Sound Women Unveils Industry Heavy-Weight Patrons with Celebration Event
From a press release to news@media.info
Posted 9 September 2014, 12.24pm edt
Networking and development organisation Sound Women has appointed patrons from across BBC and commercial radio. Three senior broadcasters with almost 150 years combined broadcasting experience; Radio 4’s Jane Garvey, Magic’s Angie Greaves and the only female DJ to have been honoured with an MBE, Annie Nightingale are set to be introduced in an un-missable evening reception aimed at senior radio executives, as well those starting out in the industry.
The evening will see them in conversation with Sound Women Founder member and Director, broadcaster Fi Glover. They will tell their stories of how ambitions were achieved and reveal what it takes for a woman to make it to the top in the radio industry – and stay there.
Annie Nightingale is best known as the Britain’s first female DJ on Radio 1 and is now the station’s longest serving broadcaster.
Speaking on July’s Sound Women podcast Annie said how she felt about her appointment as a patron “It’s a huge privilege and in a way a responsibility. The effects of Sound Women are there now with us, you notice it in subtle ways, and it’s not in your face all the time but is a very strong presence which is incredible.”
Annie’s media career started in local newspapers, with a pop column interviewing The Beatles. Her radio career started at BBC West Region from Brighton’s unmanned studio. She found the launch of Radio 1 without any female voices ‘a bit strange’ and badgered the station until she was eventually offered a job! Nightingale was hanging out with Keith Moon, going round the world with The Police and by 1978 she was hired to host The Old Grey Whistle Test, recently voted top music programme in The 10 Best TV shows of all time. She champions Breakbeat all over the world.
Her radio show today plays “all things bassatronic” with a new time of Tuesday mornings 1am-4am and is simulcast on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Nightingale is a radio pioneer embracing the digital age. She is delighted her show is on the internet as the ‘world can hear when it chooses’.
Angie Greaves presents on London’s Magic 105.4 and is a celebrated voice over artist. She says: “A career in live radio requires skill, but it’s also very exciting because it’s instant, so there’s no going back, no correcting, and that keeps you on your toes and pushes you to limits that may even surprise yourself. Always aim to be your best, always explore new ideas, and think about who you are talking to through the microphone”.
Angie started her radio journey at Capital in 1986, where she was discovered by DJ David ‘Kid’ Jensen. She then moved to Choice FM presenting breakfast from 1992 – 1997 and trebled listener figures. Other shows include Angie’s Sunday Magazine show on BBC GLR and weekly music show for BBC Three Counties, and then went onto work at Jazz FM and LBC. In 2005, she joined Magic FM to present Drive, as the first female presenter on the station. She also presents a show on Saturday mornings along with Angie’s Book Club where she offers book reviews and interviews to the likes of JK Rowling and Karen Brady whilst driving initiatives in children’s literacy in her local school. Greaves has a Soul show that can be heard on BA’s long haul flights.
Jane Garvey started her radio career at Radio Wyvern in Worcester after she ‘wrote to them begging for work experience’. Following this, she joined BBC Hereford and Worcester presenting Breakfast and then to Five Live working with Peter Allen. Garvey was the first voice on the station when it launched in March 1994 and in 2002 she won a Sony Gold. Her move to Radio 4 brought her to Women’s Hour which she presents along with Jenni Murray. Jane also presents a wide range of documentaries for Radio 4, including the series, Summer Nights.
The patrons will be in conversation with Sound Women Founder member and Director, broadcaster Fi Glover who explains: “We realised from the outset that Sound Women was going to be a valuable asset to our industry, enthusiasm for our training sessions, mentoring and networking schemes told us that right away. It has been great to see that we can motivate all of our workforces to look at equality and see the benefits. If we all assess what has been achieved so far, it’s exciting to think what the future could hold. Most of all it’s a complete pleasure to be part of something so warm hearted and full of hope and dynamism.”
Sound Women presents Meet the Patrons on board the Hispaniola, beside Embankment, on Friday September 26th, at 6.30pm. Tickets are £25 and include fizz and canapés.