New signings for Radio Festival line-up

Jason Manford and Shaun Keaveny amongst the big names

Jason Manford, Phil Jupitus, Vernon Kay, Jonathan Agnew and Shaun Keaveny are amongst the big names joining the line-up at this year’s Radio Festival, taking place at the British Library on May 23rd.  

Absolute Radio presenter, comedian and actor Jason Manford will be in conversation with comedian and actor, Phil Jupitus. Manford, who began his radio career as the breakfast show presenter at XFM Manchester in 2007, will be chatting with Jupitus, the launch Breakfast Show presenter at 6Music and regular on panel shows including ‘I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue’ and ‘Just a Minute’, sharing their radio heritage and experiences.    

Vernon Kay will be opening up about his love for radio and the differences between presenting for the BBC and commercial radio. From hosting Radio 1’s 40th birthday to anchoring mid-mornings on Radio X, to handcuffing Pete Tong to a smurf, Vernon has plenty of stand-out career moments to share and reflect upon. 

Jonathan Agnew will be kicking off a session on sports commentary with Jacqui Oatley, MBE and Adrian Durham of Talksport.  Hosted by Mark Chapman of Radio 5 Live, the session will celebrate 90 years of sports radio commentary and some stand-out moments.  It will also take a look at why does sports commentary continue to score such a hit with audiences in an age of mobile technology and a social media.

Also joining this year’s Festival will be Shaun Keaveny talking about his 10 years with 6Music, the iconic and groundbreaking sound of 6Music as well its diverse playlists across genres both popular and on the fringes.

Other sessions announced for festival include The Stand Out Stars of Online Radio with Simon Butler of Primal Scream and Soho Radio; Tiffany Calver of NTS and Dash Radio and hosted by Xanthe Fuller of Mixcloud. With the freedom of the internet there has been a huge rise in online radio with new stations launching around the world but what does it take to Stand Out in this space of cutting edge, uninhibited radio?

Bang for your Buck with David Lloyd hosting John-Paul Hughes, Group Creative Director of Bauer City Network and Penny Lee Brown, freelance radio creative formerly of Heart Yorkshire, to discuss radio advertising on the front line.  With local commercial radio revenue at over £166 million last year, the panel will share local creative case studies that delivered quantifiable ROI as well as discussing topics including does the London agency world understand radio as a medium?  

Podcast Me – from true crime to comedy there is a vast choice but how do you Stand Out in the podcast market from discovery to distribution?  A session with Ryan Dilley of Panoply, Ruth Fitzsimons of AudioBoom, Laura Sheeter from Chalk and Blade and hosted by Olly Mann, presenter of podcast, ‘The Modern Mann’, will give practical advice from those in the know. 

Hosted by Colin Murray, the festival will be supported by sponsors PRS for Music and PPL.  Speakers already announced for Festival include Chris Tarrant, Greg James and Nicholas Parsons. 

Tickets for Radio Academy members can be purchased at a special discounted rate of £165 +VAT with tickets on sale to the general public at £250+VAT. To get your hands on a pair, visit www.radioacademy.org/buy-tickets/.   Membership to the Radio Academy costs £36 for a year. 

ENDS

For more information please contact Lucy Goodwin at Reputation Communications on tel: 0203 189 1951 or mobile: 07961 452558; email: lucy@reputationcommunications.com