Studio produced audio theatre and radio drama continues to be big business in Germany. Millions of copies of Germany’s best audio dramas are sold year after year, attracting young and old listeners alike to a franchise of radio plays on audio-cassettes. German author Annette Bastian in her book “Cassette Kids” says that this phenomenon began in the early 1970s, when public broadcasters started producing audio dramas for children [reports Reuters/Hollywood journalist Scott Roxborough].
This audio drama phenomenon is not only linked to Germany. There are large audiences across Europe and Asia who continue to “tune in” to their favourite radio plays and audio dramas. For example, the British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] invests in Radio 4 and in Silver Street [a radio soap opera] on their Asian Network. With nearly a hundred hours of radio drama broadcast every week over the airwaves of Europe, the audience is estimated at around 75 million listeners.
Audio dramas offer a more intimate and personal relationship that can’t be found in any other medium. And as this market continues to grow, podcasting will be the next frontier for radio drama distribution, offering more freedom and accessibility for radio play enthusiasts.
So what does this mean for your venue? As this market grows, your attraction and/or sightseeing business has an opportunity to capitalize on new revenue streams and distribution channels by tapping into the growing demand for engaging audio drama overseas. By sharing authentic stories that captivate and engage your audience, your venue creates a new source for growth and profit. It also offers your venue the opportunity to share your story in niche markets, in Europe and Asia, where large audiences continue to be attracted by the personal, authentic, and intimate experiences audio theatre offers.
