Entries for the second MTN Radio Awards have doubled compared to last year’s inaugural event. In the next few days, judges get down to the serious business of listening to, rating and scoring over 400 entries from more than 50 radio stations across the length and breadth of the country.

Says awards steering committee chairman, Lance Rothschild: “To be honest, we are completely and utterly bowled over at the massive response to the competition – only in its second year. This validates our view that the country’s radio industry needs recognition and accolades for the excellent work it’s doing. My judging team is raring to go, and is hunkering down for a lot of listening.”

Awards founder and judge, Jeremy Maggs, says: “All we ever wanted to do was acknowledge excellence in the radio industry, and these awards do exactly that across a variety of categories, both on- and off-air. We look forward to calling up the winners and respecting their massive contribution to the sector.”

Sonnyboy Masingi, who heads the National Community Radio Forum and who sits on the awards’ steering committee, says:  “Community radio is in many ways the lifeblood of the industry, providing relevant programming to particular sectors of the population – many of whom are marginalized. I’m thrilled that my constituency has risen to the occasion and has provided so many entries. This bodes well for the future of the industry.”

Entries to this year’s competition come from all sectors of the radio industry – commercial, PBS and community stations. In total, 53 stations have entered the competition. Of those, 17 broadcast in the commercial space, 22 are community radio stations and 15 are PBS stations.

The Johannesburg-based talk radio station, Talk Radio 702 – last year’s station of the year – has submitted the most number of entries, followed closely by sister station 94.7 Highveld Stereo and rivals Jacaranda FM and Kaya FM.

“MTN is pleased by the range of stations that entered this year, our aim has always been to ensure that talent in this realm is recognised and supported ” says Natasha Basson, Senior Manager Brand Strategy and Media Planning at MTN South Africa “This is a reflection of the important role these awards fulfil in the South African broadcast landscape”

Judging now begins in earnest. The judges will each be assigned a certain number of categories based on their expertise, and will evaluate all entries in that section. Once that process is complete, entries with the highest scores will be deemed finalists and appraised by the full panel. Once category winners have been determined, these will then be further scrutinised by the steering committee under the watchful eye of an independent chairperson.

Says Rothschild: “This process guarantees absolute transparency and honesty and all winners will know that their success was judged with absolute integrity.”

The winners will be announced at a Gala Banquet, which is shaping up to be the biggest radio gathering of the year, to be staged at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 9 April.

All winners will be honoured in a special publication entitled ‘On Air’ that will be distributed on the night.

Tickets to the event are now on sale – please contact Esther Sibanda on esthers@thefuture.co.za or 011 803 2040 to make your booking.