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Blackburn to get lifetime achievement gong for second time at Radio Academy Awards

By | Published on Tuesday 22 April 2014

Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn will get a lifetime achievement prize at this year’s Radio Academy Awards (previously known as the Sony Awards) to mark his 50 years in the biz, the second time he’s received the honour. The radio industry’s big awards bash previously gave Blackburn the same award in 1989 to mark his 25 years in the industry.

Confirming this, John Myers, Chair of the awards committee, told CMU: “Tony Blackburn is not only loved by his listeners, but also by his fellow broadcasters right across the UK. He has become an icon of British broadcasting with a commitment to and a love for radio that remains unmatched by just about anyone in the medium today. 50 years on the air and still going strong is a remarkable achievement and we are thrilled to mark this occasion with the prestigious 2014 Gold Award”.

Blackburn himself said: “I am truly honoured to be receiving the Gold Award for the second time in my career. I can only assume The Academy thought I’d be dead by the time my 50th anniversary came around and wouldn’t have to worry about me! Ever since I joined Radio Caroline in July 1964 I have made a living out of my passion. Being a radio presenter, in my opinion, remains the greatest job in the world. I want to thank everyone who has given me a job, the amazing artists whose music I have played and, most importantly, the listeners who have listened to me for the past 50 years. Without you on the other end of the microphone, I’m just a man in a room talking to myself for hours on end”.

Award organisers have also confirmed that PPL and Blinkbox Music have signed on to sponsor awards at the radio sector’s big bash, which takes place on 12 May in London.



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