In 1946 the writer and novelist George Orwell complained that, In very many English homes the radio is literally never turned off. [...] This is done with a definite purpose. The music prevents the conversation from becoming serious or even coherent. (Tribune, 11 January 1946) Which coming from someone who once worked for the BBC … Continue reading The trouble is…
Tag: Radio Studies
The art of presentation…
...on radio is at once both radically complex and stultifyingly mundane. I wrote a previous article in February 2018 about some of my favourite radio presenters. In simple terms I reckon you've either got 'it', or you could - at a pinch - struggle to learn it. But mostly I'm of the opinion that the … Continue reading The art of presentation…
Don’t Touch That Dial…
...bear with me this once. This article will appear to be joyously off-topic at the start because it won't mention much about radio; just superheroes. The reason is I want to talk about finding reality in fiction. On the face of it that sounds like nonsense, but if I try to explain I hope you'll … Continue reading Don’t Touch That Dial…
Turn Your Radio On
….or perhaps “Turn ON Your Radio”, or “ Turn on THE Radio”. Or “Turn the Radio ON”. It all depends on the order of the words. And it starts with country gospel, takes in post-punk, AoR, disco, rap and nu-metal. What follows is a brief history of song titles – and adverb particle positions too. … Continue reading Turn Your Radio On
A personal appeal…
...and a review of the year. This website/blog is now one year old and is looking for your personal support. Read on to the end to find out what you can do. It was conceived in January 2018 with a clip from the radio archives, and a first step towards using anthropological and sociological approaches … Continue reading A personal appeal…
This comes with a spoiler alert…
...the best bit is right at the end of this piece. It's the music by James Blake called 'Radio Silence'. If you don't know the track already then you're in for a delightful surprise. But first, I want to point out that the year 2016 was coincidently distinguished by having both a best-selling book and … Continue reading This comes with a spoiler alert…
Behind the scenes…
...I always enjoy watching a radio show go out. It's the mix of technology: headphones, microphones (yes - those things again), mixing desks, computer monitor screens, and chairs with little wheels on the bottom of the legs. Seriously. Never try to broadcast on a dining room chair. It just doesn't work. You need to dissipate … Continue reading Behind the scenes…
Listening…
“...You really had to be there...” When you hear something amazing on the radio your natural reaction is to try and share that moment. It may be a listener winning a big prize in a phone-in on Heart, or it could be an incisive political interview with a cabinet minister. Perhaps it's the moment your … Continue reading Listening…
Just look up…
...because if you look down all the time the tops of the buildings will start to dissolve and disappear. Good journalists – and academic researchers – always ask 'why?' To do any less is to commit sacrilege to both professions. When I was about ten years old my parents gave me one particular book that … Continue reading Just look up…
This is not radio…
...it's a blog. Even this recording of me reading this blog - I reckon - isn't radio: (Audio Credit: Martin Cooper (c)) But out in the far reaches of the Internet (I'm not convinced it needs a capital letter) there's a forum where the meaning of the word 'radio' is still being thrashed out. The … Continue reading This is not radio…
