Date: Tuesday 9th January 2024

Time: 12:30-13:15 

Location: Zoom 

Moderator:  Phil Riley, Chair of Judges, ARIAS and CEO, Boom Radio UK 

Panel: 

• Kiran Nandra, Radio Academy Trustee and Producer at BBC Radio 1Xtra
• Nick Pitts, Content Director, Scala Radio
• Camilla Byk, Co-Founder Podium.me, Podium.me

As we approach the time of year where the UK’s radio and audio industry and top content creators begin to reflect on their previous year’s work and prepare submissions for the upcoming ARIAS, we have assembled an esteemed panel of judges who will take you through their experiences of judging, the most significant trends that influence the decision-making process, and essential tips for brands thinking about entering this year.

Judges share their insights and advice on how to put together winning audio and text entries. 

During this lively discussion, we’ll unpack the following:

• How does the judging process and scoring criteria work?
• What excites the judges when they review entries?
• What will get you a high score?
• What else you need to consider when editing your 15 min audio entry
• Top tips: The dos and don’ts!

This webinar will be LIVE, with an option for you to send in your questions via the chat. 

A video and podcast recording will also be available on the website after the event.

The expert panel:

Kiran Nandra is a Radio Academy Trustee and Producer at BBC Radio 1Xtra. Starting locally at BBC Radio Berkshire, Kiran worked with commercial and restricted service license stations in Slough, London and Southampton as well as in television with Newsroom South East, BBC Two’s First Sight and The Holiday Programme on BBC One before moving to the Midlands to spearhead the BBC Asian Network’s first national digital broadcast with Adil Ray in 2002.

During her time at the network, Kiran launched a versatile range of multi-genre specialist music and daytime shows with both brand new and established presenters, including a 3-part production for Radio 3’s World Routes programme. She moved to television as a Researcher for BBC Two’s lifestyle show, Desi DNA with Anita Rani and Nihal Arthanayake in 2006 and returned to Asian Network working across a range of daytime output, re-launching Drivetime and undertaking a stint as Editor in 2019.

Completing a CMI-Certified Leadership Apprenticeship with the BBC Academy in 2020, Kiran saw a move to BBC Radio 1Xtra, launching the UK’s first Official Afrobeats Chart with Eddie Kadi and producing stalwarts Trevor Nelson and Yasmin Evans alongside new music champions, Sian Anderson, Tazer Black, Reece Parkinson, Jeremiah Asiamah and Nick Bright. Kiran actively promotes culture change as a UK-wide BBC Inclusion Champion and reverse-mentor to senior leaders. Outside of radio, Kiran has spent more than a decade as a school governor in two educational settings and is currently a link governor with the media department for GCSE and A-Level students at her former secondary school.  

Nick Pitts has been part of the radio and audio landscape for 30 years, ranging from BBC National to launching small scale and DAB, via award winning big London breakfast shows and national commercial radio, in producing, creating imaging and leading for some of the UKs largest groups of the day.

Today, he is an innovative and creative leader in the specialist music radio world where he for Bauer Audio UK he is currently Content Director of Jazz FM and Scala Radio.  He has been part of the furniture of Jazz FM since it’s digital relaunch in 2008, with a journey from producer to board member when the brand was sold to Bauer Media, where he was part of the sale process and oversaw the integration in to the new owner.  He also has responsibility for leading the globally respected Jazz FM Awards and created and led its 30th Anniversary “Established 1990” initiative.  He added the Scala Radio to his portfolio in late 2022.

Nick strives to find creative opportunities in everything – on air, off air and in sales.  For the Radio Academy, Nick has been Creative Director for the Radio Festival in 2018 and 2019, plus the ARIAS 2020, and the Chair of the virtual Radio Festival for 2020.

Camilla Byk MBE co-founded Podium.me, a non-profit podcast production and training organisation in 2012. Her mission is to hear young people represented and respected in the media. The audio platform known as ‘Podium’ equips young people aged 16 – 25 with the skills and opportunities to create podcasts and dramas inspired by their own lives and experiences. They have won awards for innovation and their grassroots approach.  Fellow and former trustee of The Radio Academy.

Phil Riley is currently CEO of Boom Radio, a business he co-founded with partner David Lloyd in October 2020 and which has been one of the most high profile, successful media launches of recent times.

Phil’s early career was spent at BRMB Radio in Birmingham, then moving to Leeds as Managing Director of Radio Aire. 

Phil joined the Chrysalis Group in 1994, and as Managing Director, he masterminded the launch and start-up operational phase of both 100.7 Heart FM in the West Midlands and Heart 106.2 FM in London. Phil played a major role in establishing Chrysalis Radio as one of the leading new entrants in the UK radio industry and was promoted to the role of Radio Division Chief Executive in June 1999, joining the plc Board. He led the sale of the radio business to Global in 2007, generating a near £100m profit for the group.

In July 2009 Phil spearheaded the acquisition of eight AM/FM Midlands licences from Global Radio, backed by the UKs leading Mid-Market Private Equity Company, LDC. He ran the businesses from their Birmingham base before the sale of the business to Bauer Media in 2016, again generating a substantial profit for shareholders.

Phil is a fellow of the Radio Academy, is Chair of judges for the Industry ARIA awards, and was named one of the 40 most influential figures in commercial radio’s first 40 years. In 2014 he was awarded the Arqiva “Special Award” for his “outstanding and continuing leadership within the radio industry”. 

Phil has an MBA (specialising in Marketing) from Columbia Business School.

The post Inside the judging room: How to win an ARIA appeared first on Radio Academy.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the members of The Radio Academy will be held on Tuesday 12th December 2023 at 5.30-6:30pm, followed by a Winter Social event with Xperi from 6:30pm until 9pm. The in person events will take place in Soho, London.

All members are welcome to register attendance to the AGM (in person or online), the Winter Social, or both.

Register your place

The Radio Academy Annual General Meeting - 5:30-6:30pm

We hereby give notice under Article 11 of the Articles of Association of The Radio Academy that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the members of The Radio Academy will be held on Tuesday 12th December 2023 at 5.30-6:30pm.

This will be a hybrid meeting, with members able to attend in person in Soho, London, or via Zoom.  Members will not be asked to vote on any resolutions.  The Agenda of the AGM shall be:

• Summary of Radio Academy Activity during 2023
• Audited Accounts for 2022, and Forecast for 2023
• Trustees retiring, and announcement of Trustees Election
• Questions to the Chair (questions should be submitted in advance)

Members who wish to attend the AGM, either virtually or in person, must register here. Further details and joining instructions will be provided to all registered attendees before the meeting, including a link to submit questions for the Chair in advance.

 

Winter Social with The Radio Academy and Xperi - from 6:30pm until 9pm

Join us for a warming drink and some food at our Winter Social with Xperi, from 6:30pm until 9pm at House of St Barnabas in Soho, London.

This is a chance to bring together our audio community to meet and celebrate another year of fantastic audio innovation and creativity!

The event is free to all Radio Academy Members to attend but you must register your place early to secure your place as there is limited space at the venue.

The post The Radio Academy AGM & Winter Social 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

You are invited to join us for drinks and socialising with audio colleagues to close our Foot In The Door event in Leeds on Wednesday 8th November. The Foot In The Door event offers training workshops and opportunity to meet industry guests in a facilitated speed-networking session. After this, we will open a social event for all Radio Academy members to come along for free and meet our delegates, industry guests and other people working in audio across your local region.

When: Wednesday 8th November 17:30-19:00

Where: Terrace Bar, Leeds University Student Union

Attendance is free and the first drink is on The Radio Academy! You must register if you’d like to come along.

Know someone who would benefit from attending our training workshops? Spread the word about Foot In The Door and help us to open access to new and upcoming talent in audio. To attend the workshops or speed-networking, you must purchase a ticket at £6 for Radio Academy members or £12 for non-members.

The post Radio Academy Yorkshire Branch Social, part of Foot In The Door Leeds appeared first on Radio Academy.

The post NI Branch Summer Social 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

Held at The Royal College of Physicians, London with speakers and panels across three stages.  Includes lunch, and an evening pizza reception.

Date confirmed for 12 September 2023, with tickets on sale later this year.

The post The Radio Academy Festival 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

Thanks to all who came to our Summer Social at Radisson Red Glasgow!

At the event we love to chat to people and find out what you would like to get out of these Radio Academy meet-ups, and any topics you would like to hear about so we can line-up future speakers.

Events are held regularly across the UK and everyone is welcome! Across radio, podcasting or music, whether you are independent, at the BBC, commercial, hospital, student, community, online, and whichever area of audio you work in, from engineering to presenting and everything in between. If you love and work in audio, come and mingle with us.

First drink is on The Radio Academy!

When?  7 September 2023 from 6-9pm
Where? Raddison Red Sky Bar, 25 Tunnel Street, Glasgow, G3 8HL

 

The post Scotland Branch Summer Social 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

Meet the MD

At our Last Mondays July event we met the new Managing Director of The Radio Academy, Aradhna Tayal Leach. She shares her story, which spans 20 years working in audio, TV and technology, and talks about what’s exciting her the most about her new role at the helm of The Radio Academy.

Aradhna spoke with 2022 30 Under 30 alumna Sylvie Carlos.

Sylvie is a multi-award-winning audio producer, host and PhD researcher. Her work across the podcasting and radio sector has unapologetically focused on amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities, with a particular focus on Black-British stories.

Radio Academy Last Mondays are our monthly members' networking events, with drinks and a guest speaker.

Every month, people working or volunteering across all areas of audio are invited to meet, grow their network and hear from inspirational speakers, at the Radio Academy Last Mondays events. As the name suggests, the gatherings will be held on the last Monday of each month, and are open to all Radio Academy Members.

Not a member? You can join today to access this event and also catch-up on past events with our member's catch-up videos.

The post Radio Academy Last Mondays – July 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

Summer Social with Create Central and the Digbeth Estate

We heard from Stuart Thomas, Head of BBC in the Midlands and Faron McKenzie, Head of BBC 1Xtra. The BBC's new studio space in the Tea Factory will house BBC Radio WM, BBC Asian Network, Radio One’s Newsbeat, daytimes on 1Xtra and The Archers, as well as Midlands Today and the online teams. Stuart also talks about the arrival of Masterchef to Digbeth.

Then meet Nick Toon from Create Central, who talks about the transformation of Digbeth into a world class creative centre of excellence, including the new studio complex from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

Guests also explored The Bond, the new creative hub housing podcast studios, co-working space and the studio home of the Joe Lycett show.

Members can catch-up on past events in our resources hub. A video of this Midlands event will be available soon.

Events are held regularly across the UK and everyone is welcome! Across radio, podcasting or music, whether you are independent, at the BBC, commercial, hospital, student, community, online, and whichever area of audio you work in, from engineering to presenting and everything in between. If you love and work in audio, come and mingle with us.

The post Midlands Branch Summer Social 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

At the event we love to chat to people and find out what you would like to get out of these Radio Academy Yorkshire meet-ups, and any topics you would like to hear about so we can line-up future speakers. The audio landscape has changed considerably over the last ten years and we would like these meet-ups to reflect that.

Events are held regularly across the UK and everyone is welcome! Across radio, podcasting or music, whether you are independent, at the BBC, commercial, hospital, student, community, online, and whichever area of audio you work in, from engineering to presenting and everything in between. If you love and work in audio, come and mingle with us.

This event was organised by Rebecca Huxtable (BBC) and Becky Lamb-Pritchard (This is Distorted) for The Radio Academy in Yorkshire.

The post Yorkshire Branch Summer Social 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.

Join us for our Summer Social at Exe Restaurant in Exeter.  Come and catch up with friends, colleagues and meet new associates!

Everyone is welcome - if you work at BBC, commercial, hospital, student, community, podcasting or online radio. If you love audio, come and mingle with us

First drink is on The Academy!

When? Thursday 29 June 2023 - 18:00 onwards
Where? Exe Restaurant, 14 Mary Arches St, Exeter EX4 3AZ

The post South West Branch Summer Social 2023 appeared first on Radio Academy.