Broadcasting into the void… (part three)

Parts 1 and 2 in this series of articles are about how the BBC appeared to spend the early part of last century not really knowing who was listening to the radio and why. You can read both parts here and here. In this episode Charlie Harper of the punk band the UK Subs rubs … Continue reading Broadcasting into the void… (part three) →

Broadcasting into the void… (part two)

This is a series of articles about what broadcasters think of their audiences. In part one I established that, probably, radio producers haven’t really got much of a clue. In fact, some of what they do has been based on guesswork – for almost one hundred years. You can read that first article here - … Continue reading Broadcasting into the void… (part two) →

100 years of technology: and a special mention to the Grahams…

Recently these pages have mentioned Arthur Burrows, the first voice on the BBC in 1922 when it employed just four people. In this article Burrow's connection to Jimi Hendrix, Slash, Joe Bonamassa (see below for a radio-related song) and Spinal Tap is explored. Yes, seriously. This is the link between a journalist from Oxford at … Continue reading 100 years of technology: and a special mention to the Grahams… →

This one’s for the Arthurs, the Nellies, and the newspaper photographers sent to snap crazy set-up stories…

That’s two old-fashioned names and a craft profession rapidly becoming extinct as we all upgrade our 'phones to have the best top quality on-board cameras included. Except, that is, for one of those names. Arthur was, apparently, the fourth most popular boy’s name in 2020. In fact, the British Government’s Office for National Statistics said … Continue reading This one’s for the Arthurs, the Nellies, and the newspaper photographers sent to snap crazy set-up stories… →

Pop stars becoming DJs, old presenters living forever, and the joys of children’s radio…

In this article I want to think about pop stars turning into radio presenters, and about old DJs (where exactly do they go?), and about some of the simple things in life such as children’s radio. Frankly, anything to take the mind off the pandemic must be good. So, children’s radio in Britain was one … Continue reading Pop stars becoming DJs, old presenters living forever, and the joys of children’s radio… →

The trouble is…

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… →

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…

...this website/blog 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 to thinking about the radio. The idea is to write about how … Continue reading A personal appeal… →