Student duo get commercial radio shows

Two student radio stars from Sunderland’s 107 Spark FM are making their commercial radio debuts this weekend.

Jodie Bryant impressed the ‘Demo Factor’ judges at last month’s Student Radio Conference and will do a show tonight on Absolute Radio 90s.

Another Spark FM presenter, Kyle Wilkinson, is doing his first show on Capital FM North East tomorrow morning.

Absolute Radio presenter Vicki Blight was on the panel of judges who listened to Jodie’s demo and critiqued it in front of an audience at the SRA Conference in Bradford in early April. She said: “Jodie will present 2hrs on our national digital radio station Absolute Radio 90s. I believe her relaxed, chatty, northern wit will fit right in. This is the lady who made the entire Student Radio Conference erupt with laughter.”

Jodie said: “When I entered Demo Factor I never even expected to get my demo played the whole way through, let alone earn a show on national radio! It’s been the most unbelievable week ever and I can’t think of a better way to end it then on Absolute Radio 90s with Vicki. It shows that anything can happen in radio! I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and I’ve loved every single minute it has been amazing!”

Jodie will be on Absolute Radio 90s from 7pm tonight (Friday 25th May).

Kyle, meanwhile, is the Student Radio Association’s Events Officer and presented at Spark FM while studying in Sunderland. He’s previously presented for Amazing Radio and does his first show on Capital across the North East from 8am on Saturday.

He said: “This will be the first live show I’ve presented this year, so I’m quite excited. I’ve been in already to do some dry-runs and programme controller Giles Tanner has given me loads of great feedback, helping me to develop.”

Spark FM was named the Radio Academy’s Nations and Regions Station of the Year for the North East, and earlier this month also got nominations for two documentaries at the New York Festivals Radio Awards.