Middle East's first Radio Conference opens to a tremendous reception

The conference opened with remarks from the managing partners of IRC; Ian Carless and Rick Houghton, and speaker Mark Story, Managing Director, EMAP, UK. IRC Dubai has attracted some of the radio industry's key experts and professionals as guest speakers and the opening session entitled 'Shifting Sands - The Future of Radio in the Middle East' was chaired by Abdullatif Al Sayegh, CEO, Arabian Radio Network, Hosam El Sokkari, Head of the BBC Arabic Service, Hasan Muawad, Director, MBC FM & Panorama and Raymond Gaspar, CEO, Radio One, Lebanon.

Five further sessions on the first day stimulated lively debate between delegates and speakers. These included; '10 Great Ways to Make People Listen Longer', 'Print vs Radio - Why Radio Improves a Press Investment', 'Marketing With No Money', 'News You Can Use' and 'Kill or Cure? Can Radio Survive the Ipod Era?'.

'We are delighted to witness almost unanimous agreement for an independent association to monitor and raise standards of radio in the region. The fact that IRC Dubai has facilitated this is simply wonderful and more than we could have wished for at our first conference.'

A first of its kind event, IRC Dubai is a three day conference being held at Madinat Jumeirah from May 22-24 and aimed at a global audience of radio professionals and contemporaries from associated industries including advertising and media. IRC Dubai will also host the Middle East Radiocast Awards 2006 on Tuesday 23rd May.

The conference's primary objectives are to provide an in-depth look into the future of radio in the Middle East and surrounding countries, addressing rapid regulatory and technological changes, and to facilitate a 'back to basics' forum in which to discuss the business of radio.