Ireland

Coimisiún na Meán awards nearly €4 million of funding under latest round of Sound and Vision Scheme

Over €3.9 million in funding has been allocated for Round 54 of the of Sound and Vision Scheme by Coimisiún na Meán.
This latest round will fund the production of 35 projects across TV and radio by independent producers and broadcasters around the country.
97% of total funding as part of Round 54 has been provided to independent producers and approximately €1.4 million of all funding going to projects in the Irish language or bilingual.
Three of the awards include:
Joy to the World – This radio documentary series for KCLR 96FM celebrates Christmas with immigrant and New Irish Communities by joining in with their traditions, music, preparations, decorations, foods and exchanges of gifts
Mmanwu – This radio drama for broadcast on Newstalk delves into the complexities of maternal struggle, mental health, and the clash between tradition and modernity set against the vibrant backdrop of Dublin and Onitsha, Nigeria.
Voices of New Ireland – This thirteen part series for broadcast on Flirt FM explores cultural heritage, the Irish language, education, arts, and more, highlighting community achievements and integration through diverse cultures that shape modern Ireland.
Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said: “Coimisiún na Meán is committed to ensuring a diversity and plurality of content, reflective of the people of Ireland including their languages, traditions, religious, and cultural diversity.
“We are delighted to have an opportunity to support projects which give a voice to this diversity. This round of Sound and Vision will raise awareness of, and explore, the unique experiences and cultural values of new Irish communities while delivering a diverse range of high-quality culturally relevant content for audiences.
“I would also like to thank Minister Catherine Martin for the allocation of an additional €2 million in funding. Sound & Vision remains a vital funding source for broadcasters and independent producers, enabling them to create programming for audiences that would otherwise not get made.” […]

UK

BBC Introducing Artist of the Year award goes to Myles Smith

Myles Smith has been announced as the winner of the ‘BBC Introducing Artist of the Year’ Award for 2024.
The award is presented to an artist who has, with the support of BBC Introducing, made a significant impact that year and is on the path to stardom.
Previous winners include Olivia Dean, Arlo Parks, Tom Grennan, Jack Garratt, Nia Archives, Declan McKenna, Celeste and Self Esteem.
At just 26 years old, Luton-born artist Myles Smith is fast becoming one of the most exciting voices in contemporary music and is best known for his song Stargazing.
He said: “That’s made my entire year, that’s incredible. I literally cannot believe I’m BBC Introducing Artist of the Year. It means so much to me to be awarded this award.
Myles was presented with the BBC Introducing Artist of the Year Award by Dean Jackson from BBC Introducing in East Midlands and Kerrie Cosh from BBC Introducing Three Counties & Northants—stations that have been pivotal in Myles’ career, with Dean giving Myles his first-ever radio play, marking the beginning of his relationship with BBC Introducing.

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UK

Tributes paid to former Bauer and Global radio engineer and tech director Bruce Davidson

Tributes are being paid to long-serving radio engineer Bruce Davidson who has died at the age of 60.
Bruce has spent the last ten years working at Bauer Media as Broadcast and Technology Director looking after all the national and radio stations and their broadcast technology teams.
He most recently oversaw the move from Golden Square to The Lantern and was relocating.
Before that, he worked for Global and Chrysalis for 15 years as Group Technical Director then Technology Director leading a team of 80 technology professionals covering the areas of Broadcast Technology, IT & Infrastructure and Business Systems.
He started his radio career in 1987 at Metro Radio Group as Chief Engineer and went on to run SunCity for just over a year.
Bruce recently left Bauer and was taking on consultancy/project work, moving back to his native north east.
A Bauer Media spokesperson told RadioToday: “All at Bauer Media Audio UK are saddened to hear of the passing of Bruce Davidson, a much loved colleague, who led our technology team through a period of growth, consolidation and of course Covid.
“Although retired recently from Bauer, we remember him with fondness and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.”
Giles Squire, who worked with Bruce at Metro, wrote: “I am shocked and saddened by the news that Bruce Davidson died this afternoon. I wrote to Bruce in June of this year telling him all about our party to celebrate Metro Radio almost making it to 50 years. He wrote straight back with these words “It will be great to meet up with old friends. I turned 60 in January and going to move back to the north east. Been a hard slog moving Bauer in London, but now done.”
“It was the last message I received and he wasn’t able to attend our event in September. Andrew Hughes let me know last month that he was in hospital and not at all well. Bruce was an extremely talented engineer who was also great fun and very popular wherever he worked. I send my condolences to family and friends. (In this photo he is in the middle and to the right).
Phil Riley wrote: So saddened to hear that dear Bruce Davidson has died today. I’d known Bruce for over 25 years and was Head of Engineering at Chrysalis Radio when I joined in 1997. He built a studio for my job and it was one of the best and we hit it off immediately. We also went to Philly together in 2005 and worked on Live 8 broadcasts from there with some hilarious stories to tell.
“Since 2018, we worked together at Bauer where we oversaw the transfer of the facility to One Golden Sqaure and recently he led the build of the new state of the art facility in Euston. He ‘retired’ only a few months ago which makes this all the sadder.
“He was one of the good guys, and the technology people who worked under him over the years are all streets ahead of those who didn’t, all leaders in their field today having benefitted from his wisdom and human approach to engineering.
“He was one of those technology bods who was always approachable, would love a challenge and always think of the creative solution for the ears of the listener, and not just the easy answer.
“Bruce – King Of The Wires – RIP you good, good human being.”
Brian Lister posted on RadioToday North East: “Anyone involved in the history of local radio in the North East will be shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Bruce Davidson this week after a short illness.
“I first came across Bruce as a talented young engineer at Metro Radio, then with Minster – where he very rapidly and rightly moved into station management with Sun FM. Always friendly and smiling he was one of those too rare engineers who also understood people.
“Since leaving the region he had worked for all the major commercial radio companies masterminding many high-profile radio station builds, special projects and OBs. At Bauer he oversaw the transfer of their national stations to One Golden Square and recently he led the build of their new state of the art facility in Euston.
“A few years ago he gave me a tour of his Bauer operation and I noticed that everyone we passed in a corridor had cheery word or smile for him. Bruce retired from Bauer in July and was preparing to move back here to the north-east.”
“We’ve lost one of the industry greats.”

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