It’s time to cross over to voice-over artist Greg Marston for his monthly article, with a view from the studio for August.
Picking up from where I left off, um, now what was I saying around this time in July?
Something or other about how I got into the radio industry almost five decades ago, a reminiscence in relation to some of the classic voices that were around during the 60s, 70s and 80s, and how AI is likely to make every imaging ident, strapline, name-drop, hour-opener, positioner, intro and outro sound as though they’ve been voiced by the same male and female.
As previously mentioned, this is, to an extent, already happening, and I know for sure that certain radio ‘groups’ which have good clients (but with smaller budgets) are already openly using AI voices for their commercials – and it would seem those clients don’t mind.
Anyhoo, trying to write about something a little more positive in this issue, I was cheered to see that at least four fairly major services have kicked off since the beginning of this year, that I know of:
Comedy UK: A 24/7 dedicated comedy radio stream launched in May.
STV Radio: Established January, a personality-led mix paired with 80s, 90s, and 00s hits.
Virgin Radio 90s: Rolled out in March, by News Broadcasting.
Slim Radio: An independent, DJ-led underground dance and club culture station expanding across digital and online platforms right now.
Plus new stations covering areas such as Glastonbury & Street (found this one on FB), and quite a few small-scale DAB multiplex licences have been awarded covering areas such as Burton-on-Trent, Cheltenham & Tewkesbury, Cookstown & Dungannon, Leamington Spa & Stratford-upon-Avon, Skye & Lochalsh and South Hams, in June alone .
If I ruled the world (Tony Bennett, Robert Goulet, Sammy Davis J., even Harry Secombe), er sorry, I meant to say that if I ever got my act together enough to dabble in setting up a music station, it would consist of the most eclectic mix – from Beethoven to The Beatles and everything in between, and beyond (well, up until the early 2000s).
I have far too many CDs (still), as well as quite a few 45s (sadly, the albums went years ago), and whilst some are indeed obscure (especially if you’re under 40 and not a music ‘fan’), during my time as Music Director (glorified title for he who programmed the music) at the ABC in Perth, circa late 80s, I had access to the amazing ‘Sound Library’, which was the size of a small warehouse.
In that den of wonderment were vinyl discs dating back to the very first LP’s ever made/issued in Australia, and I did some very deep diving into album tracks during my five year tenure, discovering that not all one-hit-wonder 45s were the only songs that a band or artist were capable of recording – just what the programmers told the DJs, including me, to play.
Understanding the programming requirements of today’s radio scene, I’ve always believed (and always will) that there’s room for what I call a ‘random record/track’, at the right moment, in the right part of the day or night.
You know, the one you haven’t heard for ever and suddenly, there it is.
From 1987, ‘Building a bridge to your heart’ by Wax anyone? Or perhaps ‘Hourglass’ by Squeeze?
Greg Marston started out as a radio presenter behind the first of many microphones in 1979. For the past 30 years, he’s remained there as a professional voiceover artist.
Find out more about him and his nearly half-century career by visiting gregmarston.com or connect with Greg on LinkedIn.
