Author Archive

Many thanks to the SRA attendees in Stoke who asked me to talk about the importance of live events in radio. My review of the historical background was outstanding including several mention of the exceptional Captain Plugge. Nonetheless I guess the eternal question is – can I get a gig? Answer – try Manchester! More news of a Brum event very soon! Mike

Courtesy of the Lichfield Festival – The Radio Academy in the Midlands is delighted to highlight this event taking place on the 13th July at 10am at the Garrick Theatre Lichfield. Tony Wass – he will be known to many in the Midlands and is a former BBC sound supervisor with 33 years experience in the field and will explore how the capturing of sound has developed over the last 200 years. There is a charge but if you need any further information contact Mike Owen – Chairman on 01543258175

Amid the recent rumours of BBC Radio 5live replacing programmes on BBC Local Radio services, Orion Media, owners of major local commercial stations in the Midlands (including BRMB and Beacon) made a proposal to the BBC – to run BBC WM as a non-commercial public service offering for a fee, at reduced cost to the licence payer.

Mike Owen, Chairman of the Midlands branch of The Radio Academy, spoke to Phil Riley (Chief Executive, Orion Media) about this offer, which fed into a wider debate about the future of local broadcasting in the region. David Lloyd (Orion), Phil Upton (BBC WM), Ed James (Heart West Midlands), Bob Warman (ITV Central), Elliott Webb (ex-BRMB), Mark Newman (BBC WM), Paul Bryant (Touch FM), Mark Weston (BBC Radio Leicester) and many others were on hand for the lively hour-long discussion.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Radio Academy West Midlands Branch invites you to a session at the Metro Bar at which we’ll be examining the issue of localness in broadcasting. Phil Riley, Chief Executive of Orion Media, will set the scene for an open debate on how the issues affect the Midlands.

Location: Metro Bar, 73 Cornwall St, Birmingham B3 2DF
Date: Monday 23rd May
Time: 6pm for a 6.30 start

Contact Mike Owen Media to book a place on 01543 258 175 or at mike@mikeowenmedia.co.uk.

The Radio Academy’s Midlands Branch hosted Phil Riley the chief executive of the UK’s newest commercial radio group, Orion Media, in conversation with Radio Academy Regional Head, Mike Owen, at the Metro Bar, Birmingham on Tuesday 24 November.

Led by Mr Riley, formerly chief executive of Chrysalis Radio, and backed by Lloyds Development Capital, Orion Media was the successful bidder for Global Radio’s “Midlands Platform” – a portfolio of stations comprising BRMB, Beacon Radio, Mercia FM, Wyvern FM, three Gold AM stations and Heart East Midlands. After a protracted sale process lasting over nine months, the company saw off a number of competitors including Global’s major commercial rival, Bauer.

The sale saw Mr Riley take the reins once more at BRMB, the station where he began his career as a trainee back in the 1980s, eventually becoming the station’s Programme Controller before leaving to set up Heart FM in 1994.

Only three months have passed since Orion took full control of the stations, but already a number of major changes have already taken place including a restructuring of senior roles, the appointment of radio veteran David Lloyd as Group Programming and Marketing Director and several on-air changes (most notably the departure of long-standing BRMB breakfast presenter Elliott Webb and the return of John Dalziel to Mercia FM). With BRMB now “under construction” a host of other changes are on the way and the Radio Academy event saw Mr Riley outline Orion Media’s vision for radio in the region.