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The British Council has won two awards for its weekly global radio show 'The Selector'. The programme won ‘Best International Radio Show’ at the International Radio Festival in Zurich, Switzerland and Bronze Award in the ‘Best Regularly Scheduled Music Program’ category at the New York Festivals Radio Awards.
The Selector gives people around the world the chance to experience UK music and for up-and-coming bands to connect with new audiences. The show is broadcast in 30 countries around the world, from China to Mexico, Indonesia to Malawi (including NME Radio in the UK), as well as on British Airways’ in-flight radio. Recent guests have included Carl Barat, Dels, Jamie Woon, Chemical Brothers, Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) and Edwyn Collins.
In many of these countries there are few if any commercially available radio programmes with such an innovative and wide-ranging remit. Often, The Selector is the first and only station to play new bands and artists from the UK, deliberately avoiding the big pop names that can be heard on an average chart based show. The weekly two-hour programme covers all styles of contemporary music, from grime, dubstep, folk and electro to everything in between.
The International Radio Festival (IRF) took place two weeks ago in Zurich, Switzerland and featured some of the most groundbreaking and forward-thinking radio stations and guests from across the world, including J-Wave FM (Tokyo), Radio Nova (Paris) and East Village Radio (New York).
The New York Festival’s Radio Program and Promotion Awards recognises the World's Best Radio Program with entrants from radio stations, networks and independent producers from at least 30 countries. The grand jury comprises top level industry professionals from five continents and more than 25 countries.
The Selector is produced by independent production company Folded Wing, winner of ‘Indie of the Year’ at the recent Radio Production Awards. Presenter of ‘The Selector’ Goldierocks is hosting early breakfast on BBC Radio1 this week, deputising for Dev while he covers Greg James.
Phil Catchpole, Music Adviser, British Council:
“It’s great to win awards and be recognised for a great radio show that is connecting new UK artists to new audiences and cultures all over the world. It’s a truly unique show from top to bottom, from the playlist to the way stations can broadcast it in English or in their own language. No-one else is doing anything like this.”
Karen Pearson, Director of Folded Wing, said:
“For The Selector to win Best International Radio Show at the 2011 International Radio Festival AND win an award at the New York Festivals Awards is incredible! It's been so brilliant working on The Selector with Goldierocks, helping to nurture her and watching her blossom as a presenter. And The Selector is such as an important showcase for new, upcoming British artists - it really stands for everything that is great about the British Council. How many other radio shows get played in 30 countries around the world!”
You can listen to the three-hour show The Selector team transmitted live from Zurich again here: http://www.internationalradiofestival.com/home
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