RADIO CENTRE

CHAIRMEN/DIRECTORS

Andrew HarrisonChief Executive Officer

Dianne ThompsonNon-Executive Chairman

Kip MeekNon-Executive Director

Stuart Taylor CEO, GMG Radio

Stephen MironCEO, Global Radio

Ashley TaborFounder and Executive President, Global Group

Travis BaxterConsultant, Content and External Affairs Director, Bauer Media

Malcolm Bluemel

CEO, Planet Rock

Donnach O'DriscollCEO, Absolute Radio

Michael BettonCEO, Lincs FM

Dee FordGroup Managing Director Radio, Bauer Media

Andrew Harrison

Andrew Harrison is the CEO of Radio Centre. He also sits on the Boards of RAJAR and Digital Radio UK and is the Chairman of UK Radioplayer Ltd.

WHAT IS RADIO CENTRE?

Radio Centre is the industry body for commercial radio in the UK.

It exists to maintain and build a strong and successful commercial radio industry.

HISTORY OF RADIO CENTRE

Radio Centre was founded in 2006 after the merger of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA).

Radio Centre is a co-founder of Digital Radio UK, the body set-up to promote & encourage the digital switchover in the UK.

WHAT RADIO CENTRE DOES

Radio Centre gives UK commercial radio a voice, working with government, policy makers and regulators as well as providing a forum for industry-wide debate and discussion. 

In recent years Radio Centre have lobbied successfully to provide stations with more freedom in how and where they produce content; deregulation of commercial messages; tighter rules on the prominence of commercial brands on the BBC; and the removal of local media ownership rules. 

OBJECTIVES

• To ensure that the BBC sticks to its public service remit, whilst minimising negative impact on commercial radio.

• To achieve the best possible copyright agreements for commercial radio to represent the industry.

• To secure a successful future for commercial radio across analogue and digital platforms.

• To secure the best possible regulatory framework for commercial radio stations and listeners.

• Radio Centre influences the radio industry's legal and regulatory framework, so that commercial radio can flourish.

PRIORITIES WITH OFCOM

DigitalTo deliver a clear and coherent plan for viable digital radio coverage.

LicensingTo minimise the burden of renewals and ensure that licences are based on fair and equitable terms.

Commercial referencesTo secure a framework for regulation that reflects maximum flexibility for stations to carry commercial messages, with transparency that ensures listeners are protected.

Illegal broadcastingTo ensure an effective regime of enforcement to prevent and prosecute pirate radio operators.

Content regulationTo seek regulation based on the value of output heard by the listeners, rather than inputs such as location or format requirements.

ANNUAL REVIEW

Every year Radio Centre is involved with a large amount of work on behalf of its members.

The Radio Centre Annual Review shows members, regulators, parliamentarians, advertisers and agencies the work that they do.

The annual review is published each year to show members & anyone else who has an interest key facts in the growth of radio and what the current climate for radio is at.

It includes:

• The Chairman & CEO’s Review

• Revenue Statistics and Facts

• Audience Statistics and Facts (from RAJAR etc)

• And other relevant information such as the increase of digital radio distribution & Influences in radio.

CODE OF CONDUCT

COMMERCIAL RADIO - PRINCIPALS OF EDITORIAL TRUST (2008)HONESTY

We will not deliberately mislead our audience.

COMPETITIONS

We will run competitions fairly and honestly.

COMPLAINTS

We will treat all complaints fairly and proportionately, whether they come from a listener or a regulator, and will respond as appropriate.

COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES

We will encourage a culture of trust and compliance in our stations

ADHERENCE TO THIS CODE

Adherence to this code is a requirement of Radio Centre membership

OTHER INFORMATIONRadio Centre works closely with the BBC as BBC radio stations make-up the majority of listening figures in the UK.

“To secure the best possible regulatory framework for commercial radio stations and our listeners.”

MISSION STATEMENT

KEY RADIO FACTS

• There are over 34 million listeners in the UK.

• 470,000,000 hours of radio are listened to each week.

• There are 301 licensed radio stations in the UK – 55 on AM, 246 on FM.

• There are 39 local radio stations in Scotland, 11 local stations in N.Ireland, 235 local stations in England & 16 local stations in Wales.

• 28.2% of listeners listen digitally.

• 500,000 tracks are played each week.

SOURCES

• http://www.radiocentre.org/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_the_United_Kingdom/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RadioCentre

• www.radiocentre.org/.../commercial_radio_premium_rate_interaction_code.pdf/

• www.tcbroadcasting.co.uk/documents/EditorialTrust.pdf