Read this: Radio Festival 2021

The radiator day programme with broadcast bionics creators of The Bionic studio the smarter way to make radio this is a special radio Today programme and this week about the radio festival 2021 last year was all done online for a person to guess this year and I'm here with the cherries.

How to make is Helen Thomas also be head of radio to everyone radiator in a room talking about this industry that we love them hearing all these different voices and yeah, it's really pleased to be in Enemy Territory because we're at the top of the news tell you they've stolen cover your talent that askeby is Chris and and Graham can you see now why they wanted to come and work here.

You know looking at that incredible Skyline yes rather more spectacular than what we can see out of Wogan house, let's put it that way and in terms of the Radio Academy makeovers chair in the last year or so, there's lots going on and an online stuff as and during lockdown helped us to actually put on more sessions because you've been over lunchtime.

Can a mini radio festivals threaded through yeah, I'm really excited at the work of the Radio Academy at the minute.

We've got a fantastic and die in from Bailey and Nick Pitts as the deputy is just a joy you know when that the whole board of trustees are really committed to moving things forward and helping our members as much as possible the most excited about what was lots of things that I'm excited about but the Radio Academy mentoring program so the first ever pan.

Mentoring program, so if you work at Bower and you'd like to chat to somebody on a formal races from the BBC about you know any issues that you're experiencing or how to get on in your Cheryl likewise if you want BBC and you want to talk to someone from bowel wireless or whatever to SO2 really kind of give that 360-degree view of this fantastic in which we work rather than working in our sylas.

That's what radio Industries his do because you know we are uniquely positioned in the centre of the industry and in a couple of going to be announcing our latest 30 and 30 and I am absolutely thrilled like the level of Talent that comes through that scheme is so refreshing and firing to see you know today is all that Talent the theme of the Day at the radio festival redefining Tallinn and I think it's safe to say that the radio audio industries in rude health when it comes to.

Is on offer at the moment it would take that Radio Academy hat off and put the radio 2 back on and talk about Talent where are you getting your new Talent from for Radio 2 at the moment all over the place? You know we've had all kinds of people coming to our doors.

You know I'm in a really fortunate position at Radio 2 where you know a lot of people want to come and work at Radio 2 and Riley so you know it's a wonderful family of presenters who all really support each other and you know throughout lockdown.

We investigated these presents zooms which were literally like the best ever auditions of celebrity Square Elaine Paige and Rylan and Tony Blackburn Claudia Zoe it was it was fantastic to to see them on the screen all supporting and cheerleading.

And you know that something that we were really hard on throughout lockdown and beyond about our amazing family of presenters and I think something that I spoke to your predecessor about quite a few years ago.

Where's the diversity question kept coming about Radio 2 and it's predominately male lineup at the time and I think what Bob said then was it's got to be Volvo not something going to sack somebody I'm going to replace you with such and such and since then that has happened.

Yeah.

We got Zoe we've got Sarah on your daytime lineup and that's happened with those presenters.

Just leaving of their own accord rather than having to make forced changes a radio station any radio station is in a process of evolution.

You know you can't stand still you've got to keep moving forward with the time audience evolve modern Britain evolve and it's important that the radio station reflects modern Britain so yeah, it's

Occupies a great deal of my thinking all the time and it's obviously still a massive beast you still I think even with the Rangers that just come out the biggest radio station in in Europe how do you keep can of pushing their own and doing things to maintain the audience when there is so much choice now with the ratio of figures when they came out you know first sight for over 18 months you you know everyone has the sleepless nights.

I would imagine but absolutely thrilled and it's great confirmation of the fantastic work that are presenters were doing throughout this period you know really he was a really all about bringing people together to feel great providing companionship next year laughter in escape and I and I really think that we did that successfully throughout the pandemic and beyond and yeah, that's that's just what we got.

Keep focused on that and make sure that everything all our output reflects that in every way shape or form and about Talent and as you said you know when Radio 2 comes does not like people will say no to that some people do maybe you'll tells me you won't but are there any presenters or tower out there that you think I would love to have you on my radio station one day and they Gonna tell you that you know absolutely I mean.

I think it's a great reflection of the state of the health of our industry right now that there are so many presenters working across all different platforms doing an amazing creative innovative work.

You know and we want to bring people to Radio 2 where they can best work on the biggest platform within the industry.

There is perhaps sometimes and it just and then to be a certain sector of the industry that says already or to only ever give you a presenter job if you're already got some profile on TV

Whatever are there ways for people working in community radio and student radio to think I will one day.

I want to be a Radio 2 presenter and how do they achieve that people send me demos and I always try and give feedback it might not be immediate.

You might have to wait you might have to know to me complete times, but I think it's really awesome, but you know the talent pipeline have to start somewhere.

Doesn't it? So I'm I always carbis.bay specifically to give feedback to people you ask, but I would say you know if you want to work on Radio 2.

It is great to have ambition and you know 22 really a these you will be working in the same with people who are at the top of their game hone your craft put the hours in Uno work hard go out and meet people come for the networking social.

Come and talk to people you know you will find people who are happy to help you on your career and give advice.

We all of this industry and we want everyone who's in this industry to do well and have a great time at the radio festival great to be back.

Thank you.

Helen just finished and producer presenter relationship start with John first indication that x radio is doing well from your age are figures time is Towers and a small part of that are that Empire but yeah, we got quite a long way when I joined x radio back in February of 2020.

We didn't finish until the following following June and we didn't know how we were doing until just the other the other day same as more than people work imagining what expecting it was likely to be which was great.

Is a complaint about the police that we doing the right thing in something like the right way and although this always loads of room to change an improved next celebrated as I'm already.

I keyed up and a bit nervous about those joining x radio without the backing of the Times Brandon other radio stations they run but for a lot of people they thought these big people are taking a risk here during a station that has no audience yet that quite flattering idea but after 30 years at the BBC it's not as if it wasn't a good time to change right I mean and I've been part of that organization which is what time is radio is a tiny fraction of those resources and no clear guarantee that was going to work.

I thought you would by the way I can know you I know the quality of the people in X ready.

I thought it was going to be a good quality product, but I was very happy to make that change at that time.

If this is not to please their way of putting it I wanted another.

Adventure after decades of doing what I was doing this guy dino who you just been on stage with was your producer at 5 life is now left the BBC as well some words of encouragement that there is life after the beef for him.

I think he's going to go and nobody knows that more than this guy.

Don't know she was something and I never done this before I keep on showering with parade, but he was a man but it came to you in a new technology and new techniques and treatments in audio broadcasting and now he's on his own account maybe before long they building on this one big announcement from you today.

Do you know about your new podcast company as well? Yeah really excited so today and launching my production company person Monica and it's really just picking up from my John left on offer ready for a new challenge BBC for 40 years and I really want this company to continue some of the work we did.

Brexitcast American's creating have it for me podcasts that listeners want to be a part of you no information topical information delivered in depth and serve with warmth and already got some really really big international Talent sign up for podcast next year.

I'm really excited about so yeah, I'm buzzing about and U-turn on stage on about that kind of informal style.

Do you find yourself more free to do things like that here at times ready than the BBC in terms of the restrictions placed on repeat now was especially constrained at the BBC because we are they are at the BBC very strictly constrained by a requirement of impartiality and and and that's exactly they should be no doesn't mean you have to be bought.

It doesn't mean you have to be vanilla.

It doesn't mean you must always are on the side of saying to little rather than too much you just have to be fair and you just have to be balanced and we used to doing it.

That's not a great.

There is a place for polemical broadcasting taking sides in this building and habits of success and elsewhere.

It's never been my particular star going to give your opinion and just enjoy doing that.

I said give my opinion a lot of the time.

It's not it's not really well.

I think I'm here for because there are more outlets now.

Is it harder to get partitions to come on show because there are your talk radio to do x radio LBC 5 Live radio 4 and there's the issue of ministers perhaps not been put up as often for interview.

You know the local radio cycle level I do a drivetime show when you do not see many ministers.

Been put onto on our drive time on any out that was it really or TV just not the weather cycle Works routine in the morning.

There was a grid and you will see a cabinet minister appearing not just on one or two shows but load and load of shows and no other minister because the grid now.

Rules everything you're back in the day when we were together dinner when I on on on politics earlier that show it was possible for me to phone up the cabinet minister and say would you be on I need a guess.

I got a big hole in the show and they would say yes all they would see that would say no.

No, it's not worth asking the question because even when they would say yes, you know towards the latest ages then it will come up and forget it.

No, sorry.

That's just doesn't work today.

All I be told them International Ministries god engagement it certainly come up.

I need perfectly well.

That was not the case conversations.

I remember when in the supermarket on Saturday night and we have a guest pull-out of the last minute.

We really knew what was going grilling a cabinet minister doesn't always make the best radio.

Apologies not meant to be purely the province of a politicians it is meant to be the problems of all of all of us and we talked on our Show and that expand it we're getting more from x radio on mention in my home home home planet now quite a lot but we get people who would not expect to talk to you, but why on earth not enabled living lives lives are being a big guided lead the framework of our lives and they just anyways I'll come by politicians.

It's all about business.

We've all got to say and if you're interesting you're interesting and if you think about what with brexit costing used cars actually you know you've got the people there Laura and catcher who were talking to the people that the government and they can say a lot more bluntly.

What's really going on then if you cabinet minister on Brussels bureaucrats a kind of dress up in in kind of flower language literally open her notebook, and this is what I'm being told behind the scenes and that's a lot more valuable to the

And because I think I break a cast you got politicians as we talk about being more ease and being in or can a more informal style and they will tell you more things sometimes yeah nothing so we just play the clip of James is the Tory Party chairman time informed and just creating a space where people can be human being politicians believe it or not human beings and if you create a space where you're not just getting over head with a baseball bat for 5-minutes and let him have a bit of fun deliver his the chief content of music officer for Bauer Media radio stations.

It's bank Cooper at speaking at the radio festival on a theme of Talent and also how you can be more cream.

Take risks with your brands absolutely.

I think you know radio is a very talented medium.

It's very time cos the people who work for it now.

We often had conferences haven't we were?

About radio Survival and I just think it's time today to talk about radio thriving rather than surviving and we can take more risks now perhaps than 10-years ago because of the ownership of global and Barrett privately owned the subject to stock market fluctuations, so that will bring that is quite different to perhaps.

You're 10 years ago.

The world has changed dramatically and 10 years and you know one of the quotes are using my speech in my blog is what got us here won't get us there.

You know we have to keep changing with our audiences and with the artists that are getting great music and with the advertisers who want to reach those audiences in new ways and even in your job of our just over a year now obvious after a long career the be what impact do you think you've made already in terms of bringing up disruption and doing things differently power.

I think you know I join barrage a really exciting time.

There's an energy in a passion to want to actually try new things and I think bringing me in was.

So you know whether that's getting you know Simon Mayo to move from Skala to Greatest Hits drivetime with that moving greatest hits on 2fm in London whether that's the Witch of the premium subscription service for Kerrang jazz and Planet Rock and scholar the many many things that have been up to this and I've got planned for next year.

I think in your blog and the speech you just give us where you touch about the importance of diversity within radio groups now and I think that is becoming more apparent absolutely and I think you know we are doing very well at the the lower so entry levels you know the various schemes and various initiatives that are bringing a real richness of diversity and diversity of thought into the business and that's got to be praised and got to be supported, but it's what can we do more off today that will actually Accelerate because we can't just wait for that generation to grow into.

Leadership roles or to grow into those older Focus stations, we've got to do more.

I've got to do more and my colleagues have got to do more to try and make sure that we get that diversity across the board within our industry and your first set of Rachel figures since you joined our just came out last week.

Get chance to dig deep into what they showing yet as you know with me radio is only part of the story.

It's obviously an incredibly and in part of the story but you know and I'm really pleased for in a stations like absolute getting over 5 million.

That's always been its ambition to get over 5 million for the network.

Also you know some great results in terms of increase of hours across the board has really pleased that Greatest Hits performed brilliantly in London and really think a lot of things that we could do for his very noisy trolley going past coffee time but

The one area that I think is going to be really important for us to look at is that area of youth audiences, you know I know that both kiss and Radio 1 add some issues in this book, but I think we've got to be careful not to jump to a conclusion that it's just purely about youth audiences.

I think there are also some other factors.

You know both stations change schedule at a time when people were looking for familiarity and you can see that with heart and with magic that you know people really did want that's of comfort blanket during the pan, so I think you got a changing a schedule playing you music you've also got the factor that photo stations really really rely on in listening and obviously that was going to be massively affected so I think we've got to be careful that we don't jump to massive conclusions, but obviously they are at the coalface and they do need of support but that's

New audiences in new ways and that's what all about a power.

I think the last time we spoke to you around the radio Festival last year and you're very new in the job.

You haven't even met most of your colleagues at that.

It's amazing to actually see people in 3D it's lovely and but you do have to serve double tape when you can I think I've met you.

I'm not sure I get as almost got to put a frame around their face and I do know who you are but it's no it's wonderful and I think you know I am someone who really misses getting a group of people into a room getting an energy going getting that excite kenningknowes ideas coming out and I found it really hard as last year because we haven't had the opportunity in video calls are very good at functionally carrying the song but if we really are to look and be curious and be creative then.

I can't wait to get back in the building and finally one of things you just talked about at the festival was about.

Do things differently and be disruptive and doing things that you not expected to always do Bauer has taken quite a significant chunk of programming via the audio content fund produced by Indies how how is that work for Barrow in terms of that relationship you getting the programming and also working within such commercial radio have an always done.

I'm a huge supporter of the audio content fund I think it's done some amazing in partnership with our and Elise you just need to look at the fact that magic won the orientation of the year and the fact that you know to the things that the judges highlighted was the f-word talking about fertility and also about the opportunity that we took to replace the midday News Bulletin with audio diaries from key workers who were working through the centre of the the pandemic and lock down without it.

We wouldn't have probably one station of the year so it's vital I think and it gives also an opportunity to Commercial raid.

To put out Public Service Broadcasting and I think that is a really really important thing so nice to see you again person and never really done.

I've seen Alex here today and everyday.

It's Dave Dave Elliott and there was Wilkin there as well, so yes, it's been this year is Talent and we just been hearing on stage from Two of the the leading at speech radio controllers in the UK motorbike from Radio 4 is here and Liam Fisher the speed controller for news UK's stations including times radio talk radio and talkSPORT and that really interesting discussion about diversity a lot of your networks have changed Liam particularly with Talksport over the last few years.

We've done a lot and particularly in around the Breakfast Show so we've taken a very long established own Alan Brazil has been doing the show for 20-years.

He continue to do on the Thursday and Friday but it was getting increasingly tough him.

Next five days a week so laurawoodsy was radiator or contribution Regular Show part of Breakfast Show is coming to do it Monday to Wednesday alongside a former Scottish striker in Ally McCoist wheel the famous old Scottish strikers in there alongside Laura Monday to Wednesday and Allen Estate on Thursday and Friday so we like to think we've got the Best of Both Worlds really and the audiences Estate with us as well and then the lights of Natalie Sawyer presenting Saturday and Sunday breakfast breakfast show 5 days a week presented by female hosts reshmin Chowdhury hosting our marquee football on a Saturday lunchtime as well and countless other changes in terms of the pundit Strictly on Talksport and we've just had the first since you made those changes.

Have you seen any impact in terms of the demographics of listening because took the generally always been a white van man kind of both a white man and a man driving a van PlayStation a little bit it is changing I think it's you know what we're trying to do is obviously you know you're chasing.

Golden slumbers you can possibly can only get so you want it you want to keep you want to keep their daughter traditional listeners alongside trying to add a new lesson is nothing that's what we sort of beginning to see and perhaps.

It's as well as I've been about growing.

Yes, I'm having really sore talk to talk about today.

Which is the sort of social element as well, so we've got a look and feel of a talkSPORT on that on the on the social sites like YouTube and Twitter as well, so it's a lot about that as well.

I know you've made a few changes since she came in this controller how much can you impact the schedule for the station like Radio 4 when you got overbuilt program? You got a lot of big brand programs that ever existed for years and how is a controller.

Can you come in and make changes? I mean you're right.

It is the Joy we have we have so much and so where is it currently in this ask me you're dealing with going to quite a few Anarchy programs.

We have a large and very very schedule a podcast as well coffee has been an incredible opportunity for us to bring a new people so you know.

Iranian was out of big can have in a blue chip brand which is now changed quite dramatically as in the last.

Copy.

Is you know bringing in johny Pitts on open book bring in force Mason on any questions yorkshireman in bringing in a you know so many other people who plays he helped us coronavirus.

You say diversifying representation because it's just trying to do as well.

You like any Joe Wicks to do a podcast with Danny Robbins whatever it is fantastic way of just bringing a new Talent so although of course where you at 4, we have to have two absolutely be aware of your audience and not comfortable with this new digital landscape that allows you to really experiment to take risks to broaden your Horizons and then when it feels right to come and make those big transitions and you mentioned Chris Mason and Anita Rani and Emma vandore northerners, but I think of those there are not many northerners on your network of every.

Did you feel the UK do you think you are as a station is a people tell me some types can sound like they're not your from Robinson you know it's another you know so again another kind of big big you know but you know of course there's more to do and it's not just about being northern.

It's about can arrange something all of the UK is a back now.

Kirsty Wark is come on to do the reunion.

You know really fast fantastic as there is always more to do and both of you have access to Talent from across your organization's the BBC is bigger than just Radio 4 and Anna news.

You've got more station is like Virgin Radio in coming soon Talk TV if that brings big names in does that help you have a pool of talented in this building that you can access definitely I mean we try and really work.

Play together and I think that as a commercial station practically got a bit more sort of agility to be able to kind of do that that the BBC I would say sometimes lacks because it's because of the heritage broadcast and just always kind of penis tattoo sometimes mood for us.

It's always been a sort of feeling of if Chris Evans so wishes.

He's walking in the morning and he wants to pop into the Breakfast Show he can do that and we sort of encourage.

We don't expect it and similarly.

I don't think Graham Norton's popped up on Talksport yeah, but I look forward to the moment he decides he wants to espouse Tottenham latest managerial change so I think that that's what it is.

Hot it should it should be about you know countless examples of what sort of doing day-to-day to try and get different people on to sort of different stations ultimately if it's growing the overall Paul of people are listening to the wireless stations in sampling sofa x radio listen to that.

We've managed to recruit in is nowhere a Virgin Radio and suddenly goes over there the Virgin Radio

Radio 4 clearly the people right across BBC News who get parachuted into present newsprings, how involved are you in those decisions are obviously within your network you stay and well at warning p.m.

As well tonight and the ancient Romans and made by BBC News do you just get giving those and saying this is a talent management structure, but no, it's a collaboration and you know getting on today was a proper conversation between me and use and in this case we were happy in the same place.

You know sometimes we are sometimes.

It's always a conversation and it's always ultimately a joint decision and nothing happens already at 4 with that sounds like you might get Laura kuenssberg.

Only breakfast as soon as well.

I thought you something I heard it was at the time the Radio 2 controller talking about quite a few years ago now was she was asked to her dream presenters.

You get on her radio station and she said on Michael Ball absolute living years later Michael Bolton up and ready to be the same for one of your speech networks, is there a presenter somewhere else that you think you know I would love to that person down and get them onto talkSPORT x radio well.

I would have said Someone Like Piers Morgan until recently but that is joining the family for the radio.

I might be able to persuade him to her and stop phoning at some stage your cricket phoning.

I mean there's quite a few people out there to be honest.

I think you know talk radio people at people at the heart of government.

It's always good to kind of hear from them and it would be people like will be pumped.

It's like Gary Neville Jose Mourinho in the US is fantastic.

I remember like every time then ask him a question.

I said he won't answer this one said be like you know.

What would what your lineup be for England kind of first game and he should have Shrugged as he doesn't need to say what it's not for me to pick the team.

It's Gareth Southgate pics of time you going now.

That's a very.

Igo4 Henderson in goal and you'll be like this is just great dying my stuff and I think those sort of people have the courage of their convictions and they make such a fantastic radio such a fantastic moment so that's what you were always kinda.

Looking for the people that can sort of shake shake things up a little bit so what's your fantasy side for Radio 4 look like I could be facetious.

I've already got a few people we really want to get network brilliant really early and starting the podcast the next week and Bruce Springsteen one of those do their double up on Radio 4.

I think we take them his father McKenzie the head of Radio 1Xtra and talking on stage about your journey into which to get too kind of running a big national radio station is different for the People's absolutely I somewhat different.

I think my route into radio.

Very unconventional but then I do believe that I possess the number of transferable skills that actually bow did quite well for for the networking for the job and what things that I was doing at the time so yeah very unconventional but I think the kind of boded well for me the end and how much does that say about 1Xtra is a network and what they wanted by hiring you I think it's Lorna Clark and her ambition for pot more broadly you know the fact that you know we now have individual heads that are in pop.

It feels like it's over kind of family.

We move as a portfolio which is very different to how we never work before and then on top of that.

I think it's just the the ambition that now exist between each individual head and then just driving that forward how important is it to have people who haven't you done the traditional route to get to controller in terms of when you're making decisions when you're hiring and you're deciding the future of.

So I like to kind of Base everything on a diversity of thought so you get individuals in a room that don't come from the similar backgrounds or from experience presenter challenge on the table and then just do blue sky thinking when you do that, that's when kind of greatness comes out.

So yeah, I think it's important for the radio industry too kind of open it's doors and start to think a little bit more kind of laterally about what do they need to actually evolved what radio is actually is because I always say to the team that I believe the next was more than just it's it's a cultural brand.

It does things that doesn't just come and sit on the radio network in a we have amazing outreach team.

We've got visualisation travelling around the globe collecting content so you know all of that kind of content needs kind of creative thinking that doesn't it always exist within the team that they're so you got to bring it outside Talent I think and how import.

That what you do at one extreme showcased within Radio 1 and other bits of the BBC I think it's I think it's important, but I also think it's important to remain brand integrity you know in a we work closely with BBC3 are they mentioned in the presentation and it wasn't a relationship that was born from over created this great content.

Would you mind publishing it because you know we want to reach that that order it was actually thinking about.

How do we actually integrate Coke missions and content that works best for both networks as attribution back.

So yeah, I think just different ways of working and we're going to here today at the Festival of youth audiences.

You're right of another that we play with seen some drops in the latest radio figures for youth brands.

How do we tackle that as an industry in attention economy right so you remember that when you're talking about you though.

They've not literally going out of radio.

They grown up in a digital age.

They've got YouTube you know the spots around kind of listening to podcast prince.

They would prefer to watch a podcast because of how they come about so I think that you know in terms of how we can actually address the the attention Park you just getting closer to what they're consuming and who they are consuming it from the yes.

It's great that we can get great big artists and all that in into the building but how do we then connect with their fanbases to bring them in to take that we've got something really really especially you're not going to get anywhere else and that's on 1Xtra and when I was growing up and once again.

It's a radio in the late 80s early 90s.

It was one was the Pinnacle but you never thought you could ever get there with the technology.

We got now and the access to being a presenter how much easier is it for somebody listening now to the bedroom to be presenting on the station in a couple of years time? I think the traditional model of Talent development still exists you know you could look at the kind of surgeon influences online.

But DuBarry mind that they are they do kind of Craig kind of edited content we are live and so the definitely the development and training that's needed.

I think it's about finding Talent that we wouldn't normally kind of you think about in some instances have been on their Talent and then just going out to the places places where they are trying to bring them into the Fold and try and ask them something a little bit different great.

I mean 90 days absolutely fantastic.

I've known idea prior to come to the BBC and she's always been that kind of big bubbly kind of character almost like older sister that just gonna breaks up and bring you into the into your day in a really kind of passionate and like you feel invested.

I was actually out last night with the option actually and and I'm not actually kindly invited myself and Lorna to attend.

I bumped into a lady that she was actually a listener and she actually loved Noddy and she's talking about all of the featured in the show all the things that happening so thank you sir.

Thank you the radiator day programme with broadcast bionics creators of The Bionic studio listening watching reacting to and learning from every spoken word Kolo sweet and SMS to a mixed unlock and understand your content to bionic studio transform everything about radio the way you make it a festival a strategist as you were described as there and you come out with some new strategy for teenagers tell what your proposals are 19 year olds.

Problems and look at the latest rage are there a million less of them in the last 5-years to radio 40% down this isn't displaying some to clients over the years but actually from reach not too bad.

Not but I think you're 15/24 something that I said something like 6.4 or 5.9 or whatever by 10% down which isn't too bad, but it is 40% of hours drop 15 to 19-year Old the problem and I suggested the part of the reason that that's the case is we don't make any radio stations for teenagers stations which has some things they like that capitalism and Radio 1 and do great things they actually all three of them probably creatively in a great place and they have been for a long time, but will it make you think for for teenagers and children fun kids and my kids loved it there 11 and 9, but they're not teenager.

Yeah, and it before they get a secondary school.

We have a sexual really cool stuff and what we know from the kids.

Is that they love fun because it talks their land about the things.

They're interested in this is great in whatever demographic and so we should make something for teenagers.

That's my push who should be making it for teenagers.

Yes, BBC should be on the big commercial groups suggested was whydown global self-interest perfectly to get kids engaged with radio and it's useless station to plug jingle Bell Ball today well done global and do they do have some problem with O2 but let's build a platform and build a radio station for teenagers.

Why don't you what is radio player but for teenagers? That's my vision.

You know the industry very well, as I do you think that could ever happen.

Honestly realistically no, it's perfectly cheaper what they want to do on it is something else.

I think why was keen to say today and it's great to do the Reading Festival was carrying on down the same path is not going to change the results and also I don't think even the study unfair of BBC Radio 1 on its own or or Capital on its own can fix this problem.

It needs to be a graphic solution rather than just a single product Solutions and I purchased on which had the most numbers ever on a screen which which basically says that the your average hours when you are listening to the radio you keep to the rest of your radio listening life, so if you starting off listening 15 hours a week when you were 15 you do when your 45 and that.

Average 15-year old is dropping and dropping dropping so if they don't fix it now less people listen to Heart and less listen to Greatest Hits radio or scholar or classic FM who is Alan and Rebecca as they doing a great job there.

They're like the equivalent of Barbados with climate change you know they're facing they're facing the real difficulties now the big people are the other countries that we have to worry about climate change or no.

It's going to be a problem later can just sort of ignore, what's happening Barbados and I think actually if you're there bosses and all your the radio sector as a whole very easy to ignore the teenage problem because a great and 2540 50k and boom radio doing brilliantly because that audience love radio and he did it so if the group BBC down to something significant more than just BBC sounds or capital dance or all the others things then they are going to have a massive problem because 15-year olds at the time.

The pirate radio stations in the 60s nice time and transformed actually what normal radio then became because of that the power of it and search of that working kids don't not like the witches ok is a picture of drop, but there's still a lot of radio can choose just the amount the hours of a consumers drop so things whether that's gaming or whatever there's lots of good competition with things that do speak their language and say we don't have a right to have young people listening to the radio is no god given right baby.

Got that makes methods should be used stations be worried that they're actually still getting older listeners.

I saw on your graphs on the screen as a lot of Uno 35 plus I listening to.

Capital in case ages and demographics or less prescriptive than they used to be stuck in a bit of a trying to get rid of it Radio 1 like this physically very little you can you can do properly anyway three different new service for them and make sure that your radio station radio one of the kids off capital country think about what your coordinates are interested in and being a tune to them listen hey they listen, but the teenage you think it's product.

We don't really make if you like capital Xtra probably the closest to being a teenager radio station, but the sector needs to do something and finally you touch about having teenagers involved in the production of radio well.

That's existing radio stations are a new Teenage radio station.

How important is that for the future of our industry problems for people who run?

Is there all old and I count myself in that as well if you want to really reflect teenage lifestyle a lot of them need to be teenagers if you into the global Academy you have a reason to go to go.

It's having fun kids stuff for the Global Academy really engaged exciting bunch of young people doing really interesting things their learning Adobe Creative Suite like we learn Microsoft Office why can't we channel into that same bar Academy where the Wallace group at the moment and now they've got a big apprenticeship program has people involved from the demo in it.

I put up a slide from a gang that some of you or remember the TV show where kids running newspaper got a laugh in your tits and the cameraman whenever they put that up, but I think helping those people make good radio.

But leaning into what they're interested in.

I think we would be fascinating and would actually help a lot of our traditional radio service as well.

Thank you more than that of course you can game on the fortnite on the media podcast now and great blog this week about podcast and how to make them better newsletter audio radio streaming match.com you can get it out there every week.

I'm really enjoying right in the newsletter.

I have just like shot on a Monday evening.

I've got to write something for tomorrow.

That was like making a weekly podcast before by the way, I've been sitting on the media podcast for a bit so again showing off every fortnight.

I'm more than happy to do that Alice is the latest one about radar on the media podcast to Gable and and Chelsea the heads of Radio 1 and kiss on stage together actually getting a lot of being really.

Reality series that already won Becks is content director at used to work together really well, but you know you get on very well and it's great to see that collaboration going on straight talk about whether it is it going are you in the office? What's going on the how do you make radio song? Yeah? What's going on at you? Ok? There's loads that we talk about you know a really good reasons and respectful reason.

So yeah.

We have a huge amount of respect each other in you know as we discussed in the session this there's so much to achieve for young audiences and radio so many I need to be shared that you know work is going the right way.

It's only good thing.

I've got my but I know I agree they said it's unique role when you're doing it if I love the job, but it's not like you can call to many people up and ask how they're finding it and so bexton.

I have many situations that are similar even if we can't really going to those details together.

I just got taken back and a 1518 years then comedy Dave just walk past analysis in front of me as me as a twenty-something.

Go back is that women singers that begin with saying which I think really Rings true, is he looked at the data going back 15 years and as a 15-year old the amount of radio you listen to each week translate and comes across to a 30-year old and that number is dropping so from can a 15 hours a week as it was too now.

Maybe 10 hours a week.

How do we stop that happening? So I'll look at that later.

So not commenting on his data, but the narrative that I've been saying is very similar but we were and Industry of a few national stay a few years ago when an industry of 50 I can get in in London on my DAB so the market is getting wider the competition is getting more.

More things to take people detention.

I think what you're asking that the premise that we should be at the same level as years later is an impossible one.

It's about saying what's the mix for young people when it comes to their attention and radio being 80% + young people is very strong.

It make it is go down or now that the panda happened and 99% of young people have access to streaming and access to YouTube and access to social media.

Have we now a weird estate in our evolution of being able to what mixradio can take and that ceiling or floor having a look at it is within reach now, so I'm not planning that the number to be dropping because that there's no reason to suggest is now a managing to climb for the next 10 years is a reaction to firstly the competition which makes sense and secondly the latest Rachel that he talked of not sure if not when into detail on this radio.

Play Jah it's not a statement about the radio industry.

It's a statement about how young people what young people did in the pandemic and here's a shocker if young people and not going to school college or work.

They're going to wake up later and if you only people are at home and Aunt in their cars where there are radios.

They are accessing Netflix and YouTube that's what are we going to panic over that because you're younger listeners will waking up later.

You move Greg to later anything until 10:30 in the morning now.

He's until after exactly and Lauren Laverne on TV later and her breakfast she went up and there are other breakfast shows that earlier and then went down what appears to happened is an hour's telling the station about this from my kitchen at home.

So you turn up the beginning of November I'm still doing some days from home is that there is less commuting and I think we all know how important commuting is to radio so the question is what everyone's asking.

Play Radio 1, what is the future of commuting and people's habits rather than what's the future of radio story with case obviously Kisstory absolutely flying biggest commercial digital radio station the main kiss station dropping a bit last pandemic was so think there is something interesting about you know the mood of a radio station and you know the expectation of what you're going to get when you switch on mentioning are Sasha and it's really important that she's like ours to maintain and I think that you know what we don't know in the future is did that needs date get for filled by stream.

Disney plus to sponsor in case I might had overheard a sign of an ironic sign for you.

Have we lost those audiences have those new habits been formed forever are they going to get that that comfy?

The podcast in the morning rather the radio station are they going to get that kind of mood booster that relaxation kind of move that they need from playlist from the radio and I would like to say no because otherwise I don't need to know would be here that week off the radar.

I think that those are the questions that we need to read more data on bike if we have to follow her Instincts that we are crazy to think that everything is going to paying back to normal whatever list of pandemic.

I think we will have to be on our toast what's in my mind now is about being even bolder as an industry one of those as well as both of your stations and capital have got quite older listeners, and I know this has been a long going to anyone about the average age of the listener and bringing it down those all the listeners.

I still valuable in terms of the reaching the hours that you're getting and commercial kiss they got money to spend where a 15-year old isn't crap spending money having a brand that stands for something you know vs.

All chasing the same audiences and

Most of capital gains I think came from fifty5plus you know I think that if we were to start chasing that in order to put on the numbers.

I think we would soon become homogeneous and I think actually the long run not standing for something not having an identity and not been there for young young at heart or young audiences would mean that our platform it's much shorter and that's where you need the BBC in my mind because we're not need to chase wealthy listeners and the BBC can focus on the younger audience Radio 1 have people I'm in my forties and I listen to me listen to anyone you can't I was running it? Everyone's welcome to listen, but as long as we do well with for me is 15 to 24 year olds then that's what's important and so I would also like to add that when we say radio live radio, but our brands need to be flexible enough to bring in as many of those needs.

This is possible that there are radio 1 podcast.

Radio 1 on demand shows there are Radio 1 playlists there are live radio also YouTube and social and I think it's important that we are able to provide as many touch points for a young audience as possible slightly older than you but sounds great already rather the age of the presenter of this is the life relevance for the audience are they supplying? What's needed for a young audience and I'm really proud of the the lineup.

I have already one right now to do quick question about mountains where it comes from obviously radio One's been stealing from case and capital really pleased to hear that you're working together and talking to each other about sharing Talent as well one that I'd love to about Tatum let you ask a question there did me that's how.

Tatum mcgreal was an amazing presenter whose demo I received an email last may she will Radiohead Will Young Radiohead and she had done and she sent her cover letter in with this day that she had done the Christmas demo upload a scheme that Radio 1 brilliantly do each year and Sparks my attention because that's don't you that she's been through a huge filter of quality and I trusted that BBC filter quite frankly but not least that she's very emoticon a cover letter head demo was amazing and ended up actually creating a slot for her on case and early breakfast.

They wouldn't have before which now is obviously about development and bring invoices in rather than trying to make money for the end.

That's a really good example of it being the other way, what was your question? You've been asked about where Talent comes from.

Obviously you know it is that used to be getting to Radio 1 on getting to kiss.

Station good have some profile.

You got have done something before but because you want to get younger presenter than you at Allington you can't always go looking at those places.

I think they still healthy Radio 1 on the radio on here the healthy Radio 1 is a patchwork of a range of skill sets so you do need to have personality presenters music on love music, but you also want people who out from the music industry you want to have a radio people you want have famous people you want to have student radio and what I've been doing is trying to ensure the pipeline of new new coming into the industry Radio 1, please for them.

That doesn't mean really want is nothing become a student radio station, but we are just insuring with that's a strong pipeline similar at case of I would say that you know we've got talent that come from all walks of life.

You ask the radio stations Jordan Perry never done a live radio show before their launch show last August but we knew that the skills and the kind of relationship with audiences the ability to connect and think we can share the

Was already there everyday social media at work and from Dean telly and connecting with audiences on a stage with Diversity by the same token.

I got people like Michael Lewis who's been on kiss for many years he doesn't 16.

He's not somebody that you know suddenly going to end up being a YouTuber or even can I do brandy all that side of kiss he's an excellent radio anchor that's what I need from that player on the field time the afternoon.

So yeah, just a backup what is really no different roles different sensibilities is the diversity of the types of people that we have on with different superpower.

That's important.

How far finally do you think we as an industry at working together Matt talked about having a the joint platform for teenage audio content for radio content to Showcase what capital in case and one another use brands can do didn't we might have a get there asked how far we could go I like to start I'd like to have a drink with Radio 1.

Capital in case you know all talking about the things were facing the challenges were facing and may be sharing some winds and ideas and thoughts I think there's a lot we could do as used industry and then they will always be and when backs Poachers Greg James this relationship will be tested but of course that's a realistic mature Wade to deal with things but I can get lots more that be done and yeah, and I hope today is the start of a of that process I agree and it would be naive to say it about us becoming a homogenized sort of the Union working as one unit on everything together at the end of the day.

I run a commercial Brand and it has a completely different Society quite frankly it's really important.

What Alice said is about just beginning to share and think smarter as an industry, but not just looking within ourselves.

I think the radio industry could if we to homogenizing together stop looking outside and that is where we need to be more agile and colour Bold as our ideas.

Thank you at the radio festival and late at night and a bit wild and everybody came on was absolutely hammered and I loved it, then I did something night that was nice and calm and yes, I'm very lucky not quite as can't but also some people having a slow waking up you know relaxing.

I don't think they want they don't want to race they don't feel like they're racing but yeah, it's lovely.

U-turn on stage with Clara about this kind of Imposter syndrome that you don't really think any other things are doing a really going on so I think you seem absolutely charming.

There is absolutely no way you've got nothing to do with radio today from central Casting and well done everybody thanks Mum thanks dad.

Yeah, I think Imposter syndrome or bit of it is completely healthy and when you nice both don't have Imposter syndrome and their hideous you will have lunch with them the Strictly stuff that you do and the radio stuff.

How do you get yourself into the mine serve? I'm going to do is Italian for the millions and millions and quite weird right now because I used to just doing lovely radio and that's what I would do with that.

I get home family will be like we've got some cauliflower cheese in the oven I get off and now I get my Radiohead on which I can still get incredibly nervous about the interview big people and

Getting really annoying is that right really early in the morning because I drive the day so I just want to sit there and practice like an idiot.

This is embarrassing that I'm saying yes, I get there really early and threaten orange Ford double dipped and Debbie frank with wet hair and then I leave Radio 2 and I think I have I done and OK show and I haven't team down and I say goodbye to Jeff and he's says goodbye and then I'm suddenly in Strictly world and I arrive at strictly and they're not interested in my intro into an oasis track.

They are fascinated by Tom Fletcher's he leads and it's fine.

I'm incredibly incredibly lucky to be doing boat shows has been a radio person on Strictly as well.

So are you coming here for people not allowed to have a favourite.

Sorry you know that turns off the show that you do.

Very involved in that deliberately deliberately so because I mean I didn't say this and I feel bad saying it.

I'm not particularly interested in the Celebrity I am very very interested in our listeners and so yeah, I want them right up centre for front you know if you got Mary Berry on shouldn't really be me asking the questions.

I can ask some and of course.

I'll have done all the research, but listen to Sue and Southampton ask her about a chutney and what radio do listen to when you're driving about going to the studio strictly those kind of things obviously Radio 2 but if there's other things what I listen to Radio 2 absolutely obsessively because I know this is going to make you happy.

I can't say the word absolutely because otherwise that's disgusting this might make you help but we are a family and we talked about each other on our shelves.

Do you know what I mean? I often I want to listening to Steve Martin

But yeah the radio is always on at ways has been when I was growing up.

I was brought up by journalists and they knew that the actor radio will get it first and if you could I know you're going to do a pina colada things festival in you are invited but if you could do a show anywhere about anything with any guests you know open up your brain.

What's the kind of best thing you would rather do on radio in my life is Liverpool the best night.

I've ever had in my life and indeed.

Glasgow where I was you.

I can't even tell you what I did because it's too filthy and I don't want to shock you but I go to one of those places and I would just be with our listeners into the job now.

How are you finding absolutely fantastic? I mean for a child of radio to be able to work.

I don't stay in the medium because I think that plays my role, but for the medium is an absolute.

Looks like on drinks fantastic and your day's been really interesting presentations conversations.

I think you've been expecting something from a commercial radio spective and we're really pleased with the increasing listening the way that never changes has been in a landscape the choice the things that people can do Radio 6 as the kind of axis around which everything else pivots is still there constantly gaining audiences and that's incredibly powerful.

I think that reflections strength of the medium and obviously commercial radio companies that was a little dip in that can a gap between a commercial radio on the BBC what does commercial radio need to do to keep pushing at that?

Change lights to change I think the really big thing I wanted to say today.

It's not from my perspective there always will be tensions between the scope of the BBC and I described as being in a week.

We are good neighbours.

Let's not fall into boundary disputes, but overwhelmingly the strength of radio across the hall and and we together to work on that you can system through the future challenges on the current challenges arise your background has been in a variety of civil service roles and and that kind of thing what does the new industry can a seem like coming from those can a public service organisations that you work for in the past the Politics of Civil Service and I worked in the museum super on time, but yeah, maybe it's coronavirus started video was where was a teenager and going into signal radio and helping out in the evening and that kind of community field.

In a networked world even though you know when consolidating still really what radio is about that that connection with audiences our conversation that feeling that it's about the play and life that you are living and that's just not changed from all my life, but we can do an industry that is is now you know really changed technology the efficiency of it the professionalism of the medium and that's why it continues to be such an incredible success and the last 80 months have been ill for some commercial radio companies in terms of revenues and the pandemic is affected advertising spend.

Are we starting to see the the other side of that now advertising has held up a lot better than anyone feared but of course has been it's been very difficult 18 months the return to revenues have been really overwhelming I think.

Feels really positive about it, but you know that's still we are very concerned about local revenues and I think local advertisers might take a little bit of time back to advertising general for them.

It's been a survival and and so we're trying to a bit radio centres launched back in bringing business.

We are trying to explain them in the radio as an advertising medium the return on investment and just the way in which local businesses can get their products and services heard and in a way that really resonate to get your own event coming up next Wednesday at TuneIn what's going to happen email.

I wouldn't I wouldn't want to be amazing, but we've got I mean we will be rattling through house of the star.

It's a fantastic event.

We got a whole range of Media Talent and radio thinkers to supporters and the Wirral really looking forward to it, but you know.

Do sign up on the radio Centre website and it's free events women's many people come as possible and hope you enjoy the BBC's chief content officer been in the in the job for about a year now added radio to your body after many years working TV how you find yourself.

I'm really enjoying it.

It's been absolutely fascinating and you know during during a pandemic means.

I haven't you know I've met most of the person but not everybody and certainly not into the production teams which you know I cannot wait because that's been quite hard has been an amazing way to make a lot of people in the short time.

So I've really I've been amazed at the creativity.

I think you know the radio industry is on fine form and they've really left the challenge of a pandemic as well, because they've realised how important it is to let you know you're there for your audience and you were there in those really difficult times for companionship, but also to inform educate and entertain and that very BBC way, but I don't think it's never been so too.

The one you're all locked down in your house and actually the radios there for you and it really makes you feel part of that me again doesn't it quite a few things covered in your session at the festival today.

Let's start the discussion about getting out around the UK and moving radio Services to places other than London has more of that should be happening in the next few years.

We continue to be relevant to our old into the cross the whole of the UK because it's something I think which is distinctly distinctively sort of the BBC remit to do that and also we got lots of local radio stations as well and across the nations, but I think making sure that are networks really feel relevant and speak to people wherever you live in the UK and that I think needs you know that you've got a move you gotta move teams and you got me radio stations and I think it's really exciting as I think that's great opportunity for people living in those areas to become part of that story but also the

Telling I think coming from those areas and regions will just come up deversifi the stories that we tell so I think it's a big part of what we need to do another gets really exciting when did that was a little bit of resist you seeing that anywhere with those of the suggested moves.

I think changes always hard for people but I think you know we're living in a very fast changing world and a very fast changing industry.

Am I think radio has always been agile? It's always been really able to adaptor to changes so look I know changes after some but I think it means opportunity for others and I think that's exciting and you heading up both radio and TV now means more cross collaboration across the BBC how do you see that moving forward over the coming years? I think it is playing tomorrow advantage.

You know I think forecast we are radio.

We all television will also online looking at our online products.

You know we can bleach be in so many different ways, so we've got to take advantage of that we've got to think about how do we help?

Agencies navigate between those services and platforms, how do we show them the wealth of content that we have and the more that the teams can have really work together and see the great opportunity and how you can navigate from the greatest show on a Saturday night, but then you can go off and listen to the Strictly podcast all line of duty, and then you can go and listen to a lot you know I've set of line of duty pop that that's to everybody and it goes between telly and radio and radio and back to telly so I think everybody is really enjoying it because we really sing the fruits of that collaboration come through you know the radio to be challenged the Great Wave which country was the one show with Radio 2.

It was Zoe Ball you not leaving it.

It does it.

I think when everybody can see that that it makes so much sense you just can feel the buzz in the building and it's kind of in a way.

I think it was thinking more didn't we do this before you do more of it? You know Radio 1 and and BBC3 really exciting the conversations that.

You are also asked about collaboration outside of the BBC and you suggested had conversations with Global and our has been great meeting in Moss as well.

You know I'm a real Believer and you know I'm here to obviously you know I've had a lot to learn as well, so I've used but I'm the newbie on the Block to any kind of get to know people because I think sharing you know when will put the fame industrial have always done it and television.

I think sharing that Intel than understanding each other's issues and perspectives is only good thing and today announced the radio in this development fun tell us how that's going to work and how much can benefit the Indies and we really really want to support that obviously some of that has been already with our spend and the way we are spending more with that with the Independent sector, but I think you know we know that for small companies.

That's hard.

Hard growing enough and getting enough a business in so I'm really hoping that this development fund will really help those companies and that Talent you know Connor really understand what working really closely with commissioners and really focusing on what strands are heading towards and whether there got a podcast idea but making sure that the development that goes into it is really the nose weight trying to get to and I think that's the beauty of a development fund because it's it comes with a with a really kind of you know a strategic way of looking at your development rather than just sending lots of ideas in and not knowing whether there you know that hitting the Mark so I think it's really good thing to do is call of a £1000000 that to make the programs.

I just heard about those relationships outcode 4000004 the development fund which will be divided into you know a number of companies that will get you never chunk of money to develop and we learnt from your session on Stacy

Music fans in your house, I'm guessing on the automania.

There's no threat of closure now.

It's it's so love by it's all didn't so you know I think what we can do across the whole of our portfolio is really a be there for different people for their different needs and I think I actually sound has been such a great way of putting that all together and actually creating sounds and different ways and you know we have Radio 1 Radio 1 dance with everyone likes we done is brilliant things that really is making is getting more value actually out of the content.

We have and serving it up two people in different ways and on-demand world and I think that's what you think about the life stations, but you also think about it, but still on sounds with different methods of creating and different ways of reaching audiences with different content.

I think that's where you know the the mix of our portfolio both live and on-demand.

Is very exciting to talk to you? Thank you.

Thank you.

So here.

We are at the end of radio festival 2021 ready today's Roy Martin's here.

He's making up stories of things have been going on today.

It's been quite entertaining.

We've had some good quotes with not been tweeting the hell out of everybody today as we usually because the whole thing of course has been online so people can see for themselves.

What's what's going on we have had some interesting quotes and I want boy with them now, because they're all online and you just spent the last hour talking to worry about them has been I've enjoyed it and hopefully this time next year we can do it with with people in the audience as well fingers crossed and Sam Bailey is here.

He's amazing director of the Radio Academy your kind of first big in Perth I'm really pleased that you guys you guys as well and I've been getting lots of positive feedback.

It's it's that weird kind of year.

Is it of hybrid things and I'm completely.

Roy that we really want to be back in it in a conference centre or something next year but you know we had to make that decision earlier in the year with so much uncertainty and decided on this is hybrid model so we want to do everybody was in everybody's bedroom again like we did last year though that was perfect for the time, but we wanted to uplift it give people.

I think I really good quality audio video experience get as many people as we could in the room will couple of down the lines which were fantastic, but just out of broadcasting sort of needs of our contributors to get the mass majority speakers in this incredible venue from News UK with these amazing views as a group in the 80s seeing supports Cathedral over as we just moving of the start of rainbow amazing space, so we've had a great day.

I think and some great discussions about Talent and youth audiences in particular.

That was fascinating.

Committee worked on was Redefined Talents ate Alan is used as a synonym isn't it for presenters and it's it's high time to recognise the everybody that works in a bit of radio is the talent deposit together so we need a new word for presenters so and yeah, I thought that sequence in the Middle with Matt Deegan really drilling down into some of that radar century drawing conclusion that you're listening habits at 15 at stick with you and and the Numbers over last as everybody knows numbers of youngest is Lively listening over the last 20-years as really dropped.

I meant to follow that with Aled 481 and Rebekah from kiss talking about the work that they're doing there was a really good subsequence in the middle and you know the radio back as we all know and it's you can extrapolating lots of lots of different ways and I think it's really important to come and look behind the you know radios one of those moments 24 x year everybody can win.

That kind of analytical kind of thinking about where our audiences come from in the future and where they've gone and what they doing said because they might still be with audio.

Just not perhaps with traditional live national linear sequence as well.

Well done on getting over together Dixie and a real has been involved with it.

That's almost it from the Special podcast the talk to not call it a one-off from the radio Today programme do it every now and then it's a special edition the amount of people have spoken to today naming no names but very very high executive radio industry.

Have told me to tell you to get your ass back into here and do this podcast more than once once a quarter.

It's all you say I think about it.

I know you've got a 4-week old baby now and you've got a lot of stuff going on but you know that's not important.

You do the podcast yeah, it was when is when when Chris Moyles you can hear him anymore.

You probably cried.

Yes Chris I cried yes, it is listening.

What will see will see but that's it from the special at the 17th floor.

We might be back next week.

I'll be probably won't be but will talk to you soon.

Thanks for Today programme.