Radiodays North America Announces More 2024 Programming
This year’s event at Canadian Music Week will focus on the rise of podcasting, Radio AI, diversity and representation, and how traditional and mainstream formats can stay current.
Radiodays North America (RDNA) is rolling out more programming for its 2024 event, which takes place June 2-4 at Toronto’s Harbour Castle Westin Hotel.
The conference, a joint venture between Radio Days Europe and Canadian Music Week, has already made a splash by announcing CRTC Chair and CEO Vicky Eatrides will give a keynote address – the first time since the early ‘90s a serving chair has spoken at CMW.
Now in its second year, Radiodays North America aims to create content through panels and keynote presentations to address key challenges facing the audio industry with the emergence of Radio AI products and tools.
New to RDNA (where I'm an advisor and international liaison) will be a special Podcast Summit, which will take place on Sunday, June 2. This will be a separate ticketed event at a reduced price specifically for the podcast community and for those just entering the podcast sector. The summit will focus on emerging voices and innovators, podcast business models, audience development, networking and expert advice from successful creators. There will also be podcast content throughout RDNA, including a discussion from podcast creator and strategist Eric Nuzum about how podcasters need to make noise to stand out in the fastest-growing category in today's media world.
The emergence of AI remains a big topic of interest. There will be three different sessions on AI highlighted by a keynote address by consumer trend expert Matt Britton called Harmonizing AI and Gen Z. There will be another called Reshaping the Future of Radio, Music and Streaming. A third session will be a practical AI workshop with Zack Zalon of Super HiFi. These sessions will be followed by a town hall round table discussion about AI and its emerging role in the radio industry – a shift as major as when production went from analogue to digital with ProTools.
Australia is a country leading the audio content market. Emily Copeland of ARN (Australian Radio Network) will talk about building a new multi-platform audio brand for youth, while John Musgrove of Commercial Radio and Audio Australia will present research as to what’s behind radio’s success in Australia.
Mainstream formats will also be a point of discussion. Corus’s Craig Bruce, an internationally recognized radio consultant, will present on talent development and the important role it plays in radio’s ongoing quest for creating compelling content with real personalities. Skip Dillard, Format VP for Rhythmic AC and Throwback Formats at Audacy in New York will offer up some insights on mainstream radio formats. Sean Ross, Editor of the Ross on Radio newsletter and longtime Classic Hits strategist, will be doing a new session called Keeping Throwback Radio Moving Forward.
RDNA will also focus on diversity and representation, including focuses on female trailblazers in broadcasting and an Indigenous Voices session.
More RDNA speakers and sessions will be announced soon. Head here for more info.
