The Radio Academy is a charity dedicated to ‘the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production’. In order to recognise this excellence, the Radio Academy host the ARIAS. For our latest guest feature, we asked Sam Bailey, Chair of the ARIAS 2020, to take us behind the scenes at radio’s biggest and most prestigious award ceremony.  The awards ‘The ARIAS are The Audio and Radio Industry Awards – we like to think of them as the BAFTAs of radio. They exist to celebrate the best of radio and podcasting in the UK – to recognise the incredible productio ..read more

The British Music Embassy is returning to Austin for SXSW 2020, this time at the new home of Cedar Street Courtyard. There will be 13 SXSW showcases featuring more than 60 performances in partnership with AIM, BBC Music, the BPI, the Department for International Trade (DIT), Belfast City Council, PPL, PRS for Music and PRS Foundation. The full line-up at the British Music Embassy is below. Sunday 15 March 7:30pm – 11:00pm British Music @ SXSW presents Bess Atwell 8:00pm – 8:30pm The Wandering Hearts 8:50pm – 9:20pm Hardwicke Circus 9:40pm – 10:10pm Chainska Brassika 10:30pm – 11:00pm Monday ..read more

The AIM Global Sync Licensing Conference is returning on 30 March at the Barbican Centre, London.  This year, the conference will feature prominent international music supervisors in film, gaming, TV, advertising and many other industries. These expert speakers will share insights on the current sync and brands landscape. Speakers have been confirmed from companies such as Air Edel, BBC, Beggars Group, Create Advertising, Hospital Records, Kobalt Music, Level Two Music & Disco, My Hart Canyon Music and Too Young. For the first time at AIM Sync, two informal awards will be presented at the ..read more

As February draws to a close, it’s time to finally start saying goodbye to long nights and dark mornings. What better way to do so than with a fresh New Music Monday? Get in the spring spirit with new bops from the likes of Metronomy, Biffy Clyro and Sports Team. Tune in. Metronomy – Whitsand Bay Off the back of announcing their 2020 festival performances, Metronomy have released the music video for Whitsand Bay. The track has a soothing repetitiveness lead by its eighties-style clean bassline. Oscar Lang – Flowers 19-year-old Oscar Lang has treated us to Flowers, a britpop, sixties infusion ..read more

German music creators and their managers have been calling out labels for ‘keeping a disproportionate amount of income’ from streaming. As a result, The Ivors Academy are hosting a panel to explore the current streaming economy, with representatives from the German songwriters association VERSO. VERSO want to discuss concrete, practical ways of ensuring songwriters are once again properly compensated for their work, from user-centric payment systems (UCPS) to per diems for artist development. The event, named ‘The German songwriter streaming revolt: re-slicing the royalty pie’, will take place ..read more

Award-winning British jazz ace Shabaka Hutchings is curating OneFest 2020. You can attend OneFest at Leadmill, Sheffield on 7 March and EartH, London on 14 March. Each OneFest venue will host a daytime programme of talks and workshops, chaired by journalist and author John Robb and musicians such as Ahnansé (Steam Down), SK Shlomo, Ross Gautreau and Skinny Pelembe. The events are designed to educate aspiring young music industry professionals across the North-South divide. Both London and Sheffield will also host a next-level evening programme of music, with unique one-off collaborations acros ..read more

‘The changing media landscape means that in one sense it’s much easier to get yourself out there and heard — but at the same time harder to reach the right people, and harder to cut through,’ muses Emma Bloxham, Editor of BBC New Generation Artists Scheme. BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme (NGAs) supports musicians to reach the next stage of their careers. This year it celebrates 20 years of bringing new talent to listeners across the UK through Radio 3 broadcasts and events.  Since the NGAs launch 20 years ago, the initiative has included artists who have now gone on to forge intern ..read more

Across February, March and April, the Traditional Music Forum are hosting a series of free Professional Development workshops in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, in association with PRS For Music. PRS for Music represents traditional Scottish music stars Rachel Newton, Duncan Chisholm and Jenna Reid, among others. The workshops are designed to educate artists and songwriters on the music industry and teach them how to generate an income from their songs. Experts from across the business will also share their knowledge on negotiating skills, stage presence and music rights. Stuart Fleming, se ..read more

We’re slap bang in the middle of February and we’ve got five brand new tracks to share with you on this New Music Monday. Buckle up for some bangers. This week we’re serving you some indie-rock from the likes of Girl Ray and Mystery Jets, with a side of Emma-Jean Thackray’s synthy jazz. Tune in… Girl Ray – Friend Like That It’s prom time for north London trio Girl Ray in their new video for Friend Like That, a track that charms with its simplicity and upbeat indie-synth vibes. What a great way to thaw the February chills. Mystery Jets – A Billion Heartbeats Mystery Jets are finally back with ..read more

‘You can’t withdraw from being creative, that is your definition of who you are,’ says Andrew Roachford.  Andrew’s creative career began in 1987 when he formed the band Roachford, and a year later the group had a smash hit with Cuddly Toy.  In 2003 he released his first solo album, Heart of the Matter, and later joined Mike + the Mechanics for what would be a ten year stretch of touring and recording. And now his rich a varied career is set to enter another act with the release of his forthcoming album, the aptly titled Once In A Lifetime.  The record channels classic soul but also offers up a ..read more