With more than 23 countries having participated in last year’s sold-out Radiodays North America conference in Canada, what’s on tap for this year’s RDNA, taking place June 2-4 in Toronto?
Veteran Canadian radio programmer and Juno Award winner Dave Charles, who is CEO of broadcast consultancy Media Results Inc. and who serves as international marketing and content advisor for RDNA, gives Inside Radio a preview of the 2024 conference, which is a companion to Canadian Music Week.
“One of the essential elements of Radiodays is the collaboration with the broadcast partners to help identify the key challenges facing the audio industry,” Charles says, explaining how conference content comes together. “In addition to an executive steering committee that provides oversight, it’s the RDNA program group that is tasked with creating ideas, content, and speaker suggestions for the conference. This group is made up of individuals from Canada, the U.S. and Europe, which helps bring a truly international focus to the conference.”
While Radiodays North America is about, as Charles says, “all things audio: over the air, digital and podcasting,” it’s the latter that’s getting more attention than usual at 2024’s conference. “Recognizing the growth and popularity of podcasting, RDNA has created a special podcast summit that will be a separate ticketed event at a reduced price specifically targeted to the podcast community and those individuals who are relatively new to the business,” he says. “‘The Podcast Power Up’ will [provide] case studies, expert advice, and networking opportunities.”
Sessions during the Power-Up include “How to Seize Opportunity: Podcasts, Commerce, and Corporate Embarrassment” with ABC News Executive Producer, Podcast, Laura Mayer; veteran podcast creator and strategist Eric Nuzum’s “Why Podcasts Fail”; and panels on “The Next Generation of Podcasting,” “Getting Your Indie Podcast Signed,” and “Going Grassroots: How Podcasts Might Help Save Local Journalism.” Outside of the summit, there will be additional podcasting sessions such as a “Future of Podcasting” panel and a conversation with CBC News’ Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and podcaster Connie Walker.
AI’s impact on the industry will be the focus of three RDNA sessions, including “Harmonizing AI and Gen Z: Reshaping the Future of Radio, Music and Streaming” from consumer trend expert Matt Britton; a roundtable discussion on AI and its role at radio; and a workshop with Super HiFi CEO and co-founder Zach Zalon, where delegates will help create a radio station using AI.
“There is lots of excitement, opportunities, and concerns about AI, and we are only in the early stages of how best to implement this into our operations,” Charles says. “Concerns around AI deep fakes and AI bias, [and] getting the right balance between humanity and machines are top of mind.”
Radio sessions include “Keeping Throwback Radio Moving Forward” with Audacy VP for Rhythmic AC and Throwback Formats Skip Dillard and “Ross On Radio” Editor Sean Ross, touching on keeping gold-based formats topical and relevant, and how to negotiate a more crowded landscape. Several sessions feature programmers from down under, including the Australian Radio Network’s Emily Copeland on building a new multi-platform audio brand for youth. “The Australian audio market continues to be the poster child for ‘getting it right’ in the radio business,” Charles says.
Additionally, BBC Director of Music Lorna Clarke will give the conference’s opening keynote address, “Music & Radio: Where Do We Go From Here?” — focused on the changing nature of audio consumption and the role linear radio may play in the future. “This session will be of great interest to both radio/audio delegates and those attending the CMW Music Conference,” Charles notes.