Check out the first four entries for Radio Today’s 30 Under 30 Awards

Former Editor & Content Director

You still have one week to enter Radio Today’s 30 Under 30 Awards – but already submissions are rolling in thick and fast.

If you were aged 30 or under on  September 1, 2020, and worked in radio, audio or podcasting this year, then you can throw your hat in the ring.

Radio Today is looking to unearth the youngest and brightest minds who, despite the challenges facing the industry, are pushing through and are destined to move the sector forward.

Radio Today’s 30 Under 30 Awards initiative is supported by ARN, Nine, SCA, NOVA, ACE Radio and Sony Music.

The Awards will be judged by an expert panel from across the networks and industry. The shortlist will be announced on November 16.

Check out some of the first entries to hit the Radio Today desk below.

SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE


Patrick Rice, 23

Kyle & Jackie O’s audio image producer, Patrick Rice, started out voicing kids commercials and now works on Sydney’s most successful FM Breakfast show. He’s 23 now, and uses his former, 13-year-old self, to remind himself how far he’s come. He constantly asks himself if Patrick of 10 years ago would be proud of where is is, and what he’s accomplished.

“Have I met my goals? Am I ensuring continuous learning? Am I happy?”

What does Patrick Rice believe is the biggest challenge facing the industry? 

“Podcasts are becoming more and more popular, Spotify, streaming services etc.. These are all great, but have potential to slowly drown radio. People have these services adjusted and created to how they like it. To me this is concerning, although I believe radio has done an awesome job adapting to the new world. Shows are being podcasted very successfully, social media aspects of all radio shows has actually given a face behind who people are hearing, also more of an insight on the inner workings of radio. This also has many new profitable areas for the industry.”

SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE


Abbey-Victoria Smith, 30

Southern Cross Austereo newsreader Abbey-Victoria Smith aims to be the hardest worker in whatever room she’s in. She says she doesn’t have the be the best, because waking up every day and loving what she does, is what matters. Helping people, also gives her purpose, she says.

“The standout moments in my career and my life are always when I’ve been helping people, listening to their story and being able to get that story out to my listeners or readers.”

What does Abbey-Victoria Smith believe is the biggest challenge facing the industry? 

“I believe the biggest issues when it comes to radio, is that everything is going online which means consumption can change and therefore see more jobs, especially across regional markets, go. Regional radio has been the best decision I ever made, but sadly I do believe one day, we’ll see more networked news and we’ll lose the localism we once had. It’s already begun to go down that path which is really sad for the future of radio.”

SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE


Josh Agnew, 16

Radio ‘wonder kid’ Josh Agnew started as a volunteer on community radio at the age of six. This means, at the tender age of 16, he can claim a decade’s worth of experience in the industry. He runs Pulse FM in Hobart, and believes the future of radio is multi-platform and multimedia, and he also wants to measure his career based on his impact on others.

“Success for me means caring more about the growth and success of others, instead of my own.”

What does Josh Agnew believe is the biggest challenge facing the industry? 

“I feel the biggest challenge the radio industry will face is maintaining relevancy in a world where people can get all the podcasts and music they want, when they want. I think radio needs to adapt to a multimedia strategy, making its content available wherever, whenever and however to ensure it stays alive and relevant in the new age.”

SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE


Maddie Jarosz, 23

Maddie Jarosz may be young, but she says she’s not going to sit around and wait for opportunities to fall in her lap – she’s going to go out and create them. She works on-air as a Breakfast announcer on Magic 93.1, and says happiness, not job title, not location, and not pay packet, is what defines success.

What does Maddie Jarosz believe is the biggest challenge facing the industry? 

“That younger people are starting to tune out of radio, companies are trying to cut costs and are losing their regional markets and putting their eggs into ‘well-known personalities’ baskets, rather than training up young people. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing someone like myself moving around the country, working as hard as they can with no budget or help and getting overlooked or pushed aside for jobs for someone who appeared on TV or has a slight following. People who live, breath and love radio and people who work hard and spend all their time pushing themselves to be better should get rewarded with the next big opportunities. So money cuts and egos I think are the biggest challenges.”

SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE


Applicants can submit entries in the following categories: Sales, On-Air, Programming & Content, Marketing, Music, Production, News, Podcasting, Digital, and Campaigns. Don’t worry if you’re not quite sure of the best fit for you – Radio Today can shift your category to give you the best chance of success based on the criteria.

Five finalists, and ultimately three winners, will be selected from each of the ten categories. There will also be a publicly voted Reader’s Choice winner.

SUBMIT YOUR 30 UNDER 30 ENTRY HERE

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