RADIO IMAGING VOICE TALENT

Posted on 15. Jul, 2010 by amauto in Uncategorized

RADIO STATION IMAGING VOICE OVER ARTISTS

In addition to voicing radio commercials and other forms of radio advertising, I do a lot of radio imaging.

Many people call it “Radio Station Imaging,” or as I like to call it, “Promotional Branding and Station Identification.”

In this realm of the business, it is important to make sure that you’re set up as a proper company, that you’re a business. You are not a fly-by-night arrangement.

You’d better have the equipment. You’d better keep your voice in good shape, because those radio stations will be using it a lot.

In a contract, traditionally you’re committed to recording a page or two a month, whatever your agent negotiates, or whatever you negotiate for yourself. They’ll get the most out of that. They’ll try to get as much as they possibly can out of a page. So radio station voice imaging is little bits and pieces and stuff and there is a page and stuff.

Typically, on a Monday or Friday a bulk of stuff will come in. That’s a given.

The business has changed over the years, especially because of the Internet. They don’t spend the kind of money they used to. Some large companies have changed owners. We all know how that has effected the business. The overall economy is dramatically different. But stations still have money to spend on good station voices. They are still going out and searching for them.

When someone listens to the radio station, in their head they’re hearing the imaging person the voice as the owner. If you’re hired to be the voice of a radio station, you’re that station’s identifier. You represent that station. It’s a real responsibility. It’s not simply, “I provide the voice.” No, that’s the sound of the station. So you should imagine yourself as the boss of the radio station.

So if you’re going to be voicing stuff for radio stations, note that, first of all, the business has changed. Satellite radio has created more opportunities. Lots of voice over artists don’t think of that.. Internet radio stations are another venue.

You can do a lot of marketing on your own on the Internet to radio and TV stations. But you need to approach it as a business. Regardless of if you think of yourself in this light, you’re a businessperson. They’d like to do business with you. They want you available. They want you versatile, and there is a certain style you need to keep in mind.

There are perimeters to being a radio imaging voice. That means knowing what radio stations are doing now, what they’ve done in the past, and how your own style can contribute to it…but within the station’s guidelines. You’re representing the radio station. You are the station’s voice. A big responsibility comes with that.

Tags: radio imaging, voice over artist, voice over imaging, voice over radio