Radio

• The competition is open only for all Indian Radio Stations (All Languages)
• The programme/ campaign must be aired within the period of January 2024- January 2025 for Indian audience/ market.
• Programmes in all languages are allowed to participate. Regional radio and community radio stations are also eligible for India Audio Summit and Awards.
• If the audio entry is in a regional language, the English translation of the content to be filled in the form. Other supporting data must be submitted in English/Hindi only.

Podcast

• Individuals with relevant knowledge and experience are selected to serve as judges for the India Audio Summit and Awards. Vernacular or linguistic diversity is considered while choosing judges so that the panel represents the linguistic diversity of the sector. These selected judges volunteer their valuable time to assess entries.
• Respective categories are split between judges who work independently to score each submission on merits. The organizers have taken care to ensure that categories and responsibilities are assigned in a way that prevents conflicts of interest.
• Judges are required to score each entry in its entirety, subject to the entry's conformity with the rules. Judging will be based solely on the entry submitted, in an independent and objective manner.
• To ensure total fairness, the scores are entered into an internet system and averaged. There isn't a single adjudicator who can change the outcome. Every jury enters their own score; the scores of the other jurors are not known to them.
• A professional audit is done to evaluate the results. From the judging, the top entries are shortlisted as finalists for each category. Each category's overall winner is chosen from among the finalists and announced on the day of the awards.
• Individual entries are evaluated for their intrinsic merits - without comparing them with others. There is no numerical limit for the number of finalists in any category. The number of entries in a category has no bearing on how each entry is scored by the jury.
• In our categories aligned, there can be one, none, or multiple awards given out. Each entry is judged by an expert set of jury using an industry-accepted standard of excellence.

Audiobook/Audio Series

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Storytelling and Content: The overall quality of the narrative, including the pacing, structure, character development, and emotional impact.
• For audiobooks: Does the content resonate with listeners? Is the story engaging?
• For audio series: How well does the series build over multiple episodes? Does it maintain audience interest across episodes?
• Performance: The quality of the narration and voice acting. This includes the delivery, intonation, pacing, and characterization.
• For audiobooks: How well does the narrator(s) bring the content to life?
• For audio series: How effectively do the voice actors contribute to the overall experience of the series?
• Production Quality: The technical quality of the audio production, including:
  • Clarity and intelligibility of the voice recordings.
  • Balance of sound levels between narration, sound effects, and music (if applicable).
  • Overall production value (e.g., editing, mixing, sound design).
  • Innovation: Originality and creativity in the approach to production, storytelling, and use of audio elements (e.g., immersive sound design, use of sound effects, music integration).
• Audience Engagement: How well the audiobook/audio series engages its target audience. Metrics such as listener retention rates, reviews, and feedback can be considered.
• Impact: The impact the audiobook or series has had on its audience or within its genre, including recognition in the industry, cultural significance, or critical acclaim.
• No Defamation or Infringement: The content must not include defamatory, libelous, or infringing material, and must comply with copyright and intellectual property laws. Any use of real-life people, events, or brands must be done with appropriate permissions to avoid legal disputes.
• Privacy and Data Protection: If the audiobook/audio series includes real people, personal stories, or other identifiable information, all necessary consent must be obtained in compliance with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). The entrant is responsible for ensuring that no personal data is used without appropriate permission.
• No Offensive Content: Entries must not contain discriminatory language, hate speech, explicit material, or content deemed inappropriate for general audiences, unless explicitly allowed in the award's category criteria (e.g., for mature content categories).

File Length: Audiobook entries or audio series episodes should be within the following time limits (unless a specific exception applies):

• Minimum Duration: 5 minutes (for shorter pieces or excerpts).
• Maximum Duration: 30 minutes for a single audiobook or episode. For serialized audio series, each episode minimum duration accepted will be 60 minutes.

Copyright and Licensing: The entrant must ensure that they have full rights to the material submitted. This includes:

• Copyright for the audiobook/audio series (e.g., rights to the text, script, or underlying story).
• Proper licenses for any third-party content (e.g., music, sound effects, or copyrighted material).

Format Requirements: Entries must be audio-only works, and may include a wide range of formats such as:

• Audio downloads (e.g., MP3, WAV).
• Streaming audio formats (e.g., podcast episodes, serialized audio).

Technology

This category is open to submissions that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and technical excellence in the use of audio technology. Entries will be judged on the below.

• Innovation: The degree to which the technology introduces new ideas, concepts, or solutions to existing problems in the audio industry. How does the technology push the boundaries of what's possible?
• Technical Excellence: The level of engineering or technical sophistication involved in the creation or development of the technology. This includes sound quality, ease of integration, reliability, and overall performance.
• Practical Application: How the technology is applied in real-world scenarios. Has it been used effectively in professional settings (e.g., broadcasting, music production, advertising)?
• User Experience: The ease of use and accessibility of the technology, including user interfaces, compatibility with existing systems, and the end-user's overall experience.
• Impact: The measurable impact the technology has had on its intended market or industry. This could include user adoption rates, industry recognition, customer satisfaction, or measurable improvements in production or performance.
• Sound Quality (for Audio-related Technologies): For audio products, sound quality and the clarity of the produced sound (or its impact on sound production) will be key evaluation points.
• Technical Documentation: Entrants must submit technical specifications or a description of the technology being submitted, including details such as:
  • Key features and functionality
  • Innovations and unique selling points
  • System requirements (for software or applications)
  • Any patents or intellectual property rights (if applicable)
• Audio Files: If applicable, do include audio samples showcasing the technology in action (e.g. demo of the technology used).
• Video Demonstration: A vided will be required showing the technology in use or explaining the key features. This could include a product demo, a case study, or an example of how the technology solved a particular problem.
• Supporting Materials: Any additional materials such as case studies, user testimonials, data or research proving the effectiveness or innovation of the technology, and endorsements from industry professionals.
• Copyright and Licensing: All technology submitted must comply with relevant copyright, patent, and licensing laws. Entrants must have the necessary rights to use any third-party content (software, music, sounds, etc.) in their technology or submission.
• If the entry involves software or hardware innovations, the entrant must provide proof that they own or have licensed the intellectual property rights to any included components.
• Privacy and Data Protection: Any technology or innovation that collects, stores, or processes personal data must comply with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). The entrant must ensure that any use of personal data in the technology respects privacy and legal guidelines.

Audio Advertising

• Creativity and Innovation: The originality and creativity of the audio content, including sound design, storytelling, and use of audio elements.
• Impact and Effectiveness: The effectiveness of the ad in achieving its goals (e.g., awareness, engagement, conversion). This includes demonstrated metrics such as audience reach, click-through rates, or conversion statistics.
• Production Quality: The technical quality of the audio production, including clarity, balance, mixing, and professional sound design.
• Brand Alignment: How well the ad aligns with the brand’s messaging, tone, and identity, and how effectively it communicates the brand's core values and objectives.
• Copyright Compliance: All audio content must comply with copyright law. This includes securing rights to any music, sound effects, or third-party content used in the ad.
• Licensing and Permissions: If copyrighted music or sound effects are used, entrants must provide documentation that all necessary licenses and permissions have been obtained.
• Avoiding Defamation: Entries should not contain defamatory language, misinformation, or content that could harm the reputation of individuals, brands, or entities.
• Respecting Privacy: Any personal data used in an advertisement must adhere to privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and should not violate any privacy rights.
• Client Approval: Entries often require proof that the work was approved by the client (brand or company), and in some cases, the client may need to be named as part of the entry.
• Duration: Ads must not exceed more than 3 minutes.
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