02/01/2017
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Glossary...Radio Definitions
A
ABC American
Broadcasting Company; network
AC Adult
contemporary format.
Account Executive
Station or agency salesperson.
Actives Listeners
who call radio stations to make requests and comments or in
response to contests and promotions.
Actuality Actual
recording of news event or person(s) involved.
ADI Area of
Dominant Influence; Arbitron measurement area.
Adjacencies
Commercials strategically placed next to a feature.
Ad lib
Improvisation. Unrehearsed and spontaneous comments.
Affidavit Statement
attesting to the airing of a spot schedule.
AFTRA American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists; union made up of
broadcast performers: announcers, deejays, newscasters.
Aircheck Tape of
live broadcast.
Amortization The
structure under which a loan is repaid; the structure of
time payments and interest.
Amplification
Electronically increasing the power of a signal.
AM Amplitude
Modulation; method of signal transmission using Standard
Broadcast band with frequencies between 535 and 1705 kHz.
Announcement
Commercial (spot) or public service message of varying
length.
AOR Album-Oriented
Rock radio format. Also called Classic Rock.
AP Associated
Press; wire and audio news service.
Arbitron Audience
measurement service employing a seven-day diary to determine
the number of listeners tuned to area radio stations.
ASCAP American
Society of Composers, Artists, and Performers; music
licensing service.
Ascertainment The
formal process of determining a community's needs.
Attribution
Statement of the source of information in a news item.
Audio Sound;
modulation.
Audition tape
Telescoped recording showcasing talents of air person;
listen off-air.
Audition channel
Monitoring point separate from program that allows for
off-air listening.
Automation
Equipment system designed to play prepackaged programming.
Availability Vacant
air slot for commercial announcement.
Average quarter-hour
(AQH) Rating measurement used to estimate the size of a
station's audience during any fifteen minute period.
AWRT American Women
in Radio and Television.
B
Back announce Recap
of preceding music selections.
Balance sheet A
summary of a station's assets and liabilities.
Barter Exchange of
airtime for programming or goods.
BEA Broadcast
Education Association.
Bed Music behind
voice in announcement.
Bi-directional
pickup pattern Microphone pattern that is sensitive to
sound from the front and back but not the sides.
Blasting Excessive
volume resulting in distortion.
Blend Merging of
complementary sound elements.
Book Term used to
describe rating survey document; "Bible."
BM Beautiful Music
radio format. One of the first formats on FM.
BMI Broadcast Music
Incorporated; music licensing service.
BPME Broadcast
Promotion and Management Executives.
Bridge Sound used
between program elements.
BTA Best Time
Available, also Run of Schedule (ROS); commercials logged at
available times.
Bulk eraser Tool
for removing magnetic impression from recording tape.
C
Call letters
Assigned station identification generally beginning with W
east of the Mississippi and K west.
Capstan Shaft in
recorder that drives tape.
Cardiod pickup
pattern Microphone pattern where sound is picked up from
front and rejected from the rear.
Cart Plastic
cartridge containing a continuous loop of recording tape.
Cash flow Operating
profit before taxes, depreciation and interest are
subtracted.
Cassette Two reels
of tape in a plastic housing.
CFR Code of Federal
Regulations.
Chain broadcasting
Forerunner of network broadcasting
CHR Contemporary
Hit Radio format.
Clock Wheel
indicating sequence or order of programming ingredients
aired during one hour.
Cluster Group of
announcements; stop set. (see Spot set)
Cold Background
(music bed) fade on last line of copy.
Combo Announcer
operating own board, engineering show; also refers to
co-owned AM/FM operation.
Commercial Paid
advertising announcement; spot.
Compact disk (CD)
Digital recording using laser beam to decode surface.
Compensation
Combination of salary and fringe benefits paid to an
employee.
Condenser
microphone Microphone with a capacitative electrical
element.
Console Audio mixer
consisting of inputs, outputs, toggles, meters, sliders
and/or pots; board.
Consultant Station
advisor or counselor; "format doctor."
Control room Center
of broadcast operations from which programming originates;
air studio.
Cool out Gradual
fade of bed music at conclusion of spot.
Co-op Arrangement
between retailer and manufacturer for the purpose of sharing
radio advertising expenses.
Copy Advertising
message; continuity, commercial script.
Copywriter One who
writes commercial or promotional copy.
Cost Per Point (CPP)
Estimate of how much it costs an advertiser to reach one
rating point worth of listeners.
Cost Per Thousand (CPM
or Cost Per Mil) Estimate of how much it costs an
advertiser to reach 1,000 listeners.
CPB Corporation for
Public Broadcasting. Funds NPR and PBS.
Crossfade Fade out
of one element while simultaneously introducing another.
Cue Signal for the
start of action; prepare for airing.
Cue burn Distortion
at the beginning of a record cut resulting from heavy
cueing
Cume Ratings
measurement, the number of people who have sampled a radio
station.
D
DAB Digital Audio
Broadcasting. There are two competing systems. IBOC favored
by the US. Eureka147 favored by Canada and Europe.
DAT Digital audio
tape.
Dayparts Periods or
segments of broadcast day: 6-10a.m., 10a.m. - 3p.m., 3-
7p.m.
Dead air Silence
where sound usually should be; absence of programming.
Deejay Host of
radio music program; announcer; "disk jockey."
Demagnetize remove
magnetic impressions.
Demographics
Audience statistical data pertaining to age, sex, race,
income, and so forth.
Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS) Powerful communications satellites that
beam programming to receiving dishes at earth stations.
Directional Station
transmitting signal in a preordained pattern so as to
protect other stations on the same or adjacent frequency.
Donut spot A
commercial in which copy is inserted between segments of
music.
Double billing
Illegal station billing practice in which client is charged
twice.
Drivetime Radio's
primetime: 6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.
Dub Copy of
recording; duplicate (dupe).
E
EBS Emergency
Broadcast System. (now EAS) Emergency Alert System.
Edit To alter
composition of recorded material; splice.
ENG Electronic news
gathering.
Erase Wipe clean
magnetic impressions; degauss, bulk, deflux, demagnetize.
ERP Effective
radiated power; tape head configuration: erase, record,
playback
ET Electrical
transcription.
Ethnic Programming
for minority group audiences.
Eureka147 Digital
Audio Broadcasting System being used by Canada and Europe.
F
Fact sheet List of
pertinent information on a sponsor.
Fade To slowly
lower or raise volume level.
FCC Federal
Communications Commission; government regulatory body with
authority over radio operations.
Fidelity Trueness
of sound dissemination or reproduction.
Fixed position Spot
routinely logged at a specified time.
Flight Advertising
air schedule.
FM Frequency
Modulation; method of signal transmission using 88-108 MHz
band.
FMX System used to
improve FM reception.
Format Type of
programming a station offers; arrangement of material,
formula.
Frequency Number of
cycles-per-second of a sine wave.
Fulltrack Recording
utilizing entire width of tape.
G
Gain Volume;
amplification.
Generation Dub;
dupe, tape-recording.
Grease pencil
Soft-tip marker used to inscribe recording tape for editing
purposes.
Gross impressions
Total number of exposures to a schedule of announcements.
Gross Rating Points
(GRP) Representation of the total number of exposures to a
schedule of announcements, expressed as a percentage of all
possible listeners.
Ground wave AM
signal traveling the earth's surface; primary signal.
H
HD-Radio (see IBOC)
Headphones Speakers
worn directly over the ears; headsets, cans.
Hertz (Hz) Cycles
per second; unit of electromagnetic frequency. (named after
Heinrich Hertz).
Hot Overmodulated.
also uptempo AC.
Hot clock Wheel
indicating when particular music selections are to be aired.
Hype Exaggerated
presentation; high-intensity, punched.
I
IBEW International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; union.
IBOC In-Band
On-Channel. System that would allow digital broadcasting
over current AM and FM frequencies. Major companies
promoting IBOC included Lucent and USADR USA Digital Radio,
Inc. These companies have merged and are now know as
Ibiquity. IBOC is now refered to as HD-Radio.
ID Station
identification required by law to be broadcast as close to
the top of the hour as possible; station break.
Input Terminal
receiving incoming current.
Institutional
Message promoting general image.
IPS Inches per
second; tape speed: 1 7/8, 3 3/4, 7 1/2, 15, 30 IPS.
ITU International
Telecommunications Union; world broadcasting regulatory
agency.
J
Jack Plug for
patching sound sources; patch-cord, socket, input.
Jingle Music
commercial or promo; signature, aural-logo.
Jock see Deejay.
K
KDKA First radio
station licensed by the Department of Commerce.
Key (keying)
Turning a sound source on or off from the console.
Kilohertz One
thousand cycles per second; AM frequency measurement,
kilocycles.
L
Leader tape
Plastic, metallic, or paper tape used in conjunction with
magnetic tape for marking and spacing purposes.
Level Amount of
volume units; audio measurements.
Licensee Individual
or company holding license issued by the FCC for broadcast
purposes.
Line Connection
used for transmission of audio; phone-line.
Line-of-sight Path
of FM signal; FM propagation.
Liner cards Written
on-air promos used to ensure adherence to station image;
prepared ad-libs.
Live copy Material
read over air; not prerecorded.
Live tag Postscript
to taped message.
Local channels
Class IV AM stations found at high end of band:
1200-1600kHz.
M
Make-good
Replacement spot for one missed.
Market Area served
by a broadcast facility; ADI.
Master Original
recording from which dubs are made.
Master control see
Control room.
MBS Mutual
Broadcasting System; radio network.
Megahertz (MHz)
Million cycles per second; FM frequency measurement,
megacycles.
Mixdown Integration
of sound elements to create desired effect; production
Monitor Studio
speaker; supervise on-air sound; aircheck.
Mono Single or
fulltrack sound; monaural, monophonic.
MOR
Middle-of-the-Road radio format.
Morning Drive
Radio's most listened-to daypart: 6:00-10:00 a.m.
MSA Metro Survey
Area; geographic area in radio survey.
Multiplexing
Impressing two or more signals on one carrier as in FM
stereo.
Multitracking
Recording sound-on-sound; overdubbing, stacking tracks.
Music sweep Several
selections played back-to-back without interruption; music
segue.
N
NAB National
Association of Broadcasters.
Narrowcasting
Directed programming; targeting specific audience
demographic.
NBC National
Broadcasting Company; the first radio network.
Network Broadcast
combine providing programming to affiliates: CBS, ABC,
Mutual, etc.
Network feed
Programs sent to affiliate stations.
News block Extended
news broadcast.
NPR National Public
Radio
O
Omnidirectional
pickup pattern Microphone pickup pattern that picks up
sound equally well from all directions.
O and O's Network
or group owned and operated stations.
Off-mike Speech
outside normal range of microphone.
Out-cue Last words
in a line of carted copy.
Output Transmission
of audio or power from one location to another; transfer
terminal.
Overdubbing see
Multitracking.
Overmodulate Exceed
standard or prescribed audio levels; pinning VU needle.
P
Packaged Canned
programming; syndicated, prerecorded, taped.
Passives Listeners
who do not call stations in response to contests or
promotions or to make requests or comments; the silent
majority.
Patch Circuit
connector; cord, cable.
Patch panel Jack
board for connecting audio sources: remotes, studios,
equipment; patch bay.
Payola Undercover
illegal payment to a disc jockey or radio station programmer
for playing or plugging a record.
Persons using radio
(PUR) Measurement of the number of persons listening to
stations in a market.
Pinch roller Rubber
wheel that presses recording tape against the capstan.
Playback
Reproduction of recorded sound.
Playlist Roster of
music for airing.
Plug Promo;
connector.
Popping Breakup of
audio due to gusting or blowing into mike; blasting.
Positioner Brief
statement used on-air to define a station's position in a
market.
Pot Potentiometer;
volume control knob, gain control, fader, attentuator,
rheostat.
PSA Public Service
Announcement; noncommercial message.
PRI Public Radio
International.
Production The use
of studio equipment to combine sounds into a finished
product. See Mixdown.
Psychographics
Research term dealing with listener personality, such as
attitude, behavior, values, opinions, and beliefs.
Punch Emphasis;
stress.
Q
Quadraphonic four
speaker/channel sound reproduction; surround sound.
R
RAB Radio
Advertising Bureau.
Rack Prepare or set
up for play or record: "rack-it-up"; equipment container.
RADAR Nationwide
measurement service by Statistical Research, Inc.
Rate card Statement
of advertising fees and terms.
Rating Measurement
of the total available audience.
Reach Measurement
of how many different members of an audience will be exposed
to a message.
RCA Radio
Corporation of America; NBC parent company.
Recut Retake;
re-record, remix.
Reel-to-reel
Recording machine with feed and take-up reels.
Remote Broadcast
originating away from station control room.
Reverb Close echo;
redundancy of sound.
Rewind Speeded
return of recording tape from take up reel.
Ride gain Monitor
level; watch VU needle.
Rip 'n' read Airing
copy unaltered from newswire.
rpm Revolutions per
minute: 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm.
RTNDA Radio and
Television News Directors Association.
Run-of-station (ROS)
Bulk commercial buying plan where station's traffic
department will fit the commercials into available time
locations. See BTA
S
Satellite Orbiting
device for relaying audio from one earth station to another;
DBS, Comsat, Satcom.
SBE Society of
Broadcast Engineers.
SCA Subsidiary
Communication Authority; subcarrier FM.
Secondary service
area AM skywave listening area.
Segue Uninterrupted
flow of recorded material; continuous.
SESAC Society of
European Stage Authors and Composers; music licensing
service.
SFX Abbreviation
for sound effects.
Share Percentage of
station's listenership compared to competition; piece of
audience pie.
Signal Sound
transmission; RF.
Signature Theme;
aural logo, jingle, ID.
Simulcast
Simultaneous broadcast over two or more frequencies.
SIRIUS One of two
national satellite radio services. (See also XM)
Sky wave Radio wave
that bounces off the ionosphere.
Sound bite Audio
portion of interview. See Actuality.
Sound hour Term
referring to the programming strategy with an hour of
broadcasting.
Spectrum Range of
frequencies available to broadcasters.
Spec tape Specially
tailored commercial used as a sales tool to help sell and
account.
Splice To join
ends of recording tape with adhesive; edit.
Splicing bar
Grooved platform for cutting and joining recording tape;
edit bar.
Sponsor Advertiser;
client, account, underwriter.
Spots Commercials;
paid announcements.
Spot set Group or
cluster of announcements; stop set.
Station Broadcast
facility given specific frequency by FCC.
Station
identification Station call letters immediately followed by
city of license. for example: WVUD Newark
Station log
Document containing specific operating information as
outlined in Section 73.1820 of the FCC Rules and
Regulations.
Station rep company
acting in behalf of local stations to national agencies.
Stereo Multichannel
sound; two program channels.
Stinger Music or
sound effect finale preceded by last line of copy; button,
punctuation.
Straight copy
Announcement employing unaffected, nongimicky approach;
institutional.
Stringer Field or
on-scene reporter; freelance reporter.
Subliminal
Advertising or programming not consciously perceived; below
normal range of awareness, background.
Sweep link
Transitional jingle between sound elements.
Syndication
Programs sent to a network of users.
Syndicator Producer
of purchasable program material.
T
Tag Postscript to
taped message.
Talent Radio
performer; announcer, deejay, newscaster.
Talk Conversation
and interview radio format.
TAP Total Audience
Plan; spot package divided between specific dayparts; 1/3
AAA, 1/3 AA, 1/3 A.
Tape speed Movement
measured in inches per second. See IPS.
Telescoping
Compressing of sound to fit a desired length; technique used
in audition tapes and concert promos, editing.
TFN Till Further
Notice; without specific kill date.
Time spent listening
(TSL) Measurement of average amount of time spent by
average listener tuned to a station.
Toll broadcasting
Precursor to commercial radio.
Total Survey Area (TSA)
Geographic area in radio survey.
Trade-out Exchange
of station airtime for goods or services.
Traffic Station
department responsible for scheduling sponsor announcements.
Transmit To
broadcast; propagate signal, air.
Turnover
Measurement of how often listenership changes from time
period to time period.
Turntable Ancient
device used to play records :-)
U
Underwriter Program
sponsor; noncommercial financial sponsor.
Underwriting Method
by which noncommercial stations seek financial support from
commercial sponsors.
Unidirectional mike
Microphone designed to pick up sound in one direction;
cardiod, studio mike.
V
VOA Voice of
America. U.S. International broadcast service.
Voice-over Talk
over sound.
Voice-track
Recording of announcer message for use in mixdown.
Volume Quality of
sound; audio level.
Volume control Pot;
fader.
VU Meter Gauge
measuring units of sound.
W
WARC World
Administrative Radio Conference; international meeting
charged with assigning spectrum space.
Wheel Program tool
indicating sequence or order of programming ingredients
aired during one hour.
Windscreen
Microphone filter used to prevent popping and distortion.
Wireless telegraphy
Early radio used to transmit Morse code.
Wire service News
gathering organization; for example:AP.
Wow Distortion of
sound created by inappropriate speed; miscue.
X
XM One of two
national satellite radio services. (See also Sirius)
Z
Zone I Region of
the country where class B FM stations are located.
References
O'Donnell, L. M.,
Hausman, C., Benoit, P. (1989) Radio station operations:
Management and employee perspectives. Wadsworth: Belmont,
CA.
Keith, M. C. and
Krause, J. M. (1989). The Radio Station Focal Press: Boston. |