Sony pulls out of Radio Academy Awards

Sony has ended its sponsorship agreement with the Radio Academy after 32 years as sole sponsor of the annual radio industry awards.

From next year, the event will be known as The Radio Academy Awards and a new sponsor will be sought.

Sony has hit the headlines over the years for losing billions in revenue and closing plants, so cutting back on non-essential deals such as radio awards is to be expected.

The “Golden Headphones Award”, introduced this year and won by BBC Radio 1 presenters Dan & Phil now looks unlikely to be repeated.

Ben Cooper, Chairman of The Radio Academy said: “The Radio Academy would like to thank Sony for their magnificent 32 year support of what has become the UK’s gold standard radio awards.

The Radio Academy Awards will continue to celebrate the very best of the UK radio industry, but the media landscape has changed radically from when the awards first launched in the 1980’s offering the Academy great potential for some exciting new partnerships and ideas.”

Chris Bowen, Country Head, Sony United Kingdom & Ireland said: “Sony has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with the Radio Academy Awards for over thirty years, achieving huge recognition and respect within the British radio industry during that period. The awards ceremony itself has become an outstanding event showcasing the best radio talent on the air.

It is now time for Sony to move on and focus on other areas of the business. We wish The Radio Academy every success and we are delighted to have played our part in making these awards the most credible radio awards, not only in the UK, but worldwide.”