The RedTech Global Online Content Series features discussions with industry experts on critical topics and themes impacting the world of audio broadcast content programming. What makes it so relevant is that the industry steers it — what key decision-makers tell us is not talked about enough.
The series kicked off with Episode 1 on March 6 by delving into what keeps programmers up at night: The specter of fundamental change, seemingly from multiple angles. Omar Essack, RedTech’s head of strategy, introduced the topic, and the session’s mediator was Gary Krantz, CEO of Krantz Media Group. On his panel were Sharon Dastur, a big-station programming veteran and now vice president of Radio Intelligence, Jim Receveur, CEO of Bauer Media Denmark/Norway, and Jeff Sottolano, executive vice president and head of programming at Audacy.
This session, sponsored by RCS, tackled some aspects of audio broadcasting programming long considered sacrosanct, such as formatting and ratings. Especially in mature markets like the United States, the foundations of formatting are half a century old, and audience measurement agencies, who wield excessive influence, still seem stuck on well-worn ideas of how people consume audio content. Change is necessary, but some fundamentals must remain. Dastur sums it up best in one instance: Niched formats inherited from the 1950s are long gone, but brand expectation needs to be clear.
AI gets a critical and experienced eye, and there are many actually-that-makes-sense moments. And if there’s a critical takeaway for those concerned about a game-changing technology’s impacts on programming, it’s this: we’ve been here before and adapted.
You can view this RedTech Global Online Content Series episode here.
You can find out about the other scheduled episodes and the topics they will cover here.
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