His calm, firm hand was on the tiller of the radio industry for decades, from both port and starboard.
A military career seemed less appetising once his booming voice was heard behind the BFBS microphone, and he soon returned home to debut on the UK’s fledgling commercial radio stations, progressing from Radio 210 in Reading to BRMB and then to the senior programming role at Radio Victory.
Paul switched to regulation at a time when his industry understanding and intellect were invaluable to a cautious regulator. He identified a route to allow for sponsorship and to license more stations in each market. He then crossed the floor to head the radio industry’s trade body, then AIRC, now Radio Centre, where this Titled gentleman fought to equip this commercial medium to win good business and compete with the BBC in ever-changing times.
In his own words, this is the Paul Brown story.
See the whole Conversations series here. Music by Larry Bryant.
115: Gary Burgess - Wave, Wire, Q96, UTV, BBC Guernsey, ITV, Channel 103
114: Howard Hughes - City, Wyvern, Capital, LBC, BBC local
113: Graham Torrington - BRMB, Buzz, Kix 96, GWR group, BBC local
112: Clive Dickens - Chiltern, BRMB, Capital, ARI, Absolute, Austereo, Seven West, Optus
111: Louisa Compton - BBC Three Counties, 5 Live, Newsbeat, Channel 4
110: Cornelius Lysaght - Severn Sound, Southern, BBC Racing Correspondent
109: David Lloyd - Trent, Leic Sound, Lincs FM, Radio Authority, Century, Galaxy, LBC, Virgin, Orion
108: Ken Bruce - BBC Radio Scotland, Radio 2
107: Rob Jones - City, Luxembourg, the Super Station, USP
106: Colin Mason - Executive, Swansea Sound, Chiltern and BBC local
105: Lisa Kerr - Executive, Radiocentre, Local Radio Company; and Classic FM
104: Pete Price - Presenter, Radio City, City Talk, Radio Merseyside
103: Graham Dene - Presenter, UBN, City, Capital, Virgin, Magic, Smooth, BBC Local
102: David Symonds - Presenter, BBC Light, Home, Radio 1,2, Capital, Victory
101: Simon Mayo - Presenter, Radio 1, 2, 5 Live, Nottingham & Brighton
100: Don Thomson - Commercial Director, Piccadilly, Chrysalis, COO Global
99: Steve Collins - Programmer, presenter, Voice of Peace, Capital, Smooth, County Sound, Top Shop, Red Rose
98: Diana Luke - Presenter, Viking, Jazz, Superstation, County Sound, BBC local
97: Steve Orchard - Programmer, executive, GWR, GCap, Quidem, Prison Radio
96: John Inverdale - Presenter and sport, BBC local, BBC Radio 4, 2, 5, 5 Live
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Marty Ray Project: Chats
What’s the Res?
It’s All An Act
The Turn of the Screw
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Magnus Archives
The Moth