Month: December 2025

Fix Radio is revamping its weekday drive programme with comedian Josh James set to headline a new afternoon show from January.

The Builders Station has confirmed Josh will front a new three-hour programme airing from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Thursday, aimed at entertaining tradespeople on their journey home at the end of the working day.
Josh will be joined by his close friend and tiler Chris White, with the pair already familiar to listeners through their podcast and online success with That Josh James Show. Fix Radio says the new programme will bring together situational humour, trade chat and light-hearted conversation, reflecting the realities of life on site and on the road.
The station says the appointment forms part of a wider refresh of its schedule, focused on strengthening its afternoon output and keeping listeners engaged during peak listening hours.

Andy Shier, director of programming at Fix Radio, said the station is confident the new show will connect with its national audience of tradespeople and support future growth. He said: “Fix Radio is investing in on-air talent that we’re confident will build our audience reach and listening hours.”
Josh said the new show is designed to provide a lift at the end of a long day. He said: “Heading home in the van is when tradespeople need a laugh the most. If you’re stuck in traffic or worrying about the next job after a stressful day, we’ll try to make things feel a bit lighter.”
The new programme will go to air from 12 January and joins other recent schedule changes at the station. Earlier this month, Fix Radio announced that tradesman and social media creator Daryl Robinson will also be joining the line-up from January.
Meanwhile, Trev and Rich, who have hosted Down Tools since 2022, will remain part of the station following the changes, moving to a new Saturday slot as part of the updated weekend schedule.

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Podcasting and audio now have formal representation on the Creative Industries Council following a campaign led by AudioUK.

The move gives the UK podcasting and audio sector a direct voice at the highest level of creative industry policymaking, recognising its growing creative, cultural and economic contribution alongside established sectors such as film, television, music and games.
The decision follows a coordinated lobbying effort by AudioUK, the industry body representing podcasting and audio, which saw more than 400 audio businesses sign an open letter to government calling for formal recognition of the sector as a core part of the UK’s creative industries.
A central aim of the campaign was to secure a seat on the Creative Industries Council, a goal that has now been achieved.
The Creative Industries Council brings together senior industry leaders and government to advise on policy, skills, investment and long-term growth. With podcasting and audio now represented, the sector will be able to contribute directly to discussions that shape funding priorities, workforce development and the future direction of the creative economy.
AudioUK has previously warned that the lack of formal representation risked podcasting and audio being overlooked in decisions affecting data collection, support schemes and growth strategies, despite the sector employing thousands of people and exporting content and expertise globally. The new position is intended to ensure the industry’s needs and opportunities are considered alongside those of other creative fields.
Chloe Straw, Chief Executive of AudioUK, said: “I am beyond delighted to be joining the Creative Industries Council, representing the podcast and audio industry in its first-ever dedicated seat.”
She added: “This is something we’ve been advocating for over many years, and it’s fantastic to see it come to fruition.”
AudioUK also paid tribute to those involved in the campaign, highlighting the role of Hannah Brankin and Katie Banham in building support across the sector and strengthening the case for recognition.
The appointment marks a new phase in the relationship between government and the podcasting and audio industry, with closer engagement expected on how the sector can continue to grow sustainably, develop skills and contribute to the UK’s wider creative ambitions.

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Commercial audio listening in the UK has reached a record high, with RAJAR MIDAS data showing strong growth driven by radio and digital listening.

The latest Autumn report shows commercial audio now delivers around 707 million listening hours each week, up from 581 million in 2019, representing a rise of 21 per cent over the period.
Commercial audio covers commercial radio on broadcast and IP, non-BBC podcasts and ad-supported music streaming services.
Broadcast radio continues to account for the largest share of listening, but the growth has been fuelled by increased use of connected devices. Listening via radio streams, podcasts and music streaming, grouped together as Digital Audio, has almost doubled since 2019, underlining how audiences are spreading their audio time across platforms while still relying heavily on radio.
The findings reinforce the scale delivered by commercial broadcasters, who provide access to both broadcast and digital audio in a single ecosystem. Earlier this year, Radiocentre’s Speed of Sound report showed commercial broadcasters account for around 90 per cent of all commercial audio listening, giving advertisers consistent reach regardless of how audiences choose to listen.
The MIDAS results also align with conclusions from High Gain Audio, a study carried out with WPP, which assessed the short and long-term return on investment from broadcast radio and digital audio separately. The research found that both formats outperform the all-media average, demonstrating the value of maintaining a balanced audio strategy rather than focusing on a single channel.
For advertisers, the research points to the importance of ambition in audio planning. The guidance highlights the benefit of supplementing broadcast radio with digital audio rather than replacing one with the other, and of using strong data inputs to understand how each element contributes to overall campaign performance.
RAJAR MIDAS, which measures internet-delivered audio services, returned with an Autumn release for the first time since 2023, providing a refreshed benchmark against pre-pandemic listening patterns and confirming the continued resilience and growth of commercial audio in the UK.

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]