I recently sat down with a ChatGPT user to learn about how powerful this form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is. To test this rapidly growing form of AI, we asked ChatGPT to write a scholarly thousand word essay on what the future of commercial broadcast radio in five years is in the United States.
ChatGPT basically scrubs the internet for information and then puts what it finds into whatever format you request. ZDNet explains it this way:
“ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chatbot. The language model can answer questions and assist you with tasks, such as composing emails, essays, and code.”
The following is the article ChatGPT wrote in less than a minute.
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Title: The Future of Commercial Broadcast Radio in the United States: Adapting to an Evolving Landscape
Introduction
Commercial broadcast radio has been a staple of American media for over a century, entertaining and informing listeners across the nation. However, with the rapid advancements in technology and the rise of digital platforms, the future of commercial broadcast radio in the United States is at a critical juncture. This essay aims to explore the challenges facing commercial radio and discuss potential strategies for its survival and growth in the evolving media landscape.
I. The Shift to Digital Platforms
The advent of the internet and the proliferation of digital media platforms have significantly impacted the radio industry. Online streaming services, podcasts, and music apps have gained popularity among consumers, providing them with personalized and on-demand content. As a result, traditional commercial broadcast radio has faced increased competition for listeners’ attention.
II. Embracing Technological Advancements
To stay relevant and competitive, commercial broadcast radio must adapt to the changing technological landscape. One potential strategy is embracing digital platforms and incorporating them into the traditional radio experience. Many radio stations have already started offering live streaming options on their websites and mobile apps, allowing listeners to tune in from anywhere in the world. This enables radio stations to reach a broader audience and engage with listeners beyond their terrestrial broadcast range.
III. Leveraging Podcasting
Podcasting has experienced exponential growth in recent years, becoming a powerful medium for storytelling, education, and entertainment. Commercial radio stations can leverage this trend by producing and distributing their own podcasts. By creating compelling and unique content, radio stations can attract new listeners and build loyalty among their existing audience. Additionally, podcasting opens up new revenue streams through sponsorships and advertising opportunities, ensuring the financial viability of radio stations.
IV. Personalization and Localization
In the era of digital media, consumers increasingly seek personalized and localized content experiences. Commercial broadcast radio can leverage this demand by utilizing advanced data analytics and AI-driven technologies to deliver tailored programming to individual listeners. By
understanding listeners’ preferences and behaviors, radio stations can curate content that aligns with their interests, thus enhancing engagement and attracting a wider audience.
Furthermore, commercial radio stations can strengthen their connection with local communities by focusing on hyperlocal content. Emphasizing local news, events, and personalities not only creates a unique selling point for radio stations but also fosters a sense of community among listeners. By becoming an essential source of local information, commercial radio can differentiate itself from digital competitors and solidify its position in the media landscape.
V. Collaborative Partnerships
In the face of evolving media consumption habits, commercial radio can explore collaborative partnerships with other media platforms. For instance, radio stations can collaborate with streaming services to cross-promote content and expand their reach. Similarly, partnerships with local businesses and event organizers can provide opportunities for live broadcasts and mutually beneficial promotional campaigns. By forging strategic alliances, commercial radio can leverage the strengths of different media platforms and create a seamless, multi-platform experience for listeners.
VI. Adapting Advertising Strategies
Advertising has been a vital revenue source for commercial broadcast radio. However, in the digital age, advertisers have diversified their investments, allocating budgets to various platforms based on audience demographics and reach. To remain competitive, radio stations must adapt their advertising strategies to attract and retain advertisers. This can include offering targeted advertising options based on listener data, integrating native advertisements seamlessly into programming, and exploring innovative formats such as branded content and influencer partnerships.
Conclusion
The future of commercial broadcast radio in the United States lies in its ability to adapt and embrace the changing media landscape. By leveraging digital platforms, embracing technological advancements, and prioritizing personalization and localization, commercial radio can retain its relevance and attract a new generation of listeners. Collaborative partnerships and evolving advertising strategies will also play a crucial role in securing the financial resources needed to sustain commercial radio operations. While challenges persist, the future of commercial broadcast radio in the United States is not bleak. By embracing innovation, staying attuned to audience preferences, and forging strategic alliances, radio stations can navigate the evolving media landscape and continue to be a trusted source of entertainment, information, and community connection. By evolving with the times, commercial broadcast radio can carve out its place in the digital age, ensuring its longevity and relevance for years to come.
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Let me know how you think ChatGPT did in the comments section of this blog. I look forward to reading your thoughts about this life-changing technology that is impacting our world.
DickTaylorBlog 
It looks familiar, Dick. I may have asked the same question when Chat GPT first showed up. I’d suggest that it really doesn’t offer solutions that haven’t been brought up here -and in dozens of other blogs. The issue here is that it’s very politely written. Broadcast radio has kinda rested on its laurels for the past few decades while other services have surfaced that address some of radio’s issues. (Commercials, lack of personalization..well, you know.) What I like best here is that you’re doing what everyone else seems to be doing-giving Chat GPT a spin around the block. So far, have we really seen/heard anything that’s revolutionary? Or is it a super-charged Alexa? I was thrilled when text-to-speech first showed up, hoping to use it in promos and commercials. Nope. Way too fake sounding. It’s not much different now, is it ? The AI blog post sounds almost like a political speech. No answers just fluff. But that’s just my take on it and I was one of the first (of many) to see how FM radio could be great for music. So what do I know?
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What I found truly amazing was how after asking the question, ChatGPT immediately began writing the article. It happened in an instant. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it.
Did it tell us anything new? No.
Did it recirculate all that’s already been said? Yes.
Are any broadcasters taking this advice? Let’s hope so.
Thanks for weighing in on this Dave.
-DT
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Portland radio station now has an AI DJ as a midday host
(Updated: Jun. 16, 2023, 7:50 p.m.|Published: Jun. 16, 2023, 10:23 a.m.)
By Lizzy Acker | The Oregonian/OregonLive
The robots are already replacing humans, at least part-time, at one Portland radio station.
Live 95.5, a station that plays Top 40 music, is using voice cloning software and artificial intelligence to create “AI Ashley,” who is taking over the duties, sometimes, of traditional DJ “Ashley Z.”
According to Dylan Salisbury, content director for Live 95.5, the station is using Futuri’s artificial intelligence software to voice clone Ashley Z’s voice. At this point, the station is controlling what AI Ashley, who is now a midday host, does, Salisbury said.
However, he noted, there’s a feature the station is considering implementing, “where A.I. Ashley goes ‘rogue’ and picks what she wants, not what the station tells her.”
“At the moment, we are controlling what she says,” Salisbury said. “Eventually, with very little guidance, it’ll be able to come up with content on its own.”
So, how does non-robot Ashley feel about the new, non-eating, non-sleeping, non-salary-requiring version of herself?
“I feel good about it because she’s not replacing Ashley Z., she’s just adding to the many creative ways I’m able to entertain people on the radio, which is what I love to do,” real Ashley Z. said in a statement sent by Live 95.5.
“Sure it’s a little surreal,” she added. “But I’m excited to be at the forefront of this advancement to our industry with people who understand the importance of respecting and maximizing talent, and who want to use it for good.”
“At the end of the day,” non-robot Ashley concluded, “we all love radio and want to see it thrive. A cool opportunity presented itself, so why not say yes and see what an AI version of me is able to accomplish as I continue to work right alongside it?”
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If you want to know how good AI Ashley sounds, listen to this: https://twitter.com/live955/status/1668687147505954816/video/3
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Dick I asked Chat GP4 to give me a rebuttal of its own opinion of your article. I’m only pasting the summary.
In conclusion, while the strategies proposed in the article have potential, it is important to approach the future of commercial broadcast radio with a realistic perspective. Commercial radio stations face significant challenges in competing with established digital platforms and must offer compelling and differentiated content to stand out. Additionally, exploring partnerships, personalization, and evolving advertising strategies are necessary but require careful consideration to ensure they align with the goals and resources of radio stations. The future of commercial broadcast radio is uncertain, and its survival and growth will depend on the industry’s ability to navigate the evolving media landscape with adaptability, innovation, and a deep understanding of audience preferences and behaviors.
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Very interesting Victor. Thanks for sharing Chat GP4 (the newer, improved version of this AI).
-DT
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Long winded and nonsensical.
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After inventing the superior tuning superheterodyne receiver for AM radio; Armstrong also applied it to FM he demonstrated 6/17/1936. By my first job in radio 26yr later, high- fidelity FM still hadn’t been successful for its few stations nationally, including jazz WGPA-FM 95.1 in Bethlehem or classical music WFMZ-FM 100.7 in Allentown. Today, as car makers are dropping low-fidelity AM, stations have migrated to low power repeaters on FM where no more full power channels are available.
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I see some benefits of using A.I. in radio, Dick. But I also see some frightening downsides.
I’m sure that Ashley (that is to say, the REAL Ashley) is a fine person and, hopefully, very talented. Though, I got to wonder if she doesn’t see the danger of what’s being done here. And I have to wonder if she really believes what she’s quoted as saying. And here’s what I mean:
With this use of A.I., all of the great DJ’s of the past can now be brought back to life, because there are plenty of air checks and video tapes of these folks out there with which to clone their voices. You want Robert W. Morgan to “Morganize” everyone again? You want The Real Don Steele to do afternoons? You want Larry Lujack giving his “Superjock Address to the Nation” again? It is now possible to make that happen.
If CBS wanted to put Walter Cronkite back behind the anchor desk of the “CBS Evening News”, there’s probably nothing stopping them. Create an “Avatar” of the man and run several of his newscasts through A.I. Now, you just get someone who’s studied the man to write the scripts in his writing style. I’m sure it can be done.
The sad part is this – as Americans, we only “own” our name, image and likeness. That law now needs to be revisited. We need to add “voice” and, perhaps “personality” to that rule. Otherwise my voice could be “cloned” and I could still be on the air 100 years from now. It should be illegal for a company to do this WITHOUT compenstating the talent monetarily in some fashion at least up until that talent’s death. After that, I suppose our voices become public domain, unless our heirs want to work a deal with the broadcasting company. Some radio consultants are talking about this now.
A bot cannot “notice” that billboard on the drive into work that is unusual and has people talking about it. And all of us who work on air now need to remember that it is this kind of local information that needs to be in our shows. The computer, unless it’s programmed to, cannot relate nor comment on it. Someone live on the air (or tracked in the moment) can. At least until the AI generated station in town learns about what we talk about on the air.
I am working on “evergreen” programs right now for my employer to continue to air on holidays after I begin to back down late next year. But, I’m doing it voluntarily. How many years they will air them, I don’t know. However, keeping me employed for 20 years, I figure I owe them at least that.
The company that is doing this right now may be attaching itself to “innovation”, but I don’t think they realize the fuse they have lit.
This is the same company that, seemingly can’t keep some of their stations on the air here. They have totally trashed a 50,000 watt FM station that used to be #1 here and have a few employees, but not all those many. How do I know? That 50,000 watt FM has gone silent on a Saturday afternoon and no one noticed that it was transmitting a silent carrier until someone walked back on Monday morning, and pushed a button. You think someone with the title of “Program Director” or “Director of Branding and Programming” MIGHT have noticed and made a quick drive to the station on Saturday or Sunday. But, they didn’t. And those lack of legal ID’s are/were a possible fining offense by Uncle Charlie. And, “silence sensors” are pretty cheap to install.
And yet…they are positioning themselves as “innovators”
That, in a nutshell, is what radio broadcasting has become in 2023.
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You make many excellent points Kevin.
I wrote about AI one having the ability to bring back Big Dan Ingram or Robert W. Morgan or Super Jock Larry Lujack a couple of years ago on this blog.
Little did I think that day would come so quickly.
Maybe one day Ashley will say something like this: “My God, what have we done?”” — Capt Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the U.S. Air Force bomber Enola Gay.
Could this be the “death” of live radio personalities?
-DT
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“By becoming an essential source of local information, commercial radio can differentiate itself from digital competitors and solidify its position in the media landscape.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Sadly, too many broadcasters have all the emphasis on music.
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Ain’t that the truth Maynard.
-DT
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