2024-03-28

Here’s How Listeners Feel About Radio Using AI In Station Programming

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Story by Inside Radio

The majority (58%) of core radio listeners are very, or somewhat, familiar with artificial intelligence and are very concerned with its use for cloning on-air personalities’ voices. Listeners are less worried about using AI to record commercials and station identifiers.

These are among the early findings of Tech survey 2024 shared by Jacobs Media with Inside Radio. The feedback from more than 31,000 radio listeners across the U.S. and Canada provides a first-time view of the emerging technology from radio consumers.

“Many radio companies have jumped on the AI bandwagon but with little guidance from their audience,” Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs noted. “This exclusive data from Techsurvey 2024 provides valuable feedback from partisans of 10 popular radio formats about their hopes but for now at least, fears of AI.”

Just under six in ten respondents (45%) are at least “somewhat familiar” with AI, especially progressive young listeners, the annual survey reveals. Overall, 12% are “very familiar” while 18% say they are “not familiar, not interested” in AI, and 15% are “not familiar” but “are interested” in it. Men, as well as members of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen Xers, are more apt to say they’re familiar with AI.

Of those familiar with AI, nearly one in ten (9%) said they use its applications for personal, work, or school. Gen Z and Millennial respondents are most likely to say they use it at least weekly.

Core listeners of alternative/modern rock radio stations are the most prone to regularly use AI, while classic rock and classic hits radio fans are least likely to use the technology. Public and Christian music radio listeners are the most concerned about the speed at which AI is being adopted, with seven in ten (71%) saying they are very or somewhat alarmed at the rate AI is progressing, especially women, Jacobs Media says in its findings.

Only 5% believe AI will have a “very positive” impact on society in the short term, while just over one in four (27%) believe AI’s effect will be “somewhat positive.” Conversely, a majority (53%) agree AI will lead to a somewhat or very negative impact on their world. Most think the government should regulate AI, and more than one-third say the government ought to provide AI safeguards.

That perception may be fueled by the November elections, Jacobs posits. About half (51%) say they’re very concerned about how AI might affect this fall’s political races. Members of the Greatest Generation and Boomers are most fearful of that influence.

Radio And AI

Respondents were surveyed about how they feel about AI being used by stations they listen to in three areas: AI hosts, AI-voiced commercials, and AI-voiced IDs.

Three in four (75%) have major concerns over AI replacing live DJs, personalities, hosts, or announcers. There is slightly less concern about using AI to voice commercials with nearly four in ten (39%) saying they disapprove of radio stations they listen to using AI on ads. Of the three applications, using AI to “voice” station IDs is the most acceptable to radio listeners. Overall, about one-third (34%) have no problem, but a similar-sized group (30%) expresses major concerns with this use case for AI.

Isolating the question about AI technology taking the place of radio station talent, Techsurvey reveals across-the-board concern with worries expressed by at least seven in ten of the demographic subgroups (gender, generation, type of radio station) included in the analysis.

Among the top ten radio formats, those who prefer alternative and rock, as well as news/talk, sports, and classic rock voiced the strongest concerns. Fans of CHR are less disturbed by AI, but even two-thirds of them (68%) are against the idea of bot jocks, Jacobs says.

“It is still early days for AI in radio, but broadcasters need to respect the many concerns voiced by core fans of the medium,” GM Paul Jacobs remarked. “Up to now, many decisions have been made in a vacuum. Now the audience has a voice. We’ll be tracking their perceptions in Techsurveys in the coming years as the technology matures. The format level data for AI should provide welcome feedback for radio managers trying to get a handle on AI.”

2024-03-22

Tennessee’s ELVIS Act Becomes Law, Protecting Every Person's Unique Voice


ELVIS Act signing 3-21-24

Story by Inside Radio

Luke Bryan and Chris Janson were on hand Thursday as Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the “Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act into law during a press conference at Robert’s Western World in Nashville. The first-in-the-nation ELVIS Act establishes protections for every person's unique voice and likeness against unauthorized artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes and voice clones.

Along with explicitly including a person’s voice as a protected right for the first time, the ELVIS Act also broadens which uses of one’s name, image, photograph and voice are barred.

“The leaders of this show artists who are moving here following their dreams to know that our state protects what we work so hard for,” Bryan said during the event, “and I personally want to thank all of our legislators and people made this bill happen.”

Other artists who attended the signing include Natalie Grant, Bernie Herms, Matt Maher, Maggie Rose, Wendy Moten, Drew Baldridge and Harper Grace.

"This bill is so much bigger than just the music community,” said Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and a founding member of the Human Artistry Campaign. “This bill protects all Tennesseans.”

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. called it “a groundbreaking achievement in the effort to protect human creators in the age of AI.” Mason also said the bill’s passage in Tennessee is “just the beginning — as AI continues to develop, the Recording Academy and our members will continue to support meaningful legislation across the country that uplifts music people and human creativity.”

Broadcasters and artists have a common cause when it comes to artificial intelligence, The Recording Academy’s Chief Advocacy and Public Policy Officer, Todd Dupler, told CRS attendees last month during an “AI and Identity” session. “Whether you are a talk-show host or a DJ or somebody live on the air, you build an audience that trusts you,” he said. “You have a brand that people rely on in your voice that’s recognizable. It's a voice that as soon as they hear it, they know who you are, and they know whether they like to listen to you. So somebody can take that and use it to say things that you have never said or to leverage it for something that you would never do. That can be damaging to your reputation, to your livelihood, and to your life.”

Pictured, L-R: House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-44), Luke Bryan, Governor Bill Lee, Chris Janson, RIAA CEO/Chairman Mitch Glazier & State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-27).

2024-03-08

Dropping Bombs and Bread on Gaza


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By Amy Goodman & Denis Moynihan

Dramatic images of US airdrops of food into the Gaza Strip made headlines in recent days. The US Air Force and the Royal Jordanian Air Force dropped over 70,000 meals in total along the Gaza coastline and in northern Gaza, amounting to a fraction of what is needed on an ongoing basis there. While the US has been airdropping food, it has also been delivering bombs to Israel to be dropped on Gaza as well. The Washington Post revealed this week that the Biden administration has conducted more than 100 separate weapons transfers to Israel over the last five months, with thousands of so-called precision guided munitions, bombs and more–while skirting legally-required reports to Congress.

“It is absurd and hypocritical to publicly profess horror at Netanyahu’s inhumane war,” Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders said on the Senate floor on Wednesday, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “While…we ship tens of thousands of bombs to his army. It is absurd to criticize Netanyahu’s war in one breath and provide him another $10 billion to continue that war in the next.” Sanders reportedly met privately with President Biden this week.

Individual senators have significant power to delay legislation, including foreign military aid, but only if a senator actually learns about a proposed arms sale in advance. As the Washington Post reported, “in the case of the 100 other transactions, known in government-speak as Foreign Military Sales or FMS, the weapons transfers were processed without any public debate because each fell under a specific dollar amount that requires the executive branch to individually notify Congress.”

Josh Paul knows a lot about U.S. arms sales to Israel. He worked for over 11 years at the State Department, most recently as director in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, overseeing international arms deals. He resigned in October, citing the U.S.’s “blind support” for Israel during its assault on Gaza.

“The President continues to facilitate the flow of arms to Israel, despite a change in tone,” Josh Paul said on the Democracy Now! news hour. “We have certainly heard the administration call for more humanitarian assistance or at least a temporary ceasefire. But at the same time, it continues to provide the arms that enable Israel to continue its operations.”

On February 8th, Biden issued a “National Security Memorandum,” NSM-20, reminding government agencies of their legal requirements regarding these official arms transfers. A new report from Refugees International, titled, “Siege and Starvation: How Israel Obstructs Aid to Gaza,” includes the recommendation,

“Given the widespread indications of systematic Israeli violations of International Humanitarian Law [IHL] (which even the President has characterized as ‘indiscriminate’ and ‘over the top’), the Biden administration should pause further offensive security assistance to Israel pending a thorough review of the credibility of Israel’s adherence to IHL, as mandated by NSM-20.”

Refugees International President Jeremy Konyndyk is a former top USAID official, where he ran the Obama administration’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and coordinated the Biden Administration’s international COVID response. He said this week on social media, “Biden admin has had the reports predicting looming famine for two and a half months. Where was the urgency? What did they do to pressure (not plead with) Bibi to drastically ramp up humanitarian access? Why the change in tone only now? And why, still, no use of US leverage?”

Not only is Israel clearly in violation of international humanitarian law, which alone should be enough to stop the flow of arms and ammunition from the US; Israel has been found to be plausibly responsible for genocide in Gaza, in a preliminary ruling from the International Court of Justice in The Hague. South Africa, which brought the case to the World Court, has just asked the court to take additional emergency measures, stating, “The threat of all-out famine has now materialized. The court needs to act now to stop the imminent tragedy.”

Josh Paul is in touch with State Department staffers who still work on arms transfers to Israel. “I’m still hearing from people… ‘I feel sick to my stomach of being involved in this,’ and ‘I’m trying to make changes, and it’s just not working.’ I think the internal pressure, the internal disgust, frankly, is still there.”

Josh Paul is now working with Democracy for the Arab World Now, or DAWN. In a statement, he said, “No number of airdropped pallets can come close to the relief that Gaza needs most: an end to Israel’s bombardment…conducted with American weapons paid for by American dollars. [T]he U.S. has immense leverage to push Israel to agree to a cease-fire and open wide the gates of Gaza so humanitarian assistance can flow in.”

2024-02-21

The Economic Clout Of Black Americans Is Growing. No Medium Reaches More Of Them Than Radio


Katz Importance of Black American Consumer

Story by Inside Radio

As the Black American population has grown – up 21% from 2005 to 2022 – so has its buying power. The economic clout of Black American consumers has increased 71% from 2010 to 2021 with a growth forecast to $2.10 trillion by 2026.

Black Americans make up 14.4% of the total U.S. population, numbering 47.9 million. And this group is on track to increase by 35.7% by 2060 while the non-ethnic White population shrinks by 10%.

The Black population is younger with a median age of 33, compared to 38 for the U.S. population as a whole. And it is expanding into new areas of the U.S. Data from the 2020 Census count by region found that over the past 10 years the Black American population saw the biggest increase in the Mountain (+38.9%), New England (+26.5%), and West North Central (+23.0%) divisions, while the White population is down across all regions.

It’s not just that the Black American population is rising. The life-group is seeing strong growth in key socioeconomic categories. For example, the number of Black Americans 18+ who have a household income of $100k or more increased 43% over the past five years.

“Advertising to the Black American consumer is imperative for brands and advertisers to gain exposure and grow market share,” says from Katz Multicultural in a new report entitled “The Importance of the Black American Consumer.”

Advertising to Black American consumers is more than just good for business – it’s also good for the communities whose citizens the advertisers are trying to win over as regular customers. “With a history of underserving this consumer life-group, advertisers and brands have an opportunity to tap into this market to expand their reach and cultivate brand awareness in addition to servicing often neglected communities and creating value for consumers,” the Katz Multicultural report says.

As has been shown by Nielsen and other media research firms, Black Americans are avid media consumers spending over 81 hours each week. That’s 17% more than the general population. No medium reaches more of this life-group, or engages and influences more, than radio. According to Nielsen, AM/FM radio out-reaches all other media among Black Adults 18+.

What’s more, radio reaches more than eight out of ten Black consumers across most demographic targets. The one exception is Black persons 18-34, where radio reaches 78%. And broadcast radio towers above other ad-supported (non-subscription) audio formats, both in reach and time spent listening. Among Black adults 18+, radio captures 94% of the ad-supported audio pie in reach and 62% of time spent listening.

According to the report, radio is “an effective medium, reaching Black consumers on the go, whether commuting, working or shopping, when an advertiser’s message is most actionable.”

The report shows the deep, long-term bonds Black Americans have with their favorite radio station. Just under 7 in 10 Black American listeners (69%) have a favorite radio station. In a finding that shows remarkable long-term loyalty, that radio station has been their favorite for a staggering 18 years.

The report quotes Sudipti Kumar, director of multicultural Insights at Collage Group. “The growth in Multicultural populations in the U.S. means these segments wield immense influence,” Kumar is quoted as telling The Hill in a statement. “Their desire for diverse perspectives and a deep understanding of their cultural identity by brands and organizations will be even more critical in the future.”

Download “The Importance of the Black American Consumer” HERE.

2024-02-06

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car (Official Music Video)

2024-01-30

Rep. Jim Clyburn helped Biden win young Black voters in 2020. This time, they're not listening.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rep-jim-clyburn-helped-biden-win-young-black-voters-in-2020-this-time-they-re-not-listening/ar-BB1huxpA?ocid=socialshare&pc=HCTS&cvid=dd1e626f55f64ab38f07e1f5a97c5c8a&ei=55

2023-12-08

Urban One’s Casino Efforts Came Up Short. But It’s Not Done Looking For New Investments

 


Alfred Liggins

After twice coming up short with voters on a casino project proposal in Richmond, VA in November, Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins is not ruling out making another gaming-related bid somewhere in the state. But with $136.8 million in hand from the sale of its investment in the suburban Washington MGM National Harbor casino complex, the company is also considering several other potential moves.

“It's a great business. We made a lot of money on our MGM investment,” Liggins said Thursday. He told analysts during a conference call that Urban One made four and a half times its initial investment in National Harbor. “We would absolutely look at other stuff,” he said, pointing out that efforts to locate a casino in Virginia remain alive. There is also a gaming push across the border in Maryland, where Urban One also owns radio stations. “We're not a venture capital fund – we're not making a bunch of investments in startup companies,” Liggins added.

As other companies have focused on snatching up digital assets, Liggins says they have been more cautious given the “tricky” nature of the business. Because few digital platforms have their own traffic, he said audience size can quickly change depending on the algorithm changes made by the big platforms like Google or Meta.

“We look at digital acquisitions,” Liggins said. “We were nosing around a public company this year, and ended up doing a deal somewhere else.”

As Urban One looks for its next move, Liggins said the media business will remain core to what it does, with whatever new venture it approaches benefiting from an association with radio and television.

“We like to look for businesses that are tangential to the assets that we have,” Liggins explained. “I wouldn't want to do anything where we're just out of our depth and knowledge.” He did not rule out investing in a consumer-based business, however, such as an urban apparel retailer that would profit from exposure on Urban One media properties. “Our number one priority is to be in a defensive posture,” he said.

Next month will mark two decades since Urban One debuted its TV One business, and Liggins told analysts that it is an area they have worked to grow. He said they made an offer for BET when Paramount was shopping the Black-targeted media unit before scrapping plans to sell. “There would have been a great deal of synergy there, from a programming cost and advertising sales standpoint,” Liggins explained. He said that as the BET sale possibility evaporated, Urban One put more of its energy behind the Richmond casino project.

Not Selling Towers

While Urban One looks toward making investments, it is not interested in selling its towers, which is a move many other radio groups have taken to raise capital. Liggins told analysts he was recently approached about selling towers in a couple markets for $7-$8 million but said no.

“One of our problems is it weakens our position in the market versus something that we might want to do,” he said. “It would make us weaker against a competitor there. And ultimately, we think there's an opportunity to buy the competitor and do really well. So I don't want to take the pressure off of that competitor.”

Fourth Quarter Revenue Pacing Down

Urban One released delayed results for the first half of the year Thursday, reporting revenue increased 3.8% compared to a year earlier. Radio revenues grew 8.3%, with the bulk of the increase coming from the acquisition of three radio stations in Indianapolis.

Liggins said business “struggled” during the first half, but has “stabilized” in the second half even as Urban One revenue is currently pacing down 11.6% during the fourth quarter – or down 21.2% on a same-station basis with local off 2% and national down 26%.

“We've definitely experienced some soft market revenues for the second half of the year, although Q4 local has improved sequentially over Q3,” CFO Peter Thompson said.

Digital has also been a bright spot, with revenue up 1.8% during the first half as streaming revenue from radio station inventory was up. But Thompson said online sales were not immune to what’s happening in the ad market. “Advertisers pulled back somewhat on marketing budgets due to recession concerns, and fewer advertisers committed to Black History Month and the Juneteenth efforts compared to a year ago,” he said.

Political advertising will help fill the gaps next year, but Liggins does not expect Urban One to receive as much as in 2022 when the Senate runoff election in Georgia poured about $6 million into its Atlanta cluster. For now, Liggins thinks they will get about $10 million in political ad dollars in the current cycle.