RADIO STATION IMAGING VOICE TALENTS
VOICE OVER RADIO STATION IMAGING
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. It is not a fly-by-night deal by any stretch of the imagination.
You’d better have the equipment. You’d better be able to do a lot of work.
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 make that page as full as possible. They’ll try to squeeze every last ounce out of that 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. You can count on that.
The business has changed over the years, especially because of the Internet. Not as much money is being spent as in the past. Some large companies have changed owners. We know the effects that has had. The overall economy is dramatically different. But stations are still spending money on 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 a radio station’s imaging voice, your identity becomes the radio station’s. You represent that station. It’s a responsibility you need to take seriously. It’s not simply, “I provide the voice.” No, the sound of your voice equals the sound of the radio station. So in the back of your mind, remember that to the listener you are the radio station’s boss.
So if you’re going to be voicing stuff for radio stations, note that, first of all, the business has changed. There are even more opportunites now because there is satellite radio. Lots of voice over artists don’t think of that.. Your can lend your voice to Internet radio stations.
You can do a lot of marketing on your own on the Internet to radio and TV stations. But you need to be a business. You are a businessperson. They’d like to do business with you. They want you to be available. They expect you to be versatile.
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. Selling the radio station — that’s why you’re there. You are the voice of that station. A big responsibility comes with that.
Tags: radio imaging, voice over artist, voice over imaging, voice over radio
