Category: Specials
Opinion: Global Radio are right to fight
BLOG: By John Myers. So Global radio have decided to fight – good on them!
Why Bauer is allowed to change Kerrang!
The closure of Kerrang! 105.2 is the latest in a raft of changes being made by Bauer Media to its radio division.
How to create the 24 hour breakfast show
Ahead of the session at JockFest, Simon Hirst’s producer Scott Myers looks at how switching off from your listeners after your show has ended, is a big no no.
Radio Book Review: Team, it’s only radio!
Radio Today and eRADIO brings you the first ever review of the new radio book by John Myers – as published in eRADIO 10th October 2012.
Darren Henley on 20 years of Classic FM
This month sees the 20th anniversary of the launch of Global Radio’s national classical music station, Classic FM. Managing Director Darren Henley looks back for Radio Today.
Viewpoint: Andrew Harrison on Radio 1
Andrew Harrison is Chief Executive of RadioCentre – the trade body for commercial radio. Today he shares his view on the challenge ahead for BBC Radio 1′s Ben Cooper.
Interview: Presenter & comedian Jon Holmes
First published in eRADIO, we chat to Jon Holmes about winning Best Entertainment Producer.
Feature: Real to Heart, Smooth to Gold?
With news this week that the Guardian Media Group has had offers for its radio business, there’s speculation a deal could be announced in the not-too-distant future. But what would happen if Global bought the Real and/or Smooth brands? And what does the future hold for the sector with another spurt of consolidation on the cards?
Scores more jobs lost, along with at least one – maybe two – UK radio brands. If the Global takeover of GMG Radio goes ahead it’ll be another sad day for commercial radio. More networking, fewer presenting opportunities and less plurality of news sources. But as we’ve said before, commercial radio is about making money – and by sharing buildings, programmes and production, news and backroom staff there are major costs to be stripped out and profits to be targeted.
Feature: These are defining times in radio
The focus this week in the industry has once again been on local commercial radio. In many cases, small stations are struggling to make ends meet, and for some the only option is to consider whether there’s a better option than handing back the licence and depriving local advertisers of a marketing outlet that’s needed more than ever in these tough economic times.
In a special comment piece, Radio Today Editor Stuart Clarkson considers whether full-service local radio has had its day and whether it’s time to quit the moaning and move on.
Feature: Radio brands go local in 2012
Three years on, is anyone actually still missing Plymouth Sound, Fox FM or SGR? After a period of major consolidation in our industry followed by re-positioning by the big boys, we’re entering the next phase for UK radio brands: regional and local ones.
In a special feature, Radio Today Editor Stuart Clarkson takes a look at what Orion, UTV and Celador are doing to keep up with the Global Radio brands dominating some of their patches.
Viewpoint: UTV boss on the 5 live review
The publication of this week’s BBC Trust service review on Radio 5 live called for more news and more minority sports coverage. But what does its main rival talkSPORT make of the report?
UTV Media (GB) Managing Director Scott Taunton writes for Radio Today on the questions it raises for BBC management…
Feature: Orion’s Phil Riley on Free Radio
The Chief Executive of Orion Media has told Radio Today that rebranding four West Midlands stations as Free Radio is about enticing new listeners, delivering value for money and improving national sales revenues.
Phil Riley defended the decision to say goodbye to heritage radio brands BRMB, Mercia, Beacon and Wyvern and suggested that the new name would grow on people over time.
Radio Today launches features magazine
Delegates at this year’s Radio Festival are this morning getting the first look at a new features magazine aimed at the radio industry.
Today we’ve published a preview edition of ‘RadioToday THE MAGAZINE’, which we intend to produced monthly from next year.
Viewpoint: Bauer's Steve Parkinson
Steve Parkinson, Managing Director, Bauer Radio London, is responsible for the Magic and Kiss brands, which took number one and two commercial market share positions in London, according to latest RAJAR figures.
Previously he was Managing Director for Bauer Scotland and Marketing Director for the 42-station Bauer Radio portfolio; and in his own words, at 43, he “has been around the UK block a bit”. Before joining Emap/Bauer five years ago, he was MD of Heart and Galaxy for Chrysalis.
Viewpoint: Kerrang's James Walshe
"Whilst mooching the aisles of a well-known electrical superstore recently, I happened upon a large display of items that distressed me. Amid the sparkle of humming laptops, tasty gadgets and a stylish new generation of TV, the display in question stood out like a shelf of dusty junk.
With all the allure of a donkey in a stable of stallions, the DAB radio looks a bit crap, doesn’t it? I scanned the aisle and browsed a heap of old fashioned looking boxes – some made of wood and some with handles – all of them with the style and modernity of a coal shovel.
Viewpoint: GMG Radio’s Andy Carter
Over the last week I’ve had two experiences which have reminded me what is truly important for our industry.
I spent Monday morning at a conference looking into the future of TV in the UK- it was a truly bleak start to the week. On the agenda a discussion around reducing regulation, improving audience measurement, ‘revolutionary’ new ways of gaining increased share of revenues from national agencies, (all of which looked like traditional S&P in the radio world) a key note speaker defending his position for the city in light of falling revenues and all against a backdrop of uncertainty and vigorous change. Interestingly, not one speaker mentioned anything about making unmissable TV.
Interview: Digital Radio’s Ford Ennals
Ten questions makes its way to the Digital Radio UK office, where we find CE Ford Ennals.
Interview: BRMB programmer Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye is the Programme Director for BRMB. In the past few months, the station has gone through plenty of changes to bring the station back to its glory days.
RadioToday.co.uk caught up with Paul to ask him a few questions about BRMB of the past, present and future.
Inside an Academy Masterclass
Each year the Radio Academy educate and inform the next generation of radio talent by supporting them with a number of day long Masterclasses.
The latest was last week, on site at the Radio One Big Weekend in Bangor, ably hosted by Sky's Lynsey Hooper.
Sonys: Absolutely Fabulous
Well, it had to be the headline didn’t it?
Sony nominations night has been and gone. For those who’ve entered, it’s a bit like waiting to hear if you’ve made the school football team. As you stand alongside your peers, bottle of lager in your sweaty palm, nervously awaiting your fate!
More backbone needed at BBC
Ashley Bryne writes: I’m a great believer in the BBC. It’s one of the things that makes me feel proud to be British but I’m sick to the back teeth of the corporation being on the defensive.
There is so much great programming to shout about but all we hear about is compliance, cuts and reviews.
Time for a change in local radio
With a number of local commercial stations having gone into administration recently, it’s vital that Ofcom act to allow much greater flexibility in how both local commercial radio stations and community radio stations operate, if they are to survive, writes the owner of Superstation Orkney, Dave Miller.
The Student Radio way of life
Student radio stations are a place where you can be truly creative and try new ideas on-air, freedom which you will not be able to find in many places in the Radio Industry. It is also the place where the hard work of individuals can be highly praised as well as the stations themselves.
An all tweeting general election
Media consultant Justin Kings has a sneak preview of radio’s election coverage, with an emphasis on putting listeners at the centre of it.
So, how would your station cover the election of Prime Minister Cameron?
Rogers: Further DAB concerns
Previous assurances and commitments made to the commercial radio sector about the roll out of DAB are “unravelling before our eyes” claims UKRD’s Chief Executive.
Following recent answers to Parliamentary questions by Secretary of State, Ben Bradshaw, William Rogers has expressed further concerns about the costs of DAB.
Interview: Radio futurologist James Cridland
In a new regular feature, we pose 10 questions to people in the radio spotlight.
This week, we speak to James Cridland, who talks about how a hash tag probably won't actually save BBC 6 Music, and how he'd like to get behind the microphone again.
PD Grad School – event report
UK Radio Consultant Paul Chantler has been attending the annual PD Grad School conference in Los Angeles, California where the interface between Facebook, Twitter and Radio was the focus.
Paul reports exclusively for RadioToday.co.uk..
Listening with interest to Evans
After months of speculation and weeks of promotion, Chris Evans finally started on the new Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning, and like many others I was listening with interest from 7.00.
