I Read About Futuri So You Don't Have To
Oooooh, ahhh… the future is now!
From the Boradcast Dialogue article HERE by Connie Thiessen, Feb. 23, 2023:
"human input is required when working to configure shows, but RadioGPT does the rest.”
Some thoughts:
Where I feel this AI tech will be extremely helpful to live, on air human broadcasters: you know how you used to do one show in one timeslot but now you do one show in that same timeslot in your home market (which you totally crush, btw) but now you also host a second show in the same timeslot (or maybe evenings) and it's syndicated into five other markets or clusters and there is an expectation of X local, live content breals per X hour in X market? If you're pickin' up what I'm throwin' down, you know how helpful this new tech could be.
The on air humans who have more than one show, typically have that additional level of reach because they are good at their jobs and are appreciated by listeners, both local and out of market.
Have you ever felt overexposed in your position? I know I have. We are public figures and often a little 'too' accessible; we're the wall for people to throw their sh*t at. It's not all sh*it, okay. I know that. On the days where it is mostly sh*t, I'd give anything to have a tech filter to be the first point of contact for calls, texts, DMs or e-mails that no human should see (shoutout to young women working those overnight shifts).
RadioGPT is said to be capable at handling posts to social media and blogs/other forms of engaging web content. If that means I can worry less about a) what's offensive today and might be considered offensive tomorrow, b) whether or not sharing this will get me or my company into trouble with copyright crawler bots, and c) finding time to post while I'm hosting, prepping, programming, in meetings and engaging with audience/sales/clients, etc.
SIGN. ME. THE. F*CK. UP.
I've been using the same metaphor about working in radio since I started professionally doing so in 2011:
"Hosting a show is like casting a net; what you pull in isn't always going to be what you want to eat. The bigger the net, the more you'll pull in but, again, it's not always edible."
Working with AI is going to increase the size of the net, while helping us source through the catch.
To my very limited knowledge, there were two announcements this week about AI DJ tech:
Spotify's Sonatic which promises to "deliver a curated lineup of music alongside commentary around the tracks and artists we think you'll like in a stunningly realistic voice."
Futuri's RadioGPT which bills itself as "the world's first localized radio content powered entirely by artificial intelligence."
To summarize:
As a disabled woman working in media with two young kids in school, married to a partner who works full time in marketing and quasi-recently launched his own (successful) business, I am very excited about what this tech will mean for the future of the broadcasting industry.
Nothing is more important to me, professionally, than being the friend who plays your favourite tunes. If I get to play exactly what you want, when you want it and give you the information you want to hear in between tunes... I think that's the ultimate goal. Let's go!
Summer's End
Late August update on my life… What’s been going on with my health, at work and with the cottage this season. Overall, everything is pretty awesome but that awesomeness does not come easy.
Fresh off of updating my Moto Camping blog post, I thought I’d write a little something else. A general update for those who follow me.
Had a positive appointment with my quasi-new (to me) rheumatologist. She is wonderful. My disease is still under control thanks to the drugs (almost 22 years on them, totaling approx. 2.2k injections and counting) and my x-rays indicate that my total hip replacement should take away my pain. She encouraged me to call both of my surgeons (foot one at Civic campus, hip one at General) to ask where I am in the surgical cue and to also ask about getting steroid injections to help keep the pain manageable until corrective surgery happens.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get through to the foot surgeon. That’s okay, my hip is the bigger issue. I was able to reach his office. That’s when I was informed that I am not in the surgical cue after-all. Some paperwork was needed and never issued due to the hospital’s on-again-off-again lockdown orders. The surgeon had issued me a standing order which exists in my online chart. They have ordered updated x-rays in prep for the surgery back in January. I strongly believed that I was in the cue and was hoping for a replacement this winter… Alas, Module O at the Ottawa Hospital did not push the papers needed to actually book me the procedure. I will be speaking with my surgeon in early September. I’m very hopeful that we can get this sorted. The time has come and though I am scared, I know that my quality life will drastically improve post-op.
These last two weeks have been particularly hard. I generally keep a positive attitude as I have been disabled my whole life. I am very used to pain, fatigue and the sometimes isolating thoughts that come with being chronically ill. To combat the mental lows, I’ve been forcing myself to do fun stuff with friends. That has been keeping me in a positive headspace, for sure. I’ve been super social and having a great time there, no problem. A side effect of that, however, is that it’s left me pretty drained physically so I am laying low this week.
Work is going well. I do find the stairs difficult to use but as long as I take my time, they remain manageable. I love my job and appreciate the ability to work from home when I need to. Haven’t faced too much negative feedback or ‘trolling’ lately but maybe I’m just getting better at ignoring it? There are difficult days where I like to just keep it basic: play music & talk briefly about light stuff in between said music. I am noticing a lot of nasty stuff on social media directed at other public figures/those working in media (radio, tv, digital) and I struggle with trying to find a purpose for that hate filled vitriol.
Is it to be edgy? Is it for likes? Is it for online clout? Does shaming someone for doing their job make others feel better about their life? Do they know they don’t have to listen/read/consume what the object of their hate is saying/writing/producing?
I just don’t get it. I guess the point is to maybe create division so we have a big ‘us against them’ moment but what’s the goal there? It’s tiresome going down that rabbit hole and those are just some of the thoughts I’ve had based on the more coherent things I’ve seen. Then there are the messages that make zero sense which act more as a flare, drawing attention to a severe mental health situation. Overall in my world, I’d say the vibe has been fairly positive.
My cottage rental season is winding down as we inch toward winter. Typically, we shut the cabin down mid-to-late October but with the new water system we had installed this year we may get more time in before the freeze. At the mercy of Mother Nature with that one, but some of my favourite moments there happen during the ‘off season’. Another great year hosting friends and family. Looking forward to doing it again in 2023. Due to some pretty big expenses (exterminator, well/pump replacement, new chimney, new BBQ, may need a new fridge) I am hoping to get more pop-up guests later into this season/early in the next if the weather permits. Cottage ownership is as expensive as it is wonderful.
I never find enough time to write. I mean, I should be exercising right now but after only 13 minutes I had to stop. This week it’s about listening to my body. Who knows what next week will bring?
And Just Like That... Woke with Jokes?
Sex and the City revival series And Just Like That… preaches ‘wokeness’ yet uses ableist language. In S1 E5, ‘Tragically Hip’, Carrie Bradshaw refers to arthritis as ‘Old Lady Disease’. I was diagnosed at 18 months and am sick of being misrepresented. My pain isn’t a joke.
I was diagnosed with ‘Old Lady Disease’, as Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) calls it, when I was a baby. Eighteen months old. I’ve been dealing with this ignorance for too long and it’s time for the world to wake up.
I’m cringe watching the HBO revival series, And Just Like That… as a former SATC fan. I know that all language can be problematic and, working in media, I get that there are bigger things happening in the world to get upset over.
When you have a captive audience - don’t do further harm towards a disadvantaged group while preaching ‘wokeness’.
Would Carrie have said that in episode one to her coworker who uses a chair? Would the writers or SJP herself say, ‘too bad about that old lady disease’ to a toddler on chemo puking their guts out to salvage tissue? I doubt it.
Below is a Twitter thread that I posted while catching up on the ‘Tragically Hip’ episode. I had to pause it to react, in the moment, on social media (as one does)… Let it be known that I am, at age thirty five, currently waiting on double hip replacement surgeries and a joint fusion/corrective surgery on my right foot. I had my left done at age seventeen.
“It’s arthritis, right? I have OLD LADY DISEASE in my back?” - Carrie Bradshaw on S1 E5 of And Just Like That…
@HBO @AndJustLikeThat do you have disabled people on staff? This language is hugely upsetting. I was diagnosed with RA as an infant, Hi!
This was one of my many, many intravenous drugs. Chemotherapy is a popular method of treatment to fight Rheumatoid Arthritis.
When you spend a significant chunk of your childhood in hospitals, you become well acquainted with the playroom!
Splints on my wrists were intended to keep my joints from deforming as I grew. I know they didn’t stop my range of motion from deteriorating. I have some deformities now as an adult, so I’m not convinced splinting works.
Juvenile (Idiopathic) Rheumatoid Arthritis patient (me) pushing my IV while out for a stroll in hospital. Ever try to get dressed when you’re attached to a pole? It’s not easy.
Carrie’s comments aren’t problematic to those who haven’t lived my life. Between chemotherapy, surgery, wheelchairs & chronic pain/fatigue, I also got heavily bullied for having OLD LADY disease.
Children get arthritis too.
You can’t take back those comments. They’re out there and echoed and echoed and echoed, reaching the ears of children who are very sick and tired and fading… More disabled people in media, please. PLEASE. I volunteer. I will consult with anyone (serious), for free, RE: ableism.
My whole life (like, til death) involves arthritis. It would be nice for people to accept that it’s not an OLD PERSON DISEASE. It’s rare in kids but it happens. I work in media & I want more representation NOW.
Note the swelling in my knees.
Using a wheelchair helps save energy and tissue damage. It also is helpful when I can’t walk.
My splints didn’t stop me from making the most of things!
At 35, I still use my wheelchair when I have tough days.
Arthritis has many forms. How anyone chooses to imitate, accept, react to any of its forms as they present personally or in someone close is fully up to that person. I’m not telling you how you should address the disease or it’s symptoms - I’m simply asking that you consider this diseases devastation to kids who already feel misunderstood, misrepresented and or ignored.
Here are some other things I’ve posted to educate people about autoimmune diseases and the misconceptions that create barriers in our lives:
Opinion: Modern Media Trust
Teach kids about online personas/'influencers', paid promotions, corporate endorsements & trusted sources as soon as they can comprehend those terms.
Integrity in media shouldn't be for sale but at times: it is. Public personalities have a responsibility to be truthful and ethically responsible in their messaging but at times, even they are sold (their accounts or air time) for branded content/sponsored messages.
It is up to you, the follower, 'liker', listener, viewer to educate the younger generations about CORE values, messages and the humans behind them. Spot the difference between a truth and an opinion that's been paid for.
There is integrity in media. A lot of people put their lives on the line because they are passionate about their work and getting the truth out there. Please resist the urge to paint journalists, broadcasters, public figures with the same brush.
Modern media is changing and it's NOT black and white. Use your judgement.
New Job Alert!!
Hey! Just a quick update to let you know that I have moved on from KiSS 105.3 in Ottawa, Canada. I was on air there for almost 5 years. I will be enterring my 5th year of service with Rogers Sports & Media this fall working for… dun dun DUNNNNN…
THE LEGENDARY CHEZ 106!
Rock radio is where I’m most comfortable, though my time in pop taught me that I might just be good at talking about anything at any time in any format!
I had been trying to get on CHEZ, well, my entire career up til this point so when I got the call it was something I JUMPED at (no pun intended).
If you’re interested in listening to my show, you can typically hear me (live) weekdays from 12PM to 3PM:
If you’re interested in checking out my longer midday show, you can do that, too:
Schedules may change throughout the course of summer as I cover for other DJs on vacation & they do the same for me.
Thanks for listening!