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Solid Steel and NTS win big at International Online Radio Awards

By Aly Barchi | Published on Wednesday 13 August 2014

London-based station NTS Radio and the Solid Steel Radio Show have taken the top prizes at the inaugural Online Radio Awards, lovechild of Mixcloud and the International Radio Festival.

Ninja Tune’s one-time Kiss FM show Solid Steel and NTS were chosen by a professional panel from a public-voted shortlist of shows and stations from all over the world, winning Overall Best Online Radio Show and Station respectively. Reps from both will be flown off to Zurich and have their shows aired at this year’s International Radio Fest, which takes place on 3-7 Sep.

Commenting on the winners, Monocle 24 boss Paul Noble, who sat on the panel with the likes of Billboard Features Editor Brad Wete, the British Council’s Phil Catchpole, and director of indie radio co Folded Wing Karen Pearson, observes: “I can’t think of a more formative listening experience than Solid Steel on Kiss FM in the 90s. Recklessly surfing across boundaries in search of the funk, the show introduced me to pretty much every great artist and scene I’ve gone on to love. A well-deserved win and so pleased to see the show still going strong 25 years on”.

And: “Once again NTS are punching way above their weight. This station has taken the underground sound of London into corners of the globe thanks to their broadminded selection of DJs and tasty production values. A couple of weeks last year were spent on a road trip in Texas listening to them streaming live on my phone in perfect quality. Hats off to the team for making it all happen”.

Meanwhile Mixcloud co-founder Nikhil Shah, keen to champion all the contenders it seems, says: “We decided to start these awards to showcase and celebrate the amazing talent in the online radio industry, and the winners are testament to that. We urge you to have a dig through the winners and the shortlist as there are some amazing shows and stations there to inspire your ears!”

Inspire your eyes first by pointing them at this list of all the winners (and nearly-winners):

Radio Show Winners
Overall Best Online Radio Show 2014: Solid Steel Radio Show
Runner Up Online Radio Show 2014: The Selector
Best Dance Show: Carl Cox
Best Pop Show: The Selector
Best Electronica Show: Solid Steel Radio
Best Talk Show: All Things Considered
Best Funk & Soul Show: Wah Wah 45s
Best World Show: Giles Peterson Worldwide
Best Hip-Hop Show: Prince Paul
Best Indie/Alternative Show: Blues Kitchen Radio
Best Jazz Show: Ronnie Scotts
Best Mix Series: Oki-Ni and Resident Advisor

Radio Station Winners
Overall Best Online Radio Station 2014: NTS Radio
Runner Up Online Radio Station 2014: Brooklyn Radio
Best Asia/Pacific Station: Base FM
Best EMEA Station: RBMA Radio
Best North American Station: Brooklyn Radio
Best South American Station: Radio Cómeme
Best UK Station: NTS Radio