UK

Charity Fillers has now reached the 10,000th play of a piece of audio on-air in less than six months of operation.

The company, which distributes audio commercials and editorial pieces to radio stations in the UK, reached 5000 plays in its first four months and has now doubled that before reaching six months.
Red Kite Radio in Thame was the station that played the 10,000th commercial with Doctors Of The World “Don’t Let Health Pass By” on 11th October.
Chris Long, Head of Output at Red Kite commented: “We’re really chuffed that the 10,000th Charity Filler played on air was one that we broadcast.
“One of Red Kite Radio’s prime remits is to serve the local community in Thame, Haddenham and the surrounding villages, and to include Charity Fillers in our daily output not only benefits the charities concerned but helps us with our hourly timings. A real win-win!”
Spencer Pryor, the founder of Charity Fillers added: “10,000 reported airplays in less than six months is really pleasing! We are now on our way to achieving 20,000 plays in our first year of operation.
“However, we must give a big thank you to the 100-odd radio stations who take the Charity Fillers service, and who donate a small amount of airtime each week to help publicise good causes.
“We couldn’t have managed this without the goodwill of the radio stations. We are always on the lookout for more radio stations to sign up and use this free service.”
Charity Fillers is the third sector equivalent of the U.K. government’s Radio Fillers service, supplying audio content free of charge to U.K. radio stations to fill shortages in commercial breaks on a donated airtime basis. Find out more at charityfillers.co.uk.

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Huw Stephens will headline the UK Community Radio Networks National Community Radio Conference.

Taking place at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 16th November, the 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru presenter will talk about his early career at Rookwood Sound Hospital Radio in Cardiff, his passion for supporting homegrown music and his recent book, Wales: A Hundred Records.
Rookwood Sound will also be speaking at the conference, sharing the journey from hospital to community radio, after recently launching on DAB as a CDSP service in the Welsh Capital.
Other highlights on the line-up, include information on the BBC Local Democracy Report Service and upcoming opportunities to bid for future contracts, the development of training and skills academies and some of the big campaigns run by stations in the last twelve months, including River Radio’s Big Toy Appeal and Rhondda Radio’s Heritage Hour.
The UKCRN will be asking the views of stations on what’s required to secure the future of community radio across the UK in a discussion titled “A new government, a new era for Community Radio?”.
The conference is followed by the Community Radio Awards, with the afternoon of the event focusing on developing future talent, with a panel led by BFBS UK Bases Manager Frank McCarthy.,
Former Voice FM Southampton presenter Ryan Galpin, who now presents afternoons on BFBS Salisbury Plain, will join the panel to discuss the development and nurturing of talent.
Also, 1-2-1 sessions with BBC, BFBS and commercial radio management and presenters will be available to book on the day. In order to support presenters and volunteers who may be attending the awards, there is an afternoon-only ticket which includes the ability to book these sessions.
A limited number of spaces have been arranged for tours of the BBC’s Central Square on Friday evening ahead of the conference, with bookings to be made directly via hello@ukcrn.radio
UKCRN Co-Founder and Conference organiser Nathan Spackman said: “We’ve once again pulled together a brilliant line-up, that covers new ideas, development and conversations, that we hope will leave stations with lots of ideas to take back to their own communities.
“As someone who started off at Rookwood Sound myself, I’m delighted Huw Stephens has agreed to come and share his story of becoming Radio 1’s youngest ever presenter, his love for radio and passion for homegrown music.”
Early bird tickets for the UKCRN Conference and Community Radio Awards in Cardiff have been extended to the end of Friday 1st November. For tickets and more information go here.

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St Johns Beacon in Liverpool – locally known as the Radio City Tower, is being vacated by Bauer after 24 years.

The landmark is currently home to Greatest Hits Radio’s breakfast show, and the Radio City / Rock FM breakfast show with Leanne and Joel, along with other radio station staff.
It stands 400 ft above the skyline of Liverpool, and at its peak housed three local radio stations.
St Johns Beacon was previously a revolving restaurant and still operates as an observation attraction, and a transmitter site for the local DAB multiplex.

A spokesperson for Bauer Media Audio UK said: “We are incredibly proud to have been part of the vibrant history of the Grade II listed St Johns Beacon. This next step allows us to invest in facilities that better support our vision and evolving needs.
“The final shows from St Johns Beacon will air on Tuesday 24th December.  Following this date, Greatest Hits Radio Breakfast will broadcast nationally from Bauer’s state-of-the-art Northwest hub, whilst Hits Radio Liverpool Breakfast will continue to broadcast from the city.”
Bauer Media Audio continues to lease the Radio City 96.7 signage and is currently in consultation with the landlord and planning authorities over changing the sign to Hits Radio.

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Three years after In Demand Radio launched on DAB across Liverpool and the Northwest, it’s to launch a second station for the area.

In Demand Decades will play songs from across the decades with presenters including Glen Hunt, Baz Todd, Gemma Cutting, Rick Houghton, Claire Simmo, Jay Hynd, Lee Butler and Kim Wilde will present an 80s show at the weekends.
Steve Laycock, In Demand Radio Managing Director said: “In Demand Radio has proved that local and live radio works, the audience wants radio to serve them in their area. Our stations will always be local, our studios will always be here.”
Breakfast presenter and programme controller Rick Houghton added: “In Demand Decades will give audiences across Liverpool, the Northwest and North Wales even more choice and I know they will love the music! We can’t wait to get started and provide people with what they want.”
The station will launch on DAB on 4th November but can already be heard online and via the In Demand Radio app.

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London’s Lyca Radio has been awarded Radio Station of the Year at the 2024 Asian Media Awards.

This is the second time the station picked up the award, having previously won it in 2022. The station also had nominations in three additional categories, including Best Radio Show and Radio Presenter of the Year.
Raj Baddhan, CEO of Lyca Radio Network said: “This award is a testament to my team’s incredible work over the past year and beyond.
“We have also been celebrating our recent RAJAR figures, which put the Lyca Group stations (Lyca Radio and Lyca Gold) at No.1 as the leading commercial Asian radio network in London.
“This award concludes an incredible week, and we will always be indebted to our listeners, well-wishers, and our commercial partners. Thank you, everyone.”
The Best Radio Show award went to Sunrise Radio’s The Breakfast Show with Paul Shah.
Now in its 11th year, the Asian Media Awards honour the achievements of Asians in the media and arts sectors.

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Johnnie Walker has hosted his last show on BBC Radio 2 saying it’s going to be very strange not to be on the wireless anymore.
In his final Sounds of the 70s today, he said to his listeners: “So it doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been listening to the old JW here, we’ve had a great time doing Sounds of the 70s.
“It really developed into a sort of a Sunday Afternoon Club, I always got the feeling, and lots of people preparing their Sunday roast, maybe pulling the cork on a bottle of wine, other people doing their gardening, pottering in a shed, doing ironing.
“It was just great spending Sunday afternoons with you and it’s going to be very strange for me next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock to think that I won’t be speaking to you. It’ll be somebody else, namely Bob Harris, who’ll be doing Sounds of the 70s. So, I’ll miss you a lot and it’s been great connecting up for all these years. We’ve done a lot of living together you and I.”
He signed off from the show, saying: “So here we are, the end of a 15 year run on Sunday afternoons, Sounds of the 70s, and 58 years on British radio, and it’s going to be very strange not to be on the wireless anymore but also, by the same token, life will be slightly less of a strain really, trying to find the breath to do programmes.
“So thank you for being with me all these years and take good care of yourself and those you love and may we walk into the future with our heads held high and happiness in our hearts. God bless you.”

Rod Stewart also sent a message for Johnnie. Rod said: “I have to thank you my man, thank you from the bottom of my heart for playing not only my songs, but The Faces and just about every other rock band in the world on your wonderful show over the years.
“By doing so you propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the top of the charts and overnight fame and everything that goes with it. It goes without saying, without your support we never may have got there. So, if I do manage to get through the Pearly Gates, I’ll have a pint of Guinness please mate and guess what, I’ll pick up the tab. See ya later, Johnnie. Rock on mate, rock on.”
His wife, Tiggy, also joined him on the show at one point to talk about Johnnie broadcasting his shows this year, saying: “I just want to say well done for keeping going as long as you have, because you make a lot of people very happy and I know there will be a lot of tears out there today, including mine.”
Johnnie replied: “And maybe one or two from me as well. Thank you very much for saying that and thank you for all your wonderful care. I certainly couldn’t have done this show without that, so thank you for that.”
During the programme, Johnnie added one last song – Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird – into his famous ‘Johnnie’s Jukebox’ before sealing the jukebox forever, and throughout the show he played his own selection of favourite tracks from the decade, including Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Rod Stewart – Sailing, Neil Diamond – Holy Holy, Simon and Garfunkel – Song For the Asking, David Bowie – Starman, Lou Reed – Walk On the Wild Side, The Skids – Into the Valley, and The Rolling Stones – It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (but I like it) and Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now. To close the show, he played Amazing Grace by Judy Collins.
Shaun Keaveny will be the new presenter of The Rock Show from Friday 1st November and Bob Harris takes over as presenter of Sounds Of The 70s from Sunday 3rd November.
Listen back to Johnnie’s final Sounds of the 70s here.

It’s showtime! And i have a guest…⁦@TiggyWalker⁩ ⁦@lizziebarn⁩ ⁦@Dr_Paul_Thomas⁩ ⁦@BBCRadio2⁩ #SOT70s #fondfarewell pic.twitter.com/uJsuUHm2N4
— Johnnie Walker (@piratejw) October 27, 2024

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