{{Short description|Person who has an on-air position in radio broadcasting}} [[File:WKZV studio.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A radio personality (Randy J. Allum) at work at the now-defunct WKZV in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1997]] A '''radio personality''' is a person who has an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality who hosts a radio show is also known as a '''radio host''' (North American English), '''radio presenter''' (British English) or '''radio jockey'''. Radio personalities who introduce and play individual selections of recorded music are known as disc jockeys or "DJs" for short. Broadcast radio personalities may include talk radio hosts, AM/FM radio show hosts, and satellite radio program hosts, and non-host contributors to radio programs, such as reporter
==Description== A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses genres of music; hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners; interviews celebrities or guests; or gives news, weather, sports, or traffic information. The radio personality may broadcast live or use voice-tracking techniques.<ref>L. A. Heberlein - The Rough Guide to Internet Radio 2002 - Page v. "In addition to putting songs together, a good radio host can tell you things you didn't know about the artists, the songs, and the times."</ref> Increasingly in the 2010s, radio personalities are expected to supplement their on-air work by posting information online, such as on a blog or on another web forum. This may be either to generate additional revenue or connect with listeners.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rooke |first1=Barry |last2=Odame |first2=Helen Hambly |title="I Have to Blog a Blog Too?" Radio Jocks and Online Blogging |journal=Journal of Radio & Audio Media |date=2013 |volume=20 |issue=1 |page=35 |doi=10.1080/19376529.2013.777342|s2cid=144905276 }}</ref> With the exception of small or rural radio stations, much of music radio broadcasting is done by broadcast automation, a computer-controlled playlist airing MP3 audio files which contain the entire program consisting of music, commercials, and a radio announcer's pre-recorded comments.
==History== {{Main|Radio disc jockey history}} In the past, the term "disc jockey" (or "DJ") was exclusively used to describe on-air radio personalities who played recorded music and hosted radio shows that featured popular music.<ref name="Field2010">{{cite book|author=Shelly Field|title=Career Opportunities in Radio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=35rkaH3TQG8C&pg=PA2|date=21 April 2010|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-1084-4|pages=2–}}</ref> Unlike the modern club DJ who uses beatmatching to mix transitions between songs to create continuous play, radio DJs played individual songs or music tracks while voicing announcements, introductions, comments, jokes, and commercials in between each song or short series of songs.<ref name="Higgins">{{cite web|last1=Higgins|first1=Terry|title=Club Features New Breed of Disc Jockey|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19840629&id=hoFQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5730,6226527&hl=en|website=Milwaukee Sentinel|publisher=Milwaukee Sentinel, June 29, 1984|access-date=7 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 1950s, '60s and '70s, radio DJs exerted considerable influence on popular music, especially during the Top 40 radio era, because of their ability to introduce new music to the radio audience and promote or control which songs would be given airplay.<ref name="NYTBooks">{{cite web|last1=Udovitch|first1=Mim|title=Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey By BILL BREWSTER and FRANK BROUGHTON Grove Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/first/b/brewster-dj.html|website=New York Times Book Review|publisher=New York Times Company|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="Battaglio">{{cite news|last1=Battaglio|first1=Stephen|title=Television/Radio; When AM Ruled Music, and WABC Was King|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/10/arts/television-radio-when-am-ruled-music-and-wabc-was-king.html?pagewanted=all|website=New York Times|date=10 March 2002|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref>
Although radio personalities who specialized in news or talk programs such as Dorothy Kilgallen and Walter Winchell have existed since the early days of radio, exclusive talk radio formats emerged and multiplied in the 1960s, as telephone call in shows, interviews, news, and public affairs became more popular. In New York, WINS (AM) switched to a talk format in 1965, and WCBS (AM) followed two years later. Early talk radio personalities included Bruce Williams and Sally Jesse Raphael.<ref name="Cox2009">{{cite book|author=Jim Cox|title=American Radio Networks: A History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tpxGeViyuPwC|date=26 October 2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5424-2}}</ref> The growth of sports talk radio began in the 1960s, and resulted in the first all-sports station in the US, WFAN (AM) that would go on to feature many sports radio personalities such as Marv Albert and Howie Rose.
==Types of radio personalities== *'''FM/AM radio''' – AM/FM personalities play music, talk, or both.<ref name="Career">{{cite web|title=Radio and Television Job Description|url=http://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Radio-and-Television-Announcers.cfm|work=CareerPlanner.com|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref> Some examples are Rick Dees, Elvis Duran, Big Boy, Kidd Kraddick, John Boy and Billy, The Bob and Tom Show, The Breakfast Club, and Rickey Smiley. *'''Talk radio''' – Talk radio personalities often discuss social and political issues from a particular political point of view.<ref name="Career" /> Some examples are Rush Limbaugh, Art Bell, George Noory, Brian Lehrer, and Don Geronimo. *'''Sports talk radio''' – Sports talk radio personalities are often former athletes, sports writers, or television anchors and discuss sports news.<ref name="Career" /> Some examples are Dan Patrick, Tony Kornheiser, Dan Sileo, Colin Cowherd, and Mike Francesa. *'''Satellite radio''' – Satellite radio personalities are subject to fewer government broadcast regulations and may be allowed to play explicit music. Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony, Dr. Laura, and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo are some of the notable personalities who have successfully made the move from terrestrial radio to satellite radio.<ref name="Career" /> *'''Internet radio''' - Internet radio personalities appear on internet radio stations that offer news, sports, talk, and various genres of music that are carried by streaming media outlets such as AccuRadio, Pandora Radio, Slacker Radio and Jango.
==Notable radio personalities== Notable radio personalities include '''pop music radio hosts''' Wolfman Jack, Jim Pewter, Dick Clark, Casey Kasem, John Peel, Charlie Gillett, Walt Love, Alan Freed, Cousin Brucie, Mamy Baby, Frida Amani, The Real Don Steele, Charlie Tuna, Terry Wogan;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Variety&series=Charlie+Tuna |title=Series: Charlie Tuna |website=www.radioechoes.com | access-date= }}</ref> '''sports talk hosts''' such as Mike Francesa; '''shock jocks''' and political talk hosts such as Don Imus, Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last1= Leopold|first1=Todd|title=The kings of the radio: All-time great DJs|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/showbiz/hfr-rock-dj-profiles/|work=CNN|access-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414032935/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/showbiz/hfr-rock-dj-profiles|archive-date=14 April 2016}}</ref>
==Career== ===Education=== Many radio personalities do not have a post-high school education, but some do hold degrees in audio engineering.<ref name="educationrequirements.org">{{cite web|title=Radio Jockey Education and Job requirements|url=http://www.educationrequirements.org/radio-jockey.html|work=educationrequirements.org|access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref> If a radio personality has a degree it is typically a bachelor's degree level qualification in radio-television-film, mass communications, journalism, or English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/announcers.htm|title=Announcers and DJs|work = Occupational Outlook Handbook|date=September 8, 2022 |publisher =bls.gov}}</ref>
===Training=== Universities offer classes in radio broadcasting and often have a college radio station, where students can obtain on-the-job training and course credit.<ref name="University">{{cite web|title=ASU Dept. of Radio-TV |url=http://comm.astate.edu/radiotv.html |publisher=Arkansas State University |access-date=5 March 2013|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090212205043/http://comm.astate.edu/radiotv.html|archive-date=2009-02-12}}</ref> Prospective radio personalities can also intern at radio stations for hands-on training from professionals. Training courses are also available online.<ref name="University"/>
===Requirements=== A radio personality position generally has the following requirements:<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Jockey education and job requirements|url=http://www.educationrequirements.org/radio-jockey.html|work=educationrequirements.org|access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youcareer.in/rj |title=RJs Talk About Their Careers in Radio |date=1 September 2013 |work=YouCareer.in |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-date=31 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531151450/http://www.youcareer.in/rj |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Good clear voice with excellent tone and modulation<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=La locución es mostrarte tal cual eres -|url=http://www.envivo.icrt.cu/la-locucion-es-mostrarte-tal-cual-eres/|date=2018-05-08|language=es|access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref> * Great communication skills and creativity to interact with listeners<ref name=":0" /> * Knowledgeable on current affairs, news issues and social trends * Creative thinking, to be able to think of new ideas or topics for show * Able to improvise and think "on the spot" * Ability to develop their own personal style * A good sense of humor
===Opportunities=== Due to radio personalities' vocal training, opportunities to expand their careers often exist. Over time a radio personality could be paid to do voice-overs for commercials, television shows, and movies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Jockey: Job Prospects & Career Options|url=http://career.webindia123.com/career/options/media_entertainment/radio_jockey/jobprospects.htm|work=webindia123.com|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref>
===Salary in the US=== Radio personality salaries are influenced by years of experience and education. In 2013, the median salary of a radio personality in the US was $28,400.
* 1–4 years: $15,200–39,400, * 5–9 years: $20,600–41,700, * 10–19 years: $23,200–51,200, * 20 or more years: $26,300–73,000.
A radio personality with a bachelor's degree had a salary range of $19,600–60,400.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disc Jockey (DJ), Radio Salary, Average Salaries|url=http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Disc_Jockey_(DJ)%2c_Radio/Salary|work=Payscale.com|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>
The salary of a local radio personality will differ from a national radio personality. National personality pay can be in the millions because of the increased audience size and corporate sponsorship. For example, Rush Limbaugh was reportedly paid $38 million annually as part of the eight-year $400 million contract he signed with Clear Channel Communications.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farhi |first1=Paul |title=Rush Limbaugh Signs $400 Million Radio Deal |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/02/AR2008070202063.html |date=3 July 2008|access-date = 26 September 2018}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Radio personality.jpg|Jessica Letshwiti, ICE100 Radio, Botswana, Southern Africa File:%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85_%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%87_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A5%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9_%D8%AF%D8%A8%D9%8A.JPG|Ibrahim Astady, Dubai 93 FM, United Arab Emirates File:Luis_L%C3%B3pez_durante_el_programa_World_Dance_Music..png|Luis López, director and presenter of the World Dance Music radio program at Los 40 studios in Valencia File:Norman_B_in_Studio.jpeg|Norman Batley, WMNF, Tampa, FL, 2013 File:Radio Commonwealth (22294437619).jpg|Kevin Joseph O'Donnell, Australian Army station "Radio Commonwealth", Korea 1955 File:Aunt_Daisy.JPG|Maud Ruby Bashsam aka "Aunt Daisy" on station 2ZB, Wellington, New Zealand, 1959 File:Mauricio Lomonte.jpg|Mauricio Lomonte on station Radio Reloj, Cuba File:ITaukei Radio Talk back show (13589354753).jpg|Talk radio host and guests, Radio Fiji One, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation </gallery>
==See also== * Sports commentator * Sports radio * Presenter (disambiguation)
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:Radio personalities Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1909