The celebrating continues at HOT 102.7FM, as the Johannesburg-based commercial radio station has capped a memorable few weeks – both on and off air – with more awards and honours.
For starters, HOT 102.7FM has been shortlisted and ranked in the top 10 of three categories at the National Small Business Chamber Awards, which will take place in Johannesburg on the 16th of November.
The categories in question are ‘2023 National Small Business Champion’ and the ‘Special Awards’ category, whilst HOT 102.7FM founder and Managing Director, Lloyd Madurai, has been honoured in the ‘National Entrepreneur Champion’ category.
The NSBC is a non-profit membership organization established in 2007 and its purpose is to “foster the sustainability and growth of the SME sector, driving job creation, alleviating unemployment and nurturing the country’s entrepreneurial spirit. The NSBC is committed to helping SMEs to grow, learn, network, connect, be inspired, succeed and have fun!” The organization has 156 000 members across South Africa, with a focus on businesses with up to 250 employees.
“This is just the icing on the cake for us, particularly because HOT 102.7FM prides itself on being a champion of small business in South Africa,” says Madurai. “So, these awards mean a lot, but they also mean that what we set out to achieve just over two years ago when we launched, is on track, and we’ve made a significant impact in a short space of time, whilst thriving in some of the most difficult times to be a small business in South Africa.”
Adding to the sense of celebration was the news that HOT 102.7FM’s Head of News, Tara Penny, had been honoured at the Brave Journalism & Media Awards, alongside Hot Cares board member and investigative journalist, Devi Sankaree Govender.
The awards celebrate journalists and media personalities from across the country and honour them for their bravery to take risks, investigate and ask the really tough questions.
“Absolutely well deserved,” says Madurai. “Tara has been with us for only 18 months, but in that time has had a huge impact on how HOT 102.7FM delivers its news content, bringing a professionalism, tenacity and attention to detail that has just elevated the standard of our news and made it one of the most credible news sources in radio.”
All of this follows HOT 102.7FM being named ‘Best Local Radio Station’ at the Best of Joburg Readers’ Choice Awards recently, along with the HOT 1027 Breakfast winning the ‘Best Radio Show’ category. The station also closed October by blowing past its target and raising a whopping R19.4 million in just 12 and a half hours at its annual Teddython charity fundraiser.
HOT 102.7FM will be looking to add to its awards tally on the second of December, when the SA Radio Awards takes place in Johannesburg. The station has been nominated in 14 categories, including in the coveted ‘Commercial Station of the Year’ category, whilst significantly, HOT 102.7FM is also on the shortlist in the ‘My Station – Most Loyal Listener’ category.
