Denise’s Creator Responds
Radio programmer Dominique Garcia’s move to introduce a non-human DJ–i.e. a modified computer program originally purchased for $200–to the line-up of a station in Austin, Texas, has been the source of much radio industry talk over the last ten days. I’ve been especially critical of this move because–well, you can go back and read for yourself.
Last night, I received an email directly from Dominique. In the spirit of fairness and equal time, I present his email unedited and without comment.
Your Name: Dominique Garcia
Subject: Rebuttal Regarding Your Promotion To My Project
Message: With all due respect this will be my one and only post on here. Mr. Cross I saw your video segment for the upcoming Radio Wars documentary. I have read your article here as well and have seen many of the comments. I must say a lot of you are very much misinformed. Your feeble attempts t sending hate mail to KROV did not stop this from happening.
The first thing I have to say is as much as personalities on the air do not want to believe this… listeners do not care about jocks. PPM proves once a jock starts to talk they flip stations. Statistics [PPM] clearly prove this. It is the egotistical mind frame of human personalities that makes them want to believe that radio cannot survive without them. Or that people listen solely for the jock. That is not the case and if you believe that you are mistaken.
Anything you can say on the air Denise can as well. She is not a robot, she is an artificial intelligence program. There is a big difference. The concept was simply an alternative method of achieving automation. It was a one time deal to show the proof of concept worked. Sure it can be perfected to be even better but still none the less a proof of concept.
I will be the first to admit she is not human, that is obvious. She cannot take over the role of a human personality. However this is a PPM world we live in and in a PPM world more and more program directors want 7 second liner jocks. In that situation she is ideal. KROV is a non profit radio station. No one wants to go in and do overnights in a situation where they will not be paid for it. Yet another situation in which Denise would be perfect for. So yes there are real situations where she can be used.
Again, anything you say on the air she can say as well. Shes a program that has the ability to learn. If I took the time to teach her, I can make her say a vast array of intros regarding any format of music. WITHOUT text to speech. There are plenty of PDs out there who will not agree to something like this and that is perfectly okay- but it is absurd to think that this idea will replace every single human on the air.
I did not invent automation, it is already a standard at many companies around the world. I simply took an idea and created an another method to achieve it. What is so wrong with that?
Mr. Cross to point me out and to go on record saying that I am “killing radio” is a really strong and bold accusation. You went onto say that “Radio is supposed to be a companionship and have that human touch” If that were true why do statistics of PPM show people tuning out when a jock speaks? I agree that radio is supposed to be something special. I’m a personality too. The difference between you and me is that I have adapted to change. Change I did not insinuate.
In a perfect world automation does not exist. However that is not reality in 2011. Radio has changed and the people involved in the industry must change along with it or be left behind. No it was not me who made it this way but this is the way it is weather you, I, or your readers like it or not.
I am not coming on here to disrespect any of you despite the blatant disrespect you have shown for myself and also my project. Then again at the same time you are very much entitled to your own opinion. You all are.
I just felt compelled to give a respectful rebuttal.
Respectfully,
-Dominique Garcia-
Denise aircheck for the film Radio Wars
People tune out when Jocks speak because the majority of jocks on the air are brainless robots….oh wait…that's your product! People who want straight music in the car have many options (CDs, MP3, Satellite) but yes, people DO tune into hear jocks speak their mind, and give their opinion. Personally speaking, with names like Alan Cross, Dave Bookman, and Martin Streek (RIP) being on the edge through my teenage years, their opinions and suggestions have really helped form my musical taste.
anyway, that's just me rambling. Dominique sounds they like would fit in perfect at the NEW Edge.
If I could "Like" or "+1" the comment by Mitch above, I would.
This is exactly it. It's the same reason why people are up in arms about BBC Radio 1 being taken off SiriusXM's lineup, even though there are "alternate channels which offer the same types of music"… It's not JUST about the music. It's about the personalities that are presenting that music, and Mitch is very much like me in my opinion of old Edge 102 vs. new Edge 102.
Exactly what Mitch said. Here in Ottawa, we have a station called Live 88.5 and I actually enjoy listening to the DJs on there. They are intelligent, usually have interesting or funny stories or commentaries during their segments and they welcome people to call and e-mail them and they'll chat with you if they have the time. They're personable, friendly and really add flavour to the station. Contrast that with stuff like The Bear or the newly launched Boom where it's just wannabe jocks acting like hardcore dudebros or Chez where the commentary is so bland and boring, it practically puts you to sleep. And when I spent a week in New York City recently well…I can't even put into words how horrendous those DJs were. People will listen to and welcome good DJ commentary but the majority of what clueless station conglomerates put out there is only what they THINK people want and they seem to think most people have an IQ less than their shoe size. Many certainly do but it's less than they think. That committee thinking is what's killing radio and a system like this will just do so further. Personally, I think this guy is going to find his listenership plummet.
I'm really looking forward to following Denise on twitter, reading her blog, subscribing to her podcast, reading her articles in the newspaper, listen to her speak on industry music panels, interview practically every single band I grew up listening to, help shape my musical spectrum (and basically who I am as a person), and have her suggest/recommend new/undiscovered/upcoming artists…who needs "real" DJ's.
@JerkInTheCorner
"PPM proves once a jock starts to talk they flip stations. Statistics [PPM] clearly prove this."
I'm confused, then, why they would need Denise…? Won't people flip stations when they hear that canned voice.
I agree with Mitch and Sean above: personalities shape the music. While I enjoy listening to several Sirius channels, I'm always coming back to terrestrial radio because I miss the DJs. I like having a personality that lives near me. Having someone who is in touch with my community/culture is important.
I listen to the same radio station, FM96 in london Ontario to hear the morning show on my way to work everday, and not to hear the nusic to be completely honest. The guys are funny! Thats why i listen to that station
Wow a guy who bases his whole thesis on "PPM" Portable "People" Meter!!! People Dominique, people!!!!!
Hi Alan,
I guess I am one of those “egotistical” jocks that Mr. Garcia speaks about as I am a radio announcer who believes that on occasion, yes, people might actually care what I have to say. Case in point, yesterday we were joined in studio by a young girl and her family. Two years ago she was diagnosed with leukemia. We had her as a guest in order to celebrate the fact that she had just recently completed her final chemo treatment. We used this opportunity to tell the family's story and to pay tribute to this young girl who has spent the last 2 years of her life in a fight most of us couldn't imagine. It was a delicate subject and one that involved compassion and yes, even tears. But at the same time it inspired many of our listeners to put their own lives into perspective. One man called us crying because he had been so stressed over “potty training” his toddler and at that moment realized that a little accident on the floor really wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme.
So, could a robot have pulled it off? Could a robot have shown that sensitivity when discussing the day Mom and Dad found out their child was sick? Could a robot have been able to achieve the feat of having this timid little girl come out of her shell and provide advice to other kids going through the same challenges she did?
Mr. Garcia says “Denise” is not a robot… she is an “Artificial Intelligence Program”. Call me crazy, but when talking to a child about her life and death battle with cancer, the last thing I would ever want to be is “artificial.” But maybe that’s just me being another “egotistical” radio jock.
Sincerely,
Kevin Oschefski
I heard what she sounds like. Don't you get something similar for free with Windows? MS Sam? If something like this has been availbale for this long now im sure there's a reason why more stations haven't done it. I also don't understand why she's made to look attractive. If people don't care about the Radio DJ then why give her sex appeal? I think putting a picture of a dog would work better. Then you could say "hey look, we have a Dog DJ!" In any case, she sounds awful and I would tune out immediately after hearin 3 seconds of her. She sounds like a commercial.
And doing overnight shifts is not as awful and dreadful as people thing. It sure isn't favourable but the small rewards you get in it give you comfort. I used to do a radio 2-6am shift and I would get callers call in at around 3am in the morning saying things like "hey man, love your show, its great to hear an actual live voice at this hour when all us graveyard shift workers work." I felt like i could connect with an audience even though it the audience was nothing massive and it felt good knowing that I was highlight some poor joe's night. I'd make such a strong connection that they'd eventually regularly tune in. I doubt Denise could get the same reaction if her programmer even wanted to.
and sorry for the mistakes in the above post…internet's lagging. But you get the idea.
Power 97 in Winnipeg has had Leeroy Gold "The World's Only Cartoon Radio Host" for a few years now. It's not quite the same as Denise, as he's voiced by a real person (I think), but it still speaks to the argument of taking people out of the radio equation. I agree with everyone else: I value the information and opinions from my local personalities, and I'd miss them if they all became automated robots.
To borrow a line from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, "pardon my french…but you're an a$$*hole!"
As already mentioned, people stopped caring about the DJ when radio KILLED THE DJ.
This guy has the balls to call his critics "misinformed" when this is his official rebuttal? Pot. Kettle. Black.
As I said in a previous post about this, if you are a DJ, you are in the same position that new musicians are in right now. Forget the old system, it's broke, it's been broken forever and this is proof that it isn't going to get better.
Some indie labels, college radio programmers, public radio personalities…people with weight who understand the art of the "real" DJ (the one true music geeks are yearning for) need to come together, brainstorm, and try and form a new avenue.
Why fight for mainstream radio anymore when a) it's a lost cause and b) even if you can maintain a job at a mainstream station, you will be so restrained and have so many limitations you simply can't be you.
We need some ballsy trailblazers to take a chance here and do something. A new public station, funded by the listeners, by the music geeks, for the music geeks….or some kind of podcast network, something, anything.
Even an attempt at something that fails, at least it may inspire others to patch the holes that were wrong with the first model.
I wonder if Garcia would have bought the program if it was DJ Dennis?
I've been a fan of radio since my 'teens. For me it's music first, but I mean genre here. If the station plays a song I hate, I will press mute or change channels or switch to CD…and then I miss the congeniality of professional delivery and segueways and requests and stuff that's on the DJ's mind. What keeps me listening through mediocrity is a DJ's personality and their mind. I grew up listening to CFNY. You, Martin Streek, George Stroumboulopoulos, Dave Buchman, Mae Potts, Humble & Fred, all of 'yous'. Now I listen to the Zone in Victoria, even though I live in Vancouver now. Why? I like their music over anything I hear on Vancouver radio, but I love the personalities of the DJs this station employs. With social media assisted by streaming radio online, you can have a 'conversation' with a real person, even when they're miles away via Twitter, Facebook, whatever. Same as in real life. If you're passionate about music and radio, those are part of, or an extension of, your life.
That aircheck was horrible. I didn't make it through the whole thing. I can't imagine turning on the radio at any hour and hearing garbage like that. Garcia should be ashamed of himself. For a guy who claims he cares about radio, he sure doesn't hesitate to take a big 'ol dump all over it.
I've loved the radio for longer than I can remember. A lot of it is the music, but it's a package. How the music is presented matters, regardless of what his PPM stats tell him. I know just about nobody who turns away from a station just because a jock is talking. Usually they want to hear what the person is saying. News, weather, sports, jokes, funny or interesting stories, something about the tracks we're going to listen to now…and on and on it goes. There's no substitute for live, human radio presented by interesting people.
Guys like Garcia don't love radio, at least not in it's proper form. People like him, wanting to do everything on the cheap with no care for how horrid it is, they're not helping the industry. They're just speeding its decline from a useful and entertaining medium into a wasteland of crap. F him, and F every company that gives him reason to think his scheme is a good idea.
Being the creator of Denise, this article has generated by far the most controversial opinions, and I respect all of them. For me, AI will never contribute for the unemployment rate. Yes, many existent jobs will just vanish, but many others will be generated and new kinds of jobs will emerge. All this is still too new to judge bad or good, but one thing is for sure, this is just inevitable! Its going to happen sooner or later, one liking or not. What to do? blame the government? the bosses? the tech guys? or trying to adapt and be creative to use the available technology for our own good and for the help of others? Real AI will still take 10 to 20 year to exist, and this is more than enough time for us humans to adapt and learn how to better use it. Until then, companies like mine are trying hard to push the envelop, offering a good technology for an affordable value and even for free. Small start up companies like Guile 3D are already helping 400 hundred students in 3rd world countries to operate computers, 1000 children to learn a second language, and several handicapped people to operate their home lights and daily activities. So, this is the other side of the story. AI and Robots have to exist to help us, never to replace us, but this is really up to us to get to know and really understand who to correct use all this new tools.
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