Popular DJs, a Winning PD and a Mini-drama Take German Radio Awards

Michael Hedges September 4, 2005

Germany’s private radio broadcasters threw a gala party full of awards for themselves and their favorite music stars in the Berlin Tempodrom last Friday night (September 2).

For radio fans the first German Radio Awards was an opportunity to be entertained by international stars UB40, Texas, Sugarbabes and Melanie C to German favorites Die Söhne Mannheims and Annett Louisan.

Golden Microphones were handed out in seven categories. Winners were chosen via on-line poll from nominees chosen by a jury of the organizers.

Radio Hamburg's Rainer Hirsch

Radio Hamburg morning news anchor Rainer Hirsch was awarded the Golden Microphone for best newscaster. Hirsch is part of the top rated ten person John Ment Morning show.

The Golden Microphone for best program director was passed to Antenne Bayern PD Valerie Weber, recognizing Weber’s contribution to the resurgence of the most listened to single channel among private broadcasters.

The innovative crime-scene mini-drama 6 Stunden Berlin produced by Berliner Rundfunk 91!4 took the Golden Microphone for best radio promotion. The feature airs several times each day, appearing to be in “real-time” and with “real” local characters.

Olaf Heyden and Horst Ackermann of rs2 Berlin won Best Radio Comedy, Arno Müller of 104.6 RTL Berlin for Best Morning Show and Johannes Scherer of Hit Radio FFH for Best Show Host.

Music industry award winners included 22 year old Joana Zimmer for best newcomer.

The German Radio Awards were timed to open the IFA (Internationalen Funkausstellung) exhibition, which runs in Berlin from September 2nd to 9th. The program was originally planned as a joint effort of private and public broadcasters but public broadcasters opted out fearing, according to the magazine W&V, the new German Radio Awards would take away from regional awards organized with public broadcasters. This left private broadcasters, led by more than 50 stations and radio sales-house RMS, the task of organizing the entire event.