Radio News

Today FM hosts virtual concerts during the summer

Today FM listeners will now be able to experience ‘Virtually Live’ concerts for an hour a week every Saturday night. The gigs will feature artists which have plans to perform in Ireland this year but were cancelled due to coronavirus and the restrictions on mass gatherings. From the upbeat anthems of Dua Lipa, to the dulcet tones of Dermot Kennedy straight through to throwback hits from Green Day, every weekend for 13 weeks, Today FM will dedicate an hour of its Saturday night schedule to broadcast live music from a list of specially chosen artists...

IMRO Radio Awards go virtual for 2020

There’ll be no gala dinner in Kilkenny this year for the IMRO Radio Awards due to the coronavirus, but the event will still go ahead online. Full details of the virtual event will be announced in the coming weeks but entries are opening today with a closing date of 5pm on Thursday 23rd July 2020. Main sponsor IMRO remains, along with secondary sponsor the BAI. There will be some changes to the event though, including the introduction of the Gay Byrne Award which was previously the Newcomer award. A new Podcast of the Year category will also be awarded for the first time...

All 32 applications for BAI scheme granted cash

The BAI has given a total of €2.5m to 32 independent commercial radio stations across the country to share awareness and understanding of COVID-19. The special funding initiative was operated by the BAI under the BAI’s Sound & Vision 4 Scheme, following a request from the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, TD. Funding recommendations range from €40,000 to €95,000. Successful projects include: ...

iRadio to share a €40,000 iGrant with businesses

Twenty businesses have been chosen as shared winners of iRadio’s €40,000 iGrant prize. The successful applicants have been selected by an independent expert judging panel including former Ireland international rugby player and businessman Jamie Heaslip. Each iGrant recipient will receive a €2,000 advertising package from iRadio. When iRadio initially announced the iGrant competition in February it was earmarked as a €20,000 prize to be awarded to one business...

Annie Mac: ‘I'm happy in chaos and noise’

Annie Mac is not your average DJ. Through her Radio 1 show and hit podcast, she has championed new music and is not afraid to tackle grittier subjects such as misogyny in rap and knife crime. Laura Snapes finds out what drives her and the secret of her self-confidence. Annie Mac is busy doing her homework when I reach her by video one morning in early May. She’s due to give her weekly “rave lesson” on fellow BBC Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw’s teatime show (today’s subject: the week-long Castlemorton party of 1992). I had wondered if these lessons were a sneaky way of teaching teenagers how to kickstart parties in the wreckage of...

Here’s what Radio Nova looks like during Lockdown

Like all radio stations, Radio Nova is classed as an essential service, but most of the programmes are being made at home. So what does it look like in the office? The station has made a video for Radiodays Europe, featuring Colm Hayes, Lucy Kennedy, Dee Woods, Marty Miller & Pat Cortenay. See it for yourself below: ...

East Coast FM introduces weekly coronavirus show

A new Saturday morning show on East Coast FM called The Covid Call with Declan Meehan is starting this weekend. It’ll aim to help vulnerable groups in society, such as cancer patients/survivors, the elderly & those with disabilities, for an hour at 9am. Declan will speak with the people directly affected, how they’re coping, advice from medical professionals, how to access support services and tips on protecting their mental health during the crisis. This Show will raise awareness on how people can access online support, be it through Zoom meditation classes, psychological support, helplines open to them...

SPIN 1038 secure world exclusive with Matt Damon

Dublin station SPIN 1038 has announced a world exclusive interview with Matt Damon. The IMRO-winning breakfast show, ‘Fully Charged with Graham and Nathan’ will air their interview with the Hollywood A-lister on Wednesday, 13th May at 8am. Media outlets such as The New York Times have tried and failed secure an interview with Damon. SPIN’s in-depth interview will be the only media interview from the star surrounding his time in Ireland. This success follows weeks of on-air campaigning from presenter Nathan O’Reilly to speak with the actor...

Military Award for South East Radio’s Alan Corcoran

The presenter of South East Radio’s flagship Morning Talk Programme has been surprised with a prestigious National Military Award. A National Services Day Medal was presented to Alan Corcoran today for services above and beyond the call of duty during the COVID-19 Pandemic. He is one of only two civilians in the Country to be honoured with this award by FESSEF – the Frontline Emergency and Security Services Eire Forum. The only other non-military person to receive this award is the Minister for Health Simon Harris. David O Grady, Assistant Commander and Regional Director of the Order of Malta broke the news to...

Gold radio awards for Newstalk, Ocean FM and Radio 1

RTÉ Radio 1, Newstalk 106-108FM and Ocean FM took home Gold awards from this year’s virtual New York Festivals Radio Awards event. Newstalk was given the Best Innovation Gold for its Between The Lines “Living with a disability in Ireland” documentary, whilst Ocean FM was recognised for Best Human Interest Story for Getting Better, Not Bitter. RTÉ Radio 1 got Gold for The Case of Majella Moynihan documentary in the National Or International Affairs category, along with 16 other awards ranging from Silver to Finalist for dramas, social issues, history, culture and digital. Radio 1 Extra also got two awards, a Silver and Finalist badge, for digital content. Two docs from Off The Ball were also recognised with Finalist certificates...