DemonFM, the student-community radio station jointly owned by De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU) and De Montfort University (DMU), was announced as the host of the 2013 Student Radio Association Conference at the SRA’s glittering annual awards ceremony at London’s O2 Arena. The opportunity is given to a bidding station each year, and is the result of three months hard work, in which DemonFM presented their proposal to the SRA along with other student radio outlets.
The decision comes after two years of solid performance from DemonFM, which has seen the station nominated for five national awards. Recent DMU graduates Erica Dancer and Jon Jackson both picked up bronze awards last year, for Best Female and Best Male respectively and they further capitalised on their 2011 performance with nominations in the same category this year.
The Student Radio Association Conference 2013 will take place during the April Easter break, and will see De Montfort’s collegiate-style campus entirely thrown-over to a celebration of all that is vital in the UK radio industry. Guest speakers, workshops, star events, and an almost-endless programme of fun and frolics will ensure that DemonFM, DSU and DMU leave an indelible impression on industry-watchers and future UK radio people alike.
DemonFM Managing Director and Vice President Media and Communications at De Montfort Students’ Union, Tom Williams, said: “I have been involved in DemonFM since the beginning of its community radio license four years ago and being selected for this conference makes me incredibly proud. It has taken hard work, sweat and tears to get to this stage and being selected over other student radio stations is testament to the efforts of the members. This will be a collaborative effort between DSU and DMU, and will show the rest of the country how SU and University working together can produce something special.”
Programme Director, Simon Walsh, added: “Building DemonFM up from ground-level to where we are today has made the last four years amongst the most exciting in my radio career. Engaging volunteers and raising professionalism has been key to the station’s development, and I look forwardto watching many of our student’s progress through the UK and international radio industry.”
Station Manager, Adam Jinkerson, summed it up by saying: “I am proud of the fantastic team that put the bid together and I am excited about the prospect of bringing other student radio stations to what I consider to be the best student radio station in the country.”
