Jodi Adams from Queen’s Radio up next! Paul noted that Jodi needs to make a connection between herself and the listener. Pandora was asking ‘why do you really love musicals?’ and wanted to hear that come through the demo. However ended telling Jodi that she has great potential!
We’re thrilled to welcome Times Radio’s Calum Macdonald as the host of Demo Factor 2025!
Calum knows all about the drama of Demo Factor, having been a member of the judging panel, and is looking forward to guiding you through this year’s show.
Demo Factor is heading to Salford for SRA CON 2025, hosted by Shock Radio.
Entries are now open. Make sure to get your demo submitted by 30th March 2025 for your chance to have your demo played to the judges, who will critique your entry and maybe even hit their golden buzzer for you.
You could follow in the footsteps of Lauren Redfern, who won last year’s Demo Factor and is now heard on BBC Radio 1 Anthems!
Enter here – you, or your station, must be members of the SRA to take part.
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, AledSince 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
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.
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)
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.
