Radiocentre’s Lucy Barrett to head World Radio Alliance

Lucy Barrett, client director at industry body Radiocentre, has been appointed as the first president of the World Radio Alliance.

The Alliance is a new group of 14 trade associations representing radio broadcasters and sales houses in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia.

The trade bodies have agreed to join forces to raise the profile of radio to advertisers on an international stage, as well as promoting and sharing best practice, research and reasons for advertising on radio.

The alliance has been initiated by Egta, the association that represents the interests of television and radio sales houses throughout Europe. It already coordinates a similar group for TV – the Global TV Group – for which Thinkbox CEO Lindsey Clay, was its first president.

Caroline Gianias, president of Radio Connects in Canada, will work in tandem with Lucy as vice-president of the World Radio Alliance.

Barrett said: “The time is absolutely right to join forces and speak with a collective voice. Over the last decade we have seen the rise of more commercial audio formats such as music streaming services and podcasts, yet commercial radio’s dominance in the sector remains pretty much intact.

“But, as is so often the case in the world of media, expectations and perceptions relating to the growth of the new formats are disconnected from this reality. As the world has become smaller, with media decisions often taken across whole regions and continents, it’s crucial we come together to tell the success story of radio in a consistent and unified manner.”

The founding members of the Alliance are Radiocentre (UK), Radiozentrale (Germany), Audify (Netherlands), RAB (US), RadioMedia (Finland), Bureau de la Radio (France), VIA – Association of AV Media (Belgium), ACR – Associaciò Catalana de Ràdio (Spain), Radiocentre Ireland, FCP AssoRadio (Italy), Radio Connects (Canada), Association of Austrian Commercial Broadcasters (VÖP), Commercial Radio Australia, and Egta.

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