Venue and date announced for the Community Radio Awards 2016

By James Cridland for media.info
Posted 26 April 2016, 7.48pm edt

As a replacement for the Sony Radio Awards seems further away than ever with the news that Global have pulled out of membership of the Radio Academy, the community radio sector are launching their own awards.

Press release

The Community Radio Awards has announced that its awards event is to be held in Birmingham this September.

The independent, not for profit awards will be held on Saturday September 10, at Birmingham City University.

The awards will follow the Community Media Association’s conference.

Siobhan Stevenson, lecturer in radio studies at the university, said: “BCU is thrilled to be hosting the Community Radio Awards and to be a part of recognising those who serve their communities by working in such an important sector of radio.”

Bill Best, Community Media Association operations manager, added: “The Community Media Association is delighted that the Community Radio Awards has chosen to hold its Awards ceremony after our Community Media Conference and that Birmingham City University School of Media is hosting both events.

“Saturday September 10 looks set to be the most important day of the year for the community radio sector and the CMA encourages as many people as possible to come to both events that day.”

Award submissions will open in May, with a rigorous and transparent judging process taking place over the summer.

Tickets for the awards ceremony will be released soon.

Awards chair Martin Steers said: “We are working with the university to make ticket prices as low cost and accessible as possible, as we know that's what the sector wants.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available, with a number of businesses in the radio industry already interested in helping to recognise the successes of the sector.