Jacaranda FM announced it walked away with three awards at the Gala awards ceremony on Saturday, 2 December.
Jacaranda FM and The Radio Awards paid homage to Andrew Pike as he was inducted into the prestigious Radio Awards Hall of Fame.
Pike joined Jacaranda FM in 1988, where he helped build the first studio since SABC independence and learned how to manage Outside Broadcasts through trial and error.
Remember that King Koil mattress on the billboard where the breakfast team was broadcasting from? That was possible due to Pike’s technical genius, says the station.
Pike also pioneered the first fully digital studio for Jacaranda FM (remote control was very funky in the late 1990s) and the first split advertising broadcast for regional areas in 2001, and it was built entirely from scratch, the station adds.
“In every sense, Pike is part of the DNA and every broadcast element at Jacaranda FM. For 36 years, he has dedicated his career to making Jacaranda FM what it is today,” said Deidre King, Jacaranda FM managing director.
According to Jacaranda FM, Mzansi’s early risers couldn’t get enough as Martin Bester walked away with Best Commercial Breakfast Show. The show has amassed over 4.5 million page views on the website and over 350 000 audio-on-demand downloads, with millions of views on TikTok and Instagram.
“We have the most dedicated team, and we are all truly grateful to have such rich and rewarding jobs. Our listeners are such dynamic, open-hearted people and that’s what we try to mirror in our content and ability to use our platform for good through Good Morning Angels,” said Bester, host of Breakfast with Martin Bester.
The station was also awarded with Best Station Imaging Award for its innovative creation and use of audio elements that help define the Jacaranda FM sound. Imaging includes various elements, such as jingles and other sound effects that contribute to the overall identity of the station. These elements are carefully crafted to create a cohesive, memorable, and seamless audio experience for listeners, the station says.
“We’re elated to see Martin Betser and Andrew Pike up there with the best radio talent Mzansi has to offer. We appreciate every single vote and take great pride in being able to say we are one of the most engaging and beloved radio stations in the country,” King noted.