This Is My Passion
I've worked with & for radio for years. I fell in love with the radio industry when I was 6 years old, listening to Linda Energy, Elvis Duran & other famous NY DJs. I was obsessed with all things Z-100 and Hot 96! As a teenager my attention shifted to 92.3 K-Rock and Q104. Howard Stern was and still is one of my idols. So I figure, it's time I started paying tribute to the industry I love so much.
The Late & The Great
There are a few individuals that without a doubt paved the way for Radio Imaging talent everywhere. I firmly believe that we will never know where we are going if we don't know where we came from. These are men responsible for the history all radio imaging voiceover artists share. Their legacy lives on every time we step-up to the mic. I will honor them always - I hope you do the same. Each and every one of them still rocks in my book.
The Living Legends & The Formats That Love Them - (Despite the joke abour Zues and Chris Corley on my home page - I love these guys too).
Malcolm Ryker - Alternative & Active Rock
John Frost - Active Rock - long time voice of KRock NY - enough said! - 'Hey John - marry me? We could make freaky imaging babies together!'
Dave Foxx - CHR, Urban - long time voice of Z100 NY - enough said! 'Hey Dave - if John says no - you're my plan B! or we could all make imaging TOGETHER'
Radio Imaging...They're All Just A Bunch of DJ's - right?
I've written countless articles about the differences between Radio Imaging voice talent and radio performers. For starters, yes many radio imaging voices have a radio background. However, many more have never even stepped foot inside of a radio station, let alone worked in one. Imaging isn't very old. It's only been considered mainstream since roughly 1995. In the early days radio imaging was mainly voiced by radio folks. Today, most radio stations are looking to hire actors. The difference is simple; DJs are taught to announce a message, actors are taught to communicate emotions with their actions and words. The difference in terms of sound is huge. Professional voice actors like myself being radio imaging copy to life. We adapt our personality and sound to the station and format we are working for. We don't just read words on the page, we make you feel those words. We decipher nuance and meaning in each message. Trust me, it's harder than it sounds. It takes loads of practice and a true love of the acting arts to voice effectively for radio imaging.
Imaging Is About Evolution
Radio is constantly changing. It's one of the reasons I love it so much. Music is constantly evolving, and with each generation of listeners radio experiences a rebirth of sound and style. Roughly every 5 years a new segment of viable consumers emerge and as kids come of age, radio takeY their likes and dislikes into account. For instance, when I started my voiceover career, classic rock radio was artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Active rock or alternative rock was made up of bands like Nirvana, Sound Garden, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice In Chains. NOW, classic rock is the active rock I grew up with. And the old classic rock...well, it's mostly considered Oldies. Yes for me it's a gulp, sigh, insert expletive moment. BUT, it's nothing new.
As the radio stations we listen to evolve, so too does the imaging. Stations rebrand themselves to go with the times. As a result, radio imaging voiceover talent must always be aware of these changing trends and evolve too. Otherwise our sound can easily die-out with a fading radio format. Radio Imaging is about lifestyle and it's really not something you can fake. You either live it and love it, or you will loose credibility with your audience. Radio folks understand this as do imaging voices.