The nominations for the 2008 Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards have been announced at a special event in London, hosted by Heart 106.2’s Nick Snaith with singer Beth Rowley providing the entertainment.
The nominations stack up like this: Bauer gets 15, GCap gets 12 (including one for Xfm South Wales), UTV Radio gets four, GMG, Global, Virgin and TLRC receive three each and it's one a piece for CN, Lincs, UKRD and Town and Country (not including Xfm South Wales).
The Station of the Year award for over a million TSA is a battle between GCap's Classic FM, Xfm Manchester and Bauer's Magic 105.4, whilst GMG Radio are nominated in the marketing, production and news categories.
Soon to be re branded Virgin Radio has gained three nominations, for National Sales Team of the Year, the Programme or Feature of the Year (for V Festival 2007) and the News Award.
Xfm South Wales, which has recently closed, was home to Rhys and Eggsy – nominated for The Arqiva / Skillset Commercial Radio Presentation Newcomer(s) of the Year. New owners Town and Country Broadcasting are re-launching the station as Nation Radio on June 16th.
Xfm Manchester, GWR Bristol and 107.6 Juice FM are the only local stations to receive more than one nomination.
The full list of nominations are below, and were chosen from a record number of entries. New awards have also been unveiled this year – PPL Most Played Artist on Commercial Radio and The Arqiva Schools Radio Network Award.
The Nominations in full:
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Marketing Award[/b]
Stuart Robinson – Citybeat
Julie Halford, Melanie Wills and Riah Matthews – Heart 106
Gavin Bruce and Jay Crawford – Real Radio Scotland
[b]The Arqiva National Sales Team of the Year[/b]
Bauer Advertising
talkSPORT
Virgin Radio
[b]The Arqiva Local Sales Team of the Year[/b]
Central FM
GWR Wiltshire
Orchard FM
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Station of the Year < 300,000 TSA[/b]
Northsound 1
Star Radio Cambridge
97.2 Stray FM
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Station of the Year 300,000 – 1 million TSA[/b]
Beacon Radio (West Midlands)
GWR Bristol
Lincs FM
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Station of the Year > 1 million TSA[/b]
Classic FM
Magic 105.4
Xfm Manchester
[b]The Arqiva / RCS Commercial Radio Programmer of the Year
[/b]
Paul Andrew – GWR Bristol
Andy Roberts – Kiss 100
Matt Whyatt – Xfm Manchester
[b]The Arqiva / Skillset Commercial Radio Presentation Newcomer(s) of the Year[/b]
Chris Wise – 107.4 The Quay
Hywel Evans and Jamie Atherton – 97.4 Rock FM
Rhys and Eggsy – Xfm South Wales
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Presenter(s) of the Year[/b]
Boogie and Jill – 97.3 Forth One
Emma B – Heart 106.2
Jo and Twiggy – Trent FM
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Station Sound Award[/b]
James Stodd, Arden Hanley and Dan Riedo – Capital 95.8
Matt Robinson and GMG Group Imaging Team
talkSPORT Creative
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio News Award[/b]
Nomia Iqbal and Katie Collins – 107.6 Juice FM
97.4 Rock FM News Team
Virgin Radio News Team
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Programme or Feature of the Year[/b]
‘Gun Crime’ – Century Radio 105.4
‘The Rehab’ – Kiss Network
‘V Festival 2007’ – Virgin Radio
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Station Creative Award[/b]
Andrew Fraser, Jessica Smith and Mark Aldred – Kiss 105-108
Tom Turner and Sharon Dennis – Metro Radio
Andy Griffiths and Mike Doyle – 102.1 Swansea Bay Radio
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Technical Innovation Award[/b]
myclassicfm – Classic FM
100.7 Heart fm Multimedia – 100.7 Heart fm
Juicetube – 107.6 Juice FM
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Digital Station of the Year[/b]
GaydarRadio
Heat Radio
The Hits
[b]The Arqiva Commercial Radio Social Action Initiative Award[/b]
Bauer Radio – For the Kids Day
CFM – Robbie's Runners
Severn Sound – The Floods 2007
[b]The Arqiva Schools Radio Award (in association with Vision Charity)[/b]
Maxine Bradley – King Edward VI School, Morpeth
Ringwood School in Hampshire
Becky Hardesty – Royal National College for the Blind
Andrew Harrison, chief executive of RadioCentre said: “Commercial Radio offers a huge breadth of programming including news and current affairs, sport, community and local issues and a vast range of music. The Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards are a great opportunity for the stations to highlight the programming they make; output that is loved by the 31 million listeners who tune in each week.”
Paul Eaton, head of radio at Arqiva said: “Yet again we have received a record number of entries for the awards, emphasising the continuing growth of the Commercial Radio sector and the innovation and skill present in the industry. We are coming into our ninth year of sponsorship and we are delighted with the submissions this year, and the time that entrants have clearly dedicated to them. We are proud to support the sector and, as with every year, look forward to recognising the winners of the 2008 awards”.
Two new awards have been introduced: The Arqiva Schools Radio Network Award, in association with the Vision Charity, for the most outstanding audio production produced by one or more pupils in full time primary or secondary education during the course of the previous twelve months, and the Most Played Artist on Commercial Radio Award sponsored by PPL, the music industry service company that licenses the broadcast of sound recordings in the UK on behalf of record companies and performers. The PPL award will honour the artist or band that has received the most airplay across Commercial Radio during the previous year.
Fran Nevrkla, chairman and chief executive officer of PPL/VPL said: "Although PPL has been involved in the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards for the last several years, I am delighted that it has now been put on a more formal footing which gives PPL the opportunity to sponsor a new key award. We are only too pleased to collaborate with our friends and colleagues from the broadcasting industry in the knowledge that music makes the world a better place."
Virgin Radio’s breakfast show presenter Christian O’Connell will host the ceremony which will take place on Monday, 7th July at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. There will also be a live music performance by a special guest.
