently play current chart songs but intersperse it with older or relatively unknown songs, a technique known as hammocking. This method means that they play an active role in bringing new artists into the spot light. It makes the the station look good and proactive/friendly with new talent. The approach also draws in more adventurous listeners who want to expand their music library.

Within their target audience, there are many people who like many different genres. However the station plays it safe with chart songs, during the day and early evening, because if they played a genre like Heavy Metal, some listeners would be happy but most wouldn't. They have mastered the balance of songs to appeal to as many people as possible. 

The biggest show on Radio 1 is the Breakfast Show. It runs from 6.30am - 10.00am and is hosted by 29 year old Nick Grimshaw. Although Grimshaw is at the end of the target audience demographic, he has an understanding of youth culture and the listeners can relate to him. 

The general format for all the shows on BBC Radio 1 is to intersperse chart music with presenters asking/answering questions over social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, or interviewing celebrities. Teenagers and young adults are the right age to link to celebrity culture. The station takes full advantage of this with long, quite personal, interviews with celebrities and organised music festivals so that listeners can play a more active role and go see their celebrities perform in the flesh. To help broadcast celebrities in a positive light and to make them even more appealing to the target audience, Radio 1 have a thing called 'Live Lounge' which is where artists sing acoustic or alternative versions of their own or other artist's songs. This appeals to teens because it's cool, current and it validates the fact that an artist can sing and doesn't just use auto-tune or technology to sound good.

From 10pm to 6.30am the station hosts late night programmes of slightly less popular genres. These include dance, rock an dubstep shows. 

To conclude, BBC Radio 1 targets their intended audience age range effectively. Their scheduling is always current with well known presenters delivering tunes that suit 15 - 29 year olds. The station is made even more appealing with the fact that they play fresh new talent. It offers an element of hope or an aspiration for young artists within the demographic to get their music broadcast by the station. Overall, each time slot on each day has been well thought through with reference to up to date statistical information so that the presenter and music played goes appropriately with the audience listening at that time. 

402 words

Radio Stations

1) What is a station's "Music Format"?
The type of music they've agreed to play, in accordance to their OFCOM license.

2) What is an A B C playlist?

The songs they play in the day, rated into 3 categories of how many times they play them. A = 3-4 times. B = 2 times. C= Once.

3) What is "Music Scheduling"?

Putting the music into a sequence ready to be aired. The songs are chosen with reference to current market research so that the audience like what they hear.



Monday, 16 September 2013

Radio Stuff Lesson - 16.09.2013

We learn't lots. All of which is rolling around in my brain forming itself into sensible sentences. None of which are available right now.

Something something something Marconi, something something something Tessler, Radio 1 something something Nick Grimshaw, something something Ofcom, something something something BBC Radio 4 is talking, something something something Pirates, I mean pirate radio stations, something something something OH MY GOSH DOUBLE JEOPARDY. Something something something we are going to lose, something something something blog.

Fin.

Thursday, 12 September 2013

YouTube

I have a variety of my personal and course work on YouTube.
My channel is: http://www.youtube.com/user/00tortoise


I highly recommend watching it all but in particular I think you should watch these:

Misty's Golden Moment (MGM logo copy). 0:10
Made in Adobe After Effects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7aIiabVg28

NF Productions Title Sequence (my production label). 0:06
Made in Adobe After Effects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SwA6ObQ92I

Chavs: Under The Microscope (Mockumentary). 3:06
My AS Level Media Studies Mockumentary piece. All planned, filmed and produced by me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuSOhgIkaew

Bus Stop Love - Official Trailer 2013. 2:54
My A2 Level Media Studies project. All planned, filmed and produced by me again!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytvK2wM87IY

The HT Zombie Apocalypse. 2:41
The year 13 leavers stunt/prank.

There are various other gems on my channel but I'll leave you to find them. 

Thanks!

Radio Questions

1. I don't listen to the radio because there is always too much talking and too many adverts.

2. In the car if my dad has it on. I don't listen out of choice.

3. Probably Pop and current stuff. What they like really.

4. It would only suit me if they stopped the music maybe three thirds into the song or when it gets boring to me. However no-one would listen to it because they'd never hear a complete song.

5.

Nicola's Radio Blog

http://cscmbp.blogspot.co.uk