With a theme of “Connected Radio”, this year’s Radiodays Europe conference opened in Dublin on Monday with a launch session that featured four of the top female radio executives from around Europe.

Jacqueline Smit from Radio 538, Netherlands, Helen Boaden from BBC, UK, CillaBenko from SR, Sweden and Maryam Salehi from NRJ, France, focused on the evolution of radio.

Helen Boaden spoke about deepening the relationship with listeners through a combination of current radio services and programmes which surprise people.

Jacqueline Smit spoke about the lack of data available in the radio industry and also about the need for great talent saying: “Without DJs there is no connection to our listeners.”

When it came to talking about digital radio, Maryam Salehi pointed out that putting radio on the web is a way to strengthen the brand of a station.

CillaBenko agreed that stations need to produce more audio “bits and pieces” so people can listen on social media and share with friends making radio more accessible especially on the phone.

The annual Radiodays conference was attended by over 1300 delegates from 60 countries, with over 100 speakers in more than 55 sessions.