Radio and Insecurities

        Radio advertisements can affect body image as well; although you can not see visuals you can still feel insecurities as radio announcer’s talk about different products that will help you to feel better about yourself. There is a variety of different health and beauty products advertised on the radio. Products range from liposuction, to laser hair removal, to diet pills; companies usually choose only a few radio stations to advertise on, because these stations have the most listeners in the companies target audience.

        A specific example of ad that uses the radio to target insecurities would be an advertisement for Ideal Image, which is a national company with two locations in Austin, Texas ("Ideal image," 2011). For Ideal Image to create awareness about the company, and its services they advertise on an Austin radio station, Kiss FM, or 96.7. This radio station plays “All the Hits” or recently released music, so its listeners tend to be between the ages of 13 and 30, which happens to be the group of people who are most insecure about the way they look ("Bobby bones show," 2011). The radio announcers, mention Ideal Image as a sponsor from time to time, and encourage listeners to try laser hair removal for all of their embarrassing or unwanted hair needs.  The announcers usually make mention that you can avoid an embarrassing situation by contacting Ideal Image for a free consultation.  Even though we can’t see the embarrassing situation take place we can imagine something terrible happening because of unwanted hair, which could possible drive to us calling Ideal Image and scheduling that consultation.

        When advertising targets our insecurities it does not matter if it is visual or not, we are affected because it calls attention to those insecurities we have which in fact makes us become more insecure. Women have many insecurities about their body image, so radio advertising grabs the attention to listeners and can be very effective in producing results.

Bobby bones show [Radio series episode].

              (2011). In (Executive producer), Kiss FM. Austin: Clear Channel.

Ideal image. (2011).

               Retrieved from http://www.idealimage.com/index.php