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Navigate the Future Blog

by Dave Van Dyke, President
Bridge Ratings Media Research

AI Tech in Podcasting

Dave Van Dyke August 12, 2024

Have you noticed the rapidly shifting digital content creation landscape, especially within podcasting? Artificial Intelligence (AI), one of the driving forces of technological advances sweeping across numerous industries, is playing a pivotal role. AI has even begun to impact how podcasts are produced, distributed, and received by listeners worldwide.

But AI's impact on podcasting is truly revolutionary: the shift away from static, traditional content creation towards dynamic, listener-centric production. AI can analyze listener preferences and engagement metrics to enable podcasters to create material that resonates on an even deeper level with listeners while building stronger bonds between podcasters and their listeners. As such, this technology also facilitates growth within the podcasting community itself.

With AI's sophisticated algorithms and machine learning capabilities at their disposal, podcasters now possess tools that streamline production processes, enhance audio quality, and open up new avenues of creative expression. Podcasting's revolution is here, thanks to AI; however, its impact will remain uncertain until tomorrow's podcasting landscape unfolds fully.

The Revolutionary Role of AI in Podcasting

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has unleashed an extraordinary shift in podcasting, changing it beyond recognition. Gone are the days when podcasting was solely about recording and uploading audio files; now, with AI taking hold, podcasting has become more accessible, efficient, and engaging than ever.

Of all AI applications redefining this space, automated transcription services stand out for their significant transformational effects. Here are some innovative ways that AI is automating once cumbersome processes.

Automated Transcription Services: Artificial intelligence algorithms have become capable of accurately transcribing spoken words into text with remarkable precision, making what was once an extremely time-consuming manual task a smooth one that not only saves time but also dramatically broadens access and reach of podcasts.

Accessibility: By including accurate transcripts in podcasts, they become accessible to a wider audience - including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, individuals who prefer reading over listening, as well as globalizing content by breaking down linguistic barriers and globalizing translation processes.

SEO Enhancement: Although search engines cannot index audio content directly, text can still be crawled and indexing of relevant transcripts can increase podcast visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs), driving more organic traffic towards its website or platform in an otherwise competitive digital space.

Content Repurposing: Transcripts offer the flexibility of transforming podcast episodes into blog posts, social media snippets or even full books - expanding its reach while opening up monetization opportunities.

When choosing an AI transcription service, podcasters should carefully consider several factors including accuracy, speed, cost, and integration into existing workflow. The most beneficial services will provide a balance of these features to create value that far outweighs their costs.

Automatic Error Correction: AI software can effortlessly identify and remove common recording mistakes such as awkward pauses, filler words ("ums"), and unintended background noises.

Sound Leveling: Ensuring consistent audio levels throughout an episode, especially when switching between segments or during interviews, has always been challenging. AI tools can automatically adjust volume levels, delivering a consistent and pleasant listening experience, a feat previously achievable only with extensive manual editing or professional audio engineering.

As AI technology advances, uses are set to become even more sophisticated, further empowering podcasters and enriching the audio content available to listeners globally.

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How TikTok is Disrupting the Music Industry

Dave Van Dyke August 8, 2024

TikTok has rapidly become a powerhouse in the music industry, and its influence continues to grow. our work with the radio and record industries tracking user consumption of music has yielded valuable insights about how TikTok is shaking up the music business and its multifaceted impact on consumers

The Digital Revolution in Music Discovery

The digital age has revolutionized how we discover, consume, and share music. Social media platforms have shifted the power of music discovery from major labels and traditional media to users and artists themselves. Among these platforms, TikTok stands out as the most disruptive force.

TikTok’s Positive Impact on the Music Industry

1. Amplifying Artist Discovery

TikTok’s algorithm is designed to surface new and trending content, giving unsigned and lesser-known artists a chance to shine. With a good, viral-worthy song, any artist can gain popularity quickly.

2. Viral Success Stories

The platform’s vast user base and rapid trend adoption mean that songs can become overnight sensations. Early examples include Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” Doja Cat’s “Say So,” and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” all of which skyrocketed to fame through TikTok.

3. Major Labels Chasing Viral Artists

Major labels are now actively seeking out viral TikTok artists to sign, giving independent artists significant leverage in negotiations.

4. Reshaping Music and Artists

Both artists and labels are rethinking their music to fit TikTok’s viral trends. This often involves creating songs with catchy hooks, memorable lyrics, or danceable beats. While some artists see this as compromising their artistic integrity, others embrace the challenge.

5. Lucrative Licensing Agreements

TikTok pays royalties to artists and labels for the use of their music. Although it takes a high volume of videos to generate substantial income, this system has increased revenue for many artists.

6. Promoting Remixing and Collaboration

TikTok encourages users to remix songs and create split-screen duets with artists, boosting song popularity in unexpected ways. RAYE’s “Escapism” is a prime example, reaching No.1 on the UK charts after being remixed and sped up by users.

The Negative Side of TikTok’s Disruption

1. Over-Reliance on TikTok

Some of the industry’s biggest artists have expressed frustration with the pressure to create viral content. Halsey, FKA Twigs, and Charli XCX are among those who have spoken out about the demands from labels and managers.

2. Attention Span Issues

The short-form nature of TikTok has contributed to shorter attention spans among users, sidelining more lyrically and sonically complex music. This shift is seen by some as a decline in musical artistry.

3. Impact on Artist Revenue

While TikTok can be lucrative, it also presents challenges. Copyright infringement is a significant issue, and many artists go viral without seeing a corresponding increase in revenue. The royalties system often requires millions of video appearances to be financially viable.

TikTok User Trends

To understand TikTok’s impact, it’s essential to look at some key user trends:

  • Massive User Base: TikTok has 1.56 billion monthly active users globally as of 2024.

  • High Engagement: US adult users spend an average of 53.8 minutes per day on TikTok .

  • Demographic Reach: 52% of TikTok users are men, while 48% are women1. Additionally, 1 in 4 TikTok users are under 20 years old.

  • Regional Popularity: The United States has the highest number of TikTok users, with 170 million monthly active users.

  • TikTok has undeniably transformed the music industry, and its influence shows no signs of waning. While it offers exciting opportunities for artists, it also presents challenges that need to be navigated carefully. The future will reveal whether TikTok can provide sustainable revenue for artists while maintaining the integrity of their music.

Dave Van Dyke, dvd@bridgeratings.com

Comment

How Media Can Fight Misinformation

Dave Van Dyke August 6, 2024

The spread of false and misleading information has become a significant issue in recent years. And in such a year where its accuracy is critical our media companies can do a better job presenting the facts. Here are some ways the media can address this problem:

  1. Promote Media Literacy: Educating the public on how to critically evaluate news sources and identify misinformation is crucial. Media literacy programs can be implemented in schools, community centers, and online platforms to help people discern credible information from falsehoods.

  2. Fact-Checking and Verification: Media organizations should invest in robust fact-checking teams to verify information before it is published. Collaborating with independent fact-checking organizations can also enhance credibility.

  3. Transparency and Accountability: News outlets should be transparent about their sources and methodologies. Providing context and background information can help audiences understand the reliability of the news being presented.

  4. Ethical Journalism: Upholding high ethical standards in journalism is essential. This includes avoiding sensationalism, providing balanced coverage, and correcting errors promptly.

  5. Leveraging Technology: Utilizing AI and machine learning tools to detect and flag misinformation can be effective. Social media platforms can implement accuracy prompts to encourage users to consider the reliability of content before sharing it.

  6. Public Awareness Campaigns: Running campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of misinformation and how to combat it can help build a more informed public.

By taking these steps, the media can play a pivotal role in reducing the spread of false information and fostering a more informed and engaged society.

What are your thoughts on these approaches? Do you think there are other strategies that could be effective?

write me at: dvd@bridgeratings.com

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How On-line Playlisting Can Save Music Radio

For music programmers who have been utilizing on-demand streaming data to properly align their on-air music with true music consumption, here's some news: Playlisting has become the dominant way most music fans listen.

At Bridge Ratings we have been tracking music consumption through on-demand streaming services for over four years. We now share this data with our music radio clients seeking to properly align their on-air song exposure to their listeners' actual consumption.

In a typical year we process and analyze hundreds of millions of streams from across the U.S. and, more specifically, by market and station.

Over the past three years we have undertaken an analysis of music streaming consumption and learned almost immediately in the fall of 2015 that playlisting plays a significant role in the way the average person consumes music through on-demand streaming platforms.

Playlist is a term to describe a list of video or audio files that can be played back on a media player sequentially or in random order. In its most general form, an audioplaylist is simply a list of songs, but sometimes a loop.

What We've Learned

[More...]

Read the full article in the Navigate the Future Blog.

For further information or advisement contact Dave Van Dyke:  dvd@bridgeratings.com  |  (323) 696-0967

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