The first keynote speakers have been announced for the 2004 Commercial Radio National Conference, from Friday 15 October at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

The conference will be opened by Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie, and will feature a range of leading international and Australian speakers, who will address industry delegates on the future of radio.

Among those announced so far are music promoter, Glenn Wheatley, advertising guru, Siimon Reynolds, and one of the most influential women in US radio and publisher of ‘Radio and Records’, Erica Farber.

Details of other keynote speakers will be announced shortly.

On Saturday 16 October, more than 800 radio executives from around Australia will gather at the Convention Centre for the industry’s night of nights – the 2004 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) – radio’s equivalent of the Logies.

Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, on behalf of the radio industry, the awards feature 28 categories, which cover all areas of broadcasting including news, talk, comedy, sport and music, across metropolitan, provincial and country radio stations in most categories.

Master of ceremonies for the night is Austereo’s drive co-host, Kyle Sandilands.

The third event in the radiofest is the New Music to Radio Showcase (NM2R), where seven to eight of the country’s most talented emerging acts have the opportunity to perform for commercial radio music directors and executives.

In past years, this event has helped kickstart the careers of artists such as Delta Goodrem and the Androids. The Showcase will be held at the Convention Centre’s Quest Nightclub on the Friday night (15 October), starting at 6pm.

This year’s acts will be announced soon.