UK

The 2025 Radio Awards Grand Jury features over 100 radio industry leaders from across the world including, seven from the UK.

The panel of directors, producers, journalists, writers, and sound artists are from international networks, radio stations, production studios, and publishing houses including the BBC, Radio Mitre S.A., SiriusXM Radio, Radio Express International, and Blue Revolution.
Additional contributors include NASA/JPL, Bauer Media Audio Ireland, Bay FM Radio 99.9, Radio New Zealand, Athena Media, Radio City/Music Broadcast Ltd., B7 Productions Limited, Accompany Studios, National University of Cuyo, BeFM / Busan English Broadcasting Foundation, RAI, Faïdos Sonore/Créations sonores, Corea Studios, and Naleppa Audio Productions.
Jurors from the UK include:

Mike Cass, Content Director, Virgin Radio UK
Jax Coombes, Producer, BBC
Elaine Dunseath, Producer Radio Current Affairs, BBC Northern Ireland
Dylan Haskins, Commissioning Executive for Podcasts, BBC Sounds & BBC Radio 5 Live
James Keen, Managing Director, Channel 103 and Island FM, Trindle Radio
Jason Phipps, Head of Content & Development, Chalk + Blade
Emma Weatherill, Producer, Narrative Factual Series, BBC Studio Productions

“The robust world of audio storytelling today is fully represented in the 2025 edition of the Grand Jury,” said Rose Anderson, EVP & Executive Director New York Festivals Radio Awards. “From audiobooks to podcasts, from investigative journalism to live events, and from mystery to social justice, this year’s jury members volunteer their time and lend their expertise.”
For the complete list of Grand Jury members to date, visit 2025 Grand Jury.
The entry deadline for the 2025 Radio Awards competition is 31st January. To find out more, visit the New York Festivals website.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Fix Radio is to launch its first music festival for tradespeople, with Wicks TradePro as lead partner.

Taking place in 2025, FixFest will include artists whose music is played on the station. It will be the UK’s first ever event of its kind for builders and the trade, to celebrate the construction community.
The announcement of Wickes’ support for FixFest further strengthens the relationship between the two brands, with the home improvement retailer currently the lead sponsor of the station’s Clive Holland Show.
Louis Timpany, CEO and founder of Fix Radio said: “We have such a loyal following of the Fix Radio brand from within the community. Launching our own music festival seems like the perfect next step for us. We’re hugely excited to be partnering with Wickes on this new initiative.
“Our two brands have an existing partnership which lives on the Clive Holland Show and now we can’t wait to see the partnership evolve with the first and only music festival for UK tradespeople. What an exciting next step in our partnership.”
Gary Kibble, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Wickes added: “We are thrilled to be the headline sponsor of the first-ever FixFest.
“Our partnership with Fix Radio is incredibly important to us, and this festival feels like a natural next step in deepening that relationship. FixFest gives us an exciting new way to connect with a highly engaged and loyal audience of tradespeople and strengthen the bond between our two brands”.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Production teams from across the UK have secured shows on the new music streams for BBC Sounds, launching in early November.

Radio 3 Unwind launches on Monday 4th November, playing classical music to ease the pressures and stresses of daily life. Radio 1 Anthems launches on Friday 8th November, playing a wide range of music and acts supported by Radio 1 in the 2000s and 2010s with a focus on growing new on-air and off-air talent.
As part of the BBC’s commitment to supporting the production community across the UK, all new shows for Radio 1 Anthems will come from outside of London, and all Radio 3 Unwind’s new commissions were opened up for the sector to compete for.
Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, said: “Our new music extensions provide invaluable creative opportunities for the audio sector to win more commissions, and I’m excited about the distinctive content that we’ll be able to bring to audiences as a result, made by some of the best indies and in-house production teams across the country.”
Radio 1 Anthems:

Audio Always – three shows from Birmingham
BBC Audio, Salford – daily show

Radio 3 Unwind:

Tandem Productions – daily mid-morning show
Granny Eats Wolf – soundtracks programme, Mon-Sat
Peanut & Crumb – overnight show
BBC Audio, Northern Ireland – weekly new music show
BBC Audio, London – daily evening show

More details about Radio 1 Anthems and Radio 3 Unwind will be confirmed in the coming weeks. In addition to the new commissions, both streams will also include a number of existing shows from across the schedules as well as BBC Sounds, produced by a range of indies and in-house teams.
The BBC says that the regulatory process for its plans to launch new music extensions on DAB+ continues.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

BBC World Service English has agreed a new radio partnership in The Bahamas with Guardian Media Group.

The company, not to be confused with the Scott-Trust owned Guardian Media Group in the UK, will rebroadcast the BBC content on Guardian Radio 96.9.
BBC World Service English radio will be received digitally, and broadcast live on Guardian Radio FM 96.9 when not in local programming.
Fred Durman, BBC’s Head of Business Development for the Americas and Europe, says: “The BBC is delighted to strengthen its presence in The Bahamas through this dynamic rebroadcasting partnership with Guardian Media Group.
“This collaboration underscores our dedication to informing, educating, and entertaining audiences worldwide.
“By delivering trusted news, insightful storytelling, and a rich array of diverse programming, we aim to foster deeper connections and promote shared understanding across communities. This initiative not only extends our global reach but also ensures that Bahamian residents have access to high-quality journalism and content that reflects a variety of voices and perspectives from around the world.”
Dwight Strachan, Guardian Radio Station Manager, says: “Guardian Radio – The Bahamas’ number one source for talk and radio news – is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with the legendary BBC World Service. We will offer BBC programming to our listeners when we’ve completed our regular programming overnight and on Sunday.
“This will further demonstrate to our listeners our commitment to providing credible news from all over the globe, and from one of the world’s most trusted news sources. Without a doubt, Guardian Radio with the BBC World Service will make for round-the-clock-radio – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

ALL FM 96.9 teamed up with local fundraiser and grant-maker ‘Forever Manchester’ to host a marathon radio show earlier this month.
Whilst broadcasting the 26.2 hour show to raise money, Forever Manchester’s Kev Duxbury ran a full marathon in tandem, running a mile each hour, through wind and rain, day and night.
Throughout the show artists, poets, musicians, singers and those working in the Manchester communities dropped in to say ‘hi’, perform and support. Each hour listeners had the opportunity to win all sorts of prizes donated by companies from all over Manchester.
Forever Manchester’s Terry Snowden commented that it was ‘a brilliant team effort that brought a diverse range of people and a variety of programmes together whilst raising money to support local communities.’
ALL FM Director, Ed Connole says: ‘It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight all that’s great about Manchester. Same time next year?’

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Radio Warneford has celebrated the official opening of its new studio complex at Warwick Hospital.
The event, at the studios in Lakin House, was attended by the Town Mayors of Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, who are joint patrons of the station, alongside one of Radio Warneford’s founding members, a representative from the Hospital Broadcasting Association and Radio Warneford’s Chief Engineer, who has designed and installed the new studios.
The event was hosted by one of Radio Warneford’s Trustees, Andy Dowell.
Radio Warneford also held a ceremony to name both of its broadcasting studios after two former members – Graeme Meanley MBE and John Glare – who did much to enhance the life of the station and raised thousands of pounds each for both the Radio Warneford and for their other charities.
Members of Graeme and John’s families attended and unveiled plaques for each studio.
The Town Mayor of Warwick, Councillor Dave Skinner, performed the opening ceremony, outside the entrance to the new studio in Lakin House, on behalf of the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust by handing a ceremonial key one of the station’s founders, John Flaherty, who was instrumental in setting up Radio Warneford as “temporary Christmas entertainment” in December 1973.
In his opening message, the Mayor of Warwick said Radio Warneford has received fantastic support from the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust along with the SWFT Charity.
The Trust have provided the space in which to create the new studio complex and the station looks forward to working closely with the Trust moving forward.”
The Mayor then announced the opening of “Radio Warneford’s Squire Studios”. The complex itself has been named after the Chief Engineer, Mike Squire, who has been a volunteer at Radio Warneford since 1974 and has almost single-handedly designed, installed and maintained all the stations’ studios since that time.
After the opening ceremony, the special guests moved inside to witness members of Graeme Meanley and John Glare’s families unveil plaques to name the two studios. Andrew and Maureen Meanley, Graeme’s son and daughter-in-law, and James Glare and Elizabeth Cooper, one of John’s sons and daughters, each unveiled their plaque, which was accompanied by a short piece about the work of each of the men and a photograph. The plaques will each be placed on the door to the respective studios and the photographs and personal information on the wall inside.
Guests were then given a tour of one of the new studios as Radio Warneford Duty Producer, Cliff Proctor, broadcast a live programme. The mayors were able to have a music request played for them during their visit, choosing tracks by Peter Gabriel and Elton John.
Later in the evening, the special guests joined Mark Jones, SWFT Associate Director of Strategic Estates and Capital Planning, Liz Waters, SWFT Senior Capital Programme Manager, and over forty current and former members of Radio Warneford at the Bishops Tachbrook Sports and Social Club to mark the studio opening and to celebrate more than fifty years of broadcasting for patients. Two of Radio Warneford’s Trustees, Louise Kalus and Andy Dowell, hosted the evening.
The Town Mayor of Warwick, Councillor Dave Skinner, made a speech praising the support that the hospital trust has given to Radio Warneford. He thanked everyone who had been part of keeping the station in operation for more than fifty years. The Town Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, Councillor Judith Clarke, proposed a toast to Radio Warneford, and Alan Chalmers, Town Mayor of Kenilworth, cut a cake, decorated as a radio studio console, to mark the 50th anniversary.
Roy Dickel, a Trustee and Co-Secretary of the Hospital Broadcasting Association, which supports and looks after the interests of hospital radio stations across the country, presented long service awards, not only to the station itself for fifty years on the air, but also to individual members. On the night, Valda Reid received an award for 35 years as a volunteer, Paul Deavall for 20 years, Chris Ackroyd for 15 years and Andy Dowell for 40 years. There were also awards for members who were unable to attend the evening event – Mike Squire for 50 years, Gayle Harris and Adrian Newell for 20 years and Lynn Taylor for 10 years.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]