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Podcasters, local radio and the independent sector challenged the big networked radio groups at this year’s Audio & Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS), picking up some of the evening’s biggest awards.

Ronan Keating picking up Best New Presenter for Magic Radio
Last week (18 October), at a star-studded ceremony at the first direct Arena in Leeds, it was a great night for the local radio and independent sector, picking up Golds in a number of the big categories.
Magic Radio picked up Gold for Best Commercial Promotion and Best New Presenter also went to Magic Radio’s Ronan Keating. Best Community Programming was won by Absolute Radio’s Frank Skinner in Conversation with Al Gore.
The Arqiva sponsored categories for Best Local Radio Show and Best Commercial Promotion were picked up by David Burns from BBC Radio Humberside and The Greatest Showman by Magic Radio respectively.
The Best National Station/Network of the Year went to BBC Radio 1, who also picked up Gold for the Best Station Sound with BBC Radio 1 Vintage.
Team of the Year went to Cash for Kids, Bauer Radio’s network of local charities operating across 22 areas of the UK and Individual of the Year was handed to Paul Sylvester, Content Director at Absolute Radio. Both these categories were voted on by members of the Radio Academy.
The awards were hosted by Melvin Odoom and Pandora of Kiss FM, with live performances on the night from top artists including Tony Hadley and Sophie Ellis- Bextor, 808 State, Poppy Adjula and winners of Local Music Live, Cosovettes. The awards, organised by the Radio Academy and supported by LeedsBID (Business Improvement District), are the audio and radio industry’s prestigious flagship awards.
A total of 23 awards were handed out, recognising innovation and excellence across all audio mediums and celebrating the very best of the industry.
“We were delighted to support the ARIAS again this year. It is very important to us to see the immense talent in the industry celebrated – and the ARIAS provides the perfect platform to do just that. It was exciting to see such a wide range of winners, particularly from the local radio and independent sector – congratulations to everyone involved and of course all of the winners!"
“In another fantastic ARIAS ceremony, it was great to see the awards are no longer dominated by the big Networks, with the rise of the Podcast, the resurgence of the quality in local radio and the indies coming up hard on the rails. The ARIAS have this year proved that the best in innovation is happening outside London, on which note, we are delighted to be back in Leeds for the third year with our partners, LeedsBID at the first direct arena for another fantastic celebration.”
The full list of the winners can be found below:
ARIAS winners 2018 Category |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Best New Show/Podcast |
You, Me & the Big C BBC Radio 5 Live |
Death in Ice Valley BBC World Service |
I Hear Voices BBC Newsbeat |
Best Sports Show |
Mo-Joe: An 18 Week Marathon Training Diary 7 Digital |
Fight Disciples |
On The Left Side – The Funny Football Show |
Best News Coverage |
Emma Barnett Show – Real Life Stories BBC Radio 5 Live |
BBC Radio Leeds |
We Stand Together: The Manchester Arena Attack One Year On Tower FM |
Best New Presenter |
Ronan Keating – Magic Radio |
Mollie King – BBC Radio 1 |
Kat Harbourne & Jenny Eells – The Naked Podcast – BBC Radio Sheffield |
Best Speech Presenter – Breakfast |
Stephen Nolan – BBC Radio Ulster |
Nicky Campbell & Rachel Burden – BBC Radio 5 Live |
Mishal Hussain – BBC Radio 4 |
Best Music Presenter – Breakfast |
The Pulse 1 Breakfast Show with Mylo & Rosie |
The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw |
The 1Xtra Breakfast Show with Dotty |
Best Speech Presenter – Non Breakfast |
Justin Dealey – BBC Eastern Counties |
Tony Livesey – BBC Radio 5 Live |
Anna Foster – BBC Radio 5 Live |
Best Music Presenter – Non Breakfast |
Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2 - Folded Wing |
Trevor Nelson on BBC Radio 2 – Somethin’ Else |
Edith Bowman: Soundtracking with Edith Bowman – Elbow Productions |
Best Specialist Music Show |
Soundtracking with Edith Bowman Ebow Productions |
Annie Mac - BBC Radio 1 |
Soundscapes with Stephen McCauley BBC Radio Ulster |
Funniest Show |
Fortunately…..with Fi & Jane - BBC Radio 4 |
International New Year Comedy Celebration – BBC World Service |
John Holmes Saturday Show - BBC Radio Kent |
Best Podcast |
Griefcast |
Health Uncovered - This Is Distorted with the NHS |
Double Bubble - PRA Productions |
Best Coverage of an Event |
An Accent Exceedingly Rare: A Love Letter to Liverpool - BBC Merseyside |
Manchester - Together With One Voice - XS Manchester |
Gregathlon: Pedal To The Peaks - BBC Radio 1 |
Best Fictional Storytelling |
Double Bubble - PRA Productions |
The World’s Worst Children 3 by David Walliams Harper Collins Publishers |
The Final Take: Bowie In The Studio for BBC World Service - Perfectly Normal Productions |
Best Station Sound |
BBC Radio 1 Vintage - BBC Radio Pop Hub Station Sound |
Absolute Radio |
Belfast is …….. - Q Radio |
Best Factual Storytelling |
Meeting The Man I Killed - Loftus Media |
Between The Ears: The NHS Symphony - BBC Radio Documentaries |
The Sound of Protest - Absolute Radio |
Best Marketing Campaign |
Common People - BBC Radio Sheffield |
The 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia – talkSport |
The Dave Berry Breakfast Show - Absolute Radio |
Best Commercial Promotion |
The Greatest Showman - Magic Radio |
The 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia on talkSport with Just Eat |
Absolute Radio & Wickes |
Best Local Radio Show |
David Burns - BBC Radio Humberside |
Wake Up with Webster - Tay FM |
Stephanie Hirst - BBC Radio Leeds |
Local Station of the Year |
BBC Radio Leeds |
Forth 1 |
BBC Radio Merseyside |
Best Community Programming |
Frank Skinner in Conversation with Al Gore - Absolute Radio |
The Helen & Douglas House Radiothon - JACKfm Oxfordshire |
BBC Asian Network at Mulberry Girls School, Tower Hamlets |
National Station/Network of the Year |
BBC Radio 1 |
BBC Radio 5 Live |
Absolute Radio |
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