Demo Factor | History

History

Image: UEA Norwich, 2018

The origins of Demo Factor start back in 2008 when the Student Radio Conference was hosted by 1449am URB, at Bath University. Back then it was called “Demo Idol”, it was a small and humble stage with just a few tables, and 5 industry judges, Chris North, Neil Sloan, Vicki Blight, Rob Watson, Sam Gregory. They patiently listened to any demos that were given in via CD and they gave feedback. At the end of the session the judges announced a prize of an overnight show on Galaxy FM for the best demo. The first winner was Ben Burrell who currently presents on Absolute Radio.

In 2009 the same 5 judges evolved the idea and became “Demo Factor” for the first time at the Student Radio Conference in Leeds. A host was introduced, Adam Catterall was able to both stand up for the person who’s demo was being critiqued and also push the judges to provide examples and reasonings for their decisions. One of the original Judges, Vicki Blight took over hosting duties in 2015 and in 2017 our first winner, Ben Burrell jumped into the hosting shoes. In 2023 presenters Emil Franchi and Sophie K lead the evening in Exeter.

Judges and Guest Judges from across the industry have since joined Head Judge Chris North and the team along the way, including Adele Roberts, Aled Haydn-Jones, Amy Voce, Calum Macdonald, Fiona Hanlon, Greg James, Jocelin Stainer, Jordan North, Julie Cullen, Lucy Winter, Mike Cass, Pandora Christie, Paul Sylvester, Pippa Taylor.

Demo Factor has appeared at Bath (2008), Leeds (2009), Nottingham (2010), Hatfield (2011), Bradford (2012), 2013 we took a gap-year, Newcastle (2014), Exeter (2015), Cardiff (2016), Leicester (2017) and Norwich (2018), Swansea (2019), Virtual DF At Home (2020 & 2021), Newcastle (2022), Exeter (2023) with many smaller ‘spin-offs’ and Demo Factor Xtra’s along the way at various conferences and training days up and down the country.

Previous Winners

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

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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 Bradshaw & Ben Swift - Leeds 2024

Chris Howard – Winner 2023 - 2023 Winner

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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

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

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)

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DEMO FACTOR 2023

Christian Sayers – Winner 2022 - 2022 Winner

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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

Matt Curtis - 2016 Winner

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Matt hails from Fly FM in Nottingham and first popped up in Demo Factor 2015. He took all the feedback he was given by the judges on board, came back in 2016 and nailed it! The judges said they thought Matt was "radio ready". Something they have been proved correct with as Matt is currently a freelance presenter and has been heard regularly on Capital FM having presented in Yorkshire, Manchester, North West & North Wales & East Midlands.

Sammy James - 2015 Winner

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Sammy is from Leeds Student Radio and won Demo Factor in 2015 in Exeter. It was a close fought race with Absolute Radio boss Paul Sylvester 'umming & arrrghing' for quite a while. By winning the competition Sammy got the chance to present his own show on Absolute Radio 90s at One Golden Square - a building where he still works as a Broadcast Assistant for Absolute Radio.

George Godfrey - 2014 Winner

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George hails from Fly FM in Nottingham and won last year’s Demo Factor in Newcastle. He was so good that Paul Sylvester, one of the judges and also Deputy Content Director at Absolute radio gave him a job! Paul said:"George is a real talent. His demo was great and he's the perfect example of why student radio continues to be one of the major ways of finding new talent." George hosts a number of shows on the Absolute Radio and Absolute Radio 90s.

Ben Burrell - 2008 Winner

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Ben won the very first edition of Demo Factor – back when it was actually called “Demo Idol” – at the Student Radio Conference hosted by 1449am URB in Bath. He was a student at Pure FM at the University of Portsmouth. After winning, he was given a one of show on Galaxy. Since then he has presented on The Breeze Network, Free Radio, and Gem 106. These days, he can regularly be heard on Absolute Radio - especially if you're up early in the morning!

The Judges in Newcastle, 2014

The Judges in Newcastle, 2014

Virtual DF 2020 Golden Buzzed!

Aled Haydn-Jones, Demo Factor

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Finlay Panting, DemoFactor 2019 Winner with the Judges

L-R Aled Haydn Jones, Chris North, Adele Roberts, Finlay Panting, Paul Sylvester, Ben Burrell, Fiona Hanlon – Judges, Host and Winner, DemoFactor 2019