NEWS

  • Demo Factor 2023

    Our Third Demo is from Amelia Garrett – Forge Radio! Her R&B Demo gets 4 red Buzzers, but Pandora wants to hear all 60 seconds.

  • Demo Factor 2023

    Our second demo is from Jake Marney – Fly Live… a film dedicated demo which does not receive a buzzer from any of the judges

  • Demo Factor 2023

    First up is Caitlin Hyem – Shock Radio …   She gets 4 buzzers, and Calum stays to hear until the end.

  • Exeter 2023 – Our Second Coming – Devon or Hell?

     

    Demo Factor Judges 2022 - Absolute Radio, Heart Network, North Media Talent, BBC 5Live, BBC Radio 1
    Demo Factor Judges @ Northern Stage, Newcastle Uni 2022 (L-R) Paul Sylvester, Pandora, Chris North, Julie Cullen, Aled Haydn Jones

    Demo Factor makes a return road trip to the University of Exeter as part of the National Student Radio Conference April 3-5 2023. The countdown has begun, but will it be Devon or Hell?

    Making its second appearance on Exeter campus since 2015. Following on from the huge success lof Newcaslte 2022 with Christian Seyers 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.

    Judges, Winner and Host 2022
    Judges, Host and 2022 Winner (L-R) Pandora, Julie Cullen, Aled Haydn-Jones, Ben Burrell, Christian Sayers, Chris North, Paul Sylvester
    Christian Sayers finding out he was the 2022 Winner.

    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 contructive 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 Buzzed 2022 with Judges & Host (Front L-R) Imogen Brewer (Fly Live), Pandora (Heart), Aled Haydn-Jones (Radio 1), Astrid MacQuillin (LSR), Martha Owen (Scratch Radio), Chris North (North Media Talent), Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio), (BACK L-R) Julie Cullen (5Live), Ben Burrell (Absolute Radio), Christian Sayers (Insanity Radio – Winner), William King (URY)

    Remember you have to be at SRACon 2023 to take part in the 1-2-1 Demo Factor Clinic and main live show. Find out to get your demo here

    Plus more exciting news @DemoFactor on Twitter.  You know you want to, it could change your life, forever!

    Demo Factor 2022, Northern Stage, University of Newcastle with Host, Ben Burrell

     

  • Demo Factor 2022

     

    19:53 Our fantastic host Ben Burrell is back!! This time right in front of our eyes instead of from his kitchen!

    19:50 The countdown is nearly over for the first in person awards for 2 years…are you ready?

  • WE’RE BACK FOR 2022. LIVE AND IN THE ROOM!

    After two years of virtual events from the Judges kitchens, the countdown has begun… Demo Factor 2022 LIVE! returns to SRACon on the evening of April 19th 2022. Hosted by Newcastle University alongside its student radio station NSR.

    Any SRACon delegates (who are members of the Student Radio Association) can take part in the show if you’ve uploaded your demo.

    Have you got your SRACon ticket? Head over to http://sratickets.co.uk/conference to get yours. Then all you have to do is put together your Demo and upload it to this site to get yourself heard by a stage of industry experts (our 6 Judges!). The room will also be filled by important industry influencers who are always looking for new talent. It can really change your presenting life!

    WHAT’S NEW for 2022?

    Not only are we live in person again but we’re also running a 1-2-1 demo clinic session on the first day of SRACon with some industry guests. You’ll also have to upload it here and be a conference delegate but this is a chance for those that want some quiet feedback on your demo, or maybe reassurance about entering last minute to the main evening show! If you would prefer this, please tick to enter the 1-2-1 feedback session.  You can of course just do both if you’re feeling happy and the best of both worlds!

    The daytime 1-2-1 session is for feedback only.

    You have to submit your demo for the evening event to be part of the opportunities that may come from that, and to hopefully be picked out and heard in front of the industry and delegates. NOTE: all delegates who enter their demo to the evening event will get some feedback from industry judges.

    ARE YOU READY? To keep up to date with all the latest Demo Factor news, find us on twitter @demofactor

  • Demo Factor 2021

    • Here we go! We’re excited to hear some demos, are you? We definitely are!
    • Our wonderful host! Ben Burrell! 
    • Here are our judges for this evening, Chris North, Paul Sylvester, Aled Haydn Jones, Pippa Taylor and Julie Cullen! They’re a beautiful bunch… also loving the on-air signs 😉
    • Time to get into some demos!
    • And we’re off! The first demo of the evening is… Laura Edmonds from Xpress Radio “It’s brave, especially as a first-year to submit a demo” – Chris North 🤩
    • Next we’re going north with Felix Racker from Fresh Air Radio… The judges all really like this one! 👀
    • OUR FIRST GOLD! Rosa Serret from Loughborough Student Radio takes Pippa’s Golden buzzer! Saying “I just smiled while I was listening to her”
    • Next up we have Jack Wilkins from Surf Radio! 🌊 “Think, what version of me do I want to show”
    • Time to take the stage Hebe Lawson from Queens Radio.  The judges loved the showcase of your music knowledge and that you weren’t trying to be anyone else! 💁‍♀️
    • Our first sports demo! ⚽🔥 Wes Spearman from Radio Sonar! “Focus less on the stats and focus more on the commentary!”
    • Next up we’ve got Daniel Cox from Nerve Radio! The judges weren’t nuts about this demo 😕
    • Our NEXT GOLD! Aled’s Golden Buzzer goes to Isabel Ellis from NSR.  Aled was really impressed and said it was like Isabel was just having a chat with us 🤩
    • Liam Daly from URY is next. The judges got a little lost in the demo, make sure you keep it simple!
    • Meg Hayward takes the stage from Spark Sunderland! it was random and natural… Paul loved it 😍
    • Another GOLD! Ella Bricknell from Purple Radio takes Chris’ Golden Buzzer! Chris said it was brilliant!
    • Next up we have Oliver Morgan from Forge Radio! With the right producer, the judges think you could be great!   ✨
    • Time for a break! 🍹🍿We’ve got Lydia George  talking to #DemoFactor Alumni✨ Kaylee Golding, Alex West, Issy Panayis and Chris Ros
    • We’re excited to hear some more demos, this year the standard has been incredible! Whats been your favourite demo so far?
    • Time to kicking off the second half of the show With Jack Corbett from WiredFM
    • Next up we have Chantelle from Livewire  ✨ Paul said Aled should be ashamed of buzzing Chantelle out! 🤭
    • Now from Xpress Radio it’s Angus Mitchell! 🎚️
    • Time to visit Manchester with Ellen Macleod from Utter Radio 🎙️One of BBC Radio 1’s Christmas presenters… Aled’s a fan!
    • Gabriel Radus from Purple Radio…. and Oooh Gabriel Julie said you should get in touch!  
    • It’s another GOLD! This time from Paul Sylvester,  Paul said Emma Linton (NSR) was the demo he was looking for 🤩
    • 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Up to Scotland now with Lewis Main from UWS Radio!
    • Now to Eleanor Bladon from CamFM in Cambridge. Oooh the judges wanted to hear more from you! 🤩
    • It’s time for Rebecca Dobbin Donaghy from Queens Radio’s demo! 🎧 Where else would we hear ‘Congratulations to the nugget’? We loved it! 😍
    • Next up we have Chris Steers from OMG Staffs in the Midlands! ✨
    • High praise indeed for Katie Fox from XpressionFM 🤩
    • Back to the midlands with Carl Hemmingway from RAW1251AM We loved hearing how passionate Carl was about rock music! 😍
    • 🌟 GOLD 🌟 Our final Golden Buzzer of the evening! Julie loved your demo Jordan Blyth from Spark Sunderland  Well done Jordan! 
    • 🌟🎙️ The Judge’s Special Mention Congratulations to Felix Rackers from Fresh Air Radio
    • Congratulations to this year’s winners! Rose Serret (Loughborough Student Radio), Isabelle Ellis (NSR), Ella Bricknell (Purple Radio), Emma Linton(NSR) and Jordan Blyth (Spark Sunderland)

  • SIX Judges are ready for 2021!

    Nothing will stop us from doing Demo Factor. Nothing!

    So please welcome in a new twist, not five, but SIX Demo Factor Judges to the virtual stage!

    Alongside long standing Head Judge, Chris North with returning judges, Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio), Pandora (Heart), Pippa Taylor (Radio X) and Aled Haydn-Jones (BBC Radio 1) this year we introduce you to Julie Cullen, Managing Editor of BBC 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra.

    If you have a demo, and you are a member of the SRA make sure you submit it at demofactor.com by 7pm on Wednesday March 17th 2021.

    We hope to look forward to hearing your demo at Demo Factor during #SRACon 2021.

  • It’s a 2020 virtual wrap!

    We did what we promised. We were not going to be beaten. Against the odds, with a lot of hard work, some brilliant behind the scenes technology and a brilliant production team we brought you Virtual Demo Factor 2020.

    Not live in the New Adelphi Theatre in Salford as part of SRACon, but in the comfort of your home, Demo Factor was in ACTUAL LOCKDOWN but you can’t keep a good thing down. With the support of the SRA but more importantly those who were brave enough to upload their demo, we had a show.  

    Absolute Radio’s Ben Burrell (and first winner of this competition all those years ago) returned as Host alongside the 5 Judges, Chris, Aled, Paul, Pandora and this year new addition, Pippa Taylor from Radio X.  The quality of Demos (that were chosen at random) was very strong, but only 3 got the GOLDEN BUZZER treatment. Want to hear them?!  

    First to Golden Buzz was Chris North, 9 seconds into Mollie Finn from Nerve Radio‘s Demo. 

    Goden Buzzed, Mollie Finn, Nerve Radio

    New Judge Pippa jumped in for the second, Golden Buzzing Jack Hellier from Spark.  

    Golden Buzzed, Jack Hellier, Spark

    Demo Factor traditionally loves a twist and often we don’t know how it’ll happen – and even though the third Demo that was played on the night wasn’t Golden Buzzed, and played for the full minute, at the end of the show Paul requested a ‘Retro-Buzz’, which happened.

    Good call as it really impressed the panel and the Judges agreed that the winner of Virtual Demo Factor 2020 was Alex West from URY. Congratulations Alex and he’ll get a show on Absolute Radio as a prize! Not bad for entering eh?

    Demo Factor 2020 Winner, Alex West, University Radio York

    You can see the Judges chatting to the Finalists on Demo Factor Xtra here!   

    After the main show 20 industry professionals Guest Judged another 10 demos chosen at random. The remaining Demos were then divvied up between the main judges for feedback to be sent by email.

    We hope you enjoyed the show as much as the team did, but we hope to be getting the BIG GOLD LETTERS out as we can be together at the live show in 2021, because it can change your life, forever…it really can! 

    CREDITS

    Host

    BEN BURRELL

    The Judges

    ALED HAYDN JONES

    CHRIS NORTH  

    PANDORA CHRISTIE

    PAUL SYLVESTER

    PIPPA TAYLOR

    Guest Judges

    • ADAM CATTERALL
    • AMY VOCE
    • DAVE CRIBB
    • DICK STONE
    • FIONA HANLON
    • GREG HUGHES
    • INDY SAHOTA
    • JOCELIN STAINER
    • JORDAN NORTH 
    • LUCY WINTER
    • MIKE CASS
    • NEIL SLOAN
    • ROB WATSON
    • SAMMY JAMES
    • SOPHIE K
    • STEPHANIE HIRST
    • STUART MORGAN
    • VICTORIA EASTON-RILEY

    Visuals & Graphics: TOBY D’OLIER & JONNY NORTON

    Theme Music: BEN ‘JINGLES’ TOWNSEND with thanks to NO SHEET MUSIC

    Voice Over: REDD PEPPER

    Additional Voice Over: KAM KELLY with thanks to JULIETTE NICHOLS, PINEAPPLE AUDIO PRODUCTIONS

    Social Media: SCOTT DUFFIELD & LEWIS ISRAEL

    Technical Production: DANIEL WILDMAN

    Additional Production: JAMES WALKER

    Editor: HANNAH-MAE GRAHAM

    Thanks to: NAOMI OIKU, THE STUDENT RADIO ASSOCIATION, AND ALL WHO ENTERED! THANK YOU!

    Producer: ROB WATSON

    Executive Producer: CHRIS NORTH