Industry News

Magic of broadcasting revealed at Radio Festival 2017

To the British Library yesterday, the hottest June day since 1976, for The Radio Academy’s 2017 Radio Festival.

This was the third festival to be held at the St Pancras venue, but there was nothing predictable about what lay ahead. The event had been hastily rearranged following the horrific terrorist attack in Manchester. Since then, of course, the UK has endured an apparently endless string of tragedies and a very strange summer so far. These recent events were discussed in one of the first sessions of the morning, when Key 103’s Michelle Livesey, Bauer’s Lydia Batham and Dave Terris of Sky/IRN took to the stage to discuss the challenges of presenting breaking news when that news is tragic and life changing.

Despite this context, both the theme of the Festival – Stand Out! – and the mood were remarkably upbeat and positive. Colin Murray was an irrepressibly amusing host and we were treated to a very funny (and frankly mind-boggling) discussion of My Dad Wrote a Porno, described as a “gateway podcast” for many, and some laugh out loud moments from Vernon Kay’s work at Radio X. Kay and Murray, both of whom have at various times worked for the BBC and in commercial radio, discussed the differences between presenting in each sector.

There was great excitement (following expert build up by Murray) when internationally renowned magicians Penn and Teller took to the stage.

A number of richly deserved Radio Academy fellowships were presented. Here at Radiocentre we were particularly pleased to see our colleague Michael Hill, MD of Radioplayer, honoured for his many years of sterling work in the industry. Michael echoed the mood of the event during his acceptance speech, saying that “we do our best work when we’re working together.”

The day was rounded off with Nicholas Parsons telling us how he moved into radio after starting life as an engineer. When his interviewer, Josie Lawrence, asked him for the secret of his success, he simply replied “Having talent, darling.”

Great work from the Radio Academy for pulling off a jam-packed, varied and truly magic Radio Festival this year, under difficult circumstances. We look forward to next year!

For more information visit www.radioacademy.org