NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARDS

30 March 2011

The nominations for the annual Sony Radio Academy Awards, the UK’s most
respected and coveted radio honours, were announced this evening at a
launch hosted by 95.8 Capital FM & Classic FM’s Margherita Taylor and BBC
6music & Radio 2’s Huey Morgan. The shortlists for the 35 Awards were
announced live to guests drawn from across the entire UK radio landscape,
with Stations tuning in via the live webcast.

Silver and Bronze Awards will be presented on Monday 9 May at London’s
Grosvenor House Hotel, and hosted by Radio 2’s Chris Evans, himself a
nominee.The first Sony Radio Academy Awards ceremony in 1983 recognised the
achievements of radio programming from 1982 making this year’s 2011
Awards ceremony a landmark celebration of 30 years of radio excellence.

2010 was an eventful year - not only was there the FIFA Football World Cup
in South Africa, but also a General Election in the UK, and both were superbly
covered by radio, reflected in many of this year’s nominations. Radio industry
news continued to make the headlines, from the comings and goings of
DJ’s, the reprieve of radio stations, the roll-out of brands nationwide, to the
speculation about the date of digital switchover. The constant was that the
British public are passionate about radio in all its guises and will make its
voice heard to support and lobby.

The 2011 Sony nominations reflect the strength in depth of UK radio, both
in front and behind the mic, and across the commercial, BBC, internet
and community radio sectors.

Absolute Radio are cock a hoop with 14 nominations, including Breakfast
Show of the Year (10 million plus) with Christian O’Connell and The Frank
Skinner Show receiving three nods for Best Entertainment Programme,
Music Radio Personality of the Year and Speech Radio Personality of the
Year.

talkSport, in World Cup year, are on the pitch in six contests, including
Breakfast Show of the Year (10 million plus) with The Alan Brazil Sports
Breakfast and a chance to defeat BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 for UK
Station of the Year. In the four other Station of the Year Awards, commercial
dominates in Station of the Year (up to 300,000), with Central FM (103.1FM)
and Isle of Wight Radio both nominated, while it’s an all-BBC challenge by
BBC Radio Cumbria, BBC Radio Derby and BBC Somerset for Station of
the Year (300,000 – 1 million).

Station of the Year (1 million plus) has 105.4 Real Radio North West
up against Liverpool’s Radio City 96.7 and BBC London 94.9. Digital Station
of the Year has last year’s winner, Planet Rock, challenged by BBC Radio 1
Xtra and Fun Kids.

The blue-riband Breakfast Show of the Year (10 million plus) is a fascinating
heavyweight tussle between past Sony Gold Winners - Chris Evans for Radio
2, Christian O’Connell for Absolute Radio, LBC’s Nick Ferrari and 5 Live
Breakfast. Breakfast Show of the Year (under 10 million) sees commercial
radio taking four of the five nominations, with JACK’s Morning Glory for 106
JACK fm Oxford, Juice FM Breakfast Show with Adam and Leanne, 107.6
Juice FM, Key’s 103 Mike and Chelsea in The Morning, Simon James and
Hill, Kerrang! Radio, and The Graham Mack Breakfast Show, BBC Radio
Wiltshire.

Music Radio Personality of the Year is a mouth-watering contest between a
comedian, two DJ’s, a Rolling Stone and a member of the ‘Common People’
- with Frank Skinner, Avalon for Absolute Radio, Radio 1’s Scott Mills and
Comic Relief record-breaker Chris Moyles, Ronnie Wood for Absolute Radio
& Absolute Classic Rock and 6 Music’s Jarvis Cocker all nominated.

Radio 5 Live’s Victoria Derbyshire is already a winner becoming the first
female broadcaster to win three Sony nominations: she is nominated for Best
Speech Programme, Best News & Current Affairs Programme and Speech
Broadcaster of the Year. Other seasoned broadcasters that made the list are
BBC London’s Danny Baker, Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe, perennial nominee
Stephen Nolan for BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Ulster, Magic 105.4’s
Neil Fox, and Simon Mayo for Radio 2.

One of the most intriguing contests for Sony Gold is for Best Interview, with
Jeremy Vine’s jaw-dropping interview with Gordon Brown challenged by
Danny Baker with Sir Elton John, John Humphrys and Wikileaks’ Julian
Assange, Neil Fox with Robbie Williams and John Wilson with Peter
Mandelson.

The Sony Radio Academy Awards are judged by industry and media
professionals, and this year includes Fi Glover, Peter Bazelgette, Mary Ann
Hobbs, John Inverdale, Eve Pollard, Natasha Kaplinsky, Sue Lawley and
Miranda Sawyer. The judges are required to reach their decision based solely
on the content of the entry submitted and not based on any wider knowledge
they may have. Awards is that every level of professional radio has an
opportunity to shine. One of the great strengths of the Sony Radio Academy.

Tim Blackmore, Chairman of the Sony Radio Academy Awards said: "Once
again, more than 1,000 entries have demonstrated the huge diversity
and the impressive standards delivered by Britain's radio industry.
The power of audio continues to enrich all our lives through the ever
increasing range of platforms celebrated by these Awards."

The 2011 Gold Award, Special Award and Station Programmer of the Year
are in the gift of the Awards Committee and will be announced at the Ceremony
on 9 May.

The shortlist for the ‘Sony DAB Rising Star Award’, the only people’s choice award which celebrates new radio talent, was announced at the launch. The contenders are: Matt Edmondson BBC Radio 1, Robbie Savage BBC Radio 5 Live, Ronnie Wood Absolute Radio/Absolute Classic Rock, Sarah Thompson Roundhouse
Radio and Simon Conway Metro Radio. The public can vote at www.sony.co.uk/risingstar.