Switch the Dial to Better Radio Stations
Your local area likely has a community radio station, presented by local people who know the area, and often play good music too. A random click on West Kent Radio found Sister Sledge singing a nice ditty. Just search your area with the words ‘community radio’ to find ones near you.
All records were played in full, with no shouty presenter talking over the beginning or end. Just good music after good music – what radio should be!
Classic FM and Smooth Radio play the nicest music on conventional channels.
Also read the post on The Shipping Forecast (England’s bedtime lullaby – also useful for sustainable sailors!)
Listen to James O’Brien on LBC
James O’Brien has been a radio presenter for 20 years, and is now the most popular indie presenter on nationwide radio. If you usually listen to BBC Radio 4 or shouty biased presenters, do yourself a favour and switch over. He’s on from 10am to 1pm on weekdays, and worth a listen.
Whether you are just listening or having him on in the background, he’s not just interesting, kind and funny, but also in a world of biased media, increasingly important.
This is a presenter who thoughtfully questions everything, and is a massive fan of getting the real science of climate change out there, and genuinely bewildered by MPs who are going against it.
For example, he calls climate science deniers who say people should just ‘get over the weather’, asking whether they are now blaming children for being too hot at school.
He has even worked out that a wealth tax would mean people with £20 million would lose £20K (in interest) and genuinely can’t fathom why this would be such an issue, to solve most of our problems.
And he’s most certainly not afraid to call out the hypocrisy of Reform MPs screaming ‘incitement’ when they do just the same themselves. Worth a listen!
Wind-up, solar and free radios
If you’re out-and-about, consider investing in a wind-up radio so you don’t have to worry about batteries. iGadgitz Xtra Wind Up Radio has in-built speakers and can also run on solar power, with USB back-up.
All shops that sell batteries by law have to take old ones back for recycling (a good idea, as old batteries are choking hazards and leak chemicals.
These emergency power radios are American (but sold in the UK so presumably work here). They include phone chargers and flashlights, for when you’re out and about and need to listen to the weather forecast, as well as favourite music. One has a loud siren for emergencies.
British Wireless for the Blind offers radios on free loan to those who need them, including one that stores up to 40 stations and can swiftly navigate between DAB and FM stations.
Simple to use, just switch it on and it will tune in available stations, and adjust the time. Then just store your favourites.
One of the actors on The Archers, is the man who says ‘Mind the Gap’ on the London Underground.
Serenade Radio (if you like nostalgic tunes!)
Serenade Radio is nice, offering older music from the 30s and 40s. Presented by people who love good music, this steers away from ‘chart hits of the 60s’ and instead goes for classic artists like Judy Garland and Perry Como.
This station offers ‘friendly company’ with good music, with nothing to sell, no news nor traffic conditions. When we clicked, the station was playing Shoo-Shoo Baby by The Andrews Sisters!
If you like this kind of music, you can buy CD compilations from Past Perfect, which feature classic artists like Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. They’re all digitally remastered, to enjoy the best of nostalgia, with modern technology. From French ‘chansons’ from the 30s to jazz classics.
It also has a live radio station. When we clicked the play button, playing was a lovely vintage Christmas song. 6am to midday is vintage time with hourly artist profiles, and later on there are jazz shows, showtime songs (Fred Astaire!) and late-night love songs.
Putumayo’s world music radio hour
Putumayo’s World Music Radio Hour is from a wonderful record label, syndicating the best artists to take you on a journey of different musical cultures.
Once you’ve heard Putumayo music, you likely won’t want to listen to much else! It’s available on 100 commercial and non-commercial stations worldwide.
All of this music is made by people who would still be playing it, even if they were not earning a living. Most are skilled singers and musicians, not bands put together for reality TV shows. Many have used their music to get through hard times, or help to create change in the world.
Playing for Change is an organisation that links talented world musicians across the planet, for virtual concerts to connect through music. These videos are seriously good. If you don’t love and share them, there may be something seriously wrong with you – it may require a visit to the music doctor!
Why Argentinians prefer radio to TV
Unlike England (increasingly a bunch of TV and celebrity addicts), Argentina (along with Chile – the world’s most southerly country), has a nation that does not gawp at reality programs all day. This musical nation prefers to listen to the radio.
Argentina is one of the most biodiverse nations on earth. It’s home to 400 mammals (including wild giant anteaters, 1000 bird species and 9000 species of plants).
Back in 1920 in Buenos Aires, a group named ‘Los locos de la azotea’ staged one of the first live radio broadcasts from the Teatro Coliseo. From opera to Latin music, within years radio had become a hugely popular medium in Argentina.
Evenings would mean that chairs were pulled up close to a wooden set, while mothers cooked and fathers turned the dial. Radio also helped to make the national dance of tango popular. In Argentina, people don’t just watch Strictly Come Dancing. They turn the TV off, put the radio on and dance the tango themselves!
The main cities are gridlocked, so drivers and taxi drivers often have the news on, to know of any traffic jams. It’s estimated that around 70% of Argentinians listen to radio, while on the move.
You don’t have non-stop music programs. A morning radio program is like our mid-morning TV. You may get a band play a song, an interview with a politician, a recipe, and a quick weather forecast.
