NPR’s Rock Show Scoops ARIAS Gold
National Prison Radio’s ‘Rock Show’ won big at the 2022 Audio and Radio Industry Awards (the ARIAS), with host James scooping Gold in the Best New Presenter category (above). The Rock Show was also awarded Bronze in the Music Entertainment category.
The ARIAS, held at London’s Adelphi Theatre, is often described as the Oscars of the radio industry.
Also celebrating on the night was Lady Unchained and the BARS team, who received Silver in the Impact category.
Competition was stiff, with the awards open to the entire UK radio industry, including the BBC. The judges in James’s category said: “We were gobsmacked at the standard of this presenter. We could hear how much fun was being had and we were in awe of the creative production.”
James first presented National Prison Radio’s Rock Show in 2015 when he was serving a sentence in HMP Coldingley. As James often tells listeners, hosting the Rock Show in prison gave him the structure and strength to manage his sentence. He was released at his first parole attempt.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, and with limited access to prisons, the National Prison Radio team approached James to host the show from his home. He had been using his time pursuing his writing career, honing the skills he picked up at National Prison Radio. He now presents the Rock Show from Narnia (the cupboard in his spare bedroom), holding weekly court as both king and jester.
Once polled as National Prison Radio’s most and least favourite show, The Rock Show’s uncompromising brand of listener-led heavy music is 100% authentic, with high-speed thrash metal sitting alongside mainstream rock at a bracing 8am on Friday mornings. The music is entirely listener requested, with new tracks sourced for those unable to check up on their favourite artists.
As well as music, The Rock Show is also a thriving support community, with listener messages on themes as diverse as addiction recovery, managing negative emotions, straight through to most heavy metal pet… (vultures, crows, spiders and snakes featured heavily).
In celebrating the awards, National Prison Radio would like to thank the entire Rock Show Family for your fantastic requests, thought-provoking conversation and assistance in turning it up to 11.
If you’re reading this with a smile on your face, tune into James on the NPR’s Rock Show, 8am-10am on Friday mornings, repeated 7pm-9pm on Saturday evenings… you’re one of us now!
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