Sony UK are pleased to announce that the Sony DAB ‘Rising Star’ Award category is to be included again for 2010 at the Sony Radio Academy Awards  and would like to invite all stations to nominate new talents for this prestigious award.

The award was newly launched in 2008 to showcase fledgling radio talent.  It seeks to reward the radio stars of tomorrow and is part of Sony’s ongoing commitment to the radio industry which includes the annual Sony School Radio Awards. The Rising Star award is open to those who have been broadcasting on-air for a total of no more than 18 months. (anyone broadcasting prior to 1^st September 2008 will be ineligible for for consideration)

As the award is ‘people’s choice’, it provides a great opportunity to involve your listeners, encouraging them to vote for their favourite broadcaster via our website, www.sony.co.uk/risingstar.  Initially, entries will be reviewed by an expert panel of radio and media professionals with a shortlist then being drawn up and put to the public vote.  The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday  7^th April 2010.

Entries should consist of up to 30 minutes of audio (supplied on CD), a written resume of no more than 250 words in support of your candidate and a recent photograph.  The closing date for entries is Wednesday 3^rd March 2010.

For further details on how to enter contact Jessica Turner at Borkowski on jessica@borkowski.co.uk or call 020 7404 3000.

The Sony Radio Academy Awards Committee are starting to put together this year’s judging panels.

Each category is evaluated by a separate group of judges, drawn from across the full breadth of the UK Radio Industry. Judging an individual category can involve listening to as many as 60 hours of output from Commercial, BBC, Internet and Community stations.

If you believe you have a broad enough understanding of UK radio and are able to be objective about the work of your colleagues and your competitors, then perhaps you might want to put your name forward for consideration as a judge in the future.

You’ll need to demonstrate substantial understanding of UK radio programming in general and to indicate any specialisms such as feature making, special event coverage or promo production that you believe may be relevant. Judges give their time on a voluntary basis but do receive a complimentary invitation to the awards ceremony in May.

For further information or to put yourself or a colleague forward, please contact Riza Turner at the Secretariat on 020 7723 0106 or email riza@radioawards.org

The cost of entering the Sonys has only increased by £5 since 1996?

That’s just a 13% increase across a 13 year period in which inflation is recorded at 32.7%.

This year, the price has been frozen for the fourth year running to £85.00 plus VAT.