Super Hi-Fi, known for its radio industry AI-powered operating system, has entered into a strategic partnership with the rapidly growing owner of broadcast stations led by CEO Jeff Warshaw.
As part of that arrangement with Connoisseur Media, Warshaw will join the Super Hi-Fi Board of Directors.
Specifically, the partnership, announced Tuesday by the companies, will see Connoisseur Media re-platform select stations nationwide utilizing Super Hi-Fi’s AI Radio platform. Specifically, this involves the deployment of Super Hi-Fi’s AI Radio platform, described as “an end-to-end, cloud-native operating system designed specifically for radio.”
A suite of proprietary AI technologies are designed to master, schedule, produce, and deliver stations directly to a Super Hi-Fi playout device at the transmitter. “Our mission is to have the best live and local radio experience in every market across America and Super Hi-Fi’s unique capabilities will allow us to do that in ways the industry just didn’t have before” said Warshaw. “We’re excited to work with them to drive forward and deliver the most compelling radio products in the industry.”
The partnership, in an indirect way, expands on the use of an AI host as an experiment at KBFF “Live 95.5” in Portland, Ore., in lieu of a voicetracked air personality based in another market. The use of an “AI Ashley,” which gained widespread industry attention, was conducted under prior owner Alpha Media.
This partnership between Connoisseur and Super Hi-Fi is “expected to support select stations with operational transformation by modernizing station operations and replacing outdated workflows with Super Hi-Fi’s AI-driven services, delivering lower overall operating costs while elevating audio production standards and – most importantly – the overall station experience.”
Super Hi-Fi CEO Zack Zalon commented, “We’re extremely honored to have Jeff on the Super Hi-Fi board and look forward to working with him to not only make Connoisseur the best sounding and most profitable radio group in America, but also to make Super Hi-Fi a better product, a better service, and a better company overall.”
Super Hi-Fi’s AI platform services are already in place at suburban Chicago-based WERV-FM “95.9 The River,” and at Connoisseur stations in San Antonio and Tyler, Tex.; Columbia, S.C.; and Lincoln, Neb.
