Radiobiz

By Helen Phushela

All-news radio is a form of a 24hour News radio station.  Unlike television which caters for the eye, radio writes for the ear, where producers and show compilers need to create an image in the listeners mind. 24Hour radio news broadcast would require most, if not all to adapt and make longer than 15minute news bulletins. This form of 24hour news has already been introduced in the United States where they have all round radio news stations. In South Africa we have what is called Talk/News radio stations. Talk Radio 702 and Cape talk, SAfm etc. all these stations play music to an extent.

A 24hour radio news station might sound like a good idea, if all is taken into account.  Graveyard shifts would be re-runs of day time heated debates about current affairs. With political developing stories daily, the station would have the leverage of breaking news. Writing for the ear would prove to be a challenge as people need to visualise the scene or the situation that is described by the reporter. In journalism broadcast jargon this would be referred to as “Say what you see”.  The reporter solely relies on good written scripts to pass the message to the listener.

Pro’s of radio as a medium

Radio is the second oldest form of media; it is usually overlapped by television capabilities. Radio is still the largest mobile medium, which allows people to interact with hosts.Cell phones and online radio station archives allow for the public to take radio with them everywhere they go. With the Digital Terrestrial age, radio will also experience change. Radio stations such as Metro Fm will use the same frequency country wide. This influences frequency distribution thus making room for a 24hour radio news channel.

Con’s of 24hour radio station

Radio as a medium has been compromised in its traditional form, instead of it being dominant with people choosing to use it as a news source people now use the internet. 24Hour radio news station will have to compete with Graveyard shift DJs who already have a fan base. With the new nature of station hopping, the content of the station would have to cater to everyone. “Strike while the iron is hot” motto will not apply to the station programming, 7pm breaking news will be stale at 10pm. As other news channels would have exhausted all the story angles.

Radio capitalises on current affairs and breaking news, as a short written medium.  A 24hour news radio station would only appeal to a certain segment of the audience and with the changing news consumption patterns, a 24 hour news radio channel would need to break news constantly in order to compete with the internet. For a 24hour news radio station to survive it must never be news starved, to guarantee success and increased listenership

By Helen Phushela

On the 1st of October 2012 the public broadcaster (SABC) deepened its partnership with money-web the AltX-listed media company. The relationship between the SABC and money-web started when business radio was introduced in South Africa back in April 1997. That was when SA fm launched Market Update, hosted by Alec Hogg. He was then the SABC head of news input for SABC TV.

In the past Money-web outsourced its sales operation to United Stations in 2006 November. Money-web CEO Alec Hogg stated that the relationship between them was successful and united stations played a big role in building their brand.  Money-web has been handling SABC s daytime radio business shows since 2004, they will now in addition to that provide breaking business, investment and personal finance reports within RSG, SAFM and LOTUS FM programming. This will also expand to SABC owned stations. The SABC stated that it only made sense that money-web take over the sole responsibility for the public broadcaster’s sales. Hence it is a mutual beneficial agreement helping mostly empower and educate the 20million SABC listeners in South Africa.

The previously provided shows will remain while new changes are brought to is light, with hour long phone in programs concentrating on personal finance. These will be aired by RSG and Lotus FM.  As much as every person in South Africa is well aware of the financial constraints that the country going through, educating people on it is still vital, most people relay on the public broadcasters radio stations for news and information. The partnership between the two bodies will benefit the majority in South Africa. The popular Gildsake met Money-web on RSG has been on air for 8yrs, hosted by Andries Van Zyl. Gildsake has by far the highest listener-ship of any business show in the country. Its time slot switched from 5pm to 6:30pm during the radio revamp in April. The AltX-listed company’s relationship with Lotus fm has been refined; the previous 15minute programme has been replaced by more integrated offering with six business news updates.

Money-web is an inter-grated media company that focuses on producing independent and high quality investment information. Half of the company’s revenue is generated by their internet properties; the balance is divided almost equally between radio and print. It is South Africa’s most dominant online source of online investment information. Their online revenue is generated by their international brand moneyweb.com. Money-web produces leading South African radio finance shows. They offer independent thinking financially which now all South Africans will benefit from, through this strengthened relationship with the SABC. This can only mean fruitful and great outcome for those involved.

Source: Moneyweb.co.za

[Written by Chloe Smith]

Thomas Msengana’s career in radio began at Good Hope FM in Cape Town. It seems like a lifetime ago when Thomas Msengana joined YFM. The year was 1997 and the station had just been launched. co-hosted the Harrambe Show with Lee Kusumba, Msengana was instrumental in communicating the YFM lifestyle, reaching the youth of South Africa through great conversation, a knack for being brave in his own right as a DJ and a love for the radio industry. He left the station in 2006 to join Metro FM. Fast forward to 2012 and the DJ formerly known as Bad Boy T had a candid chat with Radiobiz’s Chloe Smith about YFM then and now ….

Apart from a charming tendency to call me darling whenever the call was breaking up, Thomas Msengana (formerly known as Bad Boy T) is down-to-earth and real in a way that you wouldn’t expect a nationally renowned and loved radio personality to be.

You were with YFM from the inception of the station. What made you decide to throw your lot in with a (then) brand new station? – Randall was the station manager in Cape Town at the time (at Good Hope) and he said to try YFM. It was my first opportunity to get out of Cape Town and I took it.

Do you feel that your experience at YFM helped you grow as a DJ? – Y was a station that was very progressive at the time, brave in its approach to broadcasting. It couldn’t compare to other stations. It had great tactics for gaining listenership. It was true in its essence and what it stood for as a youth station.

Over the last 15 years, how do you feel that the station has grown? – Y is now confined to rules of radio. Back then, YFM was brave enough to play songs that other radio stations weren’t playing, walking away from what record companies suggested they should play. Y and 5 are the same now, which is disappointing.

Do you feel that YFM is catering to their target market? – That’s hard for me to answer to answer cuz (sic) I’m not their target market anymore. Whether they want that style of music or conversation is not for me to say.

You left YFM before the Y Academy was initiated. Do you feel that the programme is providing Young South Africans with an opportunity to break into the radio industry? – Yes definitely. I wish we had an opportunity like that when we were starting radio. But it’s hard to teach someone radio – you either have it or you don’t.  You need to have your own personality, be creative in your own style and find your own style of broadcasting. It’s hard to teach someone that. Everyone sounds the same nowadays and that is the danger of radio. But [the programme] is great thing.

Where do you see YFM in 15 years’ time? – I hope it will go back to basics. Listen to their target market and be brave enough to have its own sound and identity. Sponsors and advertisers will come. Coke was our only advertiser at the beginning – people said the station would never grow. Coke saw the future in the station and I hope they get back in touch with that vision.

The man formerly known as Bad Boy T is a bad boy no more; a married father of two, Thomas says he is now a man who plays golf.

Image sourced from:

http://www.cheektochic.co.za/galleries/picture/africa-cup-polo-2011/414-veuve-7

Exciting events are afoot for Phalaphala FM next month. On the 17^th of November the station will be hosting the first ever Tshivenda Music Awards (TSHIMA) in Thohoyandou.

In a statement, the station manager Mr. Freddy Sadiki said the Awards have been conceptualised and positioned as the annual event that will provide a platform to recognise, promote and reward local artists who pride themselves by singing in their indigenous language, while contributing to the overall growth and development of the entertainment industry in the region.  Sadiki further said that as a public broadcaster, preservation of language, heritage and promotion of indigenous music are the core pillars of their mandate not only through the playlist but by contributing to the growth and development of local artists”.

Nominees in some of the categories have already been chosen and listeners will be able to vote via sms. The results for Best Tshivenda Gospel, Best Tshivenda Tradition, Best Tshivenda Hip-Hop and the Vodacom Power to You Song of the Year will be chosen by listeners while the rest of the categories will be chosen by a panel of judges.

The event is sponsored by Vodacom and Khoroni Hotel.

source: SABC

It is world literacy month and radio stations are stepping up to the challenge of education in our country. The “Midday Spice” on Lotus FM and the Midday show on Ligwalagwala FM are doing their bit to answer to the call of education and literacy.

To assist in the plight of libraries in Kwa-Zulu Natal dealing with book shortages, Lotus FM has embarked on a book drive to assist libraries in and around the province to better cater to the literacy needs of their communities. Lotus Fm’s “Midday Spice” programme hosted by Varshan Sookhun and produced by Pravina Maharaj is the driving force behind the programme. The station has appealed to communities to assist by dropping off any unwanted books at selected libraries in the province be it fiction, non-fiction, encyclopaedias, children’s books or textbooks.

Ligwalagwala FM is taking a different approach to the challenge of education and literacy. For many South Africans, financial difficulties are a common hindrance in the pursuit of higher education. Fourth year Psychology student Khetiwe Munsa has received a much needed boost from Liwalagwala FM. Munsa is a student at the University of Limpopo and the winner of a competition currently being run by the station aimed at financially aiding tertiary students to further their studies. “Vul’ ingcondvo (open your mind)” is a competition hosted by Sweetmike on Ligwalagwala FM’s Midday show and airs every Friday. The station has released a statement detailing the competition as one that encourages students to read books, newspapers and other sources of information to expand their knowledge. Contestants from different tertiary institutions are asked general knowledge questions to win. R10 000 will be paid directly into Munsa’s account who hopes to use the money to register for her Master’s degree next year.

Catch the Midday Show on Ligwalagwala FM, from 12h00 till 14h30 and Lunch with Varshan on Lotus FM daily.

SOURCES: Lotus FM, Ligwalagwala FM

By Abongile Zizi

The role community media can play in improving the communication between local government and communities is a vital one and the Eastern Cape Communication Forum has embarked on a project that is set to strengthen it.  It is the media’s responsibility to be the voice of the people and to bridge the communication gap between government and citizens. Community radio and newspapers have a key role to play in community development through facilitating dialog by spreading information that educates citizens on the inner workings of government and their role in participatory governance.

Established in 2006 the Eastern Cape Communication Forum is a non-governmental organisation playing a vital role in the communication network between media and government in the Eastern Cape, it is within this context that the Municipal Matters reporting project operates.  The project is being run in five municipalities in the area and involves community radio stations and newspapers.  ECCF coordinator, Bongi Bozo says the project is starting to yield good results and is now in its second phase. The first phase of the project involved training reporters from participating media organisations on how to report on municipal matters. This training focused on how government structures are set up and how they function in order to know how to access and disseminate the information. The second phase of the project is the enhancing of citizen participation in government and community engagement in newsrooms.

In the Buffalo City and Nquma municipalities the second phase of the project is well under way.  Community Indabas have been organised in these areas. These spaces of dialog are going to go a long way in fulfilling part of the mandate of the project which is to improve municipal reporting and the community engagement of the small local media organisations involved.

By Thato Mokhou

Munghana Lonene FM is set to launch its annual Xitsonga Music Awards in the spirit of fostering cultural diversity in South Africa’s radio industry.

Established in 1965, the SABC Xitsonga radio station plans to wow its audience with a spectacular awards ceremony taking place on the 3 November 2012 at Karibu Leisure Resort in Tzaneen, Limpopo.

As September marks the celebration of SA’s cultural heritage, Munghana Lonene FM lauds Xitsonga musicians who take pride in their culture at the awards’ launch on 20 September 2012.

“The reason behind the awards is to promote Xitsonga language through music and celebrate the cultural heritage of Vatsonga/Manchangana, as well as to use Xitsonga music and South African music in general, to disseminate structured messages intended to drive key societal campaigns, e.g. Health Issues, Human Rights, Women Empowerment Issues, Social Cohesion and so on,” says Munghana Lonene FM’s Marketing Manager, Vongi Nkanyane.  

Launched in 2003, the awards are also part of Munghana Lonene’s plans to ensure that music remains a powerful instrument that helps deepen democracy.  Nominations are open to all artists who are not necessarily native Xitsonga speakers but can perform in the language.

“For me, this has been a great journey. I have been part of this journey since 2002. The then station manager, Mandla Soko appointed me as a project manager in 2003 and since then these awards have been part of me. I have no doubt that the 2012 version of Munghana Lonene FM Xitsonga Music Awards will assist the station to achieve its objective of growing audiences”, says James Shikwambana, Munghana Lonene FM Station Manager.

The SABC radio station has partnered with Mopani District Municipality as the sponsor and CCP Recording Company as the partner for the Xitsonga Music Awards.

By Thato Mokhou

For the working folk, Saturday is the best day of the week.  One gets to sleep in. See friends; do some shopping; have a long, slow coffee. Feel good about life, the universe and, if not everything, at least most things. The MetroFM African Masquerade packaged Saturday, 15 September, into a night of mesmerizing entertainment and hypnotizing song.

Three of the country’s most soulful artists, Kabomo, Unathi and Zonke graced the stage of the Mosaiek Teatro in Fairlands in celebration of MetroFM’s 26^th birthday.  Themed “African Masquerade”, people from every corner of the country poured into the sophisticated Teatro wearing masks and fashionably dressed.

A VIP lounge was prepared for guests to mingle and enjoy an African cuisine before the start of the musical extravaganza.  It was already half full when we arrived with couples occupying most of the couches. The bar was lined up with inviting drinks – of course we helped ourselves to one or two.

Sounds of Unathi and Kabomo’s music flowed through speakers as the lounge gradually filled up.  The flamboyant Somizi Mhlongo made a noticeable entrance as he attempted to liven the room saying: “You are all sitting like you’re in a dining room!”

He was just one of the media personalities seen at the event. The vivacious Khaya Mbau was seen with her boyfriend, Tebogo Lerole from Kwela Tebza.  Theo Kgosinkwe was also spotted with the current SA Idols’ Top 4.

At 7pm, an upbeat house song invited people into the auditorium were magic would soon be ignited. A slight delay had many frustrated while late comers were trickling in, in numbers. Saved by Glen Lewis and VigiLante on the decks, the crowd were moving to the rhythms of old school versus new school between the two DJs.

The VIP lounge

Entrance to the Mosaiek Teatro

DJs Vigilante (left) and Glen Lewis (right)

Sibusiso Leope affectionately known as DJ Sbu, host of the event, ramped up the pace as he welcomed a lively audience to the musical fest that saw Kabomo open the stage

Nothende and Kabomo

up for the two soul queens.  Performing songs from his debut album, All Things Grey, he lured ladies to sing to his melodies. Recently signed by Reverbnation, the multi-talented singer and producer is a fiery performer who lays his soul on stage. He had the crowd dancing to hits like Uzobuya and Busisizwe. People went nuts when he called for Nothende to join him in singing the hit song, Colour of You.  He also thoroughly entertained the audience with renditions of songs by the American artist Musique Soul Child and SA’s own Micasa Music.

A stellar performance by Kabomo opened up for the incredibly talented Zonke Dikana. Splendour dressed in a feathery blouse and stylish high-waisted pants, Zonke is one of few artists who has the backing of a full band on stage.  Belting perfect notes from her core, she gave a magnificent performance leading the crowd from one song to the next. Her first album, Ina Ethe, has since reached platinum she announced and she had her fans to thank she said.

Radio hits such as Feelings and Jik’Izinto were obvious crowd pleasers and her infectious voice could be listened to all night and it certainly had the people asking for an encore straight after her last song. Gracefully she returned and sang her heart out.

Zonke Dikana entertains the audience

“WOW!” said DJ Sbu to a roaring applause after Zonke’s performance. He stood on stage and scanned the room behind his gold mask and encouraged the crowd to participate in competitions.  MetroFM gave away prizes to its listeners which saw each winner walk away with weekend getaways at some of SA’s top boutique hotels.

An elegant Unathi took the stage to close off the evening’s celebrations with self-entitled song Unathi.  She gave a gorgeous performance as she showered on the souls of her audience through heart-rending tracks such as Thembisile and You make me happy. Joined by the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir, Unathi wooed the crowd as it waved in unison.  She finished off with her latest hit song Kwa Nolali.

Unathi serenades audience accompanied by the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir

The MetroFM African Masquerade, an entertaining event, well-organised from spectacular stage effects to soothing music that left fans wanting more.  It formed part of the radio station’s birthday month celebrations themed “Rewind”, which also brought events such as the massive party on September 1 at Sedibeng in Meadowlands, Soweto.

In the same vein, the station calls on record labels to submit their best work for the annual MetroFM Music Awards set to take place later this year.  Both the nominees and finalist announcement parties will be hosted and listeners will stand a chance to win tickets to this much sort after event.

Jenneth`s Hair and Beauty Studio was named the winner of this year’s 702 Small Business Awards with Softline Pastel in an awards ceremony held at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton on Tuesday night.

The Awards are based on outstanding service and call for listeners to nominate small businesses they have dealt with that go the extra mile.

Clem Sunter addressed the 30 finalists and stressed the critical role that entrepreneurs such as themselves play in South Africa’s growth and development.

“In the current business environment, big business is not able to grow and provide jobs in the way that small businesses can,” he said.

“There is such a need to promote small business which is why a competition like this, which gives small businesses the exposure they need, is so important,” he added.

Steven Cohen, MD of Softline Pastel was equally enthusiastic about the finalists’ contribution to the country.

“All of the small businesses that were profiled this year prove that if you are passionate about something, you can make money from it,” said Steven Cohen, managing director of Softline Pastel.

“I hope that their success inspires others to open small businesses, as the SME sector is so vital to creating jobs and taking our country forward.”

The judges were pressed to select their winners but all were blown away by Jenneth Ntanwisi’s sheer passion for her business, Jenneth’s Hair and Beauty Studio.

Winners from Jenneth’s Hair Salon

“Her strength of personality has been the driving force behind the growth and the success of her hair salon,” said 702 presenter, John Robbie, who announced the winners at the ceremony.

“She has cultivated an extremely loyal customer base over the years that has encouraged and supported her in the development and the expansion of her hair salon, which has in turn enabled her to employ new staff and nurture their loyalty.”

The judges were also very impressed about the potential growth plans and prospects for the business.

The two runners up in this year’s awards were Shop and Ship, an online tech store and Atlantic Pools and Ponds, which offers pool and pond installations and repairs.

The winner and two runners up were rewarded with airtime packages to advertise on Talk Radio 702 as well as laptops loaded with Softline Pastel Accounting, Payroll, HR and other business software in addition to software training and support.

Shop and Ship is an online store that started selling Apple products but has expanded to include a broad range of cellular and electronic products.

The judges were impressed with the way in which the owners, the Shein brothers have spotted a gap in the Apple market, where margins are small, by identifying the need for quick intelligent service, turnaround time on orders, and support.

Atlantic Pools and Ponds has managed to grow almost entirely through word of mouth referrals based on the quality of owner Jacques Marais’ service. The judges were very impressed with the way in which he inspires loyalty in his staff, that his staff see themselves as part of a family, and the employees take pride in their work. The judges were also impressed with the way in which he uses a network of other small business providers to assist him on projects and jobs.

“We congratulate the winners, and all the finalists. They are shining examples of why the SME sector is so important to our economy and we look forward to watching these businesses go from strength to strength,” said MC for the evening, 702 presenter, David O’Sullivan.

Source: 702 Talk Radio 

Talk Radio 702 added their own artistic flair to the FNB Joburg art fair on Friday as their outside broadcast incorporated a pop up radio show.

Host, Leigh Bennie, moved around the fair, interviewing guests on a chat mat, which was accompanied by a large empty frame, a mobile “Live on air” sign and a caricature artist who drew the guests as they were being interviewed.

“The remarkable creativity on display at the FNB Joburg art fair inspired us to get creative too,” said Talk Radio 702 programming manager, Alastair Teeling Smith. “Gary Oberholzer, who produces the show, came up with the pop up radio concept, which was our mini art installation at the fair.”

The FNB Joburg art fair showcases the largest collection of art from the Southern African region under one roof and ran from Thursday 6th until Sunday 9th September 2012.

Source: 702 Talk Radio