Radio
The joys of radio, how today, even after all this time, there is still something magical about switching on the wireless and receiving something completely unexpected when station surfing. It is something that has remained since childhood, listening to all the new music and the wittiness that were spouted out. And with the internet, the possibilities have become endless. Want to listen to Capital FM, in Nairobi? Why not, just type it into your web browser. If anything can revel in the delights of the internet, surely it is radio.
However, it is in the niche stations that are especially satisfying. First, the liberalisation of radio licences by the government in the 90’s gave many areas, especially within London a chance to shine through. The internet has given many of these stations a more solid base with which to press forward in their search for an audience. In many cases. the internet proves vital in staying afloat.
More choice has meant the big boys have had to struggle with the onslaught. Some have prospered, some have fallen, but for the listener it is a win/win situation. If you don’t like what you hear, it is far easier to switch to something else. Finding a good radio station after a period of searching is as satisfying as being the first to complete one of the treasure hunts you used to do as a child. The radio stations now have to work hard for our attention and why not, the choice has given us a depth that can rarely be matched in any other medium.
Long may the revolution in radio continue. Let the airwaves ring clear with the throngs of a multitude of radio stations. Let the listeners liberate the sounds that they hear. A multitude of styles and languages awaits the adventurous listener with an easy finger and a taste for something new. The dial awaits and the mouse will do your bidding so go ahead and have some fun with the radio.