Q&A: Joe D’Angelo on selective partnering in data-driven audio platforms

Reaching out to listeners through an increasingly crowded, interconnected, digitized audio space takes more than experience in radio programming. For Joe D’Angelo, Xperi’s senior V.P. of broadcast radio, it requires partnering with those who have expert knowledge of metadata, an eye on future listening behavior and a track record of innovation.

RedTech: Where do you see opportunities to secure the future of radio?

Joe D’Angelo: Everywhere. Just look at the innovation in home, mobile and automotive audio platforms. Radio is no longer a single platform but increasingly represents a community of programmers and listeners coming together across technologies.

Consequently, broadcasters must ensure they are available on whichever platform their listeners are using, yet also be selective in how they are engaging to preserve the value of their programming. There seems to be a bit of a rush to be on every platform at any cost. This will erode value in the long term. Keeping in mind that broadcast programming is unique, valuable and worth protecting, the industry should seek out platforms that will extend their reach, increase engagement and respect content.

RedTech: What inspires your company to innovate?

D’Angelo: At Xperi, we have a long history of innovation, developing smarter technologies to drive extraordinary experiences around media and entertainment.

It is in our DNA and is well-represented in our heritage with DTS, HD Radio and TiVo — all now well-established technologies that have revolutionized film, TV and radio from the theatre to the home and the car. We are not slowing down. The opportunities for innovation and the challenges of connecting consumers with engaging, relevant content are only accelerating, and we love that. It’s a challenging environment that drives us to do even more, ever faster, to meet our customers’ expectations and, more importantly, their customers’ demands. It is extremely rewarding to see our innovations across the media landscape around the world.

RedTech: How do/es your product/s make radio increasingly resilient, relevant and competitive?

D’Angelo: We have a broad portfolio of technologies that help radio leverage digital capabilities and compete successfully in the crowded audio marketplace. Our award-winning studio system, RAPID, from the All in Media team, ensures that broadcasters can easily and reliably manage their station branding and content metadata across all broadcast and digital platforms, thereby driving discovery and engagement. Our TiVo Music Metadata catalog is without equal and is the foundation for music discovery and enrichment, ensuring broadcasters are on equal footing with the large digital audio platforms. Our DTS AutoStage platform is the only global hybrid radio system specifically focused on the connected car. It is supported by the largest public service and commercial broadcasters in the world and, unlike other solutions, is free for broadcasters.

Recognize that decentralization is one of radio’s greatest strengths, but also its Achilles heel.

RedTech: What one piece of advice would you give those running radio stations today?

D’Angelo: Prepare and partner (selectively). The digital world presents amazing opportunities but comes with increasing customer expectations. Continue to make great programming, but ensure you’ve enriched it with accurate and engaging metadata. Without it, listeners will struggle to find you and may be less engaged than with alternative audio content. Recognize that decentralization is one of radio’s greatest strengths, but also its Achilles heel. There are well over 100,000 radio stations worldwide; therefore, providing any kind of collaborative innovation or consistent service beyond transmitting audio is untenable for the industry.

As broadcasters look to exploit connectivity in the car to enhance the listener experience, they must look to trusted, capable, proven solution providers to help achieve that goal.

RedTech: How do you imagine radio by the end of this century?

D’Angelo: Radio will be truly transformed and will break through the challenges of transport and distribution. Radio will be the foundation of communities and continue to provide the lifeline of local information and entertainment. Radio will be more personalized, and discovery will be effortless. It will be the consummate lean-back, curated audio experience — your companion through your day, keeping you informed, engaged and entertained.

In many ways, it will embody many of the characteristics of radio that we love, simply unconstrained by the platforms and restrictions that limit us today. The future holds immense opportunities; let’s keep innovating and entertaining and listening deeply as we program the radio of tomorrow.

This Q&A was published in the special edition, The Innovators. Read the entire issue here.