Four things we learned at Radio Festival 2016

Earlier this week, the Radio Academy held its annual Radio Festival, drawing together some of the brightest and best in the industry to celebrate another successful year of broadcasting. The venue was The British Library. The Festival’s theme, and indeed, the word on everyone’s lips, was “Disruption.” Radio Academy’s theme for this year is appropriate in these times of breakneck technological development and dramatic political upheaval. Here are four things we learned from Radio Festival 2016, as we prepare for the potentially choppy waters ahead.

1) Facebook sees the future in video. Addressing the conference, Facebook’s Patrick Walker revealed that there was little danger of there being a “Facebook FM” being set up in the near future. According to Walker, Facebook video uploads are up by an astonishing 94% this year, perhaps partly due to the success of the interactive “Facebook Live.” And with Facebook ploughing millions into future projects such as virtual reality and 360° footage, it’s clear that the social media giant has its sights set on pictures, rather than sound.
The big question for the radio industry is whether there are ways in which our medium can complement the innovations in video connectivity made by social media platforms like Facebook. Walker spoke of how stations like Radio X, BBC Radio 1, and others, have embraced these opportunities wholeheartedly. These stations produce exciting audio content, but by also filming live recordings of their programmes for online release, they have attracted millions of hits and gained viral notoriety with visual-hungry Millennials.

2) Radio listening in the UK is in rude health, but the youth market is a huge challenge. Speaking on the behavioural habits of her key audience, YouTuber Hannah Witton revealed that currently, young people do not have a strong enough impetus to consume live media. Radio is at a disadvantage among Millennials, as straight audio clips are less likely to become viral sensations, unless accompanied by footage. The BBC’s Helen Boaden also emphasised the challenges of serving the younger demographic in a discussion about opportunities for content makers, entitled “It’s All Up for Grabs!”, hosted by Radiocentre CEO Siobhan Kenny.

For comics David Baddiel and Bob Mortimer, radio’s increasingly outspoken “editorial commissioning voice” prevents broadcasters from pushing the boundaries they need to keep younger listeners interested. In contrast, Millennials have been driving a huge spike in podcast downloads in recent years. Fellow radio comedian, Richard Herring, revealed that he is afforded more creative freedom as a podcaster. As a “sole creator,” a podcaster’s art is more unpolished, yet can retain extra humour and authenticity, as less material is lost to the cutting room floor.

Geoff Lloyd in conversation with David Baddiel, Hannah Witton and Bob Mortimer

3) If broadcasters wish to best serve their listeners and viewers in these politically turbulent times, they must change the way that they produce news. Veteran BBC political pundit, Nick Robinson, and LBC’s controversial commentator, Katie Hopkins, both cut potentially rather prophetic figures at Monday’s Festival. The latter is convinced of, and indeed relishes, the prospect of a “Trumpit” scenario, America’s answer to our Brexit, in which Trump will defeat rival Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House.
Back on this side of the pond, Nick Robinson predicts that “Article 50 will be triggered at some point before Easter next year.” He also warned that news outlets must strive for complete impartiality in order to provide audiences with answers to “alternative outcomes.” Using Labour as an example, Robinson stressed that the media cannot “report solely on the splits in the party,” but should focus their efforts on “reporting on the real prospect of Corbyn becoming Prime Minister.” After all, it should be the news provider’s primary function to inform its listeners, and not to scare them.

4) The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to backing radio, and though it is “yet to have its finest hour”, Hancock said he was “excited to work with [the industry] to see that hour come.” Hancock also specified DCMS’s three-pronged approach to continuing the growth of UK radio. They include, first of all, ‘backing success’ through the BBC Charter Review and proposals for consultation on deregulation, which he announced will happen by end of the year. Secondly, “access”, endeavouring to make all media more accurately reflect modern Britain through diversity programmes. And third was “synthesis”, with Hancock pledging to help radio embrace technological disruption and take advantage of the opportunities that rapid digitisation brings. His session was produced by Matt Payton, Director of External Affairs at Radiocentre.

This year’s Radio Festival was filled with sound ideas and thought provoking words. Though the times are a-changing, there is no doubt that the industry will meet the new challenges head-on. Radio, the original broadcast medium, has an incomparable history of weathering the storms of disruption, and emerging even more exciting than before.