It was radio’s big night this week - the Sony Awards – aka the radio ‘Oscars’.
If you win, there’s a lot of love for the Perspex slabs. If you lose, it’s no fun sitting through the long black-tie bash wishing you’d booked the last train out of Euston. The usual talk is of the BBC’s dominance but it was great to see commercial radio showing its muscle and getting a look-in this time with a splurge of treasure for North West stations.
Hats off to Macclesfield’s Silk FM and Manchester’s Key 103 who bagged station of the year awards. And Radio City’s gold for ‘All The Tickets Are In The Wrong Hands’ was an impressive piece of investigative journalism. Andi Durrant at Galaxy picking up the music broadcaster of the year prize rounded off a good night for the region.
Next year the competition will be even hotter because of the new boy/bloke on the block. Rock Radio kicked into action last week with an open-air launch gig. There was a huge turn-out and it wasn’t just men in leather with lots of hair. As you might spot from the picture, I’m not your typical rocker but this station really stands out on the dial – great classic rock music with a real Mancunian edge and a return to the airwaves for some broadcasting legends such as Mike Sweeney, Steve Berry and James H Reeve.
Finally, think Coleen McLaughlin – think Wayne Rooney, shopping bags, chat shows, bikinis, exercise DVDs and… journalist? Loved the Crewe Chronicle’s cheeky offer this week of work experience to the future Mrs R after she listed her occupation as ‘journalist’ at the town’s register office when she put in her wedding banns. It’s not for me to question Coleen’s journalistic credentials. I’m sure her ‘Welcome to My World’ magazine column is very good. Her bosses certainly seem to think she’s got a way with words - she picks up a reported £100,000. Hardened hacks will be very jealous.
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