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Radio Academy confirms streamlined new look
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 25 February 2015
The Radio Academy announced plans for its future yesterday, having axed its popular Radio Festival and Radio Awards late last year and shut its year-round London office.
Moving forward the Academy, which brings together both BBC and commercial radio, will have a “streamlined structure” with “learning and networking” at its core. With support from the BBC, Global, Bauer, UTV, Radio Centre and the Radio Independents Group, the new look Academy will seek to provide “moments to learn, network and celebrate the audio industry”.
The Academy will launch a new look conference type-event and awards ceremony in the coming year, the former more low-cost that the old Radio Festival, and the latter “revamped and rejuvenated for the modern world of radio”. The Hall Of Fame, Radio Production Awards and 30 Under 30 will also continue with support from Arqiva.
From April, Chris Burns, Head of Radio Operations at the BBC, will take over from Radio 1 chief Ben Cooper as Chair of the Academy, and will oversee the evolution of the new look organisation, with the support of a to-be-appointed Director.
Confirming that, Burns said: “I’m delighted to be the one who will oversee this transition and ensure that the services that the Academy provides are relevant and forward thinking. I want to thank Ben Cooper for his fantastic chairmanship during what was latterly a challenging time”.