Young ARIAs to become Young Audio Awards in 2020

Radiocentre and the BBC have announced plans for next year’s radio industry awards for those aged 8 to 18, with a slight change of name for 2020.

The Young Audio Awards will take place in March 2020, following the success of the first ‘Young ARIAs’ at the BBC Radio Theatre in May this year.

The awards are aimed at children involved in radio, podcasts or audio projects, with ‘money can’t buy’ prizes on offer including industry mentorship, VIP studio tours and a show on a national radio station. Entries for the 2020 awards will open in November 2019.

A group of nominees and winners from the 2019 Young ARIAs recently had a masterclass day in London – including studio tours at Radio 1 and Radio 2 as well as chances to meet and hear from Radio 2’s Ken Bruce and Claudia Winkleman, Radio 1’s Adele Roberts, producer Phil McGarvey, Bauer production manager Rebekah Walker and Scala Radio’s Jack Pepper.

The group also attended the Radiocentre summer reception at Parliament, celebrating the future talent of the audio world. Two attendees, Reckless Radio founder Lucy Hutton, and Ocean Youth’s Ricardo Burt, were interviewed on stage by Young Audio Awards Ambassador and KISS breakfast presenter Daisy Maskell, sharing their experiences of the awards and the world of radio with her.

Speaking to Daisy, Best In Music winner Lucy Hutton, who set up her own station, Reckless Radio, at the age of 15, said: “For me, [winning an award] represents the idea that this is a realistic thing I can do, saying I’d like a career in media, or a career in radio. I am evidence that radio isn’t dying, my teachers and lecturers aren’t going to tell me that it’s a wild dream or never going to happen. I feel like I’m building my future. It’s so lovely that the current people in this industry are happy to open the doors for us younger people.”

Siobhan Kenny, Radiocentre CEO, told RadioToday: “The 2020 Young Audio Awards will celebrate the next generation of radio and audio creators – from producers to presenters, covering everything from music to sport, comedy to drama. Being able to give winners the opportunity to pursue their dreams by offering them a foot in the door is the most rewarding aspect of this event, and we’re grateful to the radio industry for being so supportive of this initiative. I can’t wait to hear the excellent quality of entries we get, from young people from all walks of life across the UK.”

James Purnell, Director BBC Radio & Education, added: “This year’s winners really impressed us with their creativity and passion for audio, so it’s wonderful that together with our commercial radio colleagues, we are able to both find and support future talent through these awards again in 2020.”