Ireland

Bauer has launched its biggest ever search for new talent across Red FM, 98FM and the Spin stations.
‘On-Air – The Next Radio Star’ is a big effort by the group to increase diversity and representation across its music and entertainment stations.
The stations hosted open days locally to find the next round of talent.
98FM & SPIN1038 hosted an open day in Dublin’s Dundrum Town Centre, Red FM hosted one at the Mahon Point Shopping Centre, whilst SPIN Southwest’s was at Crescent Shopping Centre.
The individual stations have all chosen their six new interim presenters, who will host programmes on-air over the coming months.
The project is co-funded by Coimisiún na Meán under the Sound and Vision Scheme.
SPIN Southwest On-Air Group (L – R : Vanessa Rosa, Godswill Jonas, Sarah Mc Ternan, Tadgh Kennedy, Dara O Cinneide, Jack Lyons)
SPIN1038 On-Air Final Group Shot 1 (L-R: Nicola Ní Dháibhí, Ashley Makombe, Chloe King, Jade Buttle, Sean Carey, Thammy Gough)
98FM On-Air Final Group Shot Photo (L-R: Michaela Lopes, Emily McEvoy, Cian Griffin, Nathalie Lennon, Donna Lyons, Thabile Hlongwane)
Red FM – Eimear Hallihan, John Paul Peyton, Avril Murphy, Kestine Ugbodu, Sophie Kirby and Storm Keating […]

LMFM presenter Michael Reade has died at the age of 58.
Michael announced recently he has cancer and that his diagnosis is terminal, but added that he’s not sad, just accepting his situation.
He’s been broadcasting for 43 years, and 21 of those were with LMFM, but has not been on the radio for over six months.
He’s also worked at East Coast Radio in Wicklow, Tipp FM in Tipperary, XFM in Copenhagen and Midlands 103 in Tullamore.
Earlier this month he won Gold at the IMRO Radio Awards for best Current Affairs programme on local radio.
The Chair of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, John Purcell, extended the condolences of everyone in the sector to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues, saying: “Michael Reade was a passionate, committed and very talented broadcaster.
“He had a unique connection to his listeners in counties Louth and Meath and reflected their concerns and priorities fairly, accurately and with balance through his work, in the very best traditions of broadcasting.”
“On behalf of all of his friends and colleagues in the industry, we wish to say that our thoughts are with his wife Sandra, his son Luke, brothers, sister, extended family and friends and colleagues at LMFM at this time.”
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. May he Rest in Peace.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris has also paid tribute. He said: “I want to send my condolences to Michael’s wife Sarah, his son Luke, brothers, sister and extended family on the untimely passing of Michael.
“I also want to offer my sympathies to his colleagues at LMFM and indeed, his loyal listeners.
“For over 20 years, Michael has been a voice to the frustrations, the celebrations and curiosity of people across Louth and Meath.
“For those of us who sat opposite him, he has been robust and tough but never unfair. Michael is a loss to journalism, a loss to the people of Louth and Meath but most particularly his family and friends.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. May he rest easy.” […]

Two KCLR listeners have been given a course of free fertility treatment worth €6,500.
Daily talk show presenter Brian Redmond surprised Rebecca Doyle and Séan Doherty in the studio with news that they had been randomly selected to receive the treatment .
This was part of the Fertility Focus segment which had been running for the previous eight weeks on The KCLR Daily in association with First IVF, firstivf.ie.
When the couple initially came into studio, they were unaware they had been randomly selected from the many couples who had contacted the show expressing an interest in receiving the free course of treatment. They thought they had just been shortlisted to tell their story as part of the process.
Kathleen Chada – CEO of First IVF who later joined the couple in studio reiterated that the couple had been randomly selected but that their “application was just lovely and it touched all of our hearts.”
Professor Ray O’Sullivan also from First IVF admitted that he and his team back at base had tears in their eyes listening to Rebecca and Sean’s story on KCLR. There were similar emotions among staff in the KCLR building to the couple’s reaction to having been selected to receive the course of treatment.
Listen to Brian tell Rebecca and Séan that they had been selected to receive the course of free IVF treatment here. […]

Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio is spearheading ‘The 40 Day Health Challenge’, a new initiative that’s all about getting people moving, eating well, and improving mental wellbeing.
The 40 Day Health Challenge, brought by the makers of Operation Transformation, is a free public health initiative aimed at inspiring people across Ireland to make sustainable lifestyle changes.
Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio is the premium radio partner along with ‘The Irish Sun’ as premium print partner.
Operation Transformation, the award-winning annual fitness initiative, ran on RTE radio and television for 16 years until its retirement from the schedules in 2023 and is produced by Vision Independent Productions, producers of Operation Transformation.
As part of the initiative, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio will be recruiting participants who are ready to dedicate 40 days to transforming their health, guided by experts from the RTE Operation Transformation TV series – GP Dr. Sumi Dunne, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Eddie Murphy, Personal Trainer Karl Henry, and Dietician Sophie Pratt.
Trina Mara will be keeping listeners engaged and motivated throughout the 40 Day Health Challenge with daily updates on Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio. She’ll be sharing exclusive interviews with the experts and participants, providing insights into their progress and tips for staying on track.
Trina Mara is thrilled to be part of the challenge. “I’m incredibly excited to be involved in The 40 Day Health Challenge,” she says.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to speak with the experts, connect with participants, and live this journey with them every day for 40 days. We’ll be sharing real stories and motivating our listeners to take action for their health.”
Kevin Branigan, Chief Executive, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, said, “We’re delighted to be the national radio partner for The 40 Day Health Challenge’. Health and wellbeing are very much at the forefront of the national mindset, particularly so at the at the start of the new year to come.
“We’re very happy to be working with Vision Independent Productions and The Irish Sun on this new initiative and to bring the power and audience connection of radio to the mix.” […]

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. has announced a new scheme to support news and current affairs on independent radio stations with €3 million funding..
The announcement, which followed the Budget last week, means out of the €6 million announced funding, half of that will be shared between the 34 IBI-member radio stations.
Michael Kelly, Chief Executive, IBI, says: “We in the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland believe that the ringfenced measures which were announced by Minister Martin are very positive. They will be of significant help in supporting the maintenance and development of the news and current affairs services provided by our 34 independent radio stations.
“We are grateful for the engagement by the Minister and her Department with our sector and for their decision to provide much-needed support for the news and current affairs services in independent local, regional and national radio stations as part of the €6 million announced funding.
“We feel that it is very positive that there has been recognition that additionality of coverage was a significant issue for our sector, and that there is a commitment to addressing that, and ensuring funding for core news and current affairs.
“We are also grateful to the Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers T.D., and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., who set out the funding in the Budget.
“We look forward to working constructively and without delay with Minister Martin and her Department and with Coimisiún na Meán, to ensure that independent stations can access this funding as soon as possible. It is urgent that it is available to support the essential services which stations provide and which are so valued by our listeners.
“We in IBI thank the Minister and her officials for this recognition of the services we provide.
“We are also grateful to a broad range of public representatives who have leant their support to the sector in relation to this important issue.
“We are hopeful that this is the beginning of a process where sustainable, meaningful and predictable funding will be available for independent radio in the years ahead.” […]

All the winners of the IMRO Radio Awards 2024 have been announced at the annual evening event in the Lyrath Estate Hotel Kilkenny.
The industry’s talent gathered to see Dermot Whelan and special guests announce and hand out the trophies from across the island.

The night started off with Dermot’s usual comedic round-up of the state of the radio industry, with special mentions for weekend people (as he is now one himself!), the Cash Machine, Nova being number one, and Bauer’s buying spree.
Bauer, now the biggest commercial radio operator in Ireland, won the most awards on the night, with a total of 45. They included 17 gold wins including the major categories of National Station of the Year for Newstalk and Music Station of the Year for Red FM.
In addition, the IMRO 24 Outstanding Achievement Award went to the Beat 102 103 Digital Media Literacy Tour for secondary schools. which saw Beat’s multi-platform content creators delivering 41 bilingual digital media literacy information sessions, on site, at twenty different secondary schools.

Beat Boss Gabrielle Cummins managed to make the only winning speech of the night, saying: “Digital Media & You involved so many talented Beat team members & they had valuable resources provided by Coimisiún na Meán, NCCA, Media Literacy Ireland, Webwise, Learning Waves, principals and teachers. Most importantly, we received honest, constructive feedback from first year students in Ursuline secondary school Waterford and High School Clonmel at the pilot stage. All these stakeholders played a crucial role in ensuring we delivered a roadshow that positively impacted students at each of the twenty schools.”
Chris Doyle, CEO Bauer Media Audio Ireland said; “We could not be more pleased to be recognised on such a scale at this year’s awards – an important showcase for a radio industry that is in rude health”

See more photos here.
Here are the winners in full: […]