BBC Radio 4 Controller Gwyneth Williams and former Magic 105.4 Managing Director Andria Vidler are the latest names added to the line-up for this year’s Radio Festival at Salford Quays.
Williams only took over the role heading up Radio 4 and what is now 4 Extra last year, while Vidler now works in the music industry as MD of EMI Records.
Gwyneth Williams will be outlining her vision for the channels she oversees, while Andria Vidler will offer her view on how well the relationship really works between radio stations and record labels.
Williams was previously Director of BBC World Service English and in a long career at the corporation has been Head of Radio Current Affairs and Editor of the BBC Reith Lectures.
Before joining EMI, Vidler was Bauer Media’s Chief Marketing Officer and has previously been MD of Magic London, MD of Capital 95.8 and the Capital FM network. Before joining Capital she worked at the BBC in marketing, including for the launch of Radio 5 Live.
Andria said: “I love radio, it plays a key part in my life. It plays a very important part for EMI and despite an ever changing media landscape radio has remained a vital ingredient within the music entertainment industry over the years. However, given the market dynamics and an increasing number of digital ways to reach the consumer, is that relationship destined to change?”
John Myers, Chief Executive of The Radio Academy, said: “It is wonderful that two people at the top of their game have agreed to speak at this year’s Radio Festival. Both Gwyneth and Andria are well-known and respected within media and I am sure they will provide some of the key talking points of the Festival. I am also excited to announce that the full Festival programme is due to be released within the next two weeks.”
Other highlights of the festival – taking place between 31 October and 2 November at The Lowry in Salford – include sessions featuring BBC Director General Mark Thompson, American radio DJ Elvis Duran and Radio 2’s Bob Harris OBE.
Find out more about the programme announced so far and how to get tickets on the Radio Academy website.
Posted on Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm by RadioToday UK