Radio

Introduction

Radio has evolved dramatically since the first broadcasts in the 1920s.

As a media industry it was dominated by the BBC until the 1960s when pirate radio stations became popular with young people.

This popularity would pave the way for commercial radio to establish itself and allow the industry to develop.

Modern radio is available in various forms:

           

BBC Radio: national stations include Radio 1,2,3,4, 5 live and 6 Music. The BBC also has over 50 regional radio stations broadcasting throughout the 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

A radio programme's style and content will be influenced by the station identity and often by the personality of the presenter.

Programmes can be broadcast live or be pre-recorded.

For example, 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.

The show is zoo format; this means it includes all those elements mentioned and is delivered in a spontaneous, comic way.

Technological innovation

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

There's 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 is also 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 will have a specific brand identity which informs their house style.

A radio station's target audience can be identified by the music it plays; a station like Gold, for example, focuses on playing classic pop songs for an older audience.

Another feature of house style is the language presenters use on air.

For example, 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 is a 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:

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

            BBC Radio 1 Xtra: to play the best in contemporary black music with a strong emphasis on live music and supporting new UK artists.

            BBC Radio 2: to be a distinctive mixed music and speech service, targeted at a broad audience, appealing to all age groups over 35.

            BBC Radio 3: to offer a mix of music and cultural programming in order to engage and entertain its audience.

            BBC Radio 4: to be a mixed speech service, offering in-depth news and current affairs and a wide range of other speech output including drama, readings, comedy, factual and magazine programmes.

            BBC Radio 4 Extra: to provide speech-based entertainment. Its schedule includes comedy, drama, stories, features, readings and programmes that appeal to children.

            BBC Radio 5 Live: to provide live news and sports coverage.

            BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: to bring a greater choice of live action to sports fans by offering a part-time extension of BBC Radio 5 live.

            BBC Radio 6 Music: to entertain lovers of popular music with a service that celebrates the alternative spirit in popular music from the 1960s to the present day.

            BBC Asian Network: to provide speech and music output appealing to British Asians, with a strong focus on news and current affairs.

The World Service is broadcast internationally and provides news, analysis and information.

Marketing

Radio stations market themselves through advertising.

They 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 may contain additional content; when a pop star is interviewed on Radio 1 there may be exclusive excerpts which are only available online.

This is called convergence.

This allows for interactive participation, for example, the audience submitting questions before and during an interview via the website or social media.

Webcams can be 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

The radio industry is regulated by Ofcom, who also cover the TV industry.

Ofcom's duty is to examine complaints made against radio stations, to determine if the broadcasting code has been breached.

Ofcom exists to 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 are a 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