How Smart Is Radio On Smart Speaker Growth?

October 31, 2017

Could everyday household Smart Speakers be the new home AM/FM radio?

Why not? More listeners are making user-friendly personal smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home their first choice for audio. Can the industry capitalize on this to expand radio’s reach? The answers will come at Forecast 2018 on Nov. 15 in New York.

It’s not far-fetched to assume that in the very near future, every home will have at least one smart device as prices come down and more models are introduced.

This means that every radio broadcasting company needs to be prepared and ready to reach audio entertainment consumers in these connected households. If not, radio stations may have further difficulty distinguishing itself from the vast menu of streamed audio and podcast options already out there.

Questions and insight into the power of radio through the home Smart Speaker will be the focus of the panel discussion “Digital Audio: What You Need to Know to Grow Your Audio Business” at Forecast 2018.

The “insiders” event, where no press is allowed to cover the bulk of the day’s sessions, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the Harvard Club in New York.

Our panel of programming, advertising, and digital experts will break down and explain the smart audio on the horizon and how you can successfully make the transition to these new platforms for listening and generate new revenue.

Moderator:

Mike McVay is EVP/content and programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One, overseeing the programming of 450 radio stations and two radio networks. McVay is a 40-year programmer with consulting, management, ownership, sales, programming, and on-air experience, and has developed and launched several nationally syndicated programs. He has programmed around the world as a consultant with more than 300 stations to his credit. McVay has received numerous awards and acknowledgements; he is a recipient of the prestigious Rockwell Award, was ranked #4 among America’s Top Programmers by Radio Ink magazine, appears on the 40 Most Powerful People in Radio list from Radio Ink, and was named one of the Titans of Talk by NTS magazine every year 2012-2016.

Panelists:

Steven Goldstein is CEO of Amplifi Media, which works with top media companies and podcasters advising on digital content strategy, activation, and development for on-demand audio (podcasting). Goldstein has created and developed successful radio brands around the country and is acknowledged for skill in nurturing and advancing local and national talent. He is also a founding partner of Sonic Ai, which develops audio “skills” for the emerging category of smart speakers, including the Amazon Echo. After holding on-air positions at local radio stations, Goldstein shifted to management with the NBC Radio Network, where he played a leadership role in creating The Source Network, and he also held programming positions for the ABC Radio Network, Metromedia, and Capital Cities in New York and Detroit. He was a founding partner in Saga Communications, serving as EVP and group PD from the company’s formation in 1986 until 2015, when he launched Amplifi Media.

Bret Kinsella is the chief marketing officer at XAPPmedia. He has more than 20 years of experience in technology marketing, management, and consulting. Kinsella specializes in bringing new technologies to market and has worked in Internet, mobile, and IoT since 1997, with a focus on AI and voice technologies since 2013. He was formerly CMO of social media software company dwinQ, a vice president at Harris, COO of ODIN Technologies, and an executive at both Sapient and Accenture. He is also editor of the leading voice and AI publication Voicebot.ai and host to the popular Voicebot Podcast. Kinsella holds a master of business administration degree from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, and a bachelor of science in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a frequent speaker and author on topics ranging from brand strategy and marketing to voice and AI technologies.

John Rosso is president of market development at Triton Digital, overseeing business development, sales, and marketing operations. In this role, he helps clients successfully execute their digital audio strategies through the provision of Triton’s innovative tools and services. Before joining Triton Digital, Rosso held a number of positions in the broadcasting industry, most recently as president of Citadel Media, one of the largest commercial radio networks, where he directed all activities and achieved significant operational and financial performance improvement. He has also held senior roles in sales, affiliate marketing, and technology at the ABC Radio division of the Walt Disney Co. A frequent speaker on the topics of streaming audience measurement and ad technology, Rosso is active in a wide array of broadcasting and digital media industry initiatives, and serves as a member of the board of directors of the RAB.

Bruce Supovitz is senior vice president and sales director for Nielsen’s National Audio Services division, responsible for Nielsen’s audio services and solutions for radio networks, program syndicators, producers, rep firms, satellite, and other national entities. In 2016, podcasters were added to his oversight. Supovitz joined Arbitron (now Nielsen) in 1995 as a senior account executive overseeing 14 local radio markets. He was promoted in 1997 to manager of National Radio Group Services, and in 1999 he was asked to create and head the National Radio Services division. During Arbitron’s acquisition of the RADAR network radio ratings service in 2001, Supovitz was a key member of the due diligence team and continues to have a significant role in managing that service. Before joining Arbitron, he spent 13 years in local radio in the Washington, DC and Baltimore markets, including managerial positions with Infinity Broadcasting, Group W, and Greater Media. He earlier spent three years as a broadcast media buyer.

Seating is limited – register today!

Forecast 2018
November 15, 2017
Harvard Club
New York

The Harvard Club is located on W. 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. Nearby lodging includes Hotel Sofitel New York, Archer Hotel New York and Andaz 5th Avenue. The venue is a quick walk from Times Square, Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center and three blocks west of Grand Central Terminal, allowing for easy Metro-North and Subway access.

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