AC Radio Imaging

“Radio imaging” refers to all sound clips that play in between radio programs. It includes announcements, show introductions, and anything else. Here are some terms that you may see in the world of radio imaging lingo:

Intermittent announcements, which play in between shows or segments 

• Promos, which may advertise a contest or promotion 
• Music beds, which features speaking over the sound of soft music 
• Jingles, which are advertisements in song form 
• Sweepers, which are brief announcements used to identify a radio station’s name
• Drop-ins, which uses a famous clip (oftentimes from a tv show or movie) 
• Stringers, which are over-the-top sound effects used to “punctuate” announcements
• Liners, which serve as a quick introduction to a program 
• Drones, which are sound effects used to create anticipation 
• Listener voices, where a listener is used to announce a show

Radio imaging does more than just inform your listener of which programs are on air and what promos your station is running. All of these things are useful. In addition, they also help promote the brand image of your radio station. When this is done correctly, it hooks new listeners and keeps everyone coming back.

Maria’s voice is friendly, soothing, and accessible, but as versatile as a chameleon. She can deliver whatever sound you’re after. Not quite sure what’s best for your station? Maria is happy to collaborate with you to find a radio imaging tone that perfectly hits the mark.

AC radio, like the genre itself, can be difficult to describe. It may seem strange to have the word “adult” in a music genre, but it makes sense when you consider the genre’s roots. When top 40 radio was first gaining popularity in the 50s and 60s, it was largely attracting an audience of teenagers. Adult radio listeners of this time were largely not into the rock music of the time and didn’t pay much attention to top 40 channels. 

AC Radio Imaging All Grown Up

Of course, teenagers don’t stay young forever. When the teenagers of the mid-20th century grew up, radio programmers tried to keep up with their evolving tastes by developing “adult contemporary” radio stations in the 80s and 90s. These stations largely played soft rock and pop music, which could also be described as “easy listening.” In addition, they also threw in segments that the typical adult would be interested in, such as news, weather, and traffic updates.

Today, AC radio stations are likely to play a combination of hit songs from the 80s and beyond. They may feature some form of a slogan like “hits from the 80s, 90s, and beyond.” However, their focus is largely on soft music that is at least ten years old. AC radio remains immensely popular, second only after talk radio in 2019.

It may be tempting to DIY your radio imaging segments. However, the best way to pull off a professional sound as a radio station is to rely on a professional voice actor for all of your radio imaging needs. A professional voice actor can use their skill repertoire to pull off the exact tone to fit your radio station. Additionally, they can deliver a polished package that consists of all of your radio imaging needs. You won’t need to worry about a thing, especially when they are recording from a state-of-the-art studio.

With more than ten years of experience in the voice acting industry, Maria Pendolino is the perfect choice for your radio imaging gig. With a friendly, youthful, approachable voice, Maria has experience providing radio imaging for a variety of radio genres—including adult contemporary.

To get a sense of Maria’s style, check out her demos. Or, better yet, request a live audition of her saying an important station slogan—maybe her voice will be the exact sound that your listeners are looking for.