L02: Technology and Processes

What does D.J. mean?

D.J. stands for Disc Jockey, a DJs job is to mix between songs, que up songs for the shows, play the content throughout, being music and jingles. They also have talks/interviews in segments out the shows programme. Problems brought along with being a DJ is that it is very time consuming and expensive, it takes a lot of work and preparation.

Traditional Broadcast Methods:
Down to the new uses of technology, radios impact on streams have completely altered from the starting out.

Impact of Technology in Broadcasting:
CDs (compact discs) CDs were made in the 80s and started replacing vinyls and tapes down to their quality in sound, being the new turn in the hi-fidelity for electronics sound. CD players are also a lot cheaper than record players and tape players and also a lot easter to use, bringing better value in the long run.


In terms of how radio has developed over years from new technology and electronics, radios will always have DJs (Disc Jockeys) these are the people that play the music for the listeners and control the sound through the shows/programmes while being broadcasted. DJs have a handful of jobs to do inside doing their actual job, such as arranging the setlist of the show, preparing the layout of the show and many more things, this made being a DJ in before the late 90s very hard and time consuming, ever since WAV files were created, this saves a lot of space, time and money for DJs during their shows, it also makes things more organised for DJs through being able to do the shows through a monitor and access everything simply through a screen and a mixing desk. Before this technology was invented, DJs had to do the shows using 8 Track tapes and Vinyls, these were physical copies of the music which took up a lot of space for DJs and also came with a heavy price tag, usually coming in at about £20 average for a record. If radio shows wanted to play advertisements when shows were recorded all the way through on tape, or cut parts out and add new parts in this was done by a technique called splicing, this is where someone would take the tape and cut it up and stick new parts in back together for the final show ready for broadcast.
Now in the 21st century the whole concept of live broadcasts and radio shows are ran completely different from when they started, everything being so much easier through the use of monitors for any sounds being used like talking, sfx and music, the way this is done is by using cartwall during the live shows.

A Microphone:

This is Lauren Laverne for BBC 6 Music, this microphone is used in studio for broadcasts as it is high quality audio as it needs a pre amp to run, they are also easy to move around as the stands can be stretched out and put in the perfect position. These mics have covers and protecters on them to stop sibilance and hard Ps during recording.

The Mixing Desk:

This is a mixing desk, usually found in recording studios and radio stations, this monitors any sound passing through and the producers/DJs will be in control of. This allows them to control the output gains when wanting to bring in microphones, music, sfx and jingles etc. This is also used to stop any clipping for the show, this means when the outputs are too loud and start to distort during the recording, this can't be undone when recorded.

Monitors:
These are very useful and commonly found in studios as they can measure the sounds coming in mono and stereo, this means they can perfectly balance out the input levels to the output levels for the cleanest sound quality. They are also used to measure the whole sound together, for example; the level of the jingle playing after the level of the talking, or how loud the background music is when the producers are talking.

A Digital Cartwall:

A digital cartwall is used by DJs during the shows and pre recordings, this is used to play jingles, advertisements and sfx. This being digital is useful for a DJ as he will have all his sounds ready to go in just a click, this also saves a lot of space and time.







A Play Server:
This is a type of software used by DJs, this is used to show the presenter and DJ what song is being played, what songs have just played and also what is up next, this is used and also helpful as it will keep the show running smoothly throughout. This also shows the duration of the songs so that they can see how long they have left until they have the next job to do, either being talking, playing a jingle or even going on to the next song. This is also used to store all the music the DJs could need, so that if a song is requested this is where they would look.

L02: Multiplatform distribution

Black Box Theory: This theory is a concept /theory of the media being accessed through a single black box, this will deliver gaming, television, emails, movies and web surfing. All to one or multiple screens or a single access point.

This links to technological convergence as we are seeing an increase of media that is accessible on multiple platoforms, this also links as listeners used to tune into radio shows through analogue equipment such as hardware radios as we can now listen on mobile phones anywhere we please to do so.

LO1 Task 2: Ownership of different types of radio stations (P2)

1.  Kerrang FM (Commercial)

Kerrang 105.2 , Kerrang is a brand initially it was a magazine published in 1981. they specialize in rock music and they broadcast in the west midlands (Birmingham) , they are a part of the Bauer Passion portfolio ( Bauer owns them , they are a part of a conglomerate). Bauer is a conglomerate is a company that creates magazines and they have a subsidiary called Bauer media ( that specialises in radio) who has a portfolio with passion which includes kerrang. Bauer media and box television have joint ownership so that kerrang can be shown on music channels. 

You can access Kerrang on DAB and Freeview. 

Target sample area: Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton 

The station launched on the 10th of June 2004 

Platforms you can access kerrang on:

• FM radio

• internet (stream live) 

• radio player

• apps

• Freeview 

• DAB

Kate Lawler is one of the main presenters.

Reach: 374,000  average hours: 7.2

39% female audience 61% male listeners.

Target demographic age 15-35

  

    2.  Hallam FM (local, regional)

1:

Hallam FM 97.4  is a commercial but local radio station based in Sheffield and it was launched in 1974. The target sample areas include Rotherham , Barnsley , Sheffield and Doncaster.
Hallam FM is a part of the Bauer Place portfolio because Bauer media does local radio as well.
Hallam presenters : Big john at breakfast , Becky Hayes etc.
Hallam's competitors include Capital FM , BBC radio 1 and Peak FM etc.
Reach 361,00  Average hours: 10
54% female and 46% male listeners
Target demographic age 25-45
They are a commercial station so they are funded through advertisements, they sponsor events such as the Meadowhall light switch on. They also do lots of competitions they also have sponsored stands at Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield united.

    3. Sheffield Live (community, Local)
Sheffield live is a local and a community radio station, it is a independent radio station meaning it is not owned by anyone. According to OFCOM (2011) " community radio station are small scale and not for profit. they are operated for the members of the public".
The company that operates Sheffield live is Commedia Sheffield Ltd , it is run by Sangita Basudev who is paid to run Sheffield live.The presenters of the show consist of local people and volunteers from the community.
Target sample area : central , Nether edge, Manor and any other burrows in and around Sheffield.
There is no specific Genre for Sheffield live because it has to be diverse because it is a local/community radio station.
Output is mainly broadcast in English , with some programming in other community languages , such as Hindi/Hindu.

• Broadcasting act  (1990) and the Community Radio order (2004) stated that community radio services cannot gain more then 50% of running costs from one source advertising on-air sponsorship.

• Regulator Ofcom also makes available an  amount of funding annually through its community radio fund.

4. NTS (Internet)

NTS is a online radio station and media platform based in Hackney (London) The station was created in April 2011 by Femi Adeyemi and producers a large and diverse range of music for the radio shows, NTS Radio show has a well known rag line of 'Don't Assume'. NTS is a talk/music show with artists all around the world, artists such as Mount Kimbie, King Krule, BEABADOOBEE etc, have has a segment on the show where they go in and play a live DJ set for the listeners to show what music they are listening to at that moment in time and then also go onto having a short talk or interview about themselves. NTS is accessible to listeners through the mobile app and the website, this is because they are online and not connected to DAB.

5. (Non-Profit) Leeds Student Radio

Leeds Student Radio is a radio show broadcasted between 11am and 5pm weekday and these shows are usually speech shows, the show is targeted to students to listen to when going about their day and providing entertaining content for them. The show can be anything from football to celebrity gossip while also always streaming upbeat music from exclusive playlists. This show is only accessible online through the THISISLSR website. The adverts on the show are discovered through the students and they explain "Our marketing team work hard to ensure that our sponsors are well promoted both on-air and online, producing high quality adverts and creative ad campaigns"

6. BBC 6 Music

BBC 6 Music is a public and well known radio show, with programmes such as interviews, talks and shows from artists streamed live for the listeners, this show specialises in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was first launch was 11th March 2002, they have segments to bring up and coming artists in to the studio to help them get started. This radio station is accessible through DAB Radio, the internet and digital television. This allows listeners to listen through the app or on there radio, however if the listeners favourite artists have a live segment in the show they can also tune in to the television broadcast to have a live viewing of them playing and being interviewed.