Phil Edmonds

People are starting to arrive at The Community Radio Awards in Birmingham this evening.

And just to wrap up from Community Radio Awards with a great result for Greater Manchester stations.

radiotoday.co.ukCommunity Radio Awards celebrate ten years – RadioToday

Full list of winners courtesy of Radio Today, with the awards back in Birmingham next year. radiotoday.co.uk/2026/10/comm...

People are starting to arrive at The Community Radio Awards in Birmingham this evening.

@wfmradio.org takes bronze in Celebrating and Championing Community Radio category.

Yours truly with Oldham Community Radio winning certificate.

People are starting to arrive at The Community Radio Awards in Birmingham this evening.

@oldhamcommunityradio.com wins Silver in Elections and Political category.

So after today's @ukcrn.bsky.social conference we look ahead to 2026 Community Radio Awards in Birmingham. But first let's fire up the Tardis to 2016 at Birmingham City University for the first CRA's #ukcrnconnect

Final wrap up for the conference part of the proceedings before the Community Radio Awards this evening. #ukcrmconnect

Final panel session on diversity in radio and representing different communities. #ukcrnconnect

Interesting comments from panel. Powerful thoughts from Ujima Radio on need for community radio more needs to reflect people like him, or other communities.

Final few afternoon sessions here at UK Community Radio Network conference

Was as much about community legacy working with volunteer actors. You don't need anything more than a microphone and a quiet room. You don't need a fancy BBC style dramas b studio.

A drama doesn't bring in millions of listeners per say, but does bring loyalty.

Final few afternoon sessions here at UK Community Radio Network conference

Riverside radio presentation on creating a soap opera as part of Wandsworth borough of culture.

Oh now break time and the coffee pot is empty.... But time to have a chat and look at the exhibitor stalls

Radiofeeds Vinnie showing off his "revived" internet radio with some fancy special firmware that uses the Radiofeeds directory to listen find stations.

Next session is discussion on community radio and the wrist industry led by BeBroadcast CEO Josh Wheeler #ukcrnconnect

Dan Richards who works at BBC WM and is involved in Black Country Radio bad thoughts on relationship between Community Radio and BBC. "The BBC probably needs community radio more than CR needs to BBC". Highlighting the increased networking across BBC local radio.

Next session on Community Radio week. Rebecca gives a review of 2026 activities. Did first Parliament action day for Community Radio #ukcrnconnect

They are plans to hold Community Radio week again in February 2027

Next session at the UK community radio network conference is with Aradhna Tayal-Leach from the organisation formerly known as The Radio Academy, The Audio Academy. Talk on how they can support people from all sections of the audio / radio industry. #ukcrnconnect

Aradhna "audio is not going away" quite stats on 85-90% plus radio and audio listening. Increasing podcast and audio book consumption. Do you need to invest in cameras in your studio only a "maybe".

Aradhna Tayal-Leach at Community Radio network conference

Session on Vectis Radio from Isle of Wight. #ukcrnconnect

Radio school works with young people on Island

Trading programme helps with unrestricted income towards radio station operations.

Lunch completed and now afternoon sessions at UK Community Radio network conference. Sam Hunt on a new audience measurement system, Vectos Radio presentation on their training school and a panel on "Community Radio, Wider Industry". #ukcrnconnect

Lunch, chats band now afternoon sessions.

Sam Hunt on his UK government funded development of Open Audience for Community Radio. Notes official aim is to measure impact (if you want to use for sales that's up to you) #ukcrnconnect

OAMS audience research slides

Sam Hunt on his UK government funded development of Open Audience for Community Radio. Notes official aim is to measure impact (if you want to use for sales that's up to you) #ukcrnconnect

It is free and open. Looking to on board stations from December.

Will look and feel like RAJAR with quarterly reports.

Sam Hunt on his UK government funded development of Open Audience for Community Radio. Notes official aim is to measure impact (if you want to use for sales that's up to you) #ukcrnconnect

Takes online data from RAJAR members and compare to streaming data from non RAJAR stations.

Sam states if you really have big numbers of listeners then RAJAR would be viable.

Sam Hunt on his UK government funded development of Open Audience for Community Radio. Notes official aim is to measure impact (if you want to use for sales that's up to you) #ukcrnconnect

Aim for OAMS to to be "pegged to RAJAR" i.e. comparable data. Takes the raw streaming server access log from any server provider.

Using not a LLM "number large number model" to remove bots etc. Highlights an IP address is not a listener. I.e. shared office WiFi or changing mobile data IPs when driving across the country

Sam Hunt on his UK government funded development of Open Audience for Community Radio. Notes official aim is to measure impact (if you want to use for sales that's up to you) #ukcrnconnect