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!
What if Social Media Could Save Your Favorite Local Venue?
I've had this idea for a while now and don't know what to do with it. Maybe if enough people care, the idea will reach someone or a team of savvy tech people who can make it happen. I had shared this idea, funnily enough, via Facebook a year or two ago and it turned some heads. Now the urgency to be heard (and have it implemented) is greater because Ottawa is losing another historic live music venue... Zaphods. #sad
THE IDEA
What if Facebook Event Invite pages had an option to donate an unspecified monetary amount towards the venue? I get invited to loads of awesome events on Facebook because I follow a lot of musicians. I generally opt out of events these days as I've been pregnant, sick or staying at home with baby. It doesn't mean I don't want to support your band - or, on a grander scale - the venue. If I could click "Yes" "Maybe" or "No" with the option to donate the door price/ticket price/or PWYC (pay what you can), I would. Not every time. But more than ZERO times.
Giving your targeted guests the option to throw a dollar, ten dollars or more towards your event allows guests the privilege of being like "hey, I can't make it out but you rock and I wanna support you."
Find tickets?: If you know you can't make it and maybe don't wanna pay a full ticket price yet still want to support the band/venue/event why not add a PWYC option?
Like I said - this idea could potentially help give dying scenes the boost they need to stay afloat. It's not always finances keeping fans and friends away from shows/events... We want to help.