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It has been a busy few months at Radio Academy towers putting together the programme for this year’s radio festival. I think we have something rather special this year under the theme of Information, Inspiration and Celebration.

Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC headlines talks about the future of the BBC now that DQF is over. Matt Brittin, the Google boss in the UK spearheads day 2 and somehow, I don’t think that will be a dull session. Gwyneth Williams outlines her vision for BBC Radio 4 and 7, while both Dee Ford and Ashley Tabor appear for the first time in a 1-2-1 session with Torin Douglas.  Andrew Harrison, CEO of RadioCentre responds to the DG’s keynote on the Wednesday with valauble insight from Phil Riley, Scott Taunton and Stuart Taylor.

We have some fun lined up with Ortis and Suzie from The Gadget Show taking us through all of the latest must own gadgets and if you behave yourself, they may even let you play with them too.  There are further sessions on playlists, comedy, talent management and of course Elvis Duran with Steve Wright.

Robbie Savage takes a breather from Strictly Come Dancing to chat about his move into radio with fellow new boys Jamie Cullum, Michael Vaughan and others. They believe celebrities offer something new that adds value to the medium we love, but what is it? We learn how to be inspired from some of the best business names in the UK with Duncan Bannatyne, sports star Tessa Sanderson and sports management guru Barry Hearn.

The Radio 1 team feature in ‘Moyles the Marathon Man’ which showcases how they raised £2.8m in just 50 hours. Jarvis Cocker and Arthur Smith reveal the excitement behind digital while the legend that is Bob Harris is interviewed about 40 years of broadcasting and the O.G.W.T. Hosted by the equally charismatic Paul Gambaccini.

The news session features Sky News reporter Mark Stone who recorded, perhaps the most memorable piece of video seen on the recent riots, while others including Stephen Nolan explore new ways in which news can be covered by a modern newroom.

Andria Vidler, the impressive MD of EMI has something compelling to say about the music industries relationship with radio. Local Radio asks how it can remain relevant when big local stations are losing their original identity and we discuss the future of BBC Local Radio. Alongside this, we showcases a number of ideas on how to connect and do ‘local’ brilliantly.

The Festival puts the spotlight on the creative art of jingles and station imaging with live session singers producing the goods on stage. The power of the playlist is examined by those who know their music. Do we rely too much on research or have we lost gut feel forever? Jeff Smith from Radio 2, George Ergatoudis, Head of music for Radio 1 and John Simons, the Group PD of GMG Radio all debate the issue. In other sessions, the wonderful Nick Ferrari conducts his own special edition of the late night phone in with people ringing in from around the globe and around the room. We ask if the once proud Late Night Phone-in is consigned to the past or can it be saved with a new approach? The legend that is Allan Beswick is just one of those who hopes not to be cut off.

Social Media is big so we have a very big session all about that including a chat with the boss of a radio station who changed the way his station operated overnight so he could maximise the power of the people. The evidence is positive. Find out how he does it and then how to nick the idea. Simples.

Wish you had a ticket? Just move your mouse over to www.radioacademy.org and get signed up. Have I told you about the dinner on the Tuesday evening…..oh you don’t want to miss that surely?

One final thing.  As I was growing up, there was one person, one group, one sound that got me through the years. That person, in my view, is one of the worlds greatest rock’n’roll artists and he will be giving the John Peel Lecture on the Monday evening revealing his personal view of life and music in honour of the late John Peel. It is a 6music production and for that alone, I would buy a ticket from Monday 31st October to Wednesday 2nd November inclusive. His name will be revealed at the beginning of October.

See full programme of sessions right here:  radioacademy.org/events/radio-f…