UK radio stations can now access TRIL, a European radio imaging library launched through a partnership between TM Studios and Dutch audio company Capital of Media.

TRIL offers producers a growing collection of sweeper shells, music beds, branded intros, show openers, transitions and production elements, with new material added daily.

The service is already in use at several European stations and is designed to help producers quickly create contemporary imaging tailored to UK radio formats and workflows.

Unlike many libraries originating in North America, TRIL has been developed in Europe with a focus on European radio styles and playlists.

The content is curated and designed in collaboration with TM Studios. Anthony Timmers, founder of Capital of Media, said the library was created to support producers working under tight deadlines and limited resources.

He explained that everything in the library is made by experienced producers and updated continuously.

Chris Stevens, director of TM Studios, said TRIL is intended to “unlock creativity” for producers, offering a range of tools and ideas to refresh station sound and streamline workflows.

TRIL is available in four formats: CHR/Hot AC, Modern AC, Country and Classic Hits, with new content added every day.

Broadcasters can request a free trial account and hear audio demonstrations at www.tmstudios.com/TRIL or by emailing chrisuk@tmstudios.com

Radio advertising grew again in 2025 despite a largely flat market for traditional media, according to Ofcom’s latest Media Nations report.

The report shows UK radio advertising revenue increased by 1% year on year to £747 million, making it one of the few traditional media sectors to record growth.

Television advertising fell by 1% to £5.2 billion, while newspaper and magazine advertising both declined by 5%.

Ofcom says radio proved more resilient than television because it was less affected by major sporting events and wider economic uncertainty. Cinema advertising also rose by 3%, although it remains below pre pandemic levels.

The wider UK advertising market grew by 6% to £46.7 billion, driven almost entirely by online platforms. Online advertising increased by 9% to £39.3 billion, with social media advertising rising 21% and search advertising growing 6%.

The report also highlights how broadcasters are adapting to attract a broader range of advertisers. In June 2026, Global launched AdPower, a self service platform allowing businesses to buy both audio and outdoor advertising more quickly.

Ofcom says platforms such as AdPower and the television industry’s Universal Ads simplify campaign buying and could appeal to existing local radio advertisers as well as businesses that have never previously used traditional media.

While digital advertising continues to dominate overall growth, Ofcom concludes that radio and audio remain an important part of people’s daily media habits, with broadcasters continuing to invest in new ways to make advertising easier to buy and more accessible.

Read the full report and indivdual nations here.

Coventry Hospital Radio is preparing for  a new season of live commentary of every Coventry City match for patients and staff at University Hospital Coventry.

The volunteer-run station broadcasts full-match coverage of both home and away fixtures, allowing listeners on the wards to stay connected with the Sky Blues while receiving treatment.

The service, which began in 1972 after a patient requested to hear a match from Highfield Road, was made possible by fundraising for a dedicated telephone line.

It continued until 2005, when Coventry City moved stadiums, but was restored at the start of last season using modern technology and support from the football club.

Listeners can tune in through bedside entertainment units, the Coventry Hospital Radio app, online, or via smart speakers.

The station also airs The PUSB Show, hosted by Moz Baker, Clive Brookes and Ashley Brookes, every Thursday and Sunday.

The programme reviews recent matches, previews upcoming games and features contributions from other hospital radio stations. Ashley said the show is a lively platform for fans to share their opinions and reactions.

The station says it aims to keep supporters connected to their club, providing entertainment and companionship during hospital stays.

Rob Underwood will present a new Sunday evening show on Lincs Sound from this weekend.

Rob is well known in Lincolnshire after many years with the BBC locally and has recently been heard on Lincs Sound covering for other presenters.

He will continue to provide cover when needed, but now has a regular slot every Sunday from 6pm to 10pm.

Rob said he is pleased to join Lincs Sound, describing the station as feeling like home. He added that after 25 years sharing stories with listeners in Lincolnshire, he understands the value of a friendly voice and looks forward to bringing warmth to his new show.

Programme director Steve Orchard said Rob is a great addition to the team, which is made up of experienced presenters who focus on local content and music.

With Rob’s new show and Ellie Codling’s Saturday breakfast show now starting an hour earlier, Lincs Sound offers presenter-led programmes from 6am to 10pm every day of the week.

The National Association of Broadcasters has joined Radio Ready, a global coalition focused on keeping radio prominent in connected car dashboards.

NAB’s involvement expands Radio Ready’s reach in the United States, bringing a major advocate for American broadcasters into the international group.

As dashboards in new vehicles become more complex, it is becoming harder for drivers to find free, local radio.

The main challenge is not a lack of demand, but rather the difficulty of discovering radio among other digital options.

Radio Ready was created to address this issue by uniting broadcasters worldwide. The coalition will ensure AM, FM, and digital radio remain accessible and easy to use in modern vehicles, while also providing a collective voice when working with automakers and technology companies.

NAB is the first US-based industry organisation to join the campaign. The coalition already includes broadcasters from Europe, Africa, and Australia.

NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said that as dashboards evolve, it is more important than ever to keep broadcast radio accessible.

Wouter Quartier from the EBU noted that NAB’s involvement is an important step in building a strong, unified voice for radio worldwide.

Tobias Nielsen, SVP Digital at Bauer Media Audio, commented: “Radio Ready is our industry’s unified response to a defining shift in how audiences access audio.

“As connected cars become more complex, the challenge is keeping radio visible and discoverable. Welcoming NAB brings the voice of the U.S. broadcast industry into the coalition and significantly strengthens our momentum across the United States.

“Together, we are reinforcing the global collaboration needed to keep radio front and centre in the car.”

]]> https://radiotoday.co.uk/2026/07/nab-joins-global-effort-to-keep-radio-in-cars/feed/ 0 418213 https://radiotoday.co.uk/2026/07/maria-ramos-to-host-the-2026-aibs-in-london/ https://radiotoday.co.uk/2026/07/maria-ramos-to-host-the-2026-aibs-in-london/#respond Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:03:09 +0000 https://radiotoday.co.uk/?p=418210 Maria Ramos will host the AIBs 2026 in London, celebrating international journalism and factual productions across platforms.]]>

Maria Ramos of TRT World will host the AIBs 2026, the 22nd annual awards for journalism and factual productions.

The Association for International Broadcasting brings together journalists, producers, editors and media leaders from around the world for the AIBs, which celebrate excellence in factual storytelling across television, radio and digital platforms.

Maria is known for presenting news and current affairs programmes for TRT World. Her experience covering major global events and engaging audiences internationally is seen as a strong fit for the awards.

The AIBs 2026 gala will be held in London on Friday 20th November.

Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive of the AIB, said: “We are delighted that Maria Ramos will be hosting the AIBs 2026. Maria is a highly accomplished multilingual journalist and presenter with extensive international experience particularly across the Middle East and Türkiye.”

Maria said she is honoured to host the AIBs 2026 and looks forward to celebrating the work of journalists and storytellers worldwide. She highlighted the range and depth of this year’s competition entries.

The AIBs are recognised as a global benchmark for journalism and factual productions. Entries are accepted in all languages and judged by an international panel of experts.

This year’s competition has attracted entries from more than 25 countries in 22 categories, with shortlisting underway before judging begins.

BBC Radio 1 Dance will refresh its schedule later this year, with Charlie Tee set to take over the daily afternoon show from 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Sunday.

Charlie said she is “absolutely elated” to join the afternoon line-up and described dance music as her life’s passion.

Matty Chiabi continues to present the 6am to 9am show as part of the updated daytime line-up. Martha will launch a new monthly three-hour show focused on UK club culture, supporting local club scenes and highlighting both grassroots and established names in the dance community.

Martha said she hopes the show will amplify and document British club culture, and provide a platform for the next generation of underground dance producers.

From Thursday 6th August, The Residency on Radio 1 Dance will feature a new line-up, with Silva Bumpa, Paige Tomlinson, Sam Alfred and Effy each taking over for a month on Thursdays from 11pm to 1am.

Jonas Blue will present a special one-off show on Thursday 30th July. The Residency continues to showcase influential and emerging dance and electronic music from the UK and beyond every Thursday night.

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: Charlie’s daily afternoon show will soundtrack listeners’ days with the hottest new, current and classic dance music, while Martha’s UK club focus will celebrate the communities, clubs, collectives, and artists driving grassroots club culture across the UK who need our support.

“Alongside another exciting line-up for The Residency, these additions will help listeners discover the DJs, producers and sounds shaping the future of dance music.”

Online radio was the fastest growing media channel in the UK during the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest AA/WARC expenditure report.

Advertising investment in online radio increased by 22.1% year-on-year, outpacing all other media categories.

Total radio advertising also rose by 4.2%, showing the ongoing strength of radio as a multiplatform medium.

Across all media, advertising investment grew by 9.3% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching £11.7 billion.

The AA/WARC forecasts predict that total advertising investment will rise by 8.2% to £50.5 billion this year.

Growth is expected to continue into 2027, with a further 5.9% increase, bringing the total to £53.5 billion.

The AA/WARC report is recognised as the only source collecting advertising spend data from the entire UK media landscape.

Matt Payton, CEO of Radiocentre, said: “In a tough market, the strong performance we have seen in the first quarter of this year suggests advertisers are continuing to see the benefits of investing in multiplatform audio, with both digital audio and broadcast radio providing them with a trusted and regulated space to amplify their advertising and drive business success.”

It’s time to cross over to voice-over artist Greg Marston for his monthly article, with another view from the studio.

Adopts the voice of Simpson’s character Troy McClure, clears throat… 

Hi I’m Greg Marston. 

You might remember me as the guy from the GWR Group of stations across the UK, who used to say ‘no rap, less chat, your better music mix’ back in the 90’s. Or, at the end of the same decade and on into the 2000’s, as the voice of Classic FM: ‘more music to suit your mood – that’s the Classic FM difference’. And who could forget when I was the imaging voice for LBC London, announcing: ‘From the LBC studios in Leicester Square…’.  

Well good gentle-readers of RadioToday, as mentioned in last month’s article, some of the idents  and news reports you’re hearing now on radio and TV stations and networks, terrestrial or digital,  are actually voices generated via our new-ish ‘friend’, AI. 

I kid you not… 

…but I actually wish I was joking. 

My career in radio began at a brand spanking new, small but well equipped station broadcasting  out of the University of Western Australia in 1979. 

Cutting to the chase of a long back-story, ‘6UVS FM’ was the first FM station in that state, and I  presented a show on Friday nights from 2315 to around 0115 (I have no idea why a quarter past  midnight, but I recall that I had to shut the station down whenever I finished – often running well  past the 0115 mark). 

The programme was imaginatively called ‘Midnight Rambles’ and the brief was this: 

‘So, every week, the record companies send in a heap of new releases which you’ll find in a milk crate in the studio. Play whatever you like. Oh, and if you want to bring in any of your own discs and spin them, do that too’.  

A dream gig for a radio obsessed guy in his very early 20’s, having been brought up on the  medium in the UK from the late 50’s and throughout the 60’s, after which I was thrown into the  heavily American influenced – but very Australian themed – music market in the 1970’s when my  family emigrated to the land down-under. 

In those days, sponsorship, imaging/branding announcements and promos were voiced by  anyone presenting on the eclectically programmed station, the format of which was such that you  might have someone playing classical music leading immediately into a CHR style slot after which  it might be jazz, a chat show, current affairs, news, interviews etc. 

Wanting to promote my own programme, I fell into my next love of producing, recording, editing  and mixing – using an MCI JH-110 ¼” 2-Track Reel-to-Reel – concocting the most involved  pieces of sonic madness (mostly for my own entertainment) along with a few guys with whom I  was producing a crazy series of shows called ‘Time Capsule’. 

I still have some of those tapes, along with the very first show which Mum recorded on cassette –  bless you Mum. 

We were all beginners finding our way at the tail-end of the ‘glory days’, heavily influenced by the  good radio and TV voices around at that time and, even though some of those vocals are dated  by todays’ standards, at least they were real and sounded hot in the late 70’s/early 80’s! 

Now, it’s getting difficult for many to discern what’s real and what’s AI generated.

That’s something to think about, going forward. 

I ponder many things AI voiceover-related across various articles on the blog page of my website.

The bottom line is simply this: the current generation (Alpha – 2012 to just last year) and probably  some of the previous generation (Z – 1997 to 2012) will potentially grow up in a world where the  majority of voices they hear on radio, TV and across all the socials will be AI generated.  

Even as the artificial voices get better and better, they are still unlikely to be able to replicate the  wonderful subtleties, nuances, depth, inflection, emphases et al, of a real, human voice. 

Will these generations start conversing without all those wonderful attributes and if so, what will  that sound like a few decades from now…

BBC Radio 5 Live will end transmissions from its Exeter and Brighton sites on 30 September 2026.

Listeners in the South West currently using the Exeter transmitter are being directed to retune to 693 Medium Wave, broadcasting from the Start Point transmitter.

In East Sussex, those affected by the Brighton closure can retune to 909 Medium Wave from the Brookmans Park transmitter.

Redruth in Cornwall, and Folkestone in Kent, are both due to cease transmissions on 31st July 2026, as previously reported by RadioToday.

The station’s medium wave switch-off appears to have begun on a transmitter-by-transmitter basis, ahead of the BBC’s wider plan to close the AM network by the end of 2027.

The BBC says Radio 5 Live will remain available nationally on DAB digital radio. Listeners can find the station by selecting BBC Radio 5 Live on their radio’s display.

The service is also available online through the website.

Both transmitter closures were confirmed on 28 July and will take place on the same date.