The MFWs, a new BBC station, and more from Canada

The MFWs, a new BBC station, and more from Canada

Author: James Cridland July 29, 2026 Duration: 8:15

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  • Hell has no fury like an MFW - Duncan Campbell, former content director of ARN, writes about the pressure group Mad Fudging Witches. “Make no mistake about it, Alan Jones, Kyle Sandilands and Karl Stefanovic all lost their jobs because of MFW”, he claims. Not sure about Karl - probably uncritically interviewing Tommy Robinson did that for him - but, Campbell suggests we should be concerned that MFW have this kind of influence. MFW targets the advertisers who fund the shows, contacting them directly and making them aware of the content they’re funding. Campbell frames it as a free speech issue. (He’ll be at Radiodays Asia; I’ve put this through a link tracker since the original link has a naughty word in).
  • Spintrack is a “complete radio station on a Mac mini”, it claims. It’s probably understandable that there aren’t that many playout systems for the Mac, but it looks interesting to see - it includes voicetracking and live assist, along with hour templates and music scheduling.
  • Over in Podnews this week, SONARR has been advertising its awards. They’re a new audio awards for Australia, including radio, podcasts, audiobooks and voiceovers. You have until this Friday evening to enter, and it can be as low as $75 to enter. You’re guaranteed not to win if you don’t enter…
  • Some quite impressive radio analysis for the Sydney market. ARN’s Gold managed 15 minutes an hour of ads. “If you’re hearing an ad on Smooth, there’s a 50/50 chance WSFM is also in an ad at that exact moment”. (Yes, this person - who is clearly someone who cares about radio - calls it WSFM, despite it having rebranded over a year ago). The comments are, as ever, worth reading.

For anyone curious about where the world of radio is heading next, Radioland, with James Cridland-radio futurologist offers a clear-eyed and informed perspective. This isn't just industry gossip; it's a thoughtful analysis of the forces reshaping audio. James Cridland, working as a consultant and writer at the intersection of radio and new technology, sifts through the noise to bring you the most significant developments. In each episode, you'll hear a concise breakdown of emerging platforms, shifting listener habits, and the business models that are succeeding or failing. The discussion is global in scope, looking beyond any single market to understand the broader trends affecting broadcasters and audio creators everywhere. Tuning into this podcast provides a unique advantage: it's like having a knowledgeable guide explain not just what is changing, but why it matters and what might come next. The analysis is grounded in real-world observation, offering practical insight for professionals in the business and intrigued enthusiasts alike. You can find more from James, including his newsletter, through his personal website. Radioland is your regular briefing on the evolution of an enduring medium, delivered with authority and a focus on the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Radioland, with James Cridland - radio futurologist
Podcast Episodes
Radiodays Asia, and could TV's switchoff put radio at risk? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:12
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.I’ll be on RRI in Indonesia a little later this week: the station was founded on 11 September 1945, so it’s celebrating its 81st anniversary this week. The broadc…
Streaming music overtakes AM/FM radio in the US [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:18
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.“Radio is still where people go to discover music”, we keep hearing. New data from Edison Research shows that, actually, streaming music services now reach more A…
Kyle's first online show 'a disaster' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:31
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Kyle Sandilands went on-air this morning with his paid-for show. It looked to be a bit of a technical mess; his most chummy media partner called it chaotic, and d…
Radio listening data from Europe and the US [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:31
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.The EBU released its Radio Trends Report 2026. Weekly reach across Europe is 81.3%, down 2.7% from five years ago. As above - time spent listening is 2h 10m per d…
AI gets a number 1 song [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:54
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Links and much more to read at https://radioland.email
Linear audio vs ondemand audio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:43
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Data from Edison Research makes me question what radio is marketing for.
BBC Radio 4 long-wave closes down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:31
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.More at https://james.cridland.net/blog/2026/radio-4-longwave-closes/