The Radio Academy — the U.K. radio and audio industry charity established in 1983 to promote excellence in U.K. radio and audio – is inviting podcasters, broadcasters, designers and creators working in audio to this year’s Radio Academy Festival to learn, reflect and network. The annual festival held this year at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park, London, on Sept. 18, will feature a day of discussion, debate, sharing and celebration.
This year’s event is themed “Impact Amplified” and will span three stages. “The Radio Academy Festival is the key event for the audio industry to come together, be inspired, energized and equipped for the year ahead,” said Co-Chair and ARIAS stage producer Perminder Khatkar. “Whether you’re a longtime radio professional or just starting in podcasting, the festival will spark and provoke interesting ideas and career-enhancing conversations. It’s a space where you will learn and celebrate the impact of audio. You can’t afford to miss it.”
Executive producer Chris North added, “Across the Festival Stage, ARIAS and Impact Stages this year, we will hear from across the sector on the ever-changing ways we create impact and cut through the noise to reflect, represent, and reach audiences across the U.K. and globally.”
Topics will include AI’s impact on the industry, covering sporting and political events, and exploring news and reporting for young people. Other sessions will address why history is experiencing an audio renaissance.
Stellar line-up
Speakers at this year’s event include the following:
- Nick Wallis, broadcast journalist and presenter of ‘The Great Post Office Trial’ on BBC Radio 4, will be in conversation with Manveen Rana, host of ‘The Story,’ the flagship podcast from The Times and Sunday Times.
- Radio 2 DJ Trevor Nelson will discuss ‘Windrush 75’ — a concert telling the story of the far-reaching impact of Caribbean culture and music on the U.K. over the last 75 years.
- Comedian, podcaster and Virgin Radio presenter Suzi Ruffell, who’s currently on air on pop-up station Virgin Radio Pride, will lead the conversation on how radio, podcast and audio content can bring positive voices together across our communities.
- Poet, author and broadcaster Lady Unchained will discuss the recent ARIAS Best Specialist Music Show win for ‘Free Flow’ for the Prison Radio Association.
- Executive producer and PhD researcher Sylvie Carlos — a multi-award-winning radio/podcast producer focused on amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities, with a particular interest in Black-British stories.
- BBC Radio 2’s Scott Mills.
- Emma Louise Amanshia will co-host the Impact stage with Conor Knight. Amanshia currently presents ‘Newsround’ on CBBC for the BBC, traveling around the U.K. reporting on the stories that are most important to children and young people. Knight is a presenter on BBC Radio 1, FunKids and Essex FM. His comedy fact podcast, ‘Baffled,’ has charted in the U.K. Top 20 and U.S. Top 40.
- Matt Chorley, BBC Radio 5 Live’s latest recruit, will talk about how his new daytime show hopes to bring a different perspective to national political commentary and coverage.
- Kat Shoob — DJ, television and radio presenter. Shoob has broadcast across multiple commercial radio stations where she has interviewed some of the leading artists in the entertainment industry and is currently a co-host of Magic’s primetime ‘The 4 till 7 Show with Tom and Kat’ every weekday, as well as Magic Chilled on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Tom Price is a presenter, podcaster and comedian. Price is Shoob’s co-host on the ‘4 till 7 Show’ on Magic Radio. He also hosts the popular podcast ‘My Mate Bought A Toaster.’
- Pete Snodden — DJ, speaker and host of Northern Ireland’s hugely successful breakfast show on Cool FM.
- Aasmah Mir is the author of ‘A Glasgow Girl,’ published by Headline in 2024, formerly known as ‘A Pebble in the Throat.’ She is a columnist for The Sunday Times and an award-winning broadcaster who co-presents the Times Radio Breakfast show.
- James Williams — presenter on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast and formerly BBC Wales’ political correspondent. He is one of the hosts of the ‘Walescast’ podcast covering what’s happening in Welsh politics.
- Dan Noble — host of Absolute Radio Early Breakfast. He has also co-produced a documentary, ‘Woodstock at 50.’
- Molly Palmer — host of the BBC Radio Wales Tuesday evening program. Palmer previously worked at Radio Platfform, the youth-led radio station and training space at the Wales Millennium Centre.
- Digital media lawyer Cliff Fluet will demonstrate the power of AI for producers and creators. Fluet specializes in music tech brands, intellectual property, entertainment and innovation and offers strategic advice to some of the world’s biggest names in digital, mobile, social media, brands, music and live events.
- Sangita Myska is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster who has worked at the BBC and LBC. She works with the John Schofield Trust, encouraging a new generation of journalists into a rapidly changing industry.
- Neev Spencer is a radio and TV broadcaster currently presenting the afternoon show on Magic FM.
- Ahmed Hussain heads up the BBC Asian Network. His efforts have garnered multiple awards, including BBC Asian Network winning Gold at the 2024 ARIAS as the best radio station in the U.K. and recently posting its highest RAJAR numbers post-COVID.
- Tommy Dixon is an award-winning podcast producer and presenter from London and a member of The ReelWorld Radio Academy 30 under 30 class of 2023. He has produced programs for BBC Sounds, BBC World Service and Transmission Roundhouse.
Tickets for the Radio Academy Festival are now on sale — available here.
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