• ARIAS 2025
• RAJAR Listening Figures
• Radio 3's Renaissance
• Podcast Industry Growth
• Radio Industry Consolidation
• BBC Anti-Bullying Measures
• ITV Acquisition Rumours
• AI Impact on Search

This special live episode of The Media Club is recorded at the ARIAS 2025, the Radio Academy's annual awards, held in London's Leicester Square. Host Matt Deegan interviews key industry figures, including Radio Academy chief Aradhna Tayal Leach and BBC Radio 3 controller Sam Jackson, discussing the latest RAJAR figures, Radio 3's recent schedule changes and audience growth, and the state of the radio industry. The episode also features red-carpet interviews with winners such as Goalhanger founders Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport, Angela Scanlon, Jon Holmes, Andy Roberts and Ken Bruce of Greatest Hits Radio, Alastair Campbell, and David Olusoga, among others. The programme includes a news round-up covering ITV acquisition rumours, AI's impact on search, and BBC anti-bullying measures, plus the Audio Network Media Quiz.

Key takeaways

• Radio 3 reported five consecutive quarters of audience growth, with significant increases across the schedule following its biggest schedule change in 40 years.
• Goalhanger won Audio Brand of the Year at the ARIAS, reporting 63 million downloads in the last month.
• TalkSport won a Judges Award and reported its best-ever RAJAR figures.
• The BBC announced new anti-bullying standards for talent, following recent scandals.
• The rumoured Redbird IMI deal to buy ITV has started to go cold, according to Deadline.

In this episode

• Intro and ARIAS overview0:00 · Matt Deegan introduces the live episode from the ARIAS and sets up the show.
• Interview with Aradhna Tayal Leach and Sam Jackson1:00 · Discussion on RAJAR figures, Radio 3's growth, and the state of the radio industry.
• Red carpet interviews with winners10:00 · Interviews with Goalhanger, Angela Scanlon, BBC Three Counties, Jon Holmes, Greatest Hits Radio, Alastair Campbell, TalkSport, and David Olusoga.
• News in brief25:00 · Quick round-up of media news including ITV acquisition rumours and BBC anti-bullying measures.
• Audio Network Media Quiz30:00 · Quiz with Aradhna and Sam on media winners of the week.

Notable quotes

“I'm absolutely flabbergasted, honestly.”

Andy Roberts · 0:00

“It's not like working for somebody, it's working with somebody.”

Ken Bruce · 0:00

“I think when you get to 67, you've sort of morphed from unemployed Antichrist to sort of trainee national treasure.”

Alastair Campbell · 0:00

“I hate the word authentic because it gets overused with talking about people like Nigel Farage when you know he's about as authentic as you know Donald Trump's makeup.”

Alastair Campbell · 0:00

“We're old, Matt. People are chasing us now. We might as well embrace their talent and use it.”

Jon Holmes · 0:00

“The meter and rhythm of my life now is podcasts and radio four.”

David Olusoga · 0:00

Discussed

BBC · BBC Radio 3 · Goalhanger · Greatest Hits Radio · TalkSport · Radio Academy

Also mentioned: Tim Davie · Mohan Michaels · Andrew Kostlet · ITV · John Lewis · Virgin Radio · Sky · Redbird IMI · Mail · Eliza · Fun Kids · BBC Three Counties Radio · BBC Radio Northampton · BBC Merseyside · Power FM · XFM · Spin · Help Musicians · Music Minds Matter

Mentioned or recommended

• The Rest Is Politics · podcast · Goalhanger
• The Rest Is Classified · podcast · Goalhanger
• The Skewer · tv show · Jon Holmes
• Radio 3 Unwind · other · BBC Radio 3
• Essential Classics · tv show · BBC Radio 3
• Mr Bates vs The Post Office · tv show
• Saturday Night Live · tv show · Lorne Michaels
• Celebrity Traitors · tv show
• The Media Club · podcast · Rethink Audio