Radio Indies Dominate at 2007 Sony Radio Awards Nominations

Posted on 28th March 2007

Once again, it was an evening of resounding success for the independent radio production sector at last night's Sony Radio Academy Awards Nominations. Out of 30 catagories, radio indies were nominated for 12 awards, an increase on 2006, with 22 nominations for 15 different companies from across the UK.

The nominated companies are: UBC Media, Smooth Operations, All Out Productions, Goldhawk Essential, Somethin' Else, Catherine Bailey Ltd, Pozzitive TV, Just Radio, Unique, Whistledown Productions, Avalon TV, Justice Entertainment, Front Page Media, Off the Kerb and Wise Buddah.

Neil Gardner, Chair of the Radio Independents Group, says of last night's announcements, "Once again the Sony Radio Academy Awards nominations have shown the incredible level of quality programming and innovative output that the independent radio production sector produces every year. The number of nominations for indies and indie-produced programmes & talent underline the importance of the sector to the UK's radio broadcasters and should prove unequivocally that when given the opportunity, radio indies are more than capable of producing award-winning listener-focused programming. It is especially pleasing to see so many nominations in the new Internet Programme Award category."

In previous years radio indies have consistently been successful at the Sony Awards, regularly producing award-winning programmes that far outnumber the relatively small number of opportunities available to the indies to make such programmes for UK broadcasters such as the BBC. Neil Gardner comments, "It is important at a time when our sector is calling on broadcasters to increase the opportunities available to indies to pitch for output, that we are able once again to prove the inherent worth of independently produced radio programming. This year's Sony Radio Academy Awards nominees represent the very best of what the sector has to offer, something no broadcaster should want to put limits on. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated."