Submit Your Demo

Author: Chris North

  • Lauren Redfern – BEST DEMO OF THE NIGHT – Winner 2024

    Lauren Redfern – BEST DEMO OF THE NIGHT – Winner 2024

    2024 saw the Demo Factor tour bus arrive at Leeds Students’ Union, University of Leeds, for the second time since our second ever appearance (and first officially names Demo Factor fact fans) in 2009.

    Demo Factor at Leeds Students’ Union 2024

    This year the show was hosted by Student Radio Alumni, and Radio 1 presenters, Sam & Danni. Sam Macgregor and Danni Diston formally of Xpress Radio in Cardiff, and Sam a former Student Radio Awards 2019 Best Male Presenter winner who also entered Demo Factor that year at Swansea Uni.

    We welcomed Capital presenter, herself a student radio alumnus, Aimee Vivian as a judge this year along with returning judges, Calum Macdonald (Breakfast Presenter, Times Radio), Paul Sylvester (Content Director, Absolute Radio), Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of Radio 1) and Head Judge, Chris North (Talent Manager, North Media Talent).


    Although many of the demos impressed the judges, only three demos were given the golden buzzer. Orla Dunne, Queen’s Radio Belfast (by Aled), Connie Shaw, LSR, Leeds Uni (by Calum) and Lauren Redfern, Scratch Radio, Birmingham City Uni (by Paul). Hear their Demos below!

    Paul regretted not pressing his Golden Buzzer for Lewis Smith from Spark Sunderland, Aimee regretted not pressing her Golden Buzzer for Amelia Salmons at Fly Live, and Shanai Dunglinson, from LSR was encouraged to enter the BBC Radio 1 Christmas scheme. So pretty positive stuff!

    DEMO FACTOR 2024 – GOLDEN BUZZED with the JUDGES

    The Best Demo of the Night went to Lauren Redfern who wowed all the judges and audience with her natural and warm personality.

    Lauren Redfern speaks to Sam & Danni after being chosen as Best Demo of the Night!

    Judges meet Lauren Redfern (Winner 2024) [L-R] Paul, Aimee, Chris, Lauren, Calum, Aled
    Since picking up the accolade Lauren has become a lead presenter on the newly launched stream BBC Radio 1 Anthems (launched November 2024). Not a bad result for attending SRACon 2024. Demo Factor will return in 2025.

    Lauren’s Winning Demo – DF 2024:

     

    Orla’s Golden Buzzed Demo:

     

    Connie’s Golden Buzzed Demo:

    DF Exec Producers, Rob Watson & Chris North with SRA Production and Events Officers, Emma Linton & Ben Swift – Leeds 2024

  • Chris Howard – Winner 2023

    Chris Howard – Winner 2023

    Demo Factor made a return to the University of Exeter in the Spring of 2023, (it’s first time being back in 2015).

    DEMO FACTOR – STAGE READY 2023 – Lemon Grove @ Uni of Exeter

    For the first time it was hosted by two presenters, Sophie K and Emil Franchi.

    2023 Hosts: Sophie K & Emil Franchi
    2023 Hosts: Sophie K & Emil Franchi

    We also had a new addition to the Judges, a former Student Radio Award Best Male Presenter, and current Times Radio Breakfast Co-Host, Calum Macdonald. He joined the familar faces of Pandora (Heart), Aled Haydn-Jones (BBC Radio 1), Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio) and Head Judge, Chris North (North Media Talent).

    (L-R) Chris, Pandora, Paul, Aled & Calum

    Unlike previous years only three Golden Buzzers were handed out this year, Beatrice Lancet, Burn FM (by Pandora), Matt Speed, Forge Radio (by Chris) and after a rather big tussle on stage and a race between Aled and Paul to hit the buzzer, it was Chris Howard from Spark that picked up the honour of best demo of the night (buzz was given to Aled!). There was a lot of positive feedback from all the judges including production company Audio Always offering Izzy Morris, URN some time to connect about their voice over and audio books work plus Jack Knapton, also URN given a special mention after missing out on a golden buzz moment.

    Hosts, Judges and Golden Buzzed 2023
    Hosts, Judges and Golden Buzzed 2023

    Beatrice Lancet, Burn FM:

    Matt Speed, Forge Radio:

    Since being crowned best demo of the night and ‘winner’ of 2023’s Demo Factor, Chris Howard has presented over that years Christmas daytimes and a month of Friday Early Breakfast early 2024 for BBC Radio 1.

    Here’s Chris’s winning demo:

    ALED GOES INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO GOLDEN BUZZED CHRIS HOWARD (2023 WINNER)
    www.northmediatalent.com/talent/chris-howard/
    DEMO FACTOR 2023  

     

  • Christian Sayers – Winner 2022

    Christian Sayers – Winner 2022

    Christian Sayers, 2022 Winner comes to meet the judges.

    After two years of virtual events from the Judges kitchens, Demo Factor 2022 returned LIVE and in person to SRACon’s first evening at Northern Stage, Newcastle University with host station NSR. It was also a second appearance in Newcastle for Demo Factor after we rolled up in 2014.

    2008 first time Demo Factor winner and now Absolute Radio presenter, Ben Burrell, returned for his fifth time to host the stage and keep the judges in check. That panel was made up of Julie Cullen (BBC 5Live), Pandora (Heart), Aled Haydn-Jones (BBC Radio 1), Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio) and returning head judge, Chris North (North Media Talent).

    Being back in one space, listening to the demos in front of each other and to hear live and in person feedback was exhilarating for all. Most of the delegates had never seen the show live but they came and uploaded their demos. It’s fair to say the room was a mixture of nerves and anticipation, and that was just from the Judges!

    (L-R) Paul Sylvester, Pandora, Ben Burrell (Host), Chris North, Julie Cullen, Aled Haydn-Jones

    2022 introduced the Demo Factor 1-2-1, a demo clinic to conference. This was the first-time delegates got to play their demo to a guest industry judge earlier that afternoon and get feedback on what they could work on to improve. With a queue down the corridor, it proved so popular that it’s become a regular fixture!

    Five Golden Buzzers were handed out to a fantastic set of students:

    Martha Owen, Scratch Radio (Paul),

    Imogen Brewer, Fly Live (Aled),

    Christian Sayers, Insanity Radio (Pandora),

    Astrid MacQuillin, LSR, Leeds Student Radio (Julie)

    William King, URY, University Radio York (Chris, who controversially retro-buzzed)

    It was Christian Sayers from Insanity Radio (Royal Holloway) who however was chosen by the judges as the best demo of the night and winner of the 2022 Demo Factor.

    Demo Factor Winner 2022, Christian Sayers with Judges & Host

    Hear Christian’s winning demo below:

    Demo Factor 2022 @ NSR, Newcastle University

  • SAM & DANNI – HOSTS 2024

    SAM & DANNI – HOSTS 2024

    We’re very pleased to welcome Student Radio Alumni, and presenters of BBC Radio 1’s Weekend Breakfast, Sam & Danni as the hosts of the 2024 DemoFactor hosted by LSR, Leeds Student Radio.

    “We’re so gassed to be hosting Demofactor 2024! It’s one of THE best events in the student radio calendar full of drama and fun and we can’t wait to be there with you to guide you though the night!

    Only a few years back were nervously waiting for our demos to pop up at this very event. If you’re umm’ing and ahh’ing about putting a demo in, just do it! This could be a potentially career changing opportunity with so many valuable lessons can be learnt & great industry contacts to be made..!

    Let’s all have a laugh ‘eh – bring on Monday night!!”

    Sam MacGregor & Danni Diston are leading Radio Presenters who began their career together on their University Radio Station. After winning a range of awards including “Best Entertainment Show” and Sam going on to win “Best Male Radio Presenter” at the Student Radio Awards in 2019, the pair continued to present together after graduating, landing their BBC Radio 1 debut only a year later.

    In December 2020, Sam & Danni hosted Radio 1’s Life Hacks and The Official Chart: First Look as part of BBC Radio 1’s Christmas Takeover Scheme. Since then, the pair have gone on to present a wide range of shows across the BBC Radio network, resulting in them being the most used cover presenters on Radio 1 throughout 2021.

    After solidifying their names as prominent leading figures on the station, September 2023 saw Sam and Danni launch a brand new BBC Radio 1 Weekend Breakfast show which broadcasts from Cardiff.

  • DEMO FACTOR SPRINGS BACK TO LEEDS 2024

    DF 2023 – EXETER UNIVERSITY

    The big gold letters are hopping in its tour bus and heading to Leeds SRACon 2024, this time hosted by LSR, Leeds Student Radio.

    History has a habit of repeating itself. This will be the 2nd time we’re being hosted by Leeds Students Union – the last time was back in 2009. That was also our second proper outing, first as Demo Factor but certainly our debut on a fancy stage setting the tone for things to come.

    GOLDEN BUZZED 2023 with JUDGES & HOSTS

    Following on from the huge success of Exeter 2023 with Spark Sunderland’s Chris Howard walking away as the evenings Winning Golden Buzzer the delegates of Student Radio wanted more. We can only oblige and bring the neon Big DF out of storage and get it to Leeds.

    HOSTS – SOPHIE K & EMIL FRANCHI

    If you enter DemoFactor and are picked out at random as part of the main live show remember the 5 Judges are there to give you constructive comments on your demo. You may even be spotted by them or someone else in the industry around the room. Or you could join the growing Golden Buzzed alumni – you have a one in 5 chance to pick one of them up!

    GOLDEN BUZZ!

    Remember you have to submit a demo and be at SRACon 2024 to take part in the 1-2-1 Demo Factor Clinic and main live show on April 15th 2024.

    2023 JUDGES (L-R) PAUL SYLVESTER, ALED HAYDN JONES, CHRIS NORTH, PANDORA, CALUM MACDONALD

    Plus more exciting news @DemoFactor

    You know you want to, it could change your life, forever!

    RADIO 1’s ALED HAYDN JONES INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO HIS GOLDEN BUZZED CHRIS HOWARD (2023 WINNER)

  • Demo Factor 2023

    The judges have deliberated, and the winner of SRA Demo Factor 2023 is….

    CHRIS HOWARD from Spark Sunderland!

  • Demo Factor 2023

    And that is that… the end of Demo Factor 2023. We have had 3 golden buzzers, and a lot of great feedback.

  • Demo Factor 2023

    Matt Speed from Forge Radio is the final demo of the night. Chris hits the golden buzzer for this heavy metal and rock demo, and his shift between music and personality working well for the judges.

  • Demo Factor 2023

    William Tyrrell from Purple radio is next on the list.  His cockroach anecdote keeps 4 judges listening for the full 60 seconds.

  • Demo Factor 2023

    Serena Jemmett from FuseFM up next. Chris seems to be reluctant in pressing his buzzer, but decides to do so alongside 3 of his other judges.