UK

The Scott Mills Breakfast Show gets underway on Monday 27th January 2025 following the departures of Zoe Ball.

Trevor Nelson also starts his new show, Monday to Friday, 2-4pm, along with The Good Groove with DJ Spoony, Monday to Thursday, 10pm – midnight.
Later the same week, on Friday 31st January, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco launches her new weekly two hour show from 9 till 11pm.
The station is also bringing back the Piano Room in February and a number of new shows and specials.
They include a concert in celebration of Elaine Paige’s 60 year career in showbusiness at the London Palladium hosted by Zoe Ball and a new five-part series – Eras: Bob Marley – presented by Trevor Nelson, and much more.
Scott says: “I am counting down the days until I get to host the Radio 2 Breakfast Show. It’s the biggest breakfast show in the UK and a career dream for me come true.
“I feel honoured to be a part of the morning routine for millions of listeners as they wake up and start their day.”
Full details including the full line-up for Piano Room month can be found here.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#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. */ […]

The BBC Sounds Audio Lab is back for its fourth year continuing in its mission to discover and develop the next generation of audio creators.
This year, a new cohort will their ideas into podcasts which will be showcased on BBC Sounds, transforming ideas into new series which reflect diverse experiences from across the UK.
Four successful creators will receive a full-time salary for seven months (from July 2025 – January 2026) at Assistant Producer level, plus a comprehensive package of practical and professional training that includes dedicated production support and a bespoke training plan.
Audio Lab will embed the creators with one of its production partners from across the UK. In 2025, our production partners are two BBC teams and two independent production companies: BBC Audio Scotland and Northern Ireland (Glasgow and Belfast), Persephonica (Sheffield), BBC Audio North (Salford) and Reduced Listening (London).
Khaliq Meer, Commissioning Executive for BBC Sounds Audio Lab, says: “We are proud to bring back BBC Sounds Audio Lab for its fourth year, continuing our commitment to nurturing emerging talent and fostering creative new ideas from across the UK.
“The success of Sacred Money, which won Specialist Podcast at the British Podcast Awards in 2024, highlights the exceptional quality and industry recognition our programme achieves.
“With podcast listenership at an all-time high and BBC Sounds seeing 2.3 billion plays across all content in 2024, there has never been a better time for the next generation to join us and benefit from the unparalleled support and resources we and our partners can offer.”
To support applicants with their submissions and answer questions, there will be an Audio Lab webinar on Monday 20th January at 18:00 which will also be available to watch back on the Audio Lab website shortly after the session.
See more and register here.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#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. */ […]

Central FM wants to increase the range of its small-scale DAB multiplex to add an extra 50,000 potential listeners to its coverage area.
The licensee is proposing a power increase from 260W to 490W for the existing transmitter at Earl’s Hill and from 50W to 140W for the existing transmitter located at Central FM’s studio.
Ofcom is consulting on the request to vary the licensed area to improve the commercial viability of the service.
None of the listeners who are currently served by the multiplex would lose coverage under the revised plan and previously unserved areas, including parts of the city of Dunfermline, would be covered.
Ofcom says it is minded to approve the application and is seeking views from interested or affected parties, which must be submitted by 3 February 2025.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#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. */ […]

Carlisle community radio station CRFM is planning to launch an online service for west Cumbria at the end of March.
CRFM West will have its own programming coming from region from 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday, with shared shows with CRFM East at the weekend.
In a social media post, the station said: “As soon as they get DAB for community stations in the Carlisle and West Cumbria areas, both services will go on to DAB.
“As we are a community radio service, the company operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC) as all the money they make goes back into running the station and all the staff work on a voluntary basis.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#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. */ […]

If you are looking at starting a community radio station on AM or FM then the UK Community Radio Network wants to hear from you.
Ofcom is currently consulting on its work plan for the 2025-2026 period, but makes no mention of any plans to licence new analogue services.
UKCRN says it is minded to call on Ofcom to consider a limited and specific application process for FM radio in this work plan period, to start the process of general applications, and also consider special areas and circumstances where they licence new stations now.
Martin Steers, Co-Founder of the UKCRN said; “Whilst small-scale DAB is an opportunity for community radio, it won’t be viable in all areas, and for many areas it is still many years away, while the whole of the licencing may be completed by the end of 2025 once awarded multiplex operators have a further 18 months to launch.”
The group also wants to encourage groups and organisations to consider making representations to Ofcom to show interest in additional analogue licensing and also encourage stations to contact their local Councils, Mayors, MPs and other key stakeholders to encourage them to engage with the Ofcom process to push for a commitment for new analogue licenses.
They are happy to help and would love to look at a coordinated approach to working with Ofcom on this matter.
They have launched a survey to gauge interest in future analogue licenses and for them to look at coordination on approach and responses. This should be completed by the station manager or management group/committee etc representative.
They will be submitting a response to Ofcom and making representations based on the feedback from this survey and engagement with stations. The more stations that they have complete the survey the more weight they will have with Ofcom and the Government for the argument for new analogue licences.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#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. */ […]

Lyca Radio Network has partnered with Southall Travel to commemorate the travel brand’s 40th anniversary.

As part of the festivities, Lyca Radio Network is offering three couples the chance to win a trip to the Maldives.
The prize includes flights and accommodations at three of the Maldives’ most celebrated resorts: Hudhuran Fushi, Meedhupparu, and Club Rannalhi, all operated by the Adaaran group.
The competition, which launched on Monday, 13th January, will run until the winners are revealed during the Drivetime show on Monday, 3rd February.
Jaymin Borkhatria, Chief Commercial Officer at Southall Travel, expressed excitement about the collaboration, saying: “We are thrilled to partner with Lyca Radio Network, which has designed an impressive marketing campaign for this milestone giveaway.
“The prizes are extraordinary, and we’re excited to offer three lucky pairs in London, Manchester, and Leicester a dream trip to the Maldives.”
Raj Baddhan, CEO of Lyca Radio Network, added: “We are deeply grateful to Southall Travel for choosing Lyca Radio Network for this fantastic competition, one of the biggest prizes we’ve ever given away.
“We’ve worked tirelessly with Southall Travel to ensure each winner has a truly unforgettable experience in the Maldives. It’s an honour to celebrate Southall Travel’s 40th anniversary with such a phenomenal giveaway.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#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. */ […]