2ZY is a radio production and consultancy business, established in 2012.
We make podcasts and other audio material for non-radio businesses.
We work with radio station teams to make their programmes better.
We make radio programmes of our own, and we supply our production effort and expertise to other independent production companies.
We help non-radio businesses use audio to achieve their objectives, and help non-radio people to deal with the medium more effectively.
We believe in developing new on and off-air talent
We also work with non-broadcast professionals to provide media training and broadcast coaching. If your company requires you to appear as a spokesperson on radio or television, we can help you make sure you make the right impression, with a bespoke training workshop that gives you exactly what you need. Contact us for further information.
We do all of that from our HQ in Manchester, the original modern city.
John Ryan is the Director of 2ZY and works as a radio consultant and producer.
He has 23 years experience in the BBC, including a decade running radio stations for the corporation in Northampton, Leeds and Manchester. He led Radio Manchester to win BBC Local Radio Station of the Year in 2006 and the Sony Radio Gold Award for Breaking News in 2009. In 2014, a compilation of his work for 2ZY and PRA Productions secured a nomination as Documentary/Feature Producer of the Year in the Radio Production Awards.
Developing engaging public radio and speech/mixed format programming.
Coaching air talent and producers at all skill and experience levels.
Refreshing radio brands on and off air, including the creation of effective station sound audio and architecture.
Special programming designed around festivals, events and themed seasons.
John has spent many years working with programme teams and presenters to develop formats, personality and audience engagement. He ran the BBC’s Community Radio Bootcamp, and spent a year working with a range of experience levels as an Instructor for BBC Radio Training. John’s work includes launching a station, moving two, and re-branding another. We can help with your next big radio project.
John is the Chairman of Gaydio in Manchester. He is also an accredited Manchester Tour Guide.
2012: Director, 2ZY
2005: Managing Editor, BBC Radio Manchester
2004: Managing Editor, BBC Radio Leeds
2001: Marketing Manager, BBC English Regions
1999: Managing Editor, BBC Radio Northampton
1999: Broadcaster, News Direct 97.3, Liberty Radio, Trafficlink News
1997: Managing Director, CTFM Radio, Canterbury
1994: Senior Producer & Presenter, BBC Southern Counties Radio
1992: Producer, BBC Radio Lancashire
1991: Training Instructor, BBC Radio Training
1988: Breakfast Presenter, BBC Radio Newcastle
1987: Programme Assistant and PM Drive Presenter, BBC Radio York
1986: Studio Assistant, BT Supercall, London
1986: Station Assistant, Radio 210, Reading
Pro Bono
2011 continuing: Chairman, Gaydio Community Interest Company
2006 - 2011: Director, Gaydio Community Interest Company
2006-2014: Trustee, Manchester Pride
Sparklab's Jo Meek executive produces our BBC network radio commissions. Jo has produced and exec-produced programmes for all the BBC's terrestrial UK radio networks, in addition to the BBC World Service, ABC national radio in Sydney and many commercial networks. 2ZY is co-located at 8 Lower Ormond Street alongside Sparklab.
Lisa Needham is a producer and researcher currently working with 2ZY on Make it Digital Ones to Watch for BBC Radio 5 Live. Lisa has worked in radio and television production for over 14 years and has produced shows for BBC Radio 4, Radio 1 and 5 Live.
Toby Whitehouse is working with 2ZY on Clueless, our returning commission for BBC Radio Wales and helps develop other 2ZY ideas. Toby is Programme Director of Gaydio, the UK's LGBT radio station and previously a station sound producer at BBC Radio Manchester. Toby was one of the inaugural 30 Under 30 in 2011, a list of the 30 brightest young talents working in UK radio, and also appears in the Independent Pink List 2013 and Rainbow List 2014.
Hattie Pearson is a presenter, DJ, voiceover, gig promoter and band manager. Winning the Student Radio Award for Best Female in 2012 led to Hattie hosting overnights on the Bauer network as her first professional gig, as well as a show on BBC Radio 1. She currently presents Early Weekend Breakfast across the XFM network. Hattie works with 2ZY as a freelance producer.
Sound Design on 2ZY network documentaries is by Eloise Whitmore, based at 80 Hertz in the Sharp Project. Eloise started life at the RSC in Stratford before moving to Manchester to make Radio Drama for the BBC. She now works with indies creating drama for all the BBC Radio networks, mixes radio features, and creates sound for animation and lectures for Lincoln University and Leeds Met.
