Websites - Different Audience To POP FM

talkSPORT

The colour scheme is quite grey and dark, suggesting it is aimed at men in particular and the content is mainly football/sports stories suggesting that the audience are fans of sports.

BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 seems to be aimed at an older audience the website colours are quite dark and may be a symbolisation of a more mature and serious audience. This is also supported by the news stories/shows which are unlikely to appeal to a younger audience.

Websites - Similar Audience to POP FM London

The first 2 websites I am looking at are Heat Radio and Kiss FM ad I feel they are quite similar to mine.


Heat Radio Website

When looking at the Heat Radio website the colour scheme of red and neutral colours implies that the radio station is aimed at a younger audience and that because of the neutrality of colours chosen also suggest it is aimed at both genders.

The news stories included involves news stories to do with both male and female celebs which are likely to appeal to both genders, also the type of news stories are mainly 'celeb' and 'entertainment' stories again signifying that the target audience are young.

The tabs along the top of the website included a 'Dating' tab and this again suggests the audience are young and both female or male.
The song being played is Rihanna SOS which is likely to appeal to a younger audience.

This website is clearly of a similar audience and genre that I want mine to be.


Kiss FM Website

The Kiss FM website again reiterates the same things that Heat Radio shows in terms of the audience clearly being young and the competition offers clearly would be of interest to a younger audience and the genders again are not limited to either male or female but rather both.

Target Audience and Websites

Everything that is included on a radio website gives an indication of the radio's genre and appeal to its target audience.

I am going to look at different radio station websites that vary in genre and target audience to establish similarities and differences between them.

When looking at the websites I will be analysing the font, colour, words used, tabs, stories shown, competitions, images, songs being played and presenters. I will relate these elements to target audience in terms of age and gender to demonstrate hoe important branding the station towards the audience is.

My Questionnaire

Here is my audience questionnaire to help me get an idea of listening habits, which will help me when I begin scripting my radio extract.

Audience

After listening to different radio stations it has become clear that although there are specific conventions associated with the medium of radio across all the stations, the form that these conventions take is based on the station or show's target audience.
For example, the way the jingle sounds, some of the news stories that have been chose and the way the presenters speak is used to help them connect with their target audience. Adverts appear on particular stations because the companies believe that the station's audience are likely to buy the products being advertised. The type of music being played is also going to appeal directly to the target audience.

When creating my show I need ti think very carefully about who my target audience in terms of age, gender and lifestyle and I am going to have to ensure that when creating my script and my music that these are appropriate for my chosen audience.

I will now conduct primary and secondary research to help determine who my audience will be. I will produce my primary research by myself by creating questionnaires and conducting interviews. Secondary research will be research that has already been produced by someone else and which I will also use.

Types of Jingles

After listening to a range of different radio stations I found that there are a number of different types of jingles on each radio station. You can hear many of these types of jingle below at the following site, which I used as part of my research.

Radio Jingles

1. Station jingles

• These are played frequently on on every show on that radio station
• It contains the station name, the frequency, a slogan that sums uo the style of the radio station and hints at the target audience and also possibly music that reflects the audience/genre

2. Show jingles

• It includes the name of the station, name of the show and sometimes the name of the presenter(s) as well as a potential slogan that adds more to the shows unique identity and tone of the show

3. News jingles

• Probably include the name of the station, with the word 'news' added
• however, the tone of the delivery may be more serious as will the music
• occasionally the music reflects the genre of the show

4. Specific competition jingles

• Music will reflect what the competition is about
• Will hear the name of the station and the excited voice of presenters talking about what you can win

5. Traffic and travel jingles

• This is played mostly during breakfast shows and drive time shows i.e. rush hour
• It includes the name of the station with the word travel or traffic on the end
• It may not have music but may have relevant sound effects
• Often as part of the jingle a sponsor will be mentioned and there will be a slogan

6. Sports jingles

• It will include the name of the station with the word 'sport' at the end
• Often has up-tempo music to reflect the excitement of sport
• May include a slogan

7. Weather jingles

• Will include the name of the station with the word 'weather' at the end
• It is usually sponsored by a company; often things like washing powders/fabric softeners 
• The tone of the jingle is much softer
• Relevant sound effects may be included
• The weather is usually more prominent in the morning to give an outlook for the day

I will include a number of these jingles in my show.

Introduction to Jingles

Across my radio show I am going to create a range of jingles that help give the radio show, and the station, a clear and unique identity. Having listened to a range of stations specifically to get an idea about how jingles are constructed, I have noticed that not only are jingles heard regularly but also they are constructed reflects the genre of the radio station and helps give an indication of the type of audience who will be listening, through the use of generic music and sound effects and also the use of slogans that may be used.

Jingles always include the name of the station and the frequency, and sometimes mention the name of the show or the presenter. Often they are accompanied by music/sound effects. i am going to look more closely at specific different types of jingles so that I can use the correct conventions for each in my show.

I have also visited the site below to listen to a range of radio jingles from both local and national radio stations.

Website with jingles

U sing the link above I created a compilation of different genres of different radio stations and found that they all included most of the same conventions in jingles.

Music on News Bulletins

I am going to need to use music for my radio station so I am going to listen to a range of different news bulletins on completely different radio stations to see what music, if any, is used. I will be looking for the type of music used i.e. upbeat/slow/dramatic etc. and when it fades out.

 

Heat - used up-tempo, dramatic, sci-fi like music in the background whilst the news reporter reads out the news, however when the news reader passes over to a correspondent there is no music at all.

talkSPORT - very quite, indistinct sounds in the background which are difficult to hear

BBC Radio 2 - There is a transition/sound before news reader speaks however no music at any other point. The sound used at the beginning is a serious like sound and resembles that of what you would associate to with news.




This research has allowed me to see that depending on the radio genre and target audience music is either used or not used. Heat radio which a predominantly music station used music on their news bulletin, whereas talkSPORT which is a talk radio aimed mainly at men who are into sports didn't really have any music likewise with BBC Radio 2 which is targeted at an older demographic. I think that I will be using music in the background of my news bulletin to add a dramatic effect and so that it doesn't sound as dull and bland.

Potential Running Order for My Radio Extract

Now that I have completed my research into the news I am going to start thinking about drafting my script for my extract. I have created a rough, potential running order of my extract, indicating the type of content that i want to include. Obviously, I will need to research elements such as jingles and adverts, as well as think about the content of my news stories but having a rough idea of my running order will help me plan my extract more carefully and accurately.

1. The end of a song that is appropriate for my audience

2. Presenter mentioning the song and some recent gossip about the singer and introducing the news 

3. Jingle for the station

4. News jingle

5. News presenter

6. Story 1

7. Story 2

8. Story 3

9. Story 4

10. travel update

11. show jingle

12. presenters introducing whats coming up

13. Beginning of song - Fade out 

Representation (News Presenters)

In this post I am going to be looking at how presenters on the radio come across to the audience. I will look at how news stories are presented by news presenters in news bulletins, choosing 2 completely different radio stations. I will be looking at the variety of age, gender, language, tone of voice and interaction with other presenters; this will help when I create my own script and the type of presenter(s) I use depending on the type of radio station.

Adam Dowling - News reporter on Magic FM

The first radio station i listened to was Magic. The presenter was a young female who used a joyful tone to introduce Adam to tell the audience about the latest news. Adam is also a young man who also used quite a jolly tone and wasn't extremely serious. There was little interaction between the news reporter and radio presenter however the use of different sexes is something that appeals to me as i want to ensure that my radio station is representative. Furthermore the radio aims to target people who lead busy lives and play upbeat songs to get people in a good mood; this is reflected in the tone of the presenters not speaking to seriously and being quite upbeat and young.

News presenter on BBC Radio 2

The second radio stations which I listened to was BBC Radio 2, the news was presented in a much more serious and sophisticated manner than that of Magic, suggesting that it's target audience was a more maturer group. The lady who presented the news began by specifying the time and date and proceeded with good morning however Adam Dowling cut straight to the chase and said 'the top stories this morning'. the lady who presented the news on BBC Radio 2 also sounded older and spoke with a serious, deeper tone. The music used whilst the presenter was introducing the news on BBC Radio 2 was also much more serious and was similar to that used on the tv show BBC news whereas that in magic was up-lifting.

Having analysed the different presenters for different radios I have realised that representation is very important, as shown above it is evident that BBC Radio 2 is targeted at a older demographic due to the presenters tone and language as well as other factors such as background music. whereas magic is targeted at a slighter younger audience for similar reasons. I will therefore I ensure that when I create my script I will be specific about tones and language used depending on what genre of radio I select.