New Logo Means Opportunities for Voice Actor Herb Merriweather
February 10, 2009
Although versatility and imagination are the hallmarks of the voiceover business, it’s important to be able to recognize the quality and work ethic even if listeners don’t immediately recognize the voice. That’s why “Herbie” is important-when it comes to everything from vocal gymnastics to crystal-clear production, from imaginative copy writing to disciplined time management-every aspect of voiceover performance and craftsmanship can be found “in the megaphone”!
Designed by artist Scott Maxwell, Herb Merriweather’s vocal mascot Herbie’s golden color symbolizes standards in excellence and integrity. His forward posture indicates speaking directly to a specific audience. The megaphone tells everyone he’s making sure he’s being heard and understood using every tool available. His hand is raised to punctuate his message with zeal, confidence and authority. His big feet simply mean that he’s firmly established in his craft.
To find out how the little golden dude can help encourage, facilitate, and finalize voiceover projects with cost-effectiveness and flair, visit Herb Merriweather’s Voices.com website.
About Herb Merriweather
Herb Merriweather is heard as “The Professor” in the “Curse of the Pharoah 2” video game (Ph03nix New Media) and as “The Iguana Summer King” in the “Vipo-The Flying Dog” series, and is actively involved in the voiceover community.
Source: Herb Merriweather
Radio Ad Market Down? Not at Bid4Spots, Nearly Doubling in Size in 2008
February 10, 2009
Video didn’t kill the radio star… and neither will a recession nor a tumbling ad market. During what was a tumultuous year for both radio and advertising, Bid4Spots said its online marketplace for radio airtime roughly doubled in size. The company today reported a 93 percent increase in total ad revenue generated for radio stations in 2008, compared with 2007.
Bid4Spots president and CEO Dave Newmark will be speaking at Radio Ink’s Convergence ’09 conference, held in San Jose, Calif., early next week. His session, titled “How the Most Successful ‘Do-It-Yourself’ Media Buying Model Really Works,” is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Bid4Spots hosts a weekly online auction every Thursday, where radio stations sell airtime for the next broadcast week and advertisers can buy premium inventory at reduced rates. What sets it apart from other media marketplaces that have failed: it’s a reverse auction, designed from within the industry by radio and advertising veterans who worked closely with stations and advertisers to build a system that works for both.
Total advertiser participation in Bid4Spots’ weekly auctions increased by 11 percent in 2008 – much of which was generated because existing advertisers are increasing their use of the system. The Bid4Spots network includes more than 3,200 advertisers, and at least 11 percent of that total had never used radio advertising in the past.
“We’re extremely proud of the growth we’ve experienced, because it’s a clear sign that what we’re doing is helping advertisers and stations connect with each other in a way that works for everyone,” said Newmark. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t come. We’ve got a thriving network of 2,500 stations and 3,200 advertisers that come together at the same time every Thursday to do business with each other in a live online auction. We doubled that activity last year, even in the midst of predictions of doom and gloom, and as industry heavyweights struggled. We could only do that with a winning formula.”
Newmark says one of the factors in the company’s continued success is an original auction design process that was painstaking in its detail, focused on creating the best possible user experience. Newmark and his wife and fellow radio entrepreneur, Patty, tapped their long-standing relationships in both radio and advertising. They worked with parties on both sides to understand and accommodate the non-negotiable
needs of each.
Stations, for example, did not want the auction system to compromise the integrity of their existing rates for scheduled buys. So the Newmarks limit Bid4Spots’ marketplace to last-minute airtime, and keep rates confidential – masked by the system’s ranking index.
For advertisers, the Bid4Spots system makes radio airtime accessible – with no contracts, no negotiations with stations and no previous radio buying experience necessary. The Newmarks are committed to nurturing those relationships and helping advertisers know how to use the system to get maximum results.
Complementing Search: ‘One of the Best Ways to Drive Listeners Online’ Ben Kiblinger, co-founder and managing director of online marketing agency RevUpNet (www.RevUpNet.com), uses Bid4Spots to buy radio airtime for his clients – many of whom want to drive traffic to their websites, and all of whom want measurable customer acquisition results.
“Bid4Spots is one of the best ways to drive radio listeners online,” said Kiblinger.
“I’ve seen our search numbers double as soon as we start running a radio campaign using Bid4Spots. It’s a proven way to get people online to sign up for a product or service. Bid4Spots has become part of our long-term strategy for our clients, especially this year as measurable return on investment becomes even more important. With Bid4Spots we’re able to deliver better value to our clients.”
About Bid4Spots
Launched in September 2005, Bid4Spots is the industry’s only online reverse auction marketplace for last-minute radio airtime. The Bid4Spots network includes more than 3,200 advertisers and 2,500 radio stations nationwide. Participants come together every Thursday to do business with each other in a live online auction. Bid4Spots makes radio easy, affordable and accessible for businesses of all sizes, giving advertisers access to desirable stations, airtimes and audiences. Radio stations gain a revenue stream by selling inventory that otherwise would have remained unsold, in a safe format that protects the integrity of their existing rates for scheduled buys. Founded by radio advertising veterans Dave and Patty Newmark, Bid4Spots is based in Encino, Calif.
Source: Bid4Spots
PROMAX|BDA To Pay Tribute to Voice Acting Legend, Don LaFontaine
February 9, 2009
Promax|BDA, the leading global association for marketing, promotion and design professionals working in the entertainment industry, announced today The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award, created to honor the name, memory and defining legacy of one of the world’s most famous voices. This past year, entertainment lost Don LaFontaine, whose immediately recognizable voice was featured on more than 5000 promos and trailers over a period of more than 30 years. This award, along with two new Voice Over categories within the Promax|BDA Promotion, Marketing and Design Competitions, will recognize the best in voice talent, an often overlooked, yet integral part of entertainment promotion.
“Mr. LaFontaine was an indisputable leader in the industry whose legacy delves much deeper than his iconic voice” said Jonathan Block-Verk, President of Promax|BDA. “Don was a genuine lover of the arts, a true craftsman and a motivated mentor focused on giving back to the industry that supported him. The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award is designed to pay tribute to industry leaders who represent this defining legacy.”
The Promax|BDA Awards, which recognize creativity and excellence in marketing, promotion and design in the international entertainment industry, represent the most prestigious honor given in the entertainment sector for marketing, promotion and design. In addition to this special honor, Promax|BDA is introducing two new categories for its 2009 competitions—Best Female Voice Over and Best Male Voice Over.
“Don really understood the power and beauty of the written word, and he would be humbled to know that there is a lifetime achievement award in his honor” said Don LaFontaine’s widow, Anita. “He loved what hid did for a living, and I know he would’ve cherished being a part of The Promax|BDA Awards this year.”
The Don LaFontaine Legacy Award will be introduced at the Promax Marketing & Promotion Awards celebration on June 18, 2009 as part of the 54th annual Promax|BDA Conference taking place in New York from June 16 – June 18.
Submissions for the Promax|BDA Promotion, Marketing and Design competitions will be accepted through Monday, February 27th. For more information, visit http://www.promaxbda.org.
About Promax|BDA
Promax|BDA is a global, non-profit association dedicated to being the leading resource for education, community, creative inspiration and career development for marketing, promotion and design professionals within the entertainment/information industry.
Contact:
Laura Hart, Laura@beckmedia.com
or Steve Spignese, Steve@beckmedia.com
310-689-7363
BT’s Speaking Clock To Feature Celebrity Voices
February 9, 2009
Celebrities give the time of day to Comic Relief
BT announced that the Speaking Clock will help fundraise for Comic Relief by using different celebrity voices between February 3 to March 23, 2009. Five of the Red Nose Day celebrities that are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will share the time-keeping duties over the next two months.
The fun started at 08.00 on Tuesday 3 February. When callers dial 123 they will be given an accurate time check by celebrities, including: Girls Aloud’s Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh, fellow popstar, Gary Barlow and presenters, Chris Moyles and Fearne Cotton.
Each celebrity will replace the ‘pips’ with their own special Comic Relief sound, ranging from kisses, raspberries and piano chords in a bid to Do Something Funny for Money. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’ll be a special guest voice featuring in the run up to Red Nose Day on Friday 13 March but you’ll have to dial 123 to find out who it is.
Shanmao and Jimi Cartoon Pilot Released
February 4, 2009
The pilot episode entitled “Magic Water” of the cartoon “Shanmao and Jimi”, featuring the voices of Keith O’Brien, LindZ Reiss, Melissa S. Malone, Chip Joel and Sarah Pesek, is soon to be released.
Shanmao and Jimi travel through time to wonderful worlds in search of the alphabet diamonds in order to save their friends.
Did I mention that they’re a brave lot?
The voice cast, with many members listed on Voices.com, are very excited to share this news and hope that you’ll show your support.
Shanmao and Jimi Voice Cast:
Shanmao voiced by Keith O’Brien
Jimi voiced by LindZ Reiss
Guli voiced by Chip Joel
Doula voiced by Melissa S. Malone
Narration provided by Sarah Pesek
To learn more about the cartoon and watch the promo, visit http://www.shanmaojimi.com/
Source: Chip Joel
Kymaro Body Shaper Voiced by Julie Williams Enjoys Top 10 Rating
February 4, 2009
The Kymaro Body Shaper infomercial, voiced by veteran talent, Julie Williams, has taken the country by storm, consistently being rated as one of the top ten infomercials in America. It has rated as high as #3, according to IMS Charts. IMS is a subscription service that rates infomercials.
“This is a big deal,” says producer Dan Dunn. And he credits voice talent Julie Williams as contributing to this achievement.
“We are so pleased to have Julie Williams as part of our television productions,” adds Dunn. “ She has been our voice over talent for the Kymaro brand, including the New Body Shaper, Curve Control Jeans and Glamour Eyes—just to name a few. I know that her unique style of delivering our message has contributed greatly to our success. I can’t say enough how lucky we are to have such a great talent on our team!”
Williams has also worked for such noteworthy clients as: Orbitz, Casio, Plantronics, The US Army, Pampers, and thousands of others. In addition, Williams received the honor of being asked to teach 600 professional voice talents at the recent VOICE 2008 Summit in Los Angeles. Branding herself as “VoiceOver Chocolate“, she can be reached at julie@voice-overs.com.
Source: Brad Venable
