UK

The Radio Academy is inviting members to put themselves forward for two vacancies on its Board of Trustees.

The organisation, soon to be known as the Audio Academy, says it is looking for candidates with wide industry experience who want to help shape the future of the UK audio sector.
The role involves guiding the Academy’s strategy and ensuring its work continues to support people working across radio, podcasting and wider audio. Trustees also oversee delivery of the Academy’s major events and programmes and help ensure the charity provides value to its members and the industry.
Members from all backgrounds are encouraged to express an interest, with the Academy highlighting its ambition to reflect the full range of voices and experiences across the UK. It describes the positions as a chance to champion talent, influence policy and contribute to development across the audio sector.
The Academy says it wants to hear from anyone who cares deeply about audio and believes they can play a part in supporting the community it represents.

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Global has unveiled the winners of its first Global Player Awards this year, recognising the artists and podcasters most listened to across its radio network and Global Player.

The awards are based solely on listening data from Global’s platforms, and
A new category, the Two Billion Listens Award, has been introduced to acknowledge artists who achieved more than two billion listens across Global stations and on Global Player.
Ed Sheeran, Teddy Swims and Myles Smith all reached the benchmark.
Ed Sheeran thanked listeners for helping him surpass the total, saying he was grateful for the support shown during his career. Teddy Swims also expressed thanks to fans, while Myles Smith highlighted the contribution of both audiences and Global’s radio teams.
Global’s brands have also named their biggest breakthrough acts. Capital recognises Alex Warren, while Capital XTRA awards MOLIY. Radio X’s breakthrough winner is Sombr and Capital Dance names Chrystal.
MOLIY said she was thankful to listeners and supporters of her music and looked ahead to next year.
Elton John receives the Global Player Awards Legend title, marking more than two decades of continued influence and sustained listening across Global’s stations. Elton thanked Global and the generations of fans who continue to enjoy his music.
Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s track I Had Some Help is named the most listened to song on Global Player this year.
In podcasting, Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files with Jamie Rubin is named Biggest New Podcast, with Christiane thanking listeners for their support. The News Agents is confirmed as the most listened to podcast on Global Player and takes Best Podcast Show.
Ashley Tabor-King says the awards reflect what audiences choose to listen to, and congratulated Ed, Myles and Teddy on reaching two billion listens.
The company previous ran the Global Awards from 2018 to 2024.

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Happy Radio UK has been confirmed as the official radio partner for the new Greater Manchester Wellbeing Series launching this year.

The collaboration will see the station support two major wellbeing initiatives designed to encourage better mental and physical health across workplaces and communities in the region.
The series begins on 21 May 2026 with a 5.5 kilometre run and 2 kilometre walk at Heaton Park, offering an early evening event open to all abilities. The second event on 22 October is a three-minute guided meditation taking place virtually across Greater Manchester.
Station co-founders Max Eden and Darren Proctor said they were pleased to support an initiative designed to improve wellbeing across the region, adding that the partnership will help bring both events to audiences on air and on site.
Darren said the station hoped to play a role in encouraging workplaces to make wellbeing a priority.
Nick Rusling, speaking on behalf of the Greater Manchester Wellbeing Series, said Happy Radio UK’s strong local connection made it a natural fit for the new programme, adding that the partnership would help raise awareness and encourage participation across the region.

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HFM has unveiled its new radio car after listeners and local supporters raised the money needed to put the vehicle on the road.

The station’s appeal passed £10,000, with a further £7,500 grant from the Howard Watson Symington Memorial Charity enabling the project to go ahead.
The vehicle will be used across South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire, including towing HFM’s mobile stage trailer to events. It replaces the station’s previous car, which had reached the end of its working life and could no longer support the broadcaster’s community activity.
Director Chris Jones said the response had been significant. He said the team were grateful to everyone who contributed and added that the charity’s grant ensured the project could be completed. Chris said the station relies on being present at events and able to reach audiences directly, making the new vehicle essential for future outreach.
HFM Director Barry Badger joined Chris for the unveiling of the car, which is already in use and will be seen at community gatherings throughout the year. The new vehicle strengthens the station’s ability to support local events, provide outside broadcasts and maintain a regular presence across the area.
HFM has broadcast from its Market Harborough studios since this year, serving listeners in South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire with local programming, information and community links.

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Ofcom has confirmed four more small-scale DAB multiplex licences for Ely & March, Market Harborough, Wakefield and Castleford, and Wellingborough.

The latest awards bring the total number of licensed multiplexes closer to the programme’s goal of more than one hundred, with eighty two already on air across all four nations.
After assessing applications against the required criteria, Ofcom has issued licences for Ely and March to Fen Radio Limited, Market Harborough to Creativity Media Services Limited, Wakefield and Castleford to Mid Yorkshire DAB Limited, and Wellingborough to Steers Media Limited.
Ofcom has also opened a consultation on a requested frequency change for the Cheshire-Mid multiplex, operated by Niocast Digital Ltd. The proposal relates solely to the technical allocation on which the service broadcasts.
“We are minded to approve this request, subject to responses to our consultation, which must be submitted by Wednesday 14 January,” said Ofcom.

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BBC Radio 1 has confirmed its Christmas Takeover line-up and revealed a Christmas Day schedule that includes Greg James presenting his first live Christmas Day Breakfast show on the network.

Greg says he is looking forward to returning to live Christmas Day broadcasting and sharing the morning with Radio 1 listeners.
After Greg, the schedule will feature pre-recorded specials from JADE, GK Barry and Ella Rutherford, Munya Chawawa, Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo, George Clarke and Charley Marlowe.
From Boxing Day through to New Year’s Eve, the station will once again hand over key shows to new talent from across the UK. Created in 2019, the Takeover has introduced more than one hundred and seventy emerging presenters to the network, with several now part of the regular schedule.
This year’s group includes Cai Sherlock from York, who will host Radio 1 Anthems. Cai fronts an evening show on YO1 and has worked at major sporting events, including interviewing Formula One World Champion Lando Norris at the British Grand Prix.
Maddi Fearn from Sheffield will take on Radio 1’s Future Artists. Maddi won Gold at the Student Radio Awards and currently presents on Voices.
Gura Randhawa from Newcastle will co-host Radio 1’s Life Hacks. Gura presents a Saturday afternoon show on BBC Asian Network and co-hosts the One More Chai podcast.
Bobbi Bunker from Sunderland will host Radio 1 Anthems and currently presents on Spark Sunderland while also contributing to BFBS Radio.
Cai says he is thrilled to be part of the Takeover, and Maddi says covering Future Artists is something her younger self would have found hard to believe. Gura says joining the station for the festive period feels significant, and Bobbi says presenting on Radio 1 Anthems is a treat.
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says the Takeover continues to shape how the station discovers new presenters and that he is proud of what the initiative has become.
Christmas Day on Radio 1 will feature Greg’s Breakfast show followed by festive programmes from JADE, GK Barry and Ella Rutherford, Munya Chawawa, Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo, and George Clarke and Charley Marlowe.
Christmas Day on Radio 1:

08:00-11:00 – Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James (LIVE)
11:00-12:00 – Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo
12:00-13:00 – GK Barry & Ella Rutherford
13:00-14:00 – Charley Marlowe
14:00-15:00 – Munya Chawawa
15:00-16:00 – George Clarke
16:00-17:00 – JADE
17:00-18:00 – JADE at the Proms: A Homecoming
18:00-22:00 – Nighttime Christmas Special

Full list of Christmas Takeover presenters (in alphabetical order):

Bobbi Bunker, 23, Sunderland (Radio 1 Anthems)
Chelsea Little, 29, Stourbridge (Radio 1 Anthems)
Cai Sherlock, 24, York (Radio 1 Anthems)
Darci Jackson, 21, Stoke-on-Trent (Radio 1 Anthems Discovery)
Gabrielle Morris, 29, Tunbridge Wells (Radio 1’s Chillest Show)
Giles Bidder, 34, London (Radio 1’s Rock Show)
Gura Randhawa, 32, Newcastle (Radio 1’s Life Hacks)
HUSSY, 28, West Bromwich (Radio 1 Dance Playlist)
Jasmine Rowland, 25, London (Radio 1 Anthems)
Jenn Crothers, 34, Norwich (Radio 1 Anthems)
Lewis Smith, 25, Spennymoor, County Durham (BBC Introducing Rock on Radio 1)
Lydia Tester, 31, Denham (Radio 1 Anthems)
Maddi Fearn, 25, Sheffield (Radio 1’s Future Artists)
Rio Fredrika, 30, London (Radio 1 Dance Morning)

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