I'll give you an example: We are based in Malta and have several DAB stations available (DAB has a tiny listenership here). Most of the shows on DAB are VT'd and about half from the UK. Presenters like to give the impression that they are living in the community, when in fact, are at home in Swindon or Macclesfield...
Is it OK to pretend or should you not try to hide the distance?
Knowing the market is HUGE! Knowing how listeners actually listen is essential.
One FM station here, Calypso Radio, has a very loyal and dedicated audience. Calypso breaks all of the rules. They are not slick, they are not rigidly formatted, presenters crash vocals, over-modulate on the mic and generally ignore the basics. Guess what? It sounds great!!! It sounds like that because it's authentic and real. The station is fun and free. Listeners love it because it sounds like the streets outside...happy, loud, and slightly chaotic. That's the culture.
A Voice Tracker from abroad can't replicate that...no matter how hard they try.
This isn't an anti-VT rant...it's a question about transparency.
Should you pretend to be part of the community when you are not?
I think ALL radio should be happy and slightly chaotic!! Don't cover up the flaws and hide, embrace them and make them an asset!!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! Chaos is under-rated :)
DeleteI am not a big fan of Voicetracking Shows. I would prefer to do them Live or not @ all. It is virally important to be in Direct Contact with your Listeners by transmitting Live & not falsifying it by Voicetracking.
ReplyDeleteI own a station that has a small but loyal global listenership and we have presenters from the UK, Canada and the US and we don't try to hide it, nor do we try to hide the fact that some shows are voice tracked. VT shows get as many listeners as live show and most of the time just as much interaction, the interaction is just planned ahead of time..
ReplyDeleteThat's the key...not hiding the fact! Listeners can handle the truth but resent being lied to.
ReplyDeleteI think voice tracking is a good way to keep listeners engaged with your station, when the main programmes end, 11-12 in the evening, it's nice to have a VOICE to listen to, but it has to be relevant to that station and it's broadcast area.
ReplyDeleteYou can still be there, all be it remote, as long as you present a programme that includes local recent news and events and of course if you know the area well, maybe you worked or lived there at some time, that would be a great advantaged.
I am a voice person, and love to hear about things ,places and who sung that last record
I'm all for it, just don't pretend to be there.