WO2002003168A2

WO2002003168A2 - Audio advertisement distribution system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2002003168A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/020825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Corky Coreson
Original assignee: Corky Coreson
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2001-06-29
Publication date: 2002-01-10
Also published as: WO2002003168A3; AU2001271674A1

Abstract

A system (10) and method for distributing audio advertisements. The system typically includes a recording studio (14) computer configured to store an audio advertisement, and an audio advertising server (20b) configured to download the audio advertisement from the recording studio computer and store the audio advertisement in an associated database. The database is configured to store scheduling data associated with the advertisement. The system also typically includes a broadcast computer configured to download the audio advertisement and associated scheduling data from the audio advertising server such that the audio advertisement may be broadcast via a broadcaster according to the scheduling data. The audio advertisement may be a radio advertisement and the broadcaster may be a radio station. In addition, the advertising server database may be configured to store accounting data and/or a security code relating to the audio file.

Description

AUDIO ADVERTISEMENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to audio advertisements, and more particularly

to a system and method for distributing audio advertisements.

Background of the Invention

Audio advertisements, such as radio spots, currently are distributed to

broadcasters across the country via mail or courier on magnetic media or compact

disks (CDs). The radio spots are ordered by an advertiser or advertising agency,

recorded at a recording studio, mailed to a storage and distribution center, duplicated

onto magnetic tapes or CDs, and mailed to radio stations for airing. This distribution

system is slow and costly, because it involves physically mailing the spots to and from

a centralized distribution center.

It would be desirable to provide a convenient system and method for distributing

audio advertisements, without the necessity of physical transfer of tapes and CDs to and

from a central distribution center.

Summary of the Invention

A system and method for distributing audio advertisements are provided.

According to one aspect of the invention, the system includes a recording studio

computer configured to store an audio advertisement, and an audio advertising server

configured to download the audio advertisement from the recording studio computer

and store the audio advertisement in an associated database. The database is

configured to store scheduling data associated with the advertisement. The system also

typically includes a broadcasting computer configured to download the audio advertisement and associated scheduling data from the audio advertising server such

that the audio advertisement may be broadcast via a broadcaster according to the

scheduling data. The audio advertisement may be a radio advertisement and the

broadcaster may be a radio station. In addition, the advertising server database may be

configured to store accounting data and/or a security code relating to the audio

advertisement.

According to another aspect of the invention, a software communication system

for distributing audio advertisements is provided, including an advertising storage

facility interface, a recording studio interface, and a broadcaster interface. The

advertising storage facility interface is configured to receive an order for an

advertisement, and transfer the order to the recording studio interface. In response, the

recording studio interface is configured to transmit an audio file based on the order

back to the advertising storage facility interface. The advertising facility interface is

configured to transfer the audio file to the broadcaster interface for eventual playback

by a broadcaster.

According to another aspect of the invention, a data structure is provided,

including an audio data component and running instructions for broadcasting the audio

data. The audio data component may include a radio advertisement. The data structure

may further include an accounting data component and/or a security code component.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for

distributing audio advertisements between an advertising server and a remotely located

broadcasting computer. The method typically includes storing an audio advertisement

in a database associated with the advertising server. The method also typically includes storing running instructions for the audio advertisement in the database.

Finally, the method typically includes downloading the audio advertisement and

running instructions to the broadcaster. The method also may include recording an

audio advertisement at a recording studio, and downloading the advertisement from

the recording studio computer through a computer network to the advertising server.

In addition, the method may include before recording the audio advertisement,

receiving an order at the advertising server for an audio advertisement from an

advertiser, and forwarding the order to the recording studio. The method also may

include after downloading, broadcasting the advertisement according to the running

instructions.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of distributing audio

advertisements is provided. The method includes receiving an order for an audio

advertisement at an advertising server. The order contains a description of the audio

advertisement. The method further includes recording an audio advertisement at a

remote recording studio, storing the audio advertisement in a recording studio

computer, compressing the audio advertisement, and downloading the compressed

advertisement from the recording studio computer through a computer network to the

advertising server. The method further includes receiving running instructions

concerning the advertisement, storing the audio advertisement with the running

instructions on a database associated with the remote advertising server, and, in

response to a request from a broadcaster, downloading the audio advertisement and

running instructions to a broadcasting computer and decompressing the audio advertisement. Finally, the method includes broadcasting the audio advertisement

according to the running instructions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an audio advertisement distribution system

according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary computer used in the system of Fig.

1.

Fig. 3 is an outline view of a data structure according to one preferred

embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a software architecture according to one

embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a view of an advertiser order screen according to one embodiment of

the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a view of an advertisement storage facility screen according to one

embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a view of recording studio screen to one embodiment of the present

invention.

Fig. 8 is a view of a broadcaster screen according to one embodiment of the

present invention.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment of the present

invention.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the

present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring initially to Fig. 1, an audio advertisement distribution system

according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at

10. System 10 typically includes an advertiser 12, a recording studio 14, an audio

advertisement storage facility 16, also referred to as an advertisement "vault" 16, all

linked by a computer network 18, such as the Internet. System 10 also typically

includes one or more broadcasters 20, such as radio station 20a, telephone advertising

server 20b, and web server 20c.

Advertiser 12 may be virtually any commercial, nonprofit, or other entity

placing an advertisement. Advertiser 12 also may be an advertising agency placing an

advertisement on behalf of a third party.

Advertiser 12 typically includes an advertiser computer 22 linked to computer

network 18. As shown in Fig. 2, advertiser computer 22 is typically a personal

computer including a central processing unit (CPU) 38 coupled to a communications

bus 40. A mass storage device 42, such as a hard drive, CD ROM drive, tape drive,

etc., and a memory 44 are also linked to the communications bus 40. Memory 44

typically includes random access memory (RAM) 46, and read only memory (ROM)

48. ROM 48 typically includes a basic input output system (BIOS) 50, which is

configured to start up and operate basic functions of the advertiser computer 22.

Advertiser computer 22 also typically is linked to several input and output

devices through a variety of interfaces. Communications bus 40 is linked to a speaker

52, microphone 54, and line in/out connection 56 through an audio interface 58.

Computer 22 may include a keyboard 60 and mouse 62 coupled to the communications bus 40 by a serial port 64. Alternatively, a parallel port or other interface may be used

to connect external devices such as keyboard 60 and mouse 62 to communications bus

40. Computer 22 also typically includes a display 66 coupled to communications bus

40 by a display interface 68. Finally, computer 22 also typically includes a modem 70

configured to enable communications to and from the terminal through computer

network 18. Modem 70 typically is an ISDN or telephone line modem, but

alternatively may be a cable modem, wireless modem, or other suitable form of

modem configured to transmit data between computer 22 and computer network 18.

Recording studio computer 30, advertising server 32, radio station computer 82,

and user computer 80d typically are constructed similarly to computer 22, and will not

be redescribed in detail.

Recording studio 14 typically includes a sound source 24, such as a musical

artist. Alternatively, sound source 24 may be an electronic instrument, prerecorded

tape or a CD player, human voice, or virtually any other sound-emitting source. Sound

source 24 typically is sensed by microphone 26 and processed by audio amplifier 28.

Typically, audio amplifier 28 is linked to recording studio computer 30 via line in/out

connectors 56. The audio signal from the microphone is passed to recording studio

computer 30, where it is recorded digitally and stored as an audio file, shown at 72 in

Fig. 3. The audio file 72 typically is compressed and stored on mass storage device

42. Once stored, recording studio computer 30 is configured to transfer the audio file

through computer network 18 to one of a plurality of remote computing devices, such

as advertising server 32, where the file is uncompressed for playback. The audio file

may be sent by virtually any suitable protocol, including ftp (file transfer protocol) and http (hypertext transfer protocol), and may be compressed and uncompressed via

virtually any suitable compression program, such as the industry-standard WINZIP

compression program, for use with WINDOWS operating systems.

Advertising storage facility 16 typically includes an advertising server 32 linked

to an associated advertising database 34. Advertising database 34 includes a plurality

of database objects 36, also referred to as advertising records 36 and advertising data

structures 36. As shown in Fig. 3, advertising data structure 36 typically includes an

order data component 71, an audio data component 72, a scheduling data component

74, an accounting data component 76, and a security code component 78. Order data

71 typically includes a name 71a and a description 71b of the advertisement. Audio

data 72 typically is an audio data file, such as a file in the standardized .wav, .sng,

.mid, or .aiff formats, or in some other audio file format. Audio data 72 alternatively

may be configured to stream in real time from advertising server 32 to its destination,

typically one of receiver devices 80, such as radio 80a, land-line telephone 80b,

wireless telephone 80c, personal computer 80d, or portable data assistant (PDA) 80e.

The content of audio data 72 typically is an audio advertisement. In another

embodiment of the invention, a video data component (not shown) may be included in

advertising record 36, and the advertisement may include audio and visual portions.

Scheduling data 74 typically includes running instructions to instruct

broadcaster 20 in the manner in which the audio advertisement 72 is to be aired. For

example, scheduling data 74 may include the frequency 74a, time 74b, days of the

week 74c, and dates 74d that the audio advertisement is to be run. The scheduling

data 74 typically is set according to instructions of the advertiser. Accounting data 76 typically includes a presentation history for a particular

advertisement, including the broadcaster 76a, date and time 76b, and fee 76c

associated with each airing of the advertisement. From this information, accounting

statements may be generated detailing amounts owed to each broadcaster for airing

audio advertisement 72.

Security codes 78 typically are used to prevent unauthorized access to audio

data 72, scheduling data 74, and accounting data 76. Security codes 78 may include an

administrative code 78a, an advertiser code 78b, and a broadcaster code 78c.

Typically, administrative code 78a enables an administrator to access all aspects of

advertising record 36, advertiser code 78b enables an advertiser to access audio data

72, scheduling data 74, and accounting data 76, and broadcaster code 78c enables a

broadcaster to access audio data 72 and scheduling data 74.

Computer network 18 typically is the Internet, although virtually any computer

network may be used. For example, a private Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide

Area Network (WAN) may be used.

Radio station 20a typically includes a radio station computer 82, which

typically is constructed similarly to advertiser computer 22. Radio station computer 82

is linked to computer network 18 and is configured to download audio data 72 and

scheduling data 74 from advertising server 32, typically via broadcaster interface 100,

described below. Radio station computer 82 is coupled to audio amplification system

84, typically via a connection such as line in/out connection 56. Radio station

computer 82 is configured to output an audio signal from audio file 72 to audio

amplification system 84. The audio signal is sent to broadcast antenna 86, where it is broadcast over the airwaves at a preselected radio frequency, for eventual reception by

a radio receiver 80a.

Audio advertisement 72 also may be broadcast via telephone advertising server

20b. Telephone advertising server 20b typically includes a voice recognition unit

(VRU) configured to download audio advertisement 72 and running instructions 74

from advertising server 32 via computer network 18. Telephone advertising server 20b

is also configured to answer a telephone call from a telephone such as landline

telephone 80b or wireless telephone 80c, placed through telephone network 88.

Telephone advertising server 20b is also configured to answer an incoming telephone

call and present a voice menu of options to the user. For example, the NRU may be

used to implement an automated voice mail or customer service system. Periodically

during the telephone call, the telephone advertising server is configured to present the

audio advertisement to user 90, according to the running instructions 74.

Audio advertisement 72 may also be broadcast via web server 20c. Web server

20c is typically configured to download and store audio advertisement 72 and running

instructions 74 from advertising server 32. In response to a request from user 90 via a

browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator running on

personal computer 80d or PDA 80e, the web server is configured to serve various web

pages. The web pages are typically encoded in the hypertext markup language (html)

and served according to the hypertext transfer protocol (http). The web server is

configured to serve audio advertisement 72 according to running instructions 74 along

with web pages by user 90. Thus, user 90 is presented with the audio advertisement

while viewing the downloaded web page. In this case, running instructions 74 may include demographic or other information on the target audience, or associated web

site served by web server 20c.

Alternatively, the web page may contain a link to an audio advertisement on

advertising server 32. When user 90 attempts to view the web page via a browser

program running on personal computer 80d or PDA 80e, the browser typically follows

the link and downloads the audio advertisement 72 directly from advertising server 32,

in addition to downloading the rest of the web page content from web server 20c.

As shown in Fig. 4, system 10 further includes a software communication

system 92 having an advertiser interface 94 configured to run on advertiser computer

22, an advertising storage facility interface 96 configured to run on advertising server

32, a recording studio interface 98 configured to run on recording studio computer 30,

a broadcaster interface 100 configured to run on broadcasting computer 82. Typically,

an order 71 including an advertisement description 71b, as well as running instructions

74 related to the advertisement are sent from advertiser interface 94 to advertising

storage facility interface 96. In turn, the advertisement description 71b is sent to

recording studio interface 98. From the description, an audio recording 72 is made and

stored in recording studio computer 30, as described above. The audio file 72 is sent

from recording studio interface 98 back to advertising storage facility interface 96.

Audio file 72 and running instructions 74 are sent from advertising storage facility

interface 96 to broadcaster interface 100, typically in response to a request from

broadcaster 20. Broadcaster interface 100 stores the file 72 on broadcaster computer or

in an associated database for later broadcast. Finally, after broadcast of the audio advertisement, accounting information 76 related to the advertisement is sent from

broadcaster interface 100 to advertising storage facility interface 96.

In Fig. 5, an advertiser order screen 102 of advertiser interface 94 is shown.

Advertiser order screen 102 typically includes an advertisement name entry field 104

into which advertiser 12 may enter a name 71a for the advertisement being ordered.

Advertiser order screen 102 also typically includes a description entry field 106 into

which advertiser 12 may enter a textual description 71b of the advertisement being

ordered.

Advertiser order screen 102 also includes data entry fields 106 for entering

running instructions 74. Typically, screen 102 includes a frequency data entry field

108 into which an advertiser may enter a frequency 74a at which the advertisement is

to be broadcast by broadcaster 20. Screen 102 also includes a data entry field 110 into

which an advertiser may enter days of the week 74b during which the advertisement is

to be broadcast. Screen 102 also includes a time entry field 112 into which an

advertiser may enter a time range 74c during which the advertisement is to be

broadcast. In addition, screen 102 may also include a date entry field 114 into which

an advertiser may enter dates 74b during which the advertisement is to be run. Once

the advertisement name 71a, description 71b, and running instructions 74 are input,

the advertiser 12 presses submit order selector 116 to send the ad name, description,

and running instructions to the advertising server 32.

In Fig. 6, an advertising storage facility screen 118 of advertising storage

facility interface 96 is shown. Advertising storage facility screen 118 typically

includes an order selection pane 122 configured to display a list of orders 124. An operator at the advertising storage facility may select a selected order 126 from the list.

Details regarding the selected order appear at the right of the screen 118.

Advertisement name 71a appears in advertisement name pane 128, description 71b

appears in description pane 130, and running instructions 74 appear in running

instruction pane 132.

The operator of the advertising storage facility screen 118 may send the name

71a and description 71b of the selected advertisement 126 to the destination recording

studio indicated at 134 by selecting send button 136. The destination recording studio

134 may be changed via selector 138. In response, an audio file 72 recorded according

to the description 71b is sent from the selected recording studio back to the advertising

storage facility 16, and is indicated at 140. Once the audio file is received, the operator

at the advertising storage facility may send the file 72 and running instructions 74 to a

destination broadcaster indicated at 142 by selecting the send button 144. The

destination broadcaster may be selected via selector 146.

Accounting information relating to the advertisement, shown at 76 in Fig. 3, is

periodically received from the broadcaster. Such accounting information may be

viewed by selecting accounting info button 148.

In Fig. 7, a recording studio screen 150 of recording studio interface 98 is

shown. Recording studio screen 150 typically includes an order selection pane 152

containing a list of advertisement orders 154, and a selected advertisement order 156.

Advertisement name pane 158 contains the advertisement name 71a for the selected

advertisement. Description pane 160 contains the description 71b for the

advertisement. Screen 150 also includes an audio file display pane 162 containing a graphical representation of an audio signal 164 from audio file 72. Screen 150 also

includes audio controls for recording and playback of audio file 72. The controls

typically include a source or input selector 166 configured to allow a recording

engineer to select between a variety of inputs from which to record, and a rewind

control 168, fast forward control 170, play control 172, stop control 174 and record

control 176. Using the controls, the recording engineer typically records an audio file

72 based on the description 71b. The recording engineer may select send button 178 to

send the audio file 72 to the advertising storage facility 16.

In Fig. 8, a broadcaster interface screen 180 of broadcaster interface 100 is

shown. Broadcaster interface screen 180 typically includes an advertisement selection

pane 182 containing a list 184 of names 71a, running instructions 74, and audio files

72 of various advertisements to be aired by broadcaster 20. The broadcaster may

choose a selected advertisement 186. The title of the associated audio file 72 will be

displayed in pane 188. To play and broadcast the audio advertisement, the broadcaster

may select play button 190. To retrieve a new advertisement from the advertising

storage facility, the broadcaster may select button 192. The new advertisement will be

added to list 184.

Advertisement presentation history pane 194 typically includes a list 196 of

each time the selected advertisement 186 has been broadcast by broadcaster 20. This

list contains typically accounting data 76 such as the time/date 76b, and fee 76c

associated with each broadcast of selected advertisement 186. To send this accounting

data 76 to the advertising storage facility, the broadcaster may select send button 198.

Alternatively, the accounting data 76 for each advertisement periodically may be sent automatically from broadcaster interface 100 to advertising storage facility interface

96. In this manner, accounting data from a plurality of broadcasters may be assembled

at the advertisement storage facility and the advertiser may be billed, based on the

assembled accounting data, for the various broadcasts of the selected advertisement at

the plurality of broadcasters. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, accounting data for a

particular advertisement may be received from radio stations 20a, telephone

advertising servers 20b, and web servers 20c.

It will be understood that a security code 78 may be required to access

information through any of the screens shown in Figs. 5-8. Typically, administrative

code 78a is required to use advertising storage facility screen 118, advertiser code 78b

is required to use advertiser order screen 102, and broadcaster code 78c is required to

use broadcaster screen 180. Fig. 9, shows a method 200 of distributing audio

advertisements between an advertising server 32 and a remotely located broadcasting

computer such as 82 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

At 202, the method typically includes storing an audio advertisement in a database

associated with the advertising server. At 204, the method includes storing running

instructions for the audio advertisement in the database. At 206, the method includes

downloading the audio advertisement and running instructions to the broadcaster. The

method further may include recording an audio advertisement at a recording studio

and downloading the advertisement from the recording studio computer through a

computer network to the advertising server as described above. In addition, the method

may include, before recording the audio advertisement, receiving an order at the

advertising server for an audio advertisement from an advertiser, and forwarding the order to the recording studio. The method may also include, after downloading,

broadcasting the advertisement according to the running instructions. Typically, the

advertisement is a radio advertisement and broadcasting the advertisement is

accomplished via a radio broadcast. Alternatively, the advertisement may be a web

audio advertisement broadcast and broadcasting the advertisement may be

accomplished via a web broadcast. In addition, the advertisement may be a telephone

advertisement, and broadcasting the advertisement is accomplished via a telephone

broadcast.

In Fig. 10, a method 220 of distributing audio advertisements according to

another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. At 222, the method typically

includes receiving an order for an audio advertisement at an advertising server, the

order containing a description of the audio advertisement. At 224, the method typically

includes recording an audio advertisement at a remote recording studio, as described

above. At 226, the method includes storing the audio advertisement in a recording

studio computer, as described above. At 228, the method includes compressing the

audio advertisement, as described above. At 230, the method includes downloading

the compressed advertisement from the recording studio computer through a computer

network to the advertising server, as described above.

At 232, the method includes receiving running instructions concerning the

advertisement, as described above. At 234, the method includes storing the audio

advertisement with the running instructions on a database associated with the remote

advertising server. At 236, the method includes, in response to a request from a

broadcaster, downloading the audio advertisement and running instructions to a broadcasting computer and decompressing the audio advertisement. Finally, at 238,

the method includes broadcasting the audio advertisement according to the running

instructions.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with

reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will

understand that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit

and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The description of the

invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of

elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to

any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. The foregoing

embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all

possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. Where the

claims recite "a" or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be

understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring

nor excluding two or more such elements.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A system for distributing audio advertisements, the system

comprising:

a recording studio computer configured to store an audio advertisement;

an audio advertising server configured to download the audio

advertisement from the recording studio computer and store the audio advertisement in

an associated database, the database being configured to store scheduling data

associated with the advertisement; and a broadcasting computer configured to

download the audio advertisement and associated scheduling data from the audio

advertising server such that the audio advertisement may be broadcast via a

broadcaster according to the scheduling data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an advertiser computer configured to transmit an order for the audio

advertisement to the audio advertising computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the advertising server is

configured to transmit the order received from the advertiser computer to the recording

studio computer.

4. The system, of claim 3, wherein the order includes a script of the

advertisement.

•5. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording studio computer is coupled

to an associated sound source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio advertisement is a radio

advertisement and the broadcaster is a radio station.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadcaster is a telephone

advertising server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadcaster is a web server.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to

receive the broadcast of the audio advertisement.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the receiver is a radio .

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiver is a telephone.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the receiver is a wireless telephone.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a personal computer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a portable computing

device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the advertising server database is

configured to store accounting data relating to broadcast of the audio advertisement.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the advertising server database is

configured to store a security code relating to the audio advertisement.

17. A software communication system for distributing audio advertisements,

the software communication system comprising:

an advertising storage facility interface;

a recording studio interface; and

a broadcaster interface;

wherein the advertising storage facility interface is configured to receive

an order for an advertisement, and transfer the order to the recording studio interface,

and, in response, the recording studio interface is configured to transmit an audio file

based on the order back to the advertising storage facility interface, and wherein the

advertising facility interface is configured to transfer the audio file to the broadcaster

interface for eventual playback by a broadcaster.

18. A data structure comprising:

an audio data component; and

running instructions for broadcasting the audio data.

19. The data structure of claim 18, wherein the audio data component

includes a radio advertisement.

20. The data structure of claim 18, further comprising an accounting data

component.

21. The data structure of claim 18, further comprising a security code

component.

22. A method of distributing audio advertisements between an advertising

server and a remotely located broadcasting computer, the method comprising:

storing an audio advertisement in a database associated with the

advertising server;

storing running instructions for the audio advertisement in the database;

and

downloading the audio advertisement and running instructions to the

broadcaster.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

recording an audio advertisement at a recording studio; and

downloading the advertisement from the recording studio computer

through a computer network to the advertising server.

I

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

before recording the audio advertisement, receiving an order at the

advertising server for an audio advertisement from an advertiser; and

forwarding the order to the recording studio.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

after downloading, broadcasting the advertisement according to the

running instructions.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the advertisement is a radio

advertisement and broadcasting the advertisement is accomplished via a radio

broadcast.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein broadcasting the advertisement is

accomplished via a web broadcast.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein broadcasting the advertisement is

accomplished via a telephone broadcast.

29. A method of distributing audio advertisements, the method comprising:

receiving an order for an audio advertisement at an advertising server,

the order containing a description of the audio advertisement;

recording an audio advertisement at a remote recording studio;

storing the audio advertisement in a recording studio computer;

compressing the audio advertisement;

downloading the compressed advertisement from the recording studio

computer through a computer network to the advertising server;

receiving running instructions concerning the advertisement;

storing the audio advertisement with the running instructions on a

database associated with the remote advertising server;

in response to a request from a broadcaster, downloading the audio

advertisement and running instructions to a broadcasting computer and decompressing

the audio advertisement; and

broadcasting the audio advertisement according to the running

instructions.