Here it is… Our radio industry predictions for 2019…

Once a year we pretend to be radio futurologists and predict the future of radio, with our annual radio industry predictions.

The truth is, with deregulation and the continued movement of the top talent in the industry, anything could happen in 2019. So we’ve gone for some tongue-in-cheek predictions this year along with one or two which have a more than 50% chance of happening.

Comments are open for a few days if you want to add yours!

Happy New Year!

January

Global announces details of networking at Capital, including plans for 2BR..

Simon Mayo announces his new weekday national radio show…. a drivetime show on a digital station..

February

Iain Lee given a special honour for his heroic actions saving listeners from certain death..

Changes at Heart as the daytime schedule changes completely..

March

Bauer to rebrand Viking, Hallam and Aire as Hits Radio (Yorkshire)..

OXIS Media launches JACK 4 & Dance “Dancing when we want”..

April

Global expands the Heart brand into Northern Ireland with the purchase of Q Radio Network..

Ofcom advertises second DAB multiplex for Greater Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow..

May

Charlie Sloth joins Beats 1 overnights..

Bauer launches Country Hits Radio on DAB ‘nationwide’, to complement Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio..

June

OXIS Media launches JACK 5 & Talk in Oxford “Talking when we want”..

BBC Local Radio stations drop the network branding in favour of individual idents..

July

Bliss Radio closes after 12 months of ‘successful’ broadcasting..

Podcast Radio launches with broadcast-friendly podcasts in hour-long slots..

August

Scott Mills makes the move from the BBC to Commercial Radio..

Steve Allen moved to weekends at LBC..

September

Emma Bunton returns to Heart Breakfast in time for national expansion..

OXIS Media launches JACK 6 & Rock “Rocking when we want”..

October

Six-month RAJAR figures for Virgin Radio gives the station double the audience year-on-year..

Celador sold as Paul Smith retires..

November

Ofcom advertises first round of SSDAB licences..

Music Formats relaxed by Ofcom, meaning a large amount of ‘format flips’ are planned for January 2020..

December

Iain Lee’s honour removed after he admits the guy on the phone from plymouth was a plant..

OXIS Media launches JACK 7 & Folk “Folking when we want”..

Disclaimer… we made all of these up and have no idea if any will come true or not. Thanks for reading!