Critical Review

Radio

The 'genre' of something is a type of category a media product would fall in. For example, if there was a film based in space, it would most likely be considered a sci-fi film. 

The genre of something can categorise the 5 media products:

• Film
• Video
• Audio
• Print
• Digital

There are different ways to work out what genre your media product is. I found this thinking that help me decide what genre to class a type of media product as. Here

Radio genre

Different radio stations have different genres. On the internet you can listen to a station that plays a type of genre and only that one. While on FM and AM radio, they would contain different type of genre of music to suit different audiences. Knowing what the audience is for that radio station would either be getting information from surveys or from playing music at a certain time of day. For example, in the morning, adults normally have the radio on in the car going to work, so the station would play music related to their age group (music they grew up with). 

Production Technologies

There are many ways to distrebrute media products. One of my chosen media products what a Music Based Programme on the radio. So i had a look at an old radio station, I had a look at Local Radio  in Britain, in the 60s. Probably the most popular pirate radio in the 60s was Radio Caroline. This changed and revolutionised the way radio was played. The radio station was based in international waters so the British government had no control over it. The genre of the radio station was Rock. Rock music from the 60s. 

Since i decided to make a music based programme i've been having a look at the history of Radio Caroline. Radio caroline first came about for the youth of the 60s, something for the younger generation to listen to. 

It was all about being on the beach having a portable wireless radio listen to music they enjoyed.

History of Radio

The way radio has evolved over the years has changed a lot. When radio first came about it was all about communicating with people across a long distance. As time went by, in the 60s to 70s the FM wave band was supposed to be used for your favourite classical music, but there were also pirate radio stations that brought the rock and roll into england and really sparked a revolution on the radio. As we come in the 21st century, it has become even easier to listen to your favourite genre of music as there is free access to live internet radio stations and recorded podcasts the stations can make. This would also give you the ability to listen to international radio stations that aren't normally available in your respective country. 

Music Based Programming

Music Based Radio Broadcast

Mass or Niche?

-I've decided to make a niche music based radio broadcast.

I want it to contain music, interviews and general conversation about the bands/artists. The bands will be aimed at a specific audience in terms of who would listen to the music played and be interested in the information provided. The radio broadcast will be presented on the Internet as an Internet radio station. When you are aiming a product towards a niche audience, there is less competition with other companies as not many other companies would be producing for this product. Also, there is a much clear focus on understanding on the target audience. They are easier to get to, and research on. Because of this, the costumers would tend to be more loyal to listen to the product again.

With a mass audience though, there is a wider audience so you are likely to make more money. Also you wouldn't have to be as specific with the data you provided, they are relaxed as it is the general audience and not everyone would be interested. They can also be cheaper to produce and you can advertise to a wider audience, get the message around more (widespread distribution)