Radiodays Europe, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Radiodays Europe is an annual conference for radio professionals with 1500 participants from 62 countries. It is the meeting point for the European radio industry, both private and public, and a destination for radio people from around the world.

Visit WorldDAB on Booth 10.

Sessions relevant to DAB+ digital radio

Monday 20 March

10.10-10.50 Track 1 Auditorium The new BBC radio director in conversation Bob Shennan (Director Radio and Music, BBC, UK) 
 
BBC Radio is seen by many as the ‘gold standard’ for radio broadcasting, with a wide range of services reaching over 34 million listeners across the UK each week. In the face of increasing digital competition and changing audience habits, the BBC aims to maintain its reach and share by focusing on high-quality, distinctive programming, creative partnerships and digital innovation. The newly appointed Director of Radio - Bob Shennan, appearing for the first time at Radiodays Europe,  in conversation with John Myers, UK, will set out his vision for the future of BBC Radio, discussing the challenges which lie ahead for the industry.

Tuesday 21 March
 

9.05-9.45 Track 2 Forum The Smooth way to success  Tony Thomas (Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, Australia) 
 
How do you create an iconic radio brand in a very competitive market? In this session we’ll look at the key drivers of success of ‘Smoothfm’ in Australia from its highly successful launch in 2012 to it’s current position as the number 1 FM radio station. Marketing Director Tony Thomas will cover positioning, launch, approach to music, marketing and the subsequent extension of the smooth brand into other media.

10.00-10.45 Track 1 Auditorium First shut down of FM for DAB+. How did it go? Marius Lillelien (Head of radio, NRK, Norway), Kenneth Andresen (Head of P4/MTG, Norway) and Jacqueline Bierhorst (Director, Digital Radio Netherlands) 
 
Norway is the first country in the world to start turning off FM transmitters, replacing analogue radio with DAB+. The change has been criticized by politicians, radio management and the public. 68 days after the first switch were they right in their pessimism, or is DAB+ the best future for radio? And will Europe follow? Host: James Cridland.

11.05-11.50 Track 1 Auditorium Music programming masterclass Jeff Smith (Head of music, BBC Radio 2 and 6music, UK) 
 
BBC Radio 2 is the most listened to radio station in the UK, and plays the widest mix of music on the dial… everything from Frank Sinatra to Coldplay. Meanwhile, BBC 6 Music is the most popular digital station in the UK and plays both cutting edge music of today, along with iconic and groundbreaking music of the past 40 years. Jeff Smith is the Head of Music for both stations. In this session, in conversation with Nik Goodman, we’ll look at the role that creative music programming plays in attracting such big audiences. From the playlist, and breaking new artists, through to specialist shows and live music, hear directly from the mastermind behind the music.

13.45-14.30 Track 4 Topaz Hybrid Radio: The connected future of broadcast radio  Joe D’Angelo (SVP, Broadcast Radio, XPERI), Ford Ennals (CEO, Digital Radio UK), Michael Hill (Founder & MD, Radioplayer), Walter Huijten (Manager, NPO, the Netherlands), Nick Piggott (Project Director, RadioDNS)
 
To survive growing audience and revenue competition, radio needs to match content innovation with distribution innovation. Alongside pure IP activities like apps and players, the options for broadcast distribution include analogue, digital and hybrid radio systems. As cars, a stronghold of radio listening, become universally connected in Europe from 2018, what are
broadcasters doing to leverage their unique mix of distribution technologies to maximise the experience for listeners and advertisers at minimum incremental cost? What does it mean to scale digital distribution to 90% of the European population, on the move? Our panel will explain their strategies for remaining top of the dial in the connected car, and how all parts of the industry can work collectively to form a formidable response to the threat of IP services.
 
This session is produced and hosted by AIM.