On Wednesday 7 September at RADFEST22, Karen Pearson, Founder & CEO of Folded Wing, was awarded the huge honour of a Radio Academy Fellowship for services to the industry: a huge accolade, and the highest honour the Academy can give to a person within the audio/radio sector.
Accompanying Karen into the hallowed honours list was Mohit Bakaya, BBC Radio’s Director of Speech and Victoria Easton-Riley, the Content Director for the Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio Networks in Scotland.
Handing out the awards on the day was Head of BBC Radio 2, Helen Thomas who had this to say of Karen’s impact and achievements over the years:
“Everyone that knows this person, knows that music runs through the very fibre of their being. As well as producing and exec’ing some of most loved music radio shows in the country, they are also a hugely credible DJ in their own right, and by all accounts were once a core part of London’s underground music scene….”
“….the Radio 2 Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum is one of the most precious jewels of the network’s specialist music canon….”
In a specially recorded video, Jamie Cullum said:
“I’ve had the immense privilege of working with you for the last 12 years – I’ve known you for 15. I’ve been tutored by you, I’ve been mentored by you, we have created the show that we do on BBC Radio 2 and grown it into what it has become alongside the Folded Wing team, and it’s been such a pleasure to learn from you and get to know you during that time. I’ve learned so much from you professionally, not just as a broadcaster and as someone who understands radio, someone who absolutely loves music to the core of who they are. I have also watched you grow your business with grace and humility and a real sense of trying to do what’s right within the context of growing a business in the modern world, and it’s such an inspiration. I’m very proud to know you and proud to call you a friend as well – I just want to say a huge, huge congratulations to you and looking forward to celebrating in person.”
Karen’s illustrious career in radio started at BBC Radio 1 including seven years with Gilles Peterson on the Worldwide show. In 2005 she formed Folded Wing, widely recognised as one of the most innovative audio companies around.
Upon receiving the award, Karen had this to say:
"Thanks to everyone over the years who has supported me, listened, believed and given me advice.
A special thanks especially to all Folded Wing family present and past. Staff and presenters who understood my vision of wanting to do stuff differently! (Thank you Jonathan Livington Seagull)
Especially to Jamie Cullum for the phone call 12+ years ago and bearing with the many hours in the sweaty voice booth while I got you to redo things until they were right!! It’s been the best journey.
And of course to my mum for all the love, understanding when I didn’t actually want to work in a bank in the city and to carry on the hard push to work in what I was passionate about - music and radio and finding a way of combining the two. Also for instilling in me the most important life lesson, that you don’t need much to make a big difference."
There is still lots to change in the industry and things I want to achieve watch this space!!!"
Folded Wing is an award winning Creative Sound Studio; we help stories take flight.
With a legacy of 15 years, we design and craft the best in class audio in all its forms - from Radio Shows to Podcasts, Audio Books to Sonic Branding.
We pride ourselves in shaping ideas and strategies that audiences will love; helping what we make get heard by listeners around the world.
Our love for music and giving new talent a platform, is evident in some of the regular shows they make for BBC Radio - from The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum on Radio 2, to BBC Introducing on Radio 1 with Gemma Bradley and Romesh Ranganathan’s hip hop show on BBC Radio 2. Another production is Selector Radio for the British Council, a weekly new music show presented by Jamz Supernova that broadcasts to over 40 countries and 4 million listeners worldwide
We also create opportunities for the next generation of audio thinkers and makers - nurturing new talent and powering new stories. Our successes include the creation of the Red Bull Music Academy Radio and Roundhouse Radio (Now Transmission Roundhouse)
Read the Radio Today article here>
See the full video of Karen’s Fellowship Award here>
Many thanks to The Radio Academy for permission to use images and footage from the event.
