Season 4: Episode 2 – Global Trends, Local Relevance

We’re a business that was built on radio and our evolution as a brand at MediaHeads 360, has always been deeply rooted in the power of audio. We love learning, growing, and evolving with sound and it is with this passion that we followed the action at Radio Days Europe that wrapped up in Sweden this week.

Three themes that we enjoyed, and thought were relevant given our context and our market, were: content, technology, and synergies.

Content remains the single most important driver for media platforms. Creating value through content, which is not available elsewhere, gives audiences a tangible reason to want to interact with you. When this content has a unique local edge, it becomes more contextually relevant for the audience and provides a reason for them to want to come back to your platform. Loyal audiences are valuable and worth investing in. People want to connect with you, give them a reason to stay. Remember, simplicity and scale are core content considerations, make sure your content is easily accessible and expandable as required.

Technology is an inevitable partner in the media business. We are becoming more reliant on technology, and it is a space that is continually changing. Embrace the change, understand the impact and platforms that your audience is active on, and be prepared to experiment and fail on these platforms. Our content creators need to be agile and embrace the idea of being digital natives. Also remember that digital doesn’t detract from traditional platforms, understand the value and impact of the platforms you use. Teams need to build digital confidence by engaging with, and using, digital tools.

Innovation in content and technology isn’t static and must live in every process from conceptualisation, creation, and execution. Innovation also needs to become a culture within our organisations and something we actively encourage and engage in.

Synergies – Audio United! As a medium, audio solves multiple problems, compliments other platforms and is seamless to integrate into planning and execution. Audio creators, operators and investors need to unite in what is an already competitive landscape. Let’s not compete, there is enough competition vying for diminished budgets. The stronger the position for audio, the better it is for all brands and contributors to this space. When clients use audio, and listeners consume audio, it makes the fabric of the business stronger. Let’s celebrate, collaborate, and compete when appropriate.

Let’s continue to embrace audio as a key driver in the marketing, messaging, and entertainment space. It remains a valuable and cost-effective tool that is easily accessed, consumed, and understood.

At MediaHeads 360 we are enthusiastic by the positive message by practitioners from across the globe. We are a business that seeks to understand trends, be ahead of the curve and actively embrace and celebrate the power of audio. We look forward to turning up the volume with you!