Following on from South African music station 5FM’s recent nomination for an international radio award in the Influential International Station category at the prestigious Worldwide Radio Summit Awards, comes 5FM’s scooping of four awards at last week’s MTN Radio Awards, including Commercial Station of the Year.
5FM’s popular afternoon drive show The Fresh Drive, hosted by DJ Fresh, won Best Afternoon Drive Show for a commercial radio station.
Says Fresh: “The team may have won but this award is really for the listeners, the Fresh Drivers.’
Another feather in the cap is first-time winner Sias du Plessis winning Best Sports Presenter for his sport on 5FM Mornings with Gareth Cliff, weekdays between 6am and 9am. Says Du Plessis: “The competition was very stiff, so it feels incredible to be recognised after 10 years in radio. Being at 5FM is a dream come true.’
In a fitting farewell to The Grant and Anele Show, which came to an end on 5FM this March, the duo scooped Best Daytime Show, an apt tribute to their four-year success at 5FM.
The station is also extremely proud of 5FM’s “new kid on the block’, Rob Forbes, who now hosts the weekday 9am-12pm slot. Rob scooped the Best Campus Breakfast Presenter for his work on Tuks FM, before joining 5FM in April.
Says 5FM’s station manager Aisha Mohamed, “5FM is enjoying its highest ever recorded listenership and these awards represent recognition and credibility amongst our peers.
The judging panel has recognised that 5FM has successfully been able to transcend into the next generation of radio. We are honoured to be nominated in a wide range of categories, and to win Station of the Year is the highest accolade for a South African radio station.’