UK

Madness will perform their first BBC Radio 2 In Concert show with an exclusive, intimate set at the BBC Radio Theatre in London.

The announcement was made on The Scott Mills Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning. The band will play to a small audience on Wednesday 26 November, performing many of their hits in the BBC’s New Broadcasting House.
The concert will be broadcast in Jo Whiley’s Radio 2 show from 7pm – 9pm on Thursday 11th December and on BBC Sounds, which will include chat between Jo and the band. Also, the performance will be on BBC Two and iPlayer later in December.
Madness said: “There’s nothing quite like playing in the BBC Radio Theatre, the intimate feel in that room just creates so much vibe and energy. It’s that kind of joy we live for, so we couldn’t ask for better, really!”
Jo Whiley added: “It’s always such a joy to have Madness in the building – they bring the fun, the stories, and of course, the tunes. I know this performance is going to be something really special.”
Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2 and 6 Music, said: “Madness are one of the UK’s most iconic and best-loved bands, with a back catalogue full of classic hits that generations of music fans know and love.
“We’re thrilled to have them perform for Radio 2: In Concert, bringing their unique energy and infectious spirit to our listeners.”
Tickets are available through a ballot here.

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The Broadcasting Press Guild has appointed Matt Deegan as its new Chair.

Matt has written about radio for 20 years and co-created the British Podcast Awards. Matt is also a Director at Folder Media, Podcast Discovery and Fun Kids.
He is well known in the industry as the presenter of The Media Club podcast, which discusses trends and developments in radio, TV and digital media each week.
The Broadcasting Press Guild, founded in 1974, brings together over 100 journalists who specialise in covering radio, television and media.
It regularly hosts lunches that connect senior media executives with journalists and also organises the annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.
Speaking about his appointment, Matt said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed Chair of the BPG. It’s an organisation that works hard to bring together the people who create outstanding work with those who write and broadcast about it. I’m looking forward to helping create even more opportunities for that relationship to flourish.”

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Bauer Media Group is evolving its management structure, with two closely linked leadership bodies – the Board and the Group Leadership Team.

The move is to strengthen the company’s focus on core businesses and speed up decision-making.
From 1 January 2026, the Board will comprise Yvonne Bauer as Chair, Vivian Mohr as Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Davie as Chief Financial Officer.
The company says the new structure will ensure Publishing, Audio and Outdoor remain central to Bauer’s long-term growth.
Vivian Mohr, who was previously President of Audio, steps into the new COO role and will lead the newly formed Group Leadership Team.
That team will bring together operational and financial leaders across Bauer’s key business areas. Simon Myciunka, CEO of Bauer Media Audio UK, becomes President of Audio while continuing to head the UK operation.
Justin Cochrane becomes President of Outdoor and CEO of Outdoor UK, and Ingo Klinge will serve as President of Publishing and CEO of Publishing Germany.
Other appointments include Svenja Dimke as Senior Vice President People and Tina Sany-Davies as Group General Counsel.
Yvonne Bauer said the changes build on years of healthy, profitable growth and mark the next logical step in Bauer’s transformation: “This new leadership structure will help us make faster decisions, seize opportunities more effectively, and continue on our successful path with confidence,” she said.
Vivian Mohr added that the new Group Leadership Team brings together entrepreneurial spirit and expertise across all key business areas, helping to align strategy and operations more closely.
The restructuring follows the recent integration of Bauer’s Outdoor division and ongoing investment across audio, publishing, and digital platforms, which the company says will continue to drive sustainable growth across all markets.

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The University of Sunderland has welcomed the Radio Academy for its latest Foot in the Door event, for students and potential audio professionals.

Supported by BBC Sounds and Broadcast Bionics, Foot in the Door aims to connect aspiring broadcasters with senior figures in audio, radio and podcasting.
Held on 15 October at the University’s David Puttnam Media Centre, the day-long event was delivered in partnership with the student-run community station Spark. It brought together radio, podcast and audio experts from across the UK to help early career professionals take their next step in the industry.
Workshops were led by presenters and producers including Hits Radio 90s’ Steve Furnell and Karen Oxley, both University of Sunderland alumni. They joined other industry guests such as BBC Radio 2 Head Helen Thomas, BBC Newcastle presenter Emma Millen, and Adam Wilbourn, Head of Podcasts at WhatCulture.
Lee Hall, Head of the School of Media and Creative Industries at the University of Sunderland, said: “The event was a huge success, connecting students with senior figures in the radio industry.
“And it wasn’t just about programme making for radio, students learned how to break into a range of roles including podcasting and technical careers.”
Dixi Stewart, Managing Director of the Radio Academy, said: “It was a wonderfully inspiring day full of fresh insight, thought-provoking discussion and audio passion.
“Students at the University of Sunderland are hugely talented, and it was a pleasure to share ideas about the future of audio and how their skills can help take the industry forward.”
Karen Oxley said: “It’s great for students to be able to get advice like this. When we were starting out, we wouldn’t have known where to find it, so bringing everyone together under one roof is a great opportunity.”
Steve Furnell added: “The facilities at the University are incredible and the opportunities are fantastic.
“It’s great that the Radio Academy has come to the north-east because this region will always be a hotbed of talent.”

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Radio Caroline has shared details of its successful move to solar-powered broadcasting, years ahead of similar research now being explored by the BBC.

Station Manager Peter Moore revealed that the team invested in solar energy after rising energy costs prompted a review of how to make their AM transmissions more sustainable.
Based at Orfordness on the Suffolk coast, the station’s transmitter site is also part of an RSPB bird sanctuary, meaning wind turbines were ruled out early on.
Instead, Radio Caroline installed a full solar array, investing £25,000 through Herefordshire firm Caplor Energy. The system included panels, cabling, an inverter and online power monitoring, allowing listeners to track how their donations helped fund the project.
On sunny days, the system generated up to 20KW of power — more than enough to run the transmitter. Any surplus energy was passed to site landlord Cobra Mist Ltd, who in turn removed a previous 10% mark-up on grid power supplied to the station.
The project proved so successful that Radio Caroline has since expanded its setup with additional panels and a second inverter to increase capacity to around 30KW.
The new system was installed in-house after Caplor Energy ceased trading, with the team using their own technical expertise to complete the work.
Peter Moore said the upgrade not only secures the future of their AM transmissions but also demonstrates what can be achieved in UK broadcasting with independent renewable investment.
He added that while the site cannot currently feed surplus power back into the national grid, the station continues to explore sustainable options for its future operations.

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A long-running community station in Cambridgeshire has a new name and focus as Huntingdon Community Radio becomes Ouse Valley Radio.

The station says the rebrand reflects its broader reach across the region and marks a new chapter in more than 25 years of community broadcasting.
It officially launches under its new name on 1st November, with an updated sound, new equipment and expanded local coverage.
Ouse Valley Radio will continue to serve the towns of Huntingdon, St Ives, Ramsey, Godmanchester, Warboys and nearby villages while also including the wider Cambridgeshire stretch of the Ouse Valley.
Director of Programming Tony Obee said: “Our station has always been about connecting communities. The River Great Ouse flows through the heart of our district, and so does the community spirit we aim to capture every day on air.”
Alongside the new name, the station has invested in modern studio technology including digital desks and new outside broadcast equipment, with plans for a mobile app to follow. The team is also seeking new presenters to join its line-up.
Director of Marketing Paul Jackson said: “We’re determined to honour our mission to be a trusted source of local news, cultural celebrations, and deliver high-quality, popular and specialist music.
“Whether it’s local stories, insightful interviews, radio drama or events, we’ll remain a station shaped by and for the community.”
As a volunteer-led, non-profit station, Ouse Valley Radio will continue to reinvest surplus funds back into the community through its Charity of the Month initiative and local donations.
Tony Obee added that the relaunch “builds on years of support for local musicians, grassroots projects and community voices” and promises a stronger, broader and more connected station for the future.

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