AIR-READY

AIR-READYA completed, fully produced spot that’s ready to be aired on a radio station

AIR TIMES

AIR TIMESSpecific schedule of times the spot will run

AFTRA

AFTRAAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists – Union that represents

performing talent: actors, singers, dancers, and broadcast announcers

ASCAP

ASCAPAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers – Organization that protects

the rights (intellectual property) of musical artists

ANNCR

ANNCRAnnouncer

BILLBOARD

BILLBOARDTo emphasize a word or phrase. Indicate by using three dots…like this

BMI

BMIBroadcast Music Incorporated – Where businesses, agencies, studios, etc. obtain a

license to play or use recorded music and avoid copyright infringement

BOOK THE STUDIO

BOOK THE STUDIOTo schedule a time and day to record your spot in a recording studio

BOOK THE TALENT

BOOK THE TALENTTo hire a voiceover talent or actor

BUTTON

BUTTONA clever closing line that may refer back to something mentioned earlier in the script

BUYOUT

BUYOUTTo pay a one-time fee to a non-union talent, allowing unlimited use of the recorded

spot

CALL TO ACTION

CALL TO ACTIONA reminder to the listener to do something: go to a website, visit a store, call for an

appointment, etc.

CAST THE TALENT

CAST THE TALENTTo audition various talents for a spot, then select the actor(s)

CHARACTER VOICE

CHARACTER VOICEAn actor that can create a distinctive personality, speech pattern, or regional accent

like a Southern farmer, New York gangster, “mad” scientist, cowboy, diva, snob, sweet old lady, wise guy, or even a quirky, cartoon-like character

CHECK OR RIDE LEVELS

CHECK OR RIDE LEVELSTo adjust the volume of voices, effects and music during production

COPYRIGHT

COPYRIGHTMusic, lyrics, recorded sound effects, and other intellectual property (creative works)

are protected from being copied (plagiarism and piracy) or played (copyright infringement) without consent and/or compensation.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTInappropriate use of copyrighted material without permission from the work’s creator

DAYPARTS

DAYPARTSHow the stations divide up specific segments of time:

Morning drive: 6 A.M. – 10 A.M.Midday: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.Afternoon drive: 4 P.M. – 7 P.M. (some stations start at 3 P.M.)Evening: 7 P.M. – midnightOvernight: Midnight – 6 A.M.

DEMO (TALENT)

DEMO (TALENT)Online and/or digital CD or DVD recording used to showcase the talent’s voice and/or

image for future bookings

ECHO

ECHOAdd an effect behind the voice like an echo

FILTER

FILTERUse this special effect to create a muffled sound, or to replicate talking on the phone.

FLIGHT

FLIGHTPre-arranged radio schedule detailing how many spots will air at what time and on

which stations

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Creative work including, but not limited to, music, lyrics, novels, plays, books,

screenplays, television shows, etc.

LEVELS

LEVELSThe volume of the different tracks containing voices, effects, and music

LIBRARY

LIBRARYCD sets with selections of sound effects

LINE READING

LINE READINGSaying a line in the script to the talent, demonstrating how you want the line read

LIVE ANNOUNCE

LIVE ANNOUNCERadio host reads spot live on the air

MIC

MICMicrophone

MIX

MIXThe combining of each voice, music cut, and sound effect into a final spot

MUSIC CUTS

MUSIC CUTSShort, edited selections of music

MUSIC FADES

MUSIC FADESMusic gradually fades away

MUSIC POST

MUSIC POSTThe way the music hits in a certain place to emphasize copy point or set a mood

NEGOTIATE RATES

NEGOTIATE RATESMedia buyers work with the radio station to get lower rates and/or special packages

NONUNION TALENT

NONUNION TALENTAn actor who does not belong to a union (AFTRA for radio or SAG for film – see above

and below in list)

PHONE PATCH

PHONE PATCHTo direct the talent in another studio via a telephone connection

PRODUCER

PRODUCERPerson who goes into the recording studio, supervises the production, and directs the

talent and recording engineer

PSA

PSAPublic Service Announcement – A commercial for a social or charitable cause, non- or not-for-profit organization, or other community service entity that is usually given free air time and may be created pro bono (without creative and/or production fees) by an

agency, production house, recording studio or radio station

PUNCH IN

PUNCH INTo insert a corrected, new line to fit into a specific amount of time

RADIO BUY

RADIO BUYThe agreed-upon on-air schedule for radio spots, including dayparts: morning/afternoon drive, midday, evening, and overnight “flights”

RATE CARD

RATE CARDA sheet listing the costs of radio spots during dayparts

RECORDING ENGINEER

RECORDING ENGINEERSomeone who records the voiceover talent(s), music, and sound effects, adjusts levels,

and creates the fully produced, final spot so that it’s air-ready

REMOTE BROADCAST

REMOTE BROADCASTWhen a radio station broadcasts live from an advertiser’s site, outside of the station

ROS

ROSRun of station – spots air randomly between 6 A.M. and midnight

SAG

SAGScreen Actors Guild – A labor union for film and television, not radio

SCALE

SCALEThe going union rate for talent per market, per 13-week cycle

SFX

SFXSound effects

SIGNATORY

SIGNATORYAn authorized union representative who can handle and submit the required

paperwork for booking union talents

TAG

TAGA specific ending on the spot that advertises a certain location, event, or date

TRACK

TRACKThe individual channel that separately records each voice, music cut, and sound effect

UNION TALENT

UNION TALENTActors who are members of AFTRA or SAG (see above in list)

UP AND UNDER

UP AND UNDERMusic comes in and remains playing

UP AND OUT

UP AND OUTMusic comes in and cuts right out

VO

VOVoiceover

WILD LINE READINGS

WILD LINE READINGSTo have the talent read the same line several different ways, one read after another, so

you have many versions as options for your final, completed spot