Job roles in radio

1. JOB ROLES IN RADIO

2. Creative Producer
• A creative producer basically creates content and manages the whole radio production
process for both live and recorded programmes. They also generate original ideas,
identifying suitable ideas from others, and carrying out thorough research. The seniority
and specific responsibilities of a Radio Producer may vary considerably depending on
the programme or station. They work in collaboration with presenters, performers or
other programme contributors. In order to ensure that content meets established
production standards, they must also be able to give direction when necessary.
• Creative producers are mainly based in offices and recording studios, but may also
work on location producing outside broadcasts. Radio Producers may be required to
work a variety of shift patterns, including night shifts, weekends and holidays. In some
roles they will be expected to travel, sometimes long distances and at short notice, to
work on location. Radio Producers should know how to access, evaluate and use all
relevant information sources. They obtain permissions or licences for recording or
broadcasting on location, and for the use of music, sound effects and audio archive
material.
• To do this role you have to have a good understanding of radio such as knowing
knowledge of the law, ethics and industry regulations around radio production, have the
confidence and tenacity to pursue information, overcome obstacles and pitch ideas to
senior colleagues, have excellent communication skills, complemented by diplomacy,
empathy and patience and along with the ability to build rapport and draw information
from people etc.

3. Production Engineer/Sound
• As a sound engineer in a recording studio you would make high quality recordings of music, speech
and sound effects. In this job you would need to have a good sense of hearing. You would also need
to understand musical pitch, timing and rhythm. When you are developing your skills you could start
by completing a course at college or university. A different route would be to start as a runner in a
recording studio. This would allow you to gain experience and then work your way up to become a
studio sound engineer.
• As your job people will rely on you to plan recording sessions with producers and artists, making
sure the volume and recording levels are set correctly, operate recording equipment and adding
effects, record each instrument or item onto a separate track, mixing tracks to produce a final
‘master’ track logging tapes and other details of the session in the studio archive.
• You would need to be flexible about your working hours, which could be long and irregular. You may
need to work in the evening, at night or at the weekend. This could depend on when artists and
producers are available. You would mainly work in recording studios. Conditions in studios may vary.
Some may be large and air-conditioned and others small and cramped.
• The qualities you need to be successful in this job are good hearing for distinguishing sound quality,
a good sense of pitch, timing and rhythm, a knowledge of electronics and acoustics, good practical
skills patience a keen interest in music and sound and the ability to cope with long hours and tight
deadlines.

4. Copywriter
• A Radio Copywriter writes scripts for radio commercials. This copywriting specialty demands
a deep understanding about how people listen and respond to radio programming. It also
requires an "ear" for what makes an attention-grabbing radio advertisement.
• A good Radio Copywriter often have a background in radio production and frequently serve
as both writer and producer, overseeing voice talent, studio production, and distribution of
radio ads. Radio Copywriting is a highly-specialized niche for freelancers. Most radio ad
scripts are written by employees of production studios.
• A copywriter may also have to include a creative slogan, catchphrases, messages and
straplines for printed adverts and leaflets. They are also involved in writing text for web
advertising, as well as scripts for radio jingles.
• Advertising copywriters often handle several client accounts at the same time, which makes
the job varied and interesting. This means they need to be liaising with clients and
interpreting their briefs, developing creative ideas and concepts, often in partnership with the
art director, presenting ideas to colleagues and clients, familiarising themselves with their
clients' products and services, the target audience and their competitors' activities, writing
clear, persuasive, original copy, updating digital media,
overseeing campaigns through the production stage to completion, working on several
campaigns at once, sometimes under pressure and often to tight deadlines, casting actors
for TV and radio work and listening to voice tapes, liaising with production companies,
photographers, typographers, designers and printers and keep up to date with popular
culture and trends.

5. Voiceover Artist
• A voice over artist is needed for radio commercials and various radio
announcements to convey a message or to act out a scene for the purposes of
advertising. The voice talents are hired by advertising agencies to take part in
radio commercials from a VOX agency where they are collected on a database.
VOX agency will represent the voice talent and get them jobs in film, TV, radio,
corporate, online, or any other area in which voice artists are needed.
• There are lots of areas where you can train to be a voice over artist. You should
have a naturally good sounding voice to start off with. Course instructors look for
good quality, strong tone, interesting voices, and naturally good diction. As no one
wants to listen to a quite, morbid voice.
• The voice recording artist has varying rates at which they work. A voice artist rate
card can also differ from agency to agency and depending on where you live.
Certain adverts will pay more than others and your voice artist rate card will also
vary between radio work, TV, online, corporate and others. You will get paid a
usage fee for your voice as well as a flat rate per day for your time. For radio work
like announcing, a voice recording artist is usually paid anywhere between £200
and £1,000 per advert.

6. Recording Artist
• A recording artist is who creates albums and tracks to be
recorded by Artists. They also manage and direct the album’s
development, including overseeing recording sessions. There
salary is £25,000 to £1,000,000+.
• They are always striving and hoping to have each album turn
out to be a chart-topping success. With that goal in mind, the
Record Producer has a lot on his or her plate in terms of
responsibility.
• One thing they are responsible for is helping the Recording
Artists choose which songs they’ll record for a given album.
Then they’ll select a studio and book the proper amount of
recording time. From there, the Record Producer will work with
a Music Arranger and an Audio Engineer, and will also need to
find Background Vocalists to assist with the songs.