LO1: Understand Existing Audio Media Products and How They Are Created

Research Notes:

Link to Site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7tv

Definition of an Audio Media Product:
An audio media product is a digital media product that consists exclusively of audio and can be distributed digitally online. 

Different types of Audio Media Products:
- Podcast
- Music
- Jingle 
- Ident
- Audio Book
- News Bulletin
- Weather Bulletin
- Chat Show/Discussion 
- Interview

Five Analysis of Different Audio Media Products:

 1) Podcast - Toby Foster at Breakfast

Area of research:	Toby Foster at Breakfast
Purpose	The purpose of the podcast 'Toby Foster at Breakfast' is to entertain the audience. I know this because the show has an informal structure and the presenter, Toby Foster is well-known and funny. The reason that the show's purpose is entertainment is that it is broadcasted in the morning and provides a light-hearted run down of the local and National news and uses intermittent entertainment items.
Form & Style	The form of this product is highlights of a pre-recorded radio show in the form of a podcast. The style of the show is entirely informal, listening to the show feels like you're having a one-sided conversation with the presenter Toby Foster himself. Foster discusses a range of different opinions and views that prompt the listener to think about their thoughts on the topics. Although Foster is mainly presenting his own opinions contrasted with the opinions of the other presenters Andy and Jen. They are generally thought-provoking and engage the listener in this way.
Content	The presenters delivers a range of informative and entertaining items including the news, discussions and opinions on topical subjects such as recent programmes on television, news items and local events.
Meaning	In terms of meaning, the product conveys information and attempts to engage the listener in thinking about the items they are talking about by prompting them to physically get involved in the show and contact them.
Genre	Toby Foster at Breakfast belongs to the genre of entertainment because the entire show is informal and the presenters create entertaining content by discussing interesting items and talking about their opinions. It is also entertaining because it engages the audience by asking them to call in or interact with the show via social media platforms.
Target audience	The target audience of the show come under the demographic of males and females aged approximately twenty plus. Toby Foster at Breakfast is broadcasted at 7:00am until 9:00am in the morning so these people are probably tunes into the show on their way to work or when dropping children off at school. The RAJAR data of the demographic shows that they are probably around the C1 status.
Frequency	The audio product is available frequently every weekday (Monday to Friday) for two hours. The new podcasts are updated and made available on iTunes, Yahoo and RSS.
Production process	The show is produced by BBC Radio Sheffield and is recorded live in the building. The video is made available for consumption via the radio on the frequency 88.6 FM and the podcast is free.

2) Audio Book - Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire

Area of research:	Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire
Purpose	The purpose of this audio product, an audio book, is to entertain the audience. I know it is for this purpose because it is an audio book, a recording of a narrator, Stephen Fry, reading an original fictional story.
Form & Style	The form of the product is a audio book. The style of this audio book is informal because there is a direct connection between the narrator and the listener - the narrator is reading the story to the listener. The informal style effects the audience by making them feel comfortable.
Content	This audio product delivers a narration of the Harry Potter book by J.K.Rowling 'The Goblet of Fire', read by Stephen Fry.
Meaning	In terms of meaning, this audio product delivers the same connotations as the original hard book copy. The original author, J.K. Rowling will have  intended to engage the listener in thought by presenting different scenarios and outcomes and making the characters relatable. The meaning etc should not be lost in the transition from visual to audio.
Genre	The genre of this audiobook follows the same genre of the the original book, fantasy fiction. The genre is not changed as it would not then be a true reflection of the original book.
Target audience	The target audience of this audio book are generally children of both genders who are interested in the fictional fantasy series 'Harry Potter' by author J.K.Rowling. I think the audio book is suitable for this audience because it is narrated by the familiar voice of Stephen Fry.
Frequency	The audio product is available as a one-off purchase. The individual chapters are collected together in one volume 'The Goblet of Fire'. The frequency is insignificant as the product is not updated or broadcasted regularly - it is simply a finished product that is available in one purchase and is to be played at the leisure of the listener. specific snippets of songs to play intermittently during the show.
Production process	As this audio product was not broadcasted live, there was a lot of opportunity to plan and edit during the pre production, production and post production processes to perfect the product for release. However, this does not mean to say it could not be broadcasted on radio after completion, it would just be a very impractical product to record and broadcast live as there is a lot of opportunity for error.

3) Jingle - Hallam FM
http://www.jinglenews.com/2009/03/21/hallam-fm-custom-jingle-package/

Area of research:	Hallam FM
Purpose	The purpose of this audio product is to advertise Hallam FM, to reinforce the name of the station the listeners are listening to and to inform people who have just tuned in as to which station they're listening to. This audio product is essentially informative as it reiterates the station's name and purpose, of delivering entertainment and music.
Form & Style	The form of this audio product is a radio jingle for Hallam FM. The style employed is informal, friendly and a musical theme is adopted. This is a common convention of an effective jingle as it invites the listener to carry on tuning in.
Content	This audio product features a up-tempo pop tune with a woman singing the station's slogan "You're station, you're music - Hallam FM". It delivers a catchy, sing song approach to a jingle, much like the music that Hallam FM plays. This means the jingle is appropriate for the station as it delivers a similar style to the music played.
Meaning	In terms of meaning, this audio product adopts a pop music style, encapsulating the ethos of station, Hallam FM. It succeeds in this because although it is only a jingle consisting of a few seconds, it essentially captures and represents what the station is all about so the listeners immediately know this when hearing it. However, this audio product is simply the wrong format for engaging or influencing the reader; its just too short and simple.
Genre	This audio product belongs to the genre of pop. I can tell this because it features a up-tempo pop theme with a woman singing in a pop style.
Target audience	The target audience of this audio product are listeners of Hallam FM. Listeners of Hallam FM come under the demographic of slightly more women to men, between the ages of twenty five to forty five.
Frequency	This audio product is used frequently during each radio show on Hallam FM. The frequency is significant because it is used to remind the listeners that Hallam FM is the station they are listening to. Being used often, the jingle can become catchy or irritating, depending on the listener.
Production process	This audio product has been produced during the pre production and production processes. Due to the fact the product will be broadcasted frequently and isn't a live recording, it will have had the opportunity to be perfected during these processes before broadcast. This jingle will be played by using a cartwall.

4) Radio Drama - The Archers

Area of research:	The Archers
Purpose	The purpose of this audio product is to entertain the listeners. I know it is for this purpose because it is a fictional radio soap opera broadcast.The broadcast is entertaining because it tells a different story each episode and continues with underlying storylines throughout each episode. It presents the listener with a variety of characters each with their own motives and plot lines.
Form & Style	The form of this audio product is a radio drama. I know this because it is broadcasted on the radio and exists as a soap opera. The style employed by this audio product is informal and conversational, as it depicts dialogue between characters within the narrative.
Content	This audio product features a radio soap opera, sometimes described as a 'contemporary drama in a rural setting'. The majority of the narrative follows the title family, the Archers, a middle class family who own and manage Brookfield Farm.
Meaning	In terms of meaning, the storylines present the listener with familiar scenarios generally concerned with family life. The narrative is inclusive an encourages the listener to engage in thought as it describes recognisable events that are a part of family life e.g. naughty children, exam pressure and going off to university. The fact that the listener can relate to these means they will make their own opinions regarding the situations based upon their own experience or lack of.
Genre	The genre of this audio product is British radio soap opera. I know this because the show is a non-news feature and contains common traits associated with this genre e.g. the fact that it strongly relates to family life and is a drama piece.
Target audience	The target audience of this audio product are both men and women aged between twenty and seventy. This is because the demographic of the show is reflected in it's characters, there are both female an male characters ranging from babies to elderly residents. The dialect used by the characters appeals to the audience because it sounds authentic and alternative, aiding the verisimilitude of the show.
Frequency	This audio product is broadcasted six times a week and runs for twelve minutes with an additional seventy five minute omnibus. To date there have been 17,461 episodes of the show. The frequency of this audio product is significant because it is broadcasted almost daily and has an episodic structure. Each episode is long enough to contain a good chunk of storyline, whereas each episode is also short enough to leave the listener hanging on for more. The significance of this is that the product has found the perfect length and frequency in order to maintain an eager audience.
Production process	This audio product is not broadcasted live therefore it can be fine tuned during the pre production, production and post production processes. It is made available for consumption at 7:00 pm every weekday on BBC Radio 4 and can be listened to at your leisure on BBC iPlayer Radio.

5) Radio Show - Sheffield Meltdown Scooter Sounds
www.sheffieldlive.org/podcast/index.php?id=50925

Area of research:	Sheffield Meltdown Scooter Sounds
Purpose	The purpose of this radio show is to entertain the audience by playing music and inform them about current events on the scooter, ska and mod scene by updating people on gigs, scooter meet ups an ride outs and upcoming bands.
Form & Style	The form of this product is a radio show. The presenter, Fat Piggy MC, is incredibly laid back on-air and adopts an informal tone when speaking to both guests and the listeners.
Content	The content of this podcast is based around Fat Piggy MC talking about the latest scooter, mod and ska events in Sheffield and the surrounding area, scooter club meet up dates and pre recorded informal interviews. Fat Piggy plays a lot of music and often does requests and sometimes does live mixes. The music Fat Piggy plays ranges from well-known classics to fresh new tunes from upcoming bands.
Meaning	In terms of meaning, the product influences the listener by playing a certain kind of music and talking about subculture; scooter and ska mainly. Fat Piggy MC asks for requests via email and social media, engaging the listeners in the show by playing the music they really want to hear.
Genre	The podcast is of the informal genre and is all about the ska and scooter subcultures in the modern day. I can tell this because the content of the show revolves around the topics of events, music and lifestyle of the subcultures.
Target audience	The target audience of this radio show are fans of scooter and ska music and people on the scenes who want to stay updated with events, ride outs and meet ups. I estimate they are mainly, but not exclusively, male between the age of eighteen to fifty five. This is because older people are more likely to be aware of the subcultures and the music.
Frequency	The radio show is broadcasted weekly every Monday from 3 pm until 5 pm. The frequency of the show is important because it delivers regular doses of music and updates. It gives Fat Piggy enough time to write new material, collect information about events and decide which bands to feature and songs to play on the show.
Production process	A lot of pre production will go into the making of this audio product as it is broadcasted live. Fat Piggy will have had to plan the structure of the show, pre recorded interviews with guests, found information on gigs and decided which songs to play. The radio show is made available for consumption on the Sheffield Live radio on 93.2 FM.

Further Two Analysis of Different Audio Media Products similar to the Product I would like to Produce:

I have selected to advertise these three music podcasts specifically because I would also produce my own music podcast focussing around similar music; funk, soul, rhythm and soul, mod, garage, ska and reggae. 

1) Podcast - The Modcast
http://www.themodcast.co.uk/episode-29-featuring-ex-prisoners-graham-day-allan-crockford/

Area of research:	The Modcast
Purpose	The purpose of this podcast is to entertain the audience by playing music and inform them about current events on the mod scene by updating people on new releases, gigs and upcoming bands. I know it is for this purpose because as a listener I found this podcast to be interesting, entertaining and informative with its mix of music and interview with former Prisoners band members Graham and Allan.
Form & Style	The form of this product is a downloadable podcast. The presenters are a great contrast with the interviewees as they have a bit of banter and a laugh. The style employed by the podcast and presenters is conversational and informal.
Content	This audio product delivers an interview with musicians Graham Day and Allan Crockford and the presenters play a short version of The Prisoners first song off their first album, 'Better in Black' from A Taste of Pink. They also play songs by former guests Studio 68 and other bands intermittently during the interview.
Meaning	In terms of meaning, the product influences the listener by playing a certain kind of music and a certain style and subculture. However, in order to be interested in this audio product in the first place, the listeners must already be influenced by the music and scene. The podcast seeks to engage the listener by answering their questions submitted on social media.
Genre	The podcast is of the informal genre and is all about the mod subculture in the modern day. I can tell this because the content of the show revolves around these topics.
Target audience	The target audience of this podcast are fans of Graham Day, Allan Crockford, people on the mod scene and fans of the presenters. I reckon the demographic of this podcast are primarily males between thirty and fifty. I know this because I think people around this age are more aware of the scene, all of the people who contacted the show are males, all the people who won things are males and all the presenters and interviewees are males.
Frequency	The podcast is broadcasted every month and is now on its thirty fifth episode. I think this frequency is significant because it gives them enough time to find enough content to fill each one hour long episode. This involves finding interesting topical interviewees and specific snippets of songs to play intermittently during the show.
Production process	Due to the fact that this audio product is a podcast, the production and post-production processes would have been much longer than the original pre-production process. This is because the show was not broadcasted live, therefore had the opportunity to be heavily edited and multiple takes would have been an option during the recording. This podcast can be listened to on Sound cloud via The Modcast website.

2) Podcast - The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04hcm82

Area of research:	The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show
Purpose	The purpose of this show is to primarily entertain the listeners by playing well-known music, featuring live bands in session and engaging them through social media interaction and phone ins. The show also informs the audience by carrying out insightful and interesting interviews with special guests.
Form & Style	The form of this audio product is a radio show. The style employed by the presenter Craig Charles is informal and conversational when he is speaking to the listeners and the special guests.
Content	The show generally plays well-known songs from iconic black American musicians from approximately the 1950's until the 1980's, extending to genres such as Northern Soul, rhythm and blues, gospel, hip hop, jazz and blues. These are mixed with music from emerging British unsigned bands and newer songs. The show includes interviews with special guests such as Booker T. Jones and live sessions with other artists including The Bongolian. The show delivers regular features; 'Spinage a Trois' where a listener selects three of their favourite tracks to be played back to back, 'Secret Soul Boy/Sister) where a celebrity declares their love of soul music by choosing a track to be played on the show, 'Slow Cooking' where a listener chooses of a romantic soul song, 'Cover From Another Brother/Mother', a cover of a well-known song and finally, 'The Trunk of Funk', a thirty minute playlist of back to back funk songs.
Meaning	This audio product influences the listener by broadcasting certain genres of music. It engages the listeners by allowing them to contribute to specific features on the show by text, email and social media. The show does not seek to influence the listener by using averts, as the show is broadcasted by the BBC.
Genre	The genre of this audio product is funk and soul. I can tell this because funk and soul is the genre of the show's musical output.
Target audience	The target audience of this radio show are fans of Craig Charles and funk & soul music. They are both men and women and the age range of this demographic is probably between ages twenty and fifty. I say this because the majority of the music played on the show is post nineteen fifties but is occasionally contemporary.
Frequency	The show is broadcasted weekly on Saturdays from 6am until 9am. The frequency of this show is significant because being weekly it gives the presenter and producers the opportunity to collect content for each show. It gives them the chance to pre record the show if necessary and recruit special guests for interviews and bands to play in session,
Production process	The presenter Craig Charles will use a play server to arrange the music when the show is going out live. When the show cannot be broadcasted live it has the opportunity to be edited during the production and post production processes. The show is made available on radio station BBC 6 Music via DAB, but can also be listened to as a podcast later on BBC iplayer.

Audio Product Definitions