James Cridland and David Couch in typical showbusiness mood. Picture by Sally Walker.

You’ll learn a lot from this month’s Earshot Creative Review with David Couch and James Cridland. And you’ll hear a lot of radio ads.

Discover how Spotify is allowing advertisers to target audiences by postcode, what is the most important content to have on your radio station web site and what not to do with cameras in the studio. Hear ads from Cuervo, Kwik Fit, Transport for London and the Bentall Centre, plus an educational promo from Absolute Radio.

Play the audio here: Duration 42’17″

Download audio file (ecr_august10.mp3)

Download the mp3 (39.7M).

Subscribe via iTunes.

David Couch is Managing Director of Maple Street Studios and a former creative head at GCap and Global. You’ll hear him enthuse about some superb radio ads and discuss the freedom and new opportunities of product placement.

Radio futurologist James Cridland divulges tip after tip on radio’s multiplatform future. Be sure to take notes – James’s clients spend vast sums of money on his advice. You only have to pay attention.

And, as always, there’s tons of great audio including leading entrants to The Cow Moo Challenge and its ultimate winner. Thank goodness that’s over.

Credits

Thanks to London’s Somerset House for hosting our recording on their wonderful sunny terrace, thanks to radiobeds.co.uk for the music beds and thanks to Pascal Standaert from Belgium for the ident used towards the end of the podcast.

Next Month

Inside Glide – the story of the year’s biggest radio stunt so far direct from the people who pulled it off, and what’s going on at BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music? Christopher Reay shares his perspective from the production desk. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss it. There’ll be no cows.

If you’d like to comment on anything in the podcast or if you’d like us to include your audio just drop us a line to earshot@smartin.me

Any views expressed are those of the contributors and not of Maple Street Studios, the BBC or any of our associates, employers or clients. We acknowledge all rights held by the owners, creators and performers of the recorded works which are included solely for the purposes of education and review.

Comments

• Wednesday 1 September, 2010, The Earshot Creative Review - James Cridland writes: [...] Absolute, and am amazed at a rather brilliant ad featuring Brack Obama, you’re welcome to take a listen. (You’ll also find it on your PURE connected radio; just search for ‘Earshot’ in [...]
• Wednesday 1 September, 2010, Jonathan Marks writes: Great show as usual, although may I make a plea to return to the pub or the park for the upcoming editions. Somerset House sounds too distracting on headphones. May be the MP3 acts as a sort of Optimod.
• Friday 3 September, 2010, Stephen Martin writes: A plea to return to the pub, eh? Who am I to refuse?! It was rather hectic at Somerset House at the height of the school holidays. We're back there this month but it's much quieter now. Oh, and the thing that's acting like an Optimod is not the mp3 coding but, er, the Optimod. I'll turn it down a smidge.

Russ Williams of Wise Buddah and Peter Gee from TalkSPORT.

Featuring creative from TalkSPORT, imaging from Wise Buddah and introducing The Cow Moo Challenge, it’s July’s Earshot Creative Review.

Play the audio here: Duration 37’45″

Download audio file (ecr_july10.mp3)

Download the mp3 (34.6M).

Subscribe via iTunes.

In this month’s edition, you’ll  hear a great selection of audio production from TalkSPORT when Peter Gee delivers a masterclass in engaging, memorable ideas, sharp writing and clever casting.

Russ Williams from Wise Buddah is also with us, showcasing the music imaging he’s created for BRMB in Birmingham, the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 and music stations who wanted to embed World Cup content into their output without diluting their audio brand.

You’ll also discover why you might want to put your radio promos on YouTube, what’s happening on the frontline of Manchester’s strapline war and we introduce “The Cow Moo Challenge” – your chance to win, just by being part of the latest bovine craze in UK radio imaging.

Introducing the Cow Moo Challenge

Original photo (c) Rick Harrison. Used with kind permission.

You could win! Best use of a cow moo in a piece of radio imaging wins the entire joint. And we mean that. It’s a joint of beef.

Here’s what to do

1. Make a radio promo, trail, sweeper or other imaging element that includes the sound of a cow moo.

2. Put it on the radio.

3. Email the evidence to earshot@smartin.me

4. Listen next time to see whether you’ve won.

Need cows? Of course you do.

We’ve found a selection of copyright-free cow moos that are truly outstanding in their field. Download copyright-free moos.

Download audio file (cowfx.mp3)

Credits

Big Earshot thanks to The Royal Festival Hall for letting us play jingles in their palace of the high arts, thanks to radiobeds.co.uk for the music beds and thank you cows.

Any views expressed are those of the contributors and not of TalkSPORT, WiseBuddah, the BBC or any cattle. We acknowledge all rights held by the owners, creators, herdsmen and performers of the recorded works which are included solely for the purposes of education and review.

Comments

• Monday 19 July, 2010, Tweets that mention Earshot Creative Review radio production podcast for July - warning: includes cow moos. -- Topsy.com writes: [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Stephen Martin, Joe Thomas. Joe Thomas said: RT @smartin: Earshot Creative Review radio production podcast for July http://bit.ly/9I5h47 - warning: includes cow moos. [...]
• Tuesday 20 July, 2010, Don’t have a Cash Cow (man) « James Stodd – Radio Producer writes: [...] So a creative challenge has been thrown down by my friend Steve Martin via this month’s  Earshot Creative Review. [...]
• Saturday 7 August, 2010, The Cow Moo Radio Production Challenge « RadioJingles.co.nr writes: [...] So long as it’s been on the air that’s fine. More details of this contest are posted here. Join [...]

Matt Fisher of the BBC and James Beckingham of Global Radio

Featuring BBC Radio 1 and Fun Kids, it’s June’s Earshot Creative Review.

Play the audio here: Duration 33’16″

Download audio file (ecr_june10.mp3)

Download the mp3 (31.2M).

Subscribe via iTunes.

This review features James Beckingham from Global Radio who’s playing and talking about his work on the Fun Kids brand and Matt Fisher from the BBC who runs imaging for BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1 Xtra.

It’s rather a relaxed summery meander through some of their recent audio despite the fact that we recorded early on Friday morning in a stiff breeze in Regents Park, London. If you listen carefully, you can hear James audibly shiver at one point.

You’ll also hear audio from NME Radio, Absolute 80s and Capital FM. And that’s hot.

Plus we receive a question crowdsourced via AudioBoo. Look at us with the meme.

If you’d like to follow us, James is on Twitter as @tweetjamesb, Matt is @mrmatthewfisher and I’m @smartin.

James Beckingham

James started in the industry as a tech-op at Invicta FM and Capital Gold Kent, before doing some TO-ing on a station which he’d never heard of, but fell instantly in love with, called ‘Capital Disney’.  James stayed here, presenting, producing and running the show alongside the superb programme controller, while doing bits at Capital’s various other ventures, including Life and Holiday FM.

When GCap retreated from Digital, he headed to Emap and became Creative Producer on digital brands, working under Ric Blaxill to relaunch Q Radio.

The lure of Leicester Square was too strong though, and James returned to be a producer and presenter within the Content and Services team, looking after FunKids, Classic FM TV and instore radio.

Matt Fisher

Matt’s obsession with radio and audio imaging began in 1998. He is now the Station Sound Manager for BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra.

Matt studied at the University of
Bedfordshire where he graduated with a First Class BA Hons in Media
Performance with Radio. It was there he first developed his radio skills
whilst at the helm of the University radio station Luton FM.

After graduation Matt worked at BBC Three Counties Radio and Chiltern FM (now Heart) where he cut his teeth as a presenter and producer.
He also created on air imaging and promotions for a number of GWR stations.

Then he was snapped up by Xfm London to join their Station Sound Team alongside Karl Pilkington. It wasn’t long before he was finally promoted to Head of Production and remained at the station for almost two years.

Then in 2005 he moved to BBC Radio 1 and joined the Station Sound Team
before ultimately heading the department in a role that sees him leading
a creative team to deliver Imaging and Promotions for two of the BBC’s
key youth networks.

Matt’s dedication and creative approach to radio has been rewarded with
numerous industry accolades including two Gold Promotions & Marketing
Awards, a New York AIR Award and several Sony nominations.

Notes

Radio Advertising Awards closing date for entries is 2nd July. Look for new categories including best radio as part of a multiplatform campaign and best writing.

Thanks to radiobeds.co.uk for the audio beds used in the podcast. Thanks also to Simon Cryer of Crying Out Loud for providing the Arqivas ceremony audio.

Still ahead

In July Peter Gee from TalkSport on the World Cup and his station’s Sony winning promo “Dear Stan”. Then in August, radio futurologist James Cridland helps radio creatives make the most of the digital and multiplatform opportunities before us.

Any views expressed are those of the contributors and not of Global Radio or the BBC. We acknowledge all rights held by the owners, creators and performers of the recorded works which are included solely for the purposes of education and review.

Comments

• Saturday 19 June, 2010, smartin writes:

  @tweetjamesb and @MrMatthewFisher star in the new Earshot Creative Review. Also starring @jameswest via AudioBoo http://bit.ly/bPZYKn

  This comment was originally posted on Twitter

• Saturday 19 June, 2010, producerjacob writes:

  Oh yes, @mrmatthewfisher is on Earshot this month! Gwaan. http://earshot.tvi.gg/2010/06/creative-review-for-june/ @smartin

  This comment was originally posted on Twitter

• Saturday 19 June, 2010, Tweets that mention Creative Review for June | Earshot -- Topsy.com writes: [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Stephen Martin, Jacob Rickard. Jacob Rickard said: Oh yes, @mrmatthewfisher is on Earshot this month! Gwaan. http://earshot.tvi.gg/2010/06/creative-review-for-june/ @smartin [...]
• Tuesday 29 June, 2010, Jonathan Marks writes: What a great just outside broadcast. Curious to know what mikes and recorder you used. Just love the cheezy old school retro...
• Tuesday 29 June, 2010, Stephen Martin writes: Hi Jonathan - location recording is on one of these... http://www.roland.com/products/en/R-09HR - then I snip things together on Adobe Audition 3 on the train between Waterloo and Petersfield. Lastly, the complete podcast gets a final listen while being dubbed through one of these... http://www.orban.com/products/radio/dab/optimod-pc1101 and then encoded to mp3 and uploaded etc. I've had twice as many comments about the delightful birdsong than the insightful conversation this month.

This month Mike Cooper and Emma Clarke reflect on radio production and imaging work from the perspective of a radio voice artist.

There’s a discussion about the current trends in radio ad writing and a heartfelt plea for brave creativity and a lower word count.

Also, BBC Manchester’s John Ryan reports from the recent Radio Academy event on The Future of Radio Imaging and we share some creative bits and pieces that have caught our attention on the radio recently.

Contains some rude words. See if you can find them.

Play the audio here: Duration 42’37″

Download audio file (ecr_may10.mp3)

Download the mp3 (40M).

Subscribe via iTunes.

Thanks

Music beds are by radiobeds.co.uk and we thank the BBC for letting us use their Skype facility. As you’ll hear, the connection was somewhat flaky but we’re no less grateful for that.

Twitter

You can follow us all on Twitter. Mike is @londonvoiceover,  Emma is @emmabclarke and I’m @smartin.

Next month

More radio promos, imaging and general radio creativity, probably recorded outdoors if the weather holds. If you’d like to be involved or suggest a guest or topic just email earshot@smartin.me or leave a comment on this page.

Any views expressed are those of the contributors and not of any organisation. We acknowledge all rights held by the owners, creators and performers of the recorded works which are included solely for the purposes of education and review.

Picture: My new mic by Mr Happy on Flickr. Used under licence.

Comments

• Wednesday 26 May, 2010, Lindsay Abbott writes: Really enjoyable audio review, and it struck many chords with my own experience as a voice over. Especially resonant was Emma's comment about fitting the 'pacey 37 second piece into a 30 second piece'!
• Wednesday 2 June, 2010, Mike Cooper writes: Thanks for the opportunity to contribute, Steve! Most enjoyable and I hope we get to collaborate again some time soon. Best, Mike
• Wednesday 2 June, 2010, British Voiceover Artists Mike Cooper and Emma Clarke feature on this month’s Earshot Creative Review | Mike Cooper - Voiceover Artist writes: [...] can find this month’s Earshot Creative Review here – or subscribe directly via iTunes. June 2, 2010 | Filed Under [...]