UK

The Community Media Association is running three free online sessions in to help stations apply for this year’s Community Radio Fund.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has increased the fund to £900,000 for 2025-26, but there will only be one round of applications instead of the usual two. With demand expected to be high, the CMA says it is vital that applications are as strong as possible.
Each session will feature Mark Jones, Chair of the Community Radio Fund Panel, who will share advice on what applicants should consider.
CMA Treasurer Richard Hilton, a former panel member, will guide participants through the application process and highlight common pitfalls, including areas where supporting documentation is often incomplete. A recently successful station is also expected to join, offering practical tips from experience.
The sessions are open to all, not just CMA members, and will run on Saturday 13th September at 10am, Wednesday 17th September at 7pm, and Monday 22nd September at 7pm. Each will cover the same material, so attendees only need to join once.
The events are free to attend thanks to support from PPL, and registration is available through the CMA Eventbrite page.

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Classic FM will broadcast The Honours of Scotland Concert from Balmoral Castle this Friday, 5th September at 7pm.

The concert was recorded last week, and features works originally performed at the Honours of Scotland National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication in July 2023.
Presented by Alan Titchmarsh, the hour-long programme brings together musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, of which The King is Patron, alongside leading Scottish performers.
The line-up includes mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, the Ayoub Sisters, accordionist Ryan Corbett, and fiddler Raemond Jappy, performing music inspired by Scotland’s landscapes, history, and poetry.
The concert opens with Hamish MacCunn’s By the Burnside and includes works by contemporary composers such as Jay Capperauld and Joanna Gill, as well as pieces rooted in folk traditions. It concludes with Dougie MacLean’s Caledonia and Paul Mealor’s The Call of Lochnagar, first heard during the 2023 Honours of Scotland Service.
Alan Titchmarsh said: “This concert is such a special evening, in one of Scotland’s most historic rooms, filled with music that speaks to the heart and soul of the nation.
“To hear such extraordinary talent gathered in Balmoral’s Ballroom in the Presence of The King and Queen was a privilege, and I’m delighted that Classic FM listeners across the UK will be able to share in it too.”

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Ofcom has opened applications for the Community Radio Fund 2025-26, which supports the sustainability of community radio stations across the UK.

The fund, managed by Ofcom and allocated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, totals £901,742 this year, made up of £900,000 in new funding and £1,742 in returned funds.
It is open to not-for-profit stations broadcasting on AM, FM, or under a Community Digital Sound Programme licence on a digital multiplex.
Unlike previous years, there will be one round of funding instead of two, following a significant increase in the amount available. Ofcom says this change will give applicants more time to prepare and help the process run more efficiently.
Community stations are encouraged to review the guidance notes before applying, which are available on Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund webpage.
Applications close at 5pm on 5th October, with the Community Radio Fund Panel expected to meet in early January 2026 to make decisions.
The scheme has been running since 2005 and continues to provide vital financial support for community stations, helping them to deliver local content and social benefits to the audiences they serve.

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Magic Radio has launched digital station, Magic Christmas 115 days before the big day.

Each evening at 7pm and 10pm there will be a curated hour of Christmas tracks chosen by Magic Radio presenters. The weekends will also feature festive specials from artists including Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Cher, Gary Barlow, Will Young and Ball & Boe.
Later this year, Magic Christmas will broadcast coverage of two seasonal events: Magic of Christmas and Magic’s West End Christmas, both returning to The London Palladium.
The Magic of Christmas takes place on Sunday 16th November and will be hosted by Gok Wan, Harriet Scott and Gaby Roslin, featuring festive hits from the 80s to today.
On Saturday 15th November, Magic’s West End Christmas returns for a second year, with songs from musicals alongside seasonal classics. Full line-ups for both shows will be revealed on Magic Radio and Magic Christmas in the coming weeks.
Magic Radio Content Director Paul Sylvester said: “Summer’s almost over and so for many people, the countdown to Christmas is on. That’s why we’ve unveiled our latest addition to the Magic Radio family. Magic is the home of Christmas on the radio and so we’ve launched the station for whenever you need your first festive hit.”
Magic Christmas is available online, on DAB and on the Rayo app.

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This year’s Radio Academy Festival will take place on Wednesday 17th September at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park, London.

With the theme World of Sound, the Festival will highlight global stars, pioneering technology and immersive sonic experiences.
Delegates will explore the opportunities and challenges of the evolving audio industry, with sessions designed to provide practical insights into creativity, innovation and future growth.
The Festival will be hosted by a line-up of presenters including BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, Hits Radio’s Stephanie Hirst, Absolute Radio’s Dan Noble, Magic Radio’s Neev Spencer, and Lady Unchained from the Prison Radio Association.
Across the day, the event will focus on topics including podcast visualisation, human and algorithmic music curation, sustainable revenues for content creators, and staying relevant in an era of artificial intelligence.
There will also be sessions dedicated to the future role of audio creatives in a world where automation and robotics are rapidly changing the media landscape.
Highlights include exclusive insights from expert speakers:

Podcaster and documentary-maker Louis Theroux with CEO of the Prison Radio Association Phil Maguire OBE
Radio presenter Christian O’Connell on leaving success in the UK to triumph in Australia with a unique national show on ARN’s GOLD Network
June Sarpong OBE on activist Una Marson, the first black woman at the BBC
Psychologist Dr Sian Williams and neuroscientist Professor Catherine Loveday from BBC Radio 3 Unwind on the positive impact of music on our minds
Dan McQuillin from Broadcast Bionics on retuning radio for the AI era
Sea Salt and Mango founder Tony Philips with audio artist and poet Axel Kacoutié on why black voices matter
BBC News Global Director Jonathan Munro on the enduring significance of the BBC World Service
Laura Fisher from MIDiA Research on lessons for streamers from music radio
Podcaster and Founder/CEO of Workathon Julia Hobsbawm OBE on building your career network in the shifting world of work
Podcast Discovery’s Josh Divney with seven ideas to steal from podcasts around the world
International broadcasting consultant Valerie Geller with time-tested techniques on creating compelling audio
BBC News’ Analysis Editor Ros Atkins with City St George’s University of London Podcaster in Residence Keyari Page, Stripped Media’s Kobi Omenaka, Paul Fernley from Audio Always, and Patreon’s Emi Geddes
Reggae Artist and BBC Radio Cymru, Wales and 1Xtra presenter Aleighcia Scott, broadcaster, DJ, music producer and founder of audio agency This is Distorted Andi Durrant and BBC Radio Wales presenter Molly Palmer on the art of human music curation in the age of algorithms.

Celebrating excellence, the festival will also feature award-winning contributors:

Scout Tzofiya Boltonon poetry, psychosis and presenting on National Prison Radio in conversation with broadcaster, actor and writer Mim Shaikh
BBC producer and presenter Monica Whitlock and editor Penny Murphy tell Sangita Myska about how they protectedthe identity of a young woman in Taliban controlled Afghanistan
Alan Hall and Eleanor McDowall from Falling Tree Productions on the imaginative possibilities of radio and the craft of the much-loved Short Cuts
Sam Jackson, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms, on being UK Radio Station of the Year and his plans to keep on growing
Comedian and broadcaster Jon Holmes tells Magic Radio’s Tom Price about BBC Radio 4’s The Skewer and coming home to Dead Ringers
BBC Radio Merseyside’s Kevin Duala, producer Jess Robbins and executive editor Ben Anderson on transforming the Breakfast Show and getting a Gold ARIA for News and Current Affairs reporting
Pulama Kaufman and Paul Fernley from Audio Always who turned a story from the other side of the world in a language they didn’t speak into a game-changing podcast
Times Radio’s Hugo Rifkind with podcasting powerhouse Goalhanger on being UK Audio Brand of the year and building a portfolio of chart-topping content
talkSPORT on their Judges’ award and what makes their shows so distinctive and impressive
Greatest Hits Radio’s Andy Ashton with testaments to the impact of his leadership from a range of broadcasting stars.

New stages, sessions and experiences include:

Cutting-edge acoustic art in the Dolby Library featuring a world exclusive preview of immersive climate change soundscape Sonic Sunset, Wisebuddah’s Psychology of Sonic Branding and an introduction to Dolby Atmos
How Eurovision, now approaching its 70th anniversary, continues to stay relevant at a time of constant change throughout the music industry
The enduring power of radio drama as the world’s longest-running soap opera, the BBC’s The Archers, prepares to celebrate 75 years on air
Individual 1:1 delegate conversations with top industry leaders from Acast, Audible, Audio Always, Audioboom, Bauer, Bengo Media, BBC, Blanchard House, Loftus Media, Overcoat Media, Platform Media/Listen, Podimo, Reduced Listening, RNIB, Spotify, The Observer, Times Radio, Unedited, We Are Grape and Whistledown.

Plus the Festival will honour the memory of those lost from the world of audio, announce the new Fellows of the Radio Academy, share perspectives from broadcasters and business leaders around the world on the future of the industry, and culminate in an after-party, courtesy of PPL and PRS For Music.
Visit The Radio Academy’s website and social channels for more details.

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This year’s Radio Academy Festival will take place on Wednesday 17th September at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park, London.

With the theme World of Sound, the Festival will highlight global stars, pioneering technology and immersive sonic experiences.
Delegates will explore the opportunities and challenges of the evolving audio industry, with sessions designed to provide practical insights into creativity, innovation and future growth.
The Festival will be hosted by a line-up of presenters including BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, Hits Radio’s Stephanie Hirst, Absolute Radio’s Dan Noble, Magic Radio’s Neev Spencer, and Lady Unchained from the Prison Radio Association.
Across the day, the event will focus on topics including podcast visualisation, human and algorithmic music curation, sustainable revenues for content creators, and staying relevant in an era of artificial intelligence.
There will also be sessions dedicated to the future role of audio creatives in a world where automation and robotics are rapidly changing the media landscape.
Highlights include exclusive insights from expert speakers:

Podcaster and documentary-maker Louis Theroux with CEO of the Prison Radio Association Phil Maguire OBE
Radio presenter Christian O’Connell on leaving success in the UK to triumph in Australia with a unique national show on ARN’s GOLD Network
June Sarpong OBE on activist Una Marson, the first black woman at the BBC
Psychologist Dr Sian Williams and neuroscientist Professor Catherine Loveday from BBC Radio 3 Unwind on the positive impact of music on our minds
Dan McQuillin from Broadcast Bionics on retuning radio for the AI era
Sea Salt and Mango founder Tony Philips with audio artist and poet Axel Kacoutié on why black voices matter
BBC News Global Director Jonathan Munro on the enduring significance of the BBC World Service
Laura Fisher from MIDiA Research on lessons for streamers from music radio
Podcaster and Founder/CEO of Workathon Julia Hobsbawm OBE on building your career network in the shifting world of work
Podcast Discovery’s Josh Divney with seven ideas to steal from podcasts around the world
International broadcasting consultant Valerie Geller with time-tested techniques on creating compelling audio
BBC News’ Analysis Editor Ros Atkins with City St George’s University of London Podcaster in Residence Keyari Page, Stripped Media’s Kobi Omenaka, Paul Fernley from Audio Always, and Patreon’s Emi Geddes
Reggae Artist and BBC Radio Cymru, Wales and 1Xtra presenter Aleighcia Scott, broadcaster, DJ, music producer and founder of audio agency This is Distorted Andi Durrant and BBC Radio Wales presenter Molly Palmer on the art of human music curation in the age of algorithms.

Celebrating excellence, the festival will also feature award-winning contributors:

Scout Tzofiya Boltonon poetry, psychosis and presenting on National Prison Radio in conversation with broadcaster, actor and writer Mim Shaikh
BBC producer and presenter Monica Whitlock and editor Penny Murphy tell Sangita Myska about how they protectedthe identity of a young woman in Taliban controlled Afghanistan
Alan Hall and Eleanor McDowall from Falling Tree Productions on the imaginative possibilities of radio and the craft of the much-loved Short Cuts
Sam Jackson, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms, on being UK Radio Station of the Year and his plans to keep on growing
Comedian and broadcaster Jon Holmes tells Magic Radio’s Tom Price about BBC Radio 4’s The Skewer and coming home to Dead Ringers
BBC Radio Merseyside’s Kevin Duala, producer Jess Robbins and executive editor Ben Anderson on transforming the Breakfast Show and getting a Gold ARIA for News and Current Affairs reporting
Pulama Kaufman and Paul Fernley from Audio Always who turned a story from the other side of the world in a language they didn’t speak into a game-changing podcast
Times Radio’s Hugo Rifkind with podcasting powerhouse Goalhanger on being UK Audio Brand of the year and building a portfolio of chart-topping content
talkSPORT on their Judges’ award and what makes their shows so distinctive and impressive
Greatest Hits Radio’s Andy Ashton with testaments to the impact of his leadership from a range of broadcasting stars.

New stages, sessions and experiences include:

Cutting-edge acoustic art in the Dolby Library featuring a world exclusive preview of immersive climate change soundscape Sonic Sunset, Wisebuddah’s Psychology of Sonic Branding and an introduction to Dolby Atmos
How Eurovision, now approaching its 70th anniversary, continues to stay relevant at a time of constant change throughout the music industry
The enduring power of radio drama as the world’s longest-running soap opera, the BBC’s The Archers, prepares to celebrate 75 years on air
Individual 1:1 delegate conversations with top industry leaders from Acast, Audible, Audio Always, Audioboom, Bauer, Bengo Media, BBC, Blanchard House, Loftus Media, Overcoat Media, Platform Media/Listen, Podimo, Reduced Listening, RNIB, Spotify, The Observer, Times Radio, Unedited, We Are Grape and Whistledown.

Plus the Festival will honour the memory of those lost from the world of audio, announce the new Fellows of the Radio Academy, share perspectives from broadcasters and business leaders around the world on the future of the industry, and culminate in an after-party, courtesy of PPL and PRS For Music.
Visit The Radio Academy’s website and social channels for more details.

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