Community Radio Success

By Matloub Husayn-Ali-Khan

Community Radio in Sheffield has enjoyed great success in the last year. Initial feedback from Burngreave’s PCM (AM), broadcast in April, and Radio Ramadan (FM) revealed an audience of over 40000. Radio Ramadan broadcast in November-December 2001 raised over £20 000 for refugees in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world.

Recent research suggests that Britain’s Black communities (including Pakistani, Kashmiri and African-Caribbean) are listening to Community Radio or Unlicensed Pirate Radio rather than mainstream BBC and commercial Radio Stations. Dissatisfaction with mainstream radio service is clear. In Sheffield has had over 10 Restricted Service Licenses (RSL) in 10 years and numerous Pirate Stations, that have increased listener choice in a positive way.

Ethnic Minority communities are turning to Pirate and Community Radio (RSLs) broadcasts because the existing BBC and commercial stations are failing to meet their social and cultural needs. 

The research found that more Black people listened to pirate radio (25%) than Radio One (22%). Pirates were also listened to by a greater proportion of Pakistani/Kashmiri community (16%) than the white population (4%). Over the years the Radio Authority (DTI) Investigations Service, has made many raids on pirate stations in inner-city areas resulting in convictions, but pirate radio continues to broadcast.

The success of Community Radio projects in Sheffield proves that having an Independent Community Radio Station in your area is an exciting development. Community Radio places information at your fingertips and increases access and participation.