Crawford hailed at Commercial Radio Awards

ONE of the best-known names in Scottish radio has been recognised at an awards ceremony celebrating the best of commercial radio.

Jay Crawford has been named the recipient of the Chairman’s Award at the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards.

Crawford first shot to prominence as a presenter on Radio Forth, as a presenter. At Real Radio Scotland for ten years, initially as programme director and latterly as brand director (UK), he stepped down in December on health grounds.

And Real Radio Scotland was among the top winners, with the Breakfast Show of the Year (over one million TSA) prize going to hosts, Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey.

Say the organisers: “The Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards, now in their 17th year, are organised by RadioCentre, the industry body for commercial radio, and recognise excellence and achievement across the whole spectrum of commercial radio output, from presenters and programming to advertising and marketing.”

Global Radio led the awards scooping eight gongs.

Last week, it was announced that Global had acquired the owners of Real Radio Scotland, GMG Radio.

Crawford began presenting on Radio Forth in 1974. When he joined The Wireless Group in 2000, he had been head of programmes at Forth, having returned there from a three-year spell presenting at Radio Clyde. Wireless then owned the likes of Scot FM and when Real Radio owners, GMG, purchased Scot FM to relaunch it as Real Radio Scotland, Crawford then joined them.

His illness has left him without hearing in his right ear and only 60 per cent capacity in his left one.

He told allmediascotland.com: “It was a complete surprise, I am absolutely delighted, really thrilled. The speech by [awards chair] John Myers was very touching.”

An additional thrill was being congratulated immediately after walking off the stage – where Crawford had received a standing ovation from the 600 guests – by fellow winner, the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood. The Stones are one of Crawford’s all-time favourite bands.

Listen to an audio interview with Jay, done on the night, here.

The full list of winners reads:

Presenter of the Year (under one million TSA)

Trevor Marshall 106 JACKfm Oxfordshire

Presenter of the Year (over one million TSA)

Danny Wallace XFM

Programmer of the Year

James Brownlow 95.8 Capital FM

Newcomer(s) of the Year

Emma Barnett LBC 97.3

Journalist or News Team of the Year (Ali Booker Memorial Award – in memory of former winner, journalist Ali Booker, who died of breast cancer in 2010)

Radio Aire News Radio Aire

Station of the Year (<300,000 TSA)

Isle of Wight Radio

Station of the Year (300,000 to one million TSA)

106 JACKfm Oxfordshire

Station of the Year (over one million TSA)

Absolute Radio

Breakfast Show of the Year (under one million TSA)

The Bay Breakfast with Danny Matthews The Bay

Breakfast Show of the Year (over one million TSA)

Real Radio Breakfast with Ewen & Cat Real Radio Scotland

Feature(s) of the Year

Ronnie Wood – The Guests Absolute Radio

Specialist Programme of the Year

The Ronnie Wood Show Absolute Radio

Social Action Initiative

Cocaine Unwrapped Real Radio North West

Station Imaging Award

106 JACKfm Oxfordshire

Marketing Award

Touch FM – Pride of Stratford Awards 2012

Radio Station Event of the Year

Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball

Local Sales Team of the Year

Gem 106

National Sales Team of the Year

Global Radio

Best Branded Content

Arla Starbuck’s Frappuccino and Capital FM Summertime Ball Carat / Capital FM Carat / Global

Best Creative Campaign

Honda – Do You Believe In The Power of Dreams? Wieden + Kennedy, London

Most Effective Campaign

Heart & More Th>n 2011 Heart Global / Mediavest

Advertiser of the Year

Unilever

Media Agency of the Year

Mediacom

PPL Most Played

Adele

PPL Breakthrough

Jessie J

Lifetime Achievement

John Pickford Key 103

RadioCentre Chairman’s Award

Jay Crawford Real Radio Scotland

Gold Award

Classic FM