John Simons
Encyclopedia
John Simons is a British
radio executive, the current group programming director for GMG Radio
.
Simons began his career in 1979, before fronting the Breakfast Show on Radio Tees
from 1983 to 1985 (where was also head of music), and moving to BBC Radio Nottingham
.
In 1994 he was invited to be part of the team who launched Century Radio
in Gateshead
as programme director, assisting the managing director John Myers.
The Century brand with a high speech content ratio became successful, with other stations subsequently launched in Nottingham
and Salford. At the North East
Century he co-presented a Sunday lunchtime light-entertainment show called The Gardening Show with gardening experts Adam (Malcolm) Edon and Gary Philipson.
In 1997 he became programme director of national speech station Talk Radio
, attracting a record 2.8 million listeners,.
He left when Kelvin MacKenzie
took over the station after CLT sold to the Mirror Group in November 1998, and was escorted from the building by security officers on the takeover. He then moved onto London
's LBC
programming an all talk and phone-in format with which he had become so familiar.
He then returned to mainly music radio on BBC Radio 2
.
In 2000 he was then invited to become the group programme director for GMG Radio, the same appointment which he still holds to this day by the then chief executive, his former Century boss and colleague John Myers.
GMGR's first launch, Real Radio in South Wales
, became the most successful regional radio station launch in history, and its Scottish equivalent
became the most listened to radio station in Scotland in just two years.
In May 2004 John was awarded the Sony Radio Academy Gold Award
for Programmer of the Year. In October 2006, the group acquired the Century brand from GCap Media
, and in December 2006 Simons received a Fellowship from The Radio Academy
, "an award to recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
radio executive, the current group programming director for GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
.
Simons began his career in 1979, before fronting the Breakfast Show on Radio Tees
Radio Tees
Radio Tees was the original name of TFM Radio, the Independent Local Radio station broadcasting in North East England, serving Teesside and parts of County Durham and North Yorkshire....
from 1983 to 1985 (where was also head of music), and moving to BBC Radio Nottingham
BBC Radio Nottingham
BBC Radio Nottingham is a BBC Local Radio station serving the English county of Nottinghamshire. It broadcasts on FM, AM, and digital DAB radio from studios located on London Road in Nottingham city centre.-Transmission frequences:...
.
In 1994 he was invited to be part of the team who launched Century Radio
100-102 Century FM
Real Radio North East is a radio station in north east England owned by GMG Radio. It is based in Team Valley, Gateshead, and broadcasts to north east England....
in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
as programme director, assisting the managing director John Myers.
The Century brand with a high speech content ratio became successful, with other stations subsequently launched in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Salford. At the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
Century he co-presented a Sunday lunchtime light-entertainment show called The Gardening Show with gardening experts Adam (Malcolm) Edon and Gary Philipson.
In 1997 he became programme director of national speech station Talk Radio
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
, attracting a record 2.8 million listeners,.
He left when Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin Calder MacKenzie is an English media executive and former newspaper editor. He is best known for being editor of The Sun newspaper between 1981 and 1994, an era in which the paper was established as Britain's best selling newspaper.- Biography :MacKenzie was educated at Alleyn's School...
took over the station after CLT sold to the Mirror Group in November 1998, and was escorted from the building by security officers on the takeover. He then moved onto London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
programming an all talk and phone-in format with which he had become so familiar.
He then returned to mainly music radio on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
.
In 2000 he was then invited to become the group programme director for GMG Radio, the same appointment which he still holds to this day by the then chief executive, his former Century boss and colleague John Myers.
GMGR's first launch, Real Radio in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, became the most successful regional radio station launch in history, and its Scottish equivalent
Real Radio (Scotland)
Real Radio Scotland is an Independent Local Radio station in Central and Southern Scotland, owned and operated by GMG Radio. The station broadcasts from studios at Ballieston in the east end of the Glasgow on 100.3 & 101.1FM and on DAB.- Background :...
became the most listened to radio station in Scotland in just two years.
In May 2004 John was awarded the Sony Radio Academy Gold Award
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
for Programmer of the Year. In October 2006, the group acquired the Century brand from GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
, and in December 2006 Simons received a Fellowship from The Radio Academy
Radio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
, "an award to recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry."