Audio Academy Festival to put audiences centre stage

The Audio Academy Festival will focus on audience connection when it returns to London on 1st October.

The event at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park will bring together broadcasters, podcast creators, technology specialists and industry leaders to discuss how audio continues to engage listeners.

Sessions will explore commercial radio, podcasting, artificial intelligence, immersive audio and content for younger audiences.

Among those appearing are BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, Bauer Media Audio UK CEO Simon Myciunka, Stingray Radio CEO Steve Jones, BBC Sounds podcast creator Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, broadcaster Nerm, Hits Radio’s Victoria Glover and Hits Radio Content Director Paul Gerrard.

The programme also includes immersive experiences in the Dolby Library, one to one career conversations with organisations including the BBC, Bauer, Spotify, Audible and Times Radio, plus the announcement of this year’s Audio Academy Fellows.

The festival will also remember members of the audio industry who have died over the past year before concluding with its annual after party.

Audio Academy Managing Director Aradhna Tayal Leach said: “The Audio Academy Festival is a rare opportunity to come together for deeper dives and discussions exploring the future of the global audio landscape.”

Festival Executive Producer Chris North added: “This year, we’re putting audio first. In a world full of distraction, there’s something uniquely powerful about the way sound informs, entertains, challenges and connects us.

“Every conversation, every session and every experience at this year’s Festival has been curated through that lens.”

The Festival’s Creative Director Dixi Stewart commented: This year’s Festival is proud to put audio first and audiences centre stage, celebrating the creativity, innovation and craftsmanship behind the outstanding content that enriches our lives every hour of every day.”