UK

Better Media has raised urgent concerns about the consultation process for the proposed Community Radio Order.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, and the Minister of State for Media, Stephanie Peacock MP, Better Media highlighted several critical shortcomings in the process and called for immediate action to address these issues.
The letter raises alarm over the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s decision to consult only with the Community Media Association and the UK Community Radio Network.
Better Media says these trade associations represent only a narrow range of interests in the community radio sector, excluding a diverse spectrum of unlicensed and grassroots organisations, particularly those serving minority communities.
Dr Rob Watson of Better Media told RadioToday: “The consultation process has fundamentally failed to reflect the broad and diverse voices that make up the community radio sector. By engaging solely with established trade associations, DCMS has marginalised the views of smaller, unlicensed, and minority-focused stations.
“These voices are essential to building a vibrant and inclusive media landscape.”
The letter also criticises proposals for extended 10-year licence renewals, arguing that they risk entrenching the positions of existing stations without adequate reassessment of how FM spectrum—a limited public resource—is allocated. Better Media calls for a full re advertisement of licences after 20 years to ensure the spectrum is being used in the best interests of local communities and supports the reintroduction of legislative provisions, such as Clause 42 of the Media Bill, which would open licence rounds to new entrants beforeincumbents are granted extensions.
Dr Watson continued: “Ofcom and DCMS have repeatedly told new applicants that DAB and online platforms are sufficient alternatives, yet this logic is not being applied to incumbent FM licensees. We must ensure fair competition, innovation, and diversity in the sector by periodically reassessing spectrum allocation.”
Better Media also questions Ofcom’s resource management, highlighting that current application fees do not adequately cover costs, leaving the regulator unable to effectively oversee the community radio sector.
The letter urges the government to delay the publication of the draft Community Radio Order and expand the consultation to include a more representative cross-section of voices from the community radio sector.
Dr Watson concluded: “Community radio has the potential to foster social cohesion, amplify marginalised voices, and enrich local culture.
“However, these outcomes can only be achieved if the regulatory framework is built on inclusivity and fairness. We are calling for DCMS to pause, listen to the full spectrum of voices, and ensure that this Order serves the public good.”
Better Media is a membership organisation dedicated to ensuring that citizens can access and participate in the media, particularly those whose voices are often overlooked and ignored. It advocates for inclusive, citizen-focused media policies that promote diverse representation and social cohesion.

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Absolute Radio, Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio and Magic Radio all broadcast live from Mission Christmas warehouse in Manchester on Wednesday.

The four Bauer stations took over the Mission Christmas HQ, where donated gifts are sorted and then distributed to those in need in the community, for an all-day outside broadcast.
Presenters including Ken Bruce, Harry Judd and Gemma Atkinson took part in the special broadcast.
Harriet Scott and Harry Judd from Magic Radio Breakfast started the day with a performance from Rock Choir of What Christmas Means to Me (My Love).
The pair also spoke to Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who welcomed the ‘amazing operation and all the donations flooding in’.
Then it was the turn of Greatest Hits Radio’s Ken Bruce who welcomed Harriet Scott and Andy Crane to take part in PopMaster.
Absolute Radio’s Sarah Champion and Ben Burrell took over for the afternoon shift where there was a delivery from station partners Wickes who have supported Mission Christmas for over a decade.
Gemma Atkinson and Mike Toolan rounded off the day as they hosted their Hits Radio drive show from the warehouse and shared with listeners that 47,000 gifts had been donated that day.
Gemma said: “Mike and I are huge supporters of Mission Christmas and being here today really highlights what an incredible job the Cash for Kids team do every year.
“Thank you so much to everyone who donated today and please, please keep those gifts coming in – your donation means that a child somewhere in the UK will have a more magical Christmas.”
In 2023 Mission Christmas collected over £17.4 million in gifts and cash donations, which were used to make sure that 290,604 children and young people had presents to open on Christmas Day.
Find out more at the Cash ror Kids website.

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New jingles are now on-air at Boom Radio as the station enters its fourth year on-air.

Around a dozen resings have been provided picked from packages available from TM Studios, some dating back over 50 years.
Boom Radio has also had a ‘station song’ created – something popular with radio stations in the 80s and 90s.
You can hear this and all the new cuts on Soundcloud.
Boom’s Programme Director David Lloyd said “The care and passion in the production of these is clear to hear.
“The cuts really reflect the spirit and depth of our station – and smooth its complex texture. The efficiency of TM Studios and the will to get things right is enviable.”
Chris Stevens, co-owner of TM Studios said “We’re proud to have worked with David and the Boom Radio team since before the station launched, and they always select a wonderful variety of cuts, some of which have never been broadcast before in the UK.”
“The station song is particularly beautiful!”
Boom Radio is also broadcasting a number of special programmes over Christmas, including a two hour celebration of Kenny Everett, who would have been 80 on Christmas Day.
The programme is hosted by Kenny’s old colleague, Nicky Horne, on Christmas Day at 7pm.
There’s also a nod to Radio Luxembourg. Crackly 208 closed in the early 90s – and Rob Jones, who was with the station in the 70s and 80s, marks the anniversary with a special programme from the station’s old home at the Villa Louvigny in Luxembourg. And – just like the station’s original broadcasts – you’ll hear the ‘station of the stars’ in the dark hours, December 30th at 10pm.
Boom Radio also has the return of Paul Burnett for a Boxing Day special – featuring Fun at One.

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To mark what would have been Kenny Everett’s 80th birthday, BBC Radio 4 Extra is to air a week of programmes on the late broadcaster.

Compiled by journalist and broadcaster Paul Rowley, there’ll be a special show every day during Christmas week to celebrate the work of the man who was born Maurice Cole on Christmas Day, 1944. They include some of the “lost” tapes from his time on BBC Local Radio after he was sacked by Radio 1 in 1970.
Rowley, author of two radio documentaries about Cuddly Ken, has digitally remastered the original reel-to-reel recordings which were left on a shelf for much of the last fifty years. They’ll now be heard in full for the first time since they were originally broadcast. One of them includes an interview with John Lennon which hasn’t been aired since going out on Radio Bristol in 1971.
The series begins on Monday 23rd December with Rowley’s documentary “Kenny Everett: The BBC Local Radio Years” from 2001.
On Christmas Eve it’s Kenny’s first programme on Radio Bristol from June 1971. On Christmas Day is another of Rowley’s documentaries “Happy Birthday Maurice Cole” from 2009. It’s followed on 26th December by a Boxing Day special from 1971, finishing on 27th December with another of Kenny’s Radio Bristol shows which features a chat with the former Beatle.
Paul Rowley says: “In my view Kenny was the best in the business. He was the most creative, most innovative, technically brilliant radio practitioner this country has produced. He was more than just a disc-jockey. He worked harder than anyone else in stitching together a kaleidoscope of sound that no-one could match.
“His bespoke jingles with their multi-track harmonies were usually better produced than many of the records he played. He was loved by millions and lauded by his radio colleagues who regarded him as a ‘genius’.
“But he pushed the boundaries and was always being fired, first by the pirate ship Radio London, then by Radio Luxembourg, and most notably by Radio 1 in 1970 after insulting the wife of a government minister or air.
“At the time the corporation had a radio monopoly in the UK, and apart from a brief stint on a couple of continental stations there was nowhere else to go. A year later Radio Bristol unexpectedly offered him a way back, bringing him on board as holiday relief, despite strong reservations from the top brass at Broadcasting House”.
The programmes coincide with the 60th anniversary of Kenny’s first broadcast as a pirate radio DJ on Radio London on Christmas Eve 1964, on his last day as a teenager. The station had only come on air the previous day.
This will also be the first time in 56 years that Kenny has been on the BBC every day of the week since ending his short-lived Radio 1 evening series “Foreverett” in December 1968.

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A new consultation on local commercial radio licence renewals has been published by Ofcom.

The Media Act 2024 makes a number of changes to how the commercial radio sector is regulated, which includes a new route for renewal of local analogue commercial licences.
Until now, renewal has only been possible if the holder of the analogue licence is also broadcasting on a relevant DAB multiplex.
Following the passing of the Act, a licensee can now also apply for renewal if there is not a ‘suitable’ DAB multiplex available.
The consultation sets out how Ofcom proposes to decide whether a multiplex is ‘suitable’ and it is open for responses until 5pm on 5th February 2025.

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From Boxing Day until New Year’s Eve, BBC Radio 1 is giving 27 new presenters and DJs the chance to broadcast on the station.

Many of those given the opportunity in this year’s Radio 1 Christmas Takeover started in student, hospital, local or community radio.
These include Orla Dunne who has presented on student radio station Queen’s in Belfast, Beth Wallace from Northsound 1, Amelia Poamz who has presented shows on BBC Radio London and Daryl Jenkins Dixon who’s on community station Spark Sunderland.
University of Salford student and Shock Radio presenter, Matt Hallsworth, will be presenting an Early Breakfast Playlist. At this year’s Student Radio Awards Matt won Best Presenter and Best Chart Show.
Nathan X, who is from North London, will be taking over Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show. Nathan X is often known to DJ Drum & Bass in drag and created the UK’s first queer Drum & Bass rave, Unorthodox. He has also hosted shows on Kool FM.
Megan Percival, who is from Scotland, and currently presents on Spark Sunderland will be hosting a special Eurovision Playlist. Megan won Best Entertainment Programme at this year’s Student Radio Awards for her show All Things Alt.
Matt Hallsworth says: “It’s still a pinch-me moment that I’ll be on Radio 1 this year for the Christmas Takeover – I’m just a lad from Norfolk who loves listening to the radio! I can’t wait to tell stories, champion great music and spend the festive period with the nation!”
Nathan X says: “I’ve always dreamed of being a BBC presenter – I’ve listened to the music shows on Radio 1 and 1Xtra since I can remember; to be able to bring together my knowledge as a Drum & Base artist, with my presenting skills, in this format is special. I didn’t think this dream was possible.”
Megan Percival says: “To be selected as part of Radio 1’s Christmas Presenter Takeover is an honour for me. I’m absolutely buzzing to have the chance at representing the mighty Kingdom of Fife and sharing the pure Euphoria of Eurovision. Can’t wait to bring you some of my all-time favourite songs from the contest which all deserve your 12 points.”
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “Radio 1’s Christmas Takeover is not just about giving new presenters a platform, but about shaping the future of radio itself and it has been incredibly rewarding to see this initiative thrive over the past five years and see the successes it has created.
“I’m excited to welcome our 2024 cohort and can’t wait to listen to the creativity and energy I know they’ll bring to the airwaves this holiday season.”
The full list of Christmas Takeover presenters (in alphabetical order):
Alice Hopkins, 29, from Edinburgh (Radio 1 Anthems)
Amelia Poamz, 31, from Hackney (Radio 1’s Future Soul)
Amie Fretter, 27, from Leicester and Tskenya-Sarah Frazer, 30, from Hackney (Radio 1’s Life Hacks)
Anayah Richards, 22, from London (Radio 1 Anthems)
Beth Wallace, 28, from Aberdeen (Radio 1 Anthems)
Christian Carlisle, 39, from Doncaster (BBC Introducing and BBC Introducing Rock)
Cloe Lee, 24, from Brentwood (Radio 1 Anthems)
Cushlá Rice, 26, Belfast (Radio 1’s Future Pop)
Dan Draper, 34, from Harlow (Radio 1 Anthems)
Dan Jones, 27, from Clevedon (Radio 1 Anthems)
Daryl Jenkins Dixon, 26, from Skegness (Radio 1’s Indie Show)
Eazy, 27, from London (Radio 1’s Rap Show)
Hannah Scherrer, 29, from London (Radio 1 Anthems)
Jade Burns, 29, from Liverpool (Radio 1’s Chillest Show)
January Winters, 32, from Dublin (Radio 1’s New Music Show)
Jordan Blyth, 27, Stockton-on-Tees (Radio 1’s Rock Show)
Kitty Perrin, 24, from Brighton (Radio 1’s Future Artists)
Leanne Louise, 31, from Chelmsford (Radio 1’s Dance Anthems)
Lucy K, 30, from Brighton (Radio 1’s Rave-Up Show)
Mars, 27, from Manchester (Radio 1’s Soundsystem Party)
Matt Hallsworth, 20, from Harleston (Early Breakfast Playlist)
Megan Percival, 25, from Rosyth (Eurovision Playlist)
Nathan X, 27, from London (Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show)
Orla Dunne, 22, from Devizes (Radio 1 Anthems)
Scarlett O’Malley, 32, from West London (Radio 1 Dance)
Shana Gujral, 29, from Epping (Radio 1 Dance)

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