Radio: Introduction

Research Task

1.What decade did radio begin? - 1920s

2.Name at least 3 different radio platforms (digital,broadcast)? - Digital, Internet, Broadcast 

3.Name the company who regulates radio? - Ofcom 

4.How would you raise a complaint with this regulator? - On the website (call,message,post)

5.Who are popular Radio presenters? -Nick Grimshaw (Radio 1), Roman Kemp (Capital), Rickie, Melvin & Charlie (KISS)

6. Name 4 different radio genres - Sports, Music, News, Discussion & talk 

Introduction:
-First broadcasts:1920s
-Media Industry- dominated by BBS until 1960s -- Private radio stations became popular 
Modern radio forms: 

           

BBC Radio: Include Radio 1,2,3,4, 5 live and 6 Music. Has over 50 regional radio stations broadcasting (UK). All these stations operate under the conditions of the Royal Charter and don't carry adverts because they are funded by the licence fee.

           

Commercial and Independent Radio: stations include Classic FM and Absolute. These stations are funded by advertising.

           

Regional Stations: these can be delivered by the BBC as well as commercial and independent radio broadcasters. For example BBC Radio London or Radio Essex, which is commercially owned by the Adventure Radio Group.

           

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting): Planet Rock and Magic are examples of this type of radio station.

           

Community Radio

           

Hospital and Student Radio.

Case study: BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw

-Radio programme's style and content - influenced by the station identity and often by the personality of the presenter.

-Programmes can be broadcast live or be pre-recorded.

E.g: The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw is a live presenter-led show which contains the expected conventions of music, chat, guest interviews, an audience phone-in and competitions.

-Zoo format( includes all elements (music, chat, guest interviews, an audience phone-in and competitions)and is delivered in a spontaneous, comic way.

Technological innovation

-New technology- helped the radio industry evolve and increase in popularity.

-Been a huge increase in the number of people downloading podcasts and streaming internet radio. 

-Most radio stations archive past broadcasts on their official websites, for listeners to access on-demand.

-Studio webcams and social media have changed the audience relationship with radio by making listeners feel more connected to the presenters.

-This type of media convergence(one company branching out to different media platforms) is  achieved through the use of blogs and forums on radio websites.

Radio is available on more platforms than ever before, including:

           

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)

            FM Radio

            LW (Long Wave)

            MW (Medium Radio)

            Freeview TV, Sky TV and Virgin TV

            Online

            On mobile phones via mobile apps

            On digital music players

Brand identities

-A radio station-have a specific brand identity which informs their house style.

-A radio station's target audience- identified by the music it plays E.g Gold-focuses on playing classic pop songs for an older audience.

-House style-language presenters use on air.

E.g Radio 4 uses clear diction and formal language whereas a station targeting a young audience will be more energetic and use informal, everyday language that may include some slang or abbreviations like ‘LOL’ or ‘YOLO’.

-The BBC: good case study to show how a single broadcaster can have a range of brand identities that target different audiences.

Each station has a different remit:

E.g BBC has 11 - 

BBC Radio 1: Entertain and engage a broad range of young listeners with a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech.

Marketing

-Radio stations market themselves through advertising.

-Often use their own stations, official websites and social media channels as platforms to promote forthcoming shows, new presenters, or the general brand identity of the station itself.

Radio online

-Official websites- additional content; when a pop star is interviewed on Radio 1 there may be exclusive excerpts which are only available online.(convergence):  allows for interactive participation E.G the audience submitting questions before and during an interview via the website or social media.

-Webcams- used to stream radio shows as they are broadcast, allowing the audience to see what is happening in the studio. In this way, radio isn't just audio-based; it is transformed via new technology into an audio-visual medium.

Regulation
-Radio industry is regulated by Ofcom

-Ofcom- examine complaints made against radio stations, to determine if the broadcasting code has been breached.
-Ofcom-ensure the broadcasting code is being upheld and that listeners are protected from harmful or offensive material, unfair treatment and loss of privacy.

Codes & Conventions

-Codes and conventions are the ‘language’ of the medium

-Codes-system of signs following understood rules while Conventions are ways or format of transmitting these signs e.g. the use of a DJ, Jingles etc.. Auditory codes are also dependent on genre, narrative structure & scheduling.

Main Areas of Reception | Key Signifiers

Words | Tone of voice, speed of delivery, accent or dialect, use of language, syntax, pitch, volume, texture, rhythm, how the words are anchored by other audio sounds

Sounds | Sound effects can create atmosphere, signify context, time (fading in and out) & location.

Music | Type of music, duration, use with words e.g. the DJ, cultural associations

Different radio stations = varied style & content, appeal to different audiences. Different radio stations = different programming or genres: they include news programmes, radio drama, sport… NB Different radio programmes will employ different codes.

Technical Codes | Radio

•  Words
• Sounds
•  Music
• Duration
• Location e.g. vox pop – immediacy, drama, realism
• Editing (selection & construction) e.g. speed of editing = pace of programme
• Acoustics
• Volume / Sound levels
•  Pitch
• Rhythm
• Type of microphone
• Mixing – can create a sense of space & movement
•  Scheduling / Programming

Symbolic & Cultural Codes | Radio

• Accent
•  Dialogue
•  Language – vocabulary & syntax e.g. R4 news as formal and correct
• Texture / Tone
• Mode of Address e.g. ‘phone-ins’, R4 news etc.
• Type of presenter/personality e.g. a celebrity, a DJ (the ‘link’)
• Use and type of music e.g. Celtic / Irish music as signifying warmth, welcome, etc.
•  Cultural association of sound effects