BBC Introducing LIVE will return in November, bringing its flagship music discovery event to ten cities across the UK.

The event, organised by BBC Introducing, supports aspiring musicians and music creators with a range of activities including live performances, workshops, educational panels and networking sessions.

Locations for this year’s event include Belfast, Bridgend, Gateshead, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sunderland.

Special highlights include four gigs in Leeds and a songwriting camp in Manchester. In Sunderland, BBC Introducing will host a takeover at The Fire Station, offering panels, workshops, open mics and an industry feedback centre to help new talent.

BBC Introducing has a history of supporting unsigned British musicians through its Uploader platform and local radio shows, with new music played weekly across several BBC networks.

The initiative also expanded to America in December 2025, starting with college radio in Tennessee and plans for further growth.

Artists such as Ed Sheeran, Raye, Olivia Dean, Sam Fender and Loyle Carner have all received early support from BBC Introducing.

Editor Kelly Betts said the event will give emerging talent the chance to learn from industry experts, make music and connect with fellow artists, helping to inspire and support the next generation of musicians and industry professionals.

Global Academy students have achieved record results in both GCSE and vocational qualifications this year.

Heart’s Mark Wright and Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock visited the Academy to hand out results and formally enrol students into the Sixth Form.

The media and entertainment University Technical College reported that 45% of all Level 2 qualifications were awarded grade 6 or Merit, or higher.

A further 27% of students achieved grade 7 or Distinction, or above, marking the highest Level 2 outcomes in the Academy’s history.

In the UAL Media course, accredited by University of the Arts London, 44% of students received a Distinction, which is roughly equivalent to a 7-8 at GCSE. Music Production students also performed strongly, with 78% achieving a Distinction.

Global Academy’s curriculum includes hands-on experience in radio and podcast studios, as well as opportunities to work on live marketing briefs with major employers in the media and entertainment sector.

Most students will continue their studies at the Academy’s Sixth Form, which focuses on further vocational training ahead of higher education, apprenticeships, or direct entry into the industry.

Principal James Murray-Walsh said the results reflect the students’ hard work and the specialist vocational education provided by the Academy.

Trevor Nelson has revealed he underwent surgery for a brain tumour after stepping away from his BBC Radio 2 show.

The presenter explained in a message on Instagram that the tumour was discovered after he had been carrying on with his normal life, leaving him shocked and prompting him to stop work.

He said he was given treatment options before undergoing “a very serious surgery” several weeks later, which he says went incredibly well.

Nelson has spent the past month at home recuperating, resting and recovering, alongside post operative treatment.

The broadcaster told listeners he now feels ready to return, saying: “I feel great right now. I feel ready to come back. I feel energised, I feel almost back to myself.”

Trevor said he has been playing golf, going to the gym and getting back to his usual activities, although he has not yet returned to radio or DJ work.

He thanked listeners and supporters for the messages and positive thoughts he has received during what he described as a “very serious situation” over the summer and is looking forward to being back on the radio.

 

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BBC Local Radio will provide live commentary for every English Football League team throughout the 2026/27 season.

Listeners will also have access to match analysis, discussions, and interviews in a new programme across all BBC Local Radio stations.

Supporters can follow their chosen club on BBC Sounds, where they will find news, interviews, debates, and features by searching for their team and subscribing for updates.

The network will cover every round of the FA Cup, with all matches also available on BBC Sounds.

In total, BBC Local will deliver more than 5,000 commentaries across the English football pyramid, including the Premier League, EFL, and National League.

A new Total Sport Show, hosted by Charlie Taylor, will launch every Saturday afternoon, offering updates on every goal and an overview of the day’s matches on both BBC Local Radio and BBC Sounds.

Steph Marshall, BBC’s Head of the West and South West, said the aim is to make it easier for audiences to follow the teams that matter most to them, with live commentary for every EFL club and a revamped Total Sport show.

Radio Caroline has welcomed back Stevie Gordon, 46 years after he was the last broadcaster on the Mi Amigo before it sank in 1980.

Stevie’s final broadcast from the ship became a memorable part of the station’s story, as he signed off during the storm that ended the Mi Amigo’s service. He now presents a new weekly show every Wednesday at 2pm on the station.

After his original time with Radio Caroline in the 1970s, Stevie worked with several radio stations in Ireland, Scandinavia, and Israel, including the offshore broadcaster Voice of Peace. He was also Programme Director at Radio Seagull in the Netherlands.

Stevie said: “In one way everything has changed, but on the other hand nothing has changed at all. There are many new faces, but it is still very much Radio Caroline and it is great to be back.”

BBC Radio Scotland is adding a new monthly music strand to its daytime schedule, featuring live performances and artist interviews.

The Radio Scotland Sessions will start on Wednesday 26 August as part of the Afternoons programme, hosted by Grant Stott.

Each session will showcase three tracks performed live in Studio 1 at BBC Scotland’s Pacific Quay headquarters, including a current release, a signature song, and a specially chosen Scottish cover.

The first session will feature Twin Atlantic, with future performances from Callum Beattie, Alice Faye, and Altered Images planned for the autumn.

After broadcast, sessions will also be available across other BBC Radio Scotland programmes, including The Quay Sessions, and will be shared on the station’s digital and social media platforms. Twin Atlantic said they were honoured to launch the new series and highlighted the support they have received from BBC Scotland over the years.

Grant Stott said:  “I’m absolutely thrilled to be bringing Radio Scotland Sessions to Afternoons. There’s nothing quite like hearing an artist perform live, and these sessions will give audiences the chance to experience something genuinely unique.

Victoria Easton Riley, Head of Audio and Events BBC Scotland, said the new strand demonstrates BBC Scotland’s commitment to supporting artists and connecting audiences with music from across the country.

Aiir has launched automatic music log scheduling and exporting for its web-based Aiir Scheduler platform.

This new feature enables radio stations to generate and deliver music logs directly to their playout systems on a recurring schedule, removing the need for manual intervention.

With the update, stations can now generate and export up to 30 days of logs in advance, using rules and categories that can be updated without repeating the scheduling process.

Logs can be exported to various radio automation systems, including PlayoutONE, Zetta, WideOrbit and ENCO DAD, and are delivered automatically via direct API integration, Dropbox or the Aiir Connect app.

Ricki Lee, Aiir CEO, said: “Music scheduling has always been one of the most important tasks for radio programmers, but it’s traditionally been time-consuming and repetitive.

“Aiir Scheduler’s new ability to schedule and export music logs allows stations of all shapes and sizes to easily spin up additional stations without needing additional resources.”

Automatic log scheduling is now available to all Aiir Scheduler users at no extra cost, alongside existing features such as scheduling rules, library management and a drag-and-drop interface.

BBC Radio 1 will bring its New Music Live event back to Cardiff for a second year, with a night of live performances at Tramshed on Tuesday 29th September.

The event will be hosted by Jack Saunders, Sian Eleri and Alyx Holcombe, and will showcase four acts that have received support from Radio 1 for their emerging talent across the UK and Ireland.

Thgese are Fat Dog, from South London, Brighton’s Lime Garden, Limerick band THEATRE and Manchester’s Westside Cowboy.

The performances will be broadcast on Radio 1 on Wednesday 30th September from 7pm to 10pm.

Jack Saunders said:  “I love getting on the road with Radio 1, especially if it’s a sweaty gig with some of our favourite bands. It’s gonna be a great night that once again proves Radio 1’s commitment to supporting local venues.”

For more information and tickets, visit the BBC Website.

Happy Radio has been announced as the Official Radio Partner of Manchester Storm for the 2026/27 season.

The partnership will see station involved in game night entertainment, fan activations, and ongoing marketing campaigns, to boost engagement with supporters of the ice hockey team throughout the year.

There will be exclusive interviews, player features, competitions, and regular coverage of Manchester Storm across Happy Radio’s broadcasts and digital channels.

The station will work closely with the club to deliver content that increases awareness of the team and offers fans more access to players and behind-the-scenes stories.

Mark Noakes, Director of Operations and Business Development at Manchester Storm, said the partnership is a good fit for both organisations and will help connect with both loyal and new supporters.

Happy Radio’s co-owners, Max Eden and Darren Proctor, expressed their enthusiasm for working with Manchester Storm and highlighted their commitment to bringing fans closer to the action during the season.

The collaboration is part of Manchester Storm’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with local organisations and expand its reach across Greater Manchester.

Podfest North, hosted by Ngunan Adamu, is a new conference for podcasters, being held at The Liner Hotel in Liverpool on 13th November 2026.

Former BBC Radio Merseyside Managing Editor and now co-presenter of Misadventures in Music, Mick Ord along with podcasting colleague Nigel Thompson have brought together a team to create what is hoped to become an annual event.

The idea is to support both new and experienced podcasters from across the north of England, with organisers focusing on practical advice and industry insights.

Speakers will include established podcasters and experts from the BBC and Audio UK, with sessions covering topics such as artificial intelligence, monetisation, audience growth, video podcasting and the future of the sector.

Ngunan Adamu, broadcaster and host of Podfest North, said there is a growing ecosystem of creators in the North but many lack access to specialist expertise and business contacts.

Mick Ord said the event aims to help creators develop skills and commercial opportunities, building a network across the north of England, North Wales and beyond.

The conference will feature workshops, panel discussions and debates, with support from Liverpool City Region’s Growth Platform and Liverpool’s Business Improvement District.

Helen Cross from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said the event will help marketers understand the value of podcasting and connect with local creators.

Audio UK is also backing the event, promoting its Audiotrain platform to share good practice and ideas across the industry.

Organisers believe Liverpool’s strong creative industries and digital media sector make it an ideal location for Podfest North.

Find out more at podfestnorth.co.uk.