Community Media Festival 2025 – Live blog

Over the past few years I’ve ‘live tweeted’ various conferences and events I’ve attended. Given that Twitter/X is becoming increasingly ‘troublesome’ and tweets are no longer publicly available (you need to have an account to read.) I decided to use BlueSky instead for my live blog from the Community Media Association annual festival.

The event held at the BBC in Media City, Salford was entitled ‘Echoes of the past; Signals for the future’.

There where many interesting sessions, which I may post my thoughts on separately, but for now below is a copy of the posts I made.

Initially, to give people a chance to view while still fresh, you may wish to click through to enlarge the images of presenters slides. I have just embedded the BlueSky posts. (Later I’ll go through and update this page with the content and images directly, so check back in the future if you want to avoid having to keep jumping into BlueSky.)

#CMAFest25 Arrived at the BBC at Media City for today's Community Media Festival. A few regular faces and some new faces and just a handful of exhibitors.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T08:31:22.966Z

#CMAFest25 Suzie Stevens and CMA Chair Vijay Umrao opens the event welcoming today's attendees.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:04:18.943Z

Some of the event supporters, Caroline from Promo Only, Liam from Broadcast Radio, Sean Radio player give a few words of support #CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:09:57.493Z

An update from Radio Player on their progress with Hybrid radio. New UI on app will be rolled out to Web player in next few months.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:12:34.318Z

Sean talks of the danger of radio getting lost in the car and the need for Meta Data from stations, car dash system manufacturers want 90% plus of stations on the platform to have now playing info.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:15:03.607Z

Radioplayer committed to working with CMA. Do not want to have RadioPlayer branding in cars they are more about the technology behind it#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:19:03.464Z

Panel session on Finding the funding, how stations have raised funds.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:20:55.692Z

#CMAFest25 Marcus from BCFm on ways he raised funds, fiesta example from National Lottery Heritage fund "it's not about 'what' you are making" (podcasts) but "how you are making it" (working with disadvantaged communities).
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:24:12.546Z

Did a £3k project to work with police to promote Road Safety – as part of project interviewed The Road Safety Trust which lead to a bigger £40k project. "USP of radio as medium used while driving" so produced an road safety advert and toolkit#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:38:36.784Z

Next speaker Chris Shaw from Think Fundraising advice on fundraising.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:40:25.391Z

Buzzword bingo "AI"… You can't ignore it, many funders interested in positive use of AI.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:44:06.728Z

Highlights collaborative partnership as many funders only offer large grants #CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:45:47.804Z

Tips including "be clear on social impact" and ensure website and social media actually reflect what you say you do.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:48:40.009Z

Tony Smith from Angel Radio gives a potted history, from "sailing the high seas" in the 90s through RSL shirt term broadcasts, lobbying the Radio Authority through to being one of the Access Radio Pilot stations.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:53:21.128Z

Talks of their fundraising – do a lot of sponsorship of programmes/features. But most income from listener donations as mainly older audiences feel that the radio station is their friend. Since Jan 1st 2025 £575k income. (Must be one of the bigger CR station incomes!)
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:55:56.256Z

Angel radio has been able to make donations to other Community Radio stations and groups.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:56:39.525Z

Expanded on DAB across a wide area with Community of interest. Get more donations every time they go on another DAB mux. adverts on radio "if you're listening in Surrey we've paid the bill for this year can you pay next year's bill."
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T09:58:19.414Z

#CMAFest25Next up "very average radio presenter" so moved into Management @mattdeegan.com
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T10:36:31.709Z

Matt looks back in time at the largely monopoly of BBC and limited Commercial Radio until end of the 90s. "Regulated markets not best for listeners" success by default due to monopoly #CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T10:40:14.214Z

Now in a position to think about the listeners. Matt's key takeaway "always reconnect with the listener"#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T10:42:14.292Z

Share RAJAR study. Live radio still very strong. But "still in a battle for attention" but doesn't just need to be the AM/FM/DAB. Start with the idea and how many different ways can it be used, not just filling a slot on the schedule.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T10:48:13.798Z

Talks of moving Fun Kids playout to the cloud and using lots of Open Source tools to create content across platforms, websites / socials.Asks "what is what only you can do – move beyond your Ofcom Key Commitments (that might be 20 yrs old)" you can be successful by connecting with your audience
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T10:54:47.944Z

Matt answering Q about DAB Muliplexes – What is your model for being on DAB? Does it need to be the same as FM service? MuxCo commercial mixes quite pricey to run, so carriage cost has to reflect this.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:01:22.158Z

Next panel "Is it time to stop talking about Diversity"#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:03:39.140Z

Amit Popat: Everyone in this room is part of the Diversity agenda. It's not just about some groups.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:09:19.943Z

Anne Duncan talks of Awaz FM programmimg bringing different communities together, Marcus from BCfm suggests yes Diversity is still a discussion but we should focus on actions.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:18:00.687Z

Marcus: Media can be guilty of pigeon holeing. Was contacted by a media outlet to talk on knife crime "but I'm more scared of stampeding cows in rural Bristol"#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:22:20.104Z

Some interesting audience comments including Vicky Richardson from @allfm.bsky.social highlighting their USP of being for all communities
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:35:29.827Z

John Dash, Phil England and Dom Chambers on audience measurement. #CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:37:02.083Z

John Dash talks about Local Radio Network and Local Radio Support attempts to sell government advertising to Community Radio and Small Commercial stations.And the big problem being audience figures.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:39:11.521Z

Phil England gives presentation on new initiative RAMS.DCMS and government advertising agency in support.Not in competition with RAJAR (BBC/Commercial Radio listener survey).Provide figures to participating stations, but not published nationally
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:43:55.129Z

#CMAFest25RAMS is not a survey.A online stream has stats of real listeners, can calculate out from this to estimate FM/DAB. At a factor of 2.2.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:46:34.074Z

2.2x online stats I might have over simplified in my last post. Sounds like there is bit more calculations going on in their system.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:49:11.482Z

John Dash explains this graph is the small number of test stations, giving listening hours equivalent to smaller national stations.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:51:18.903Z

Stations get a monthly report.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:52:36.722Z

John notes his experience of RAJAR graphs "ups and downs", where this gives more consistency which he thinks is more representative of reality #CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:54:27.436Z

Sam from Maxxwave raised interesting questions about streaming providers. Seems like RAMS needs to use their RCS streaming service (not Canstream or other providers you might use already.)#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T12:03:45.467Z

My personal view – changing streaming providers might be a deal breaker for many ….
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T12:05:02.228Z

Big one……. It is free……#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T11:55:26.315Z

Lunch and a little spot of waffling on the CMA pop up radio station (photo not available of me) and onwards to afternoon session.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T13:04:40.209Z

Reaching broader audiences is the next session with Mark Strippel. Giving some background as a DJ and getting into radio via Community Radio.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T13:11:05.919Z

Mark talks of how BBC 1Xtra approached defining areas they wanted to reach and matching in programmes such as OBs across the country.Looking to the future of wider outlets such as podcasting and how Community Radio has the closest relationship with audiences.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T13:28:01.993Z

Next session "Wellbeing at the heart of volunteering".#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T13:35:08.562Z

Byron talks in his org everyone has a "access rider" which helps benefits with people's expectations.
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T13:43:02.319Z

AI on air next session with Lee Price from @aiir.com "AI is just a tool" and here to stay.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T14:37:15.046Z

AI = Artificial Intern Points to someuseful tools inc. Riverside, Elevenlabs, wondercraft Adobe Enhance Speech
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T14:42:27.479Z

Recommends needs to be very specific with your AI prompts
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T15:03:26.327Z

Needs careful with trust and ethics
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T15:05:21.601Z

Demo of Adobe audio cleaner tool looks impressive.#CMAFest25
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T15:13:37.754Z

#CMAFest25Recognising the founding stations of access radio. Pictures of receiving the awards from Liam at Broadcast Radio later, but a couple of snapshots first….
— Phil Edmonds (@philedmonds.uk) 2025-10-04T15:44:30.587Z