Artificial intelligence could spell the end of Trump talk radio before November

[certainot]

In the last year, thanks to artificial intelligence, the speed, accuracy, and cost of transcribing spoken word has improved by an order of magnitude. Republican talk radio is now easy to turn into text that can be searched for content and advertisers. Little or no listening required.

It is also much easier to associate advertisers directly with the content of the shows they are sponsoring. There is no need to listen to the show or read the whole transcript. Searches for names and topics will provide quotes that can be emailed directly to the advertisers and media. Lies, distortions, hate, bigotry, attacks on Democratic candidates, and global warming denial are very common on most Republican talk radio stations depending on trending local and national events and issues. Aside from the recording, that process can take minutes.

Advertisers and the advertising industry will drive the demonopolization and democratization of talk radio as soon as they and the universities and professional sports teams that help attract that advertising realize they can be directly associated with the ignorance, hate, racism, and lies.

It won't take long for advertisers and advertising agencies to get the message (maybe someone can write a press release...). It won't be necessary for all advertisers to be contacted. Americans can make this happen in time to effect the November elections.

1) Record

Quicktime, on every Mac, can record audio streams. While playing the stream turn on Quicktime, go to 'File' and 'New Audio Recording'. Just turn on the recorder and when you're done save it. With Quicktime I believe it's necessary to have volume on.... Not sure the best way to do that with a PC but there are numerous recording apps that will allow do the same. Some allow recording multiple streams at the same time and pre scheduling.

2) Transcribe

Sonix.ai maybe the cheapest, quickest, and easiest transcription service. Just drop the audio file straight into their 'box'. Sonix transcribes for $5 per hour and they send an email when it's done, with a link to the transcription in their editing program. It took minutes and was generally very accurate. The transcription can be downloaded as is or be tweaked and corrected on their site as you listen. It can also be stored there. The monthly subscription is $15 but they offer a 30 minutes free trial.

3) Search for "DOT" to identify advertisers

Live recording of radio streams will include advertisements. Most advertisements announce web sites which are usually transcribed as "so-and-so-company dot com". There were a few ads that escaped but I found most advertisers by searching for the word "dot". Sometimes the ads provided phone numbers. That's fast. The Sonix text editor allows you to highlight and add notes. Each company or quote can get a note that is listed and numbered. The notes can then be copied and pasted.

4) Contact

Websites provide phone numbers and email addresses specifically for contact by potential customers. Complaint emails may get further up the chain of command than a phone call, and there's a lasting written record for employees to pass around. It may also be easier for sympathetic staff to pass on a comment to a boss in email form than personally.

As an example (details in later diary) I recorded a 3 hour Limbaugh show and 1 hour of a local talker following him at KKOB, AM770, an Albuquerque NM station I have sampled in the past. The transcription took minutes and I quickly found 3 advertisements from the University of New Mexico (2 on the Limbaugh show), 1 for the University of California, and more than 40 local and national business advertisers responsible for more than 60 ads. The same can be done from anywhere, with any streaming radio station, recording, podcast, or Youtube broadcast.

Many talk radio hosts and politicians are leaving a trail of podcasts and even Youtube video that can be found with searches. Some radio stations archive podcasts. For example GOP Rep Devin Nunes has about 50 interviews with talk radio hosts dating back over 5 years on his .gov website. Interviews of other Republican politicians can be found. They say stuff in those friendly interviews they wouldn't elsewhere. Some podcasts can be downloaded without listening.