It is with deep sadness that we announce that Tom Taylor, also known as Barry Stephens, former founder of European Music Radio, and passionate Shortwave radio enthusiast heard many times over our station passed away on the 22nd of January 2018. He is survived by his wife Jan, his son Jonny, and Lou his daughter. 

We exchanged emails last November with Tom, and he wrote about his illness. Tom was extremely eager to return to the air in 2018. Tom has always been very proud of turning a legal broadcaster when joining us after he was operating a low powered Pirate station in London in 1976. During the last years, he has been partnering with other small program producers and helped them turning legal as well.

We are loosing a very good friend and a passionate radio lover alike. We are all going to miss him greatly at NEXUS.

We preempted our current scheduled broadcasts and will be repeating the last EMR program that Tom sent to us  over the next weekend according to the following schedule:

1. Friday, Feb 2, 2018, 1900-2000 UTC on 7290 kHz (150 kW to EU) and 846 kHz MW
2. Saturday, Feb 3, 2018, 0900-1000 UTC on 9510 kHz (150 kW to EU)

Tom’s EMR program will also be repeated at various other times on 846 kHz during the week starting Feb. 5, 2018, from 7 PM until 01 AM Central European Time on 846 kHz to Southern Europe, and available via live streaming.

We wish Tom good reception from the heavens. Enjoy, and keep listening to Shortwave.

Very best 73s.

IRRS-Shortwave

In 1987, a small group of idealistic and highly dedicated people with broadcasting experience of their own had the idea of starting a Shortwave radio station to act as a link between independent cultural program makers and the European Audience. The Shortwave medium had been recognised for years as the most effective means of reaching the largest number of Europeans by radio and for the high quality of its audience. “The Italian Radio Relay Service” went on-the-air in November 1988 and was an immediate success.

The founders of NEXUS-IBA used their funds to finance the necessary equipment and initially used the facility in their spare time on Saturdays and Sundays to broadcast their programming consisting of music, discussion programs, topical presentations, vintage radio shows, and plays. IRRS-Shortwave quickly became a unique part of the European shortwave scene and attracted a lot of publicity and interest. In fact, the experiment was so successful that enquiries poured in from other program producers who were also anxious to use shortwave, but could not afford the high rates for airtime charged by the established commercial relay stations.

And so, the NEXUS/IRRS idea grew. Soon afterwards, IRRS-Shortwave began airing the current affairs and cultural programs of leading international, intergovernmental agencies and special program services produced by other broadcasters. Thousands of listeners praised their content as being of quality and nature not available elsewhere. The much older NEXUS FM station in Milan is today the sole outlet of the BBC World Service and a major source of multilingual programs in Italy’s most important industrial and commercial centre.

Proof of NEXUS-IBA’ established position in international broadcasting is the fact that it has earned a coveted separate listing in the prestigious “World Radio and TV Handbook” and “Passport to Worldband Radio”, the leading “Who’s Who’s” in international radio. In the religious broadcasting field, some internationally known and respected radio ministries have also become NEXUS members, making NEXUS-IBA in co-operation with “European Gospel Radio” one of the leading outlets of multilingual spiritual programming in Europe. NEXUS-IBA is, however, strictly non-denominational and open to membership of all faiths. With its seat in Milan, NEXUS is a non-profit association founded under Italian Law.

According to the Italian Broadcasting Act of 1990, The Association is designated as a “non-profit community broadcaster operating in the public interest”. NEXUS-IBA makes broadcast time available to members of the Association AT COST. Membership fees are very modest and entitle members to the lowest airtime rates. The small NEXUS-IBA administrative staff is highly dedicated and receives no remuneration beyond legitimate expenses. All revenues above rents, electrical, and maintenance costs go back into the Association to guarantee the lowest possible airtime rates. NEXUS-IBA is based in Italy but is truly international in its scope and philosophy. In fact, current programming is in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian. Programs may be in any language and deal with any subject. The NEXUS-IBA Executive Council exercises no censorship or control and intervenes only in cases where there might be a clear conflict with or violation of Italian Law.

IRRS-SHORTWAVE: THE TECHNICAL SIDE

On Shortwave, NEXUS-IBA operates one SIEMENS transmitter of extremely high quality and reliability. It is rated at 10 kW output and is fully automatic. Although capable of standard AM (double side-band) transmission, NEXUS-IBA has chosen to operate with the much more effective and efficient “A3A” modulation, i.e. Single Side-Band, reduced carrier mode, as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. In this way, our signal has the same communication power as a conventional AM transmitter of 30 kW, while remaining completely compatible with non-SSB receivers. Careful frequency management and the use of digital audio processing techniques assure a signal strength and subsequent high station profile all over Europe and the Mediterranean area. From concept to transmission, NEXUS-IBA is on a solid basis and would be happy to welcome your organisation as a member. Please contact us soon for more information.

WHO NEEDS NEXUS-IBA?

Anyone who wants to talk to Europeans by radio in the most cost-effective manner.

Do you remember the pictures that went around the world during the Gulf War, showing people glued to their shortwave radios to get the latest news from the outside world? During that crisis, sales of Shortwave receivers skyrocketed leaving dealers with empty shelves. Shortwave once again demonstrated its importance and effectiveness. For all the talk of satellite radio and TV, Shortwave radio remains the most cost-effective electronic mass medium that can span enormous distances instantly and penetrate into every home in Europe. Also, Shortwave radio is portable and is a companion wherever one goes. It is truly the world’s most mobile electronic mass medium. Modern Shortwave receivers are ultra-compact and very easy to use. NEXUS-IBA offers you this direct access to tens of millions of Europeans at LOW RATES.

Do you remember when a telephone call between the U.S. and Europe cost $5.00 a minute? Today that same call costs a fraction of that amount. Thanks to cost-saving modern technology and, above all, automation, the miracle of international broadcasting has also become affordable for everyone. As specified in its legal charter, NEXUS-IBA makes this non-profit service available in Europe over Shortwave and local FM. The non-profit NEXUS system has cut overhead to the bone, but not at the cost of quality service! The small, dedicated NEXUS staff is non-salaried. This fact, along with computerisation coupled with state-of-the-art transmission equipment ensure NEXUS members reliable, top-quality coverage of Europe AT COST.

WHO WILL I REACH?

Technically-speaking, your message will reach every household and individual in Europe with a shortwave radio – and that’s conservatively estimated at over 50 MILLION PEOPLE! And there are millions of more travellers who carry shortwave with them to keep in touch with the world and for companionship along the way. Perhaps more important is the QUALITY of the shortwave audience. Shortwave listeners are well known for their above average education, open-mindedness, and interest in international, intellectual, and cultural affairs. Besides that, you will be in excellent company on NEXUS-IBA, which has already been used for years as a relay by international broadcasters and official international agencies of the highest standing.

NEXUS-IBA OFFERS MORE THAN JUST AIRTIME

Our non-profit organisation has expertise in European shortwave going back more than a quarter of a century. We offer TOTAL COUNSELING. We want to help you make your broadcasting mission a success. Whatever your programming, NEXUS-IBA will help you reach the right audience at the right time. If desired, this free counselling includes editorial as well as technical assistance, custom tailored to your individual needs. We offer extremely flexible scheduling, ranging from regular daily and weekly service to sporadic, ad hoc broadcasting of individual programs. We are prepared for short-notice service, and even for program material fed by telephone.

NO ONE IS TOO BIG NOR TOO SMALL TO BE PART OF NEXUS-IBA

Smaller programmers will appreciate the value for money of the NEXUS system made possible by its non-profit basis. Larger program institutions should be aware that, even if they operate their facilities on Shortwave, NEXUS-IBA reaches a very loyal and high-quality fragment of the Shortwave market that may not make a habit of listening to other stations. Our listeners have repeatedly expressed appreciation for the unique variety and quality of NEXUS-IBA programs, reflecting the wide range of NEXUS-IBA members. Perhaps you have “minority” program material that is not suited to your regular operations, or for which no time is available on your regular outlets. The chances are that this material will find a grateful audience via NEXUS-IBA. Furthermore, NEXUS-IBA has no political or religious affiliation. It has a very liberal editorial policy and does not edit or censor material unless in crass violation of official legal guidelines. With NEXUS-IBA you get your message on-the-air the way you want it heard. You are not at the mercy of a production middleman.  NEXUS-IBA is also interested in time and program exchange arrangements with other Shortwave, Medium-wave, and FM stations.

We could go on. But we think it would be more productive to talk with you directly about YOUR particular needs. Whether you are involved in cultural, tourist, current affairs, or religious programming, NEXUS-IBA was created to serve YOUR needs. Please contact us for detailed information at no cost or obligation. You are just a ‘phone call or letter away from your direct link to the European shortwave market. And don’t forget our FM service in Milan, serving the international community in Italy’s most important financial and business centre.

With its seat in Milano, Italy, NEXUS-International Broadcasting Association is a strictly non-profit association founded under Italian Law that operates IRRS-Shortwave and IRRS-Medium Wave to Europe. NEXUS-IBA makes available broadcast time at cost to members of the Association, with no commercial advertising on the air and, currently, with no corporate underwriting.

For more information please contact:

NEXUS-International Broadcasting Association
phone:  +39-02-266-6971
fax: +39-02-706 38151
email: info@nexus.org

Here are some of our early Internet radio listeners’ comments, dating back in 1995, when we were the first to start such streaming service in Europe and the USA:

Date: Fri, 02 Jun 95 20:40:20 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Hey folks just wanted to drop a quick note telling you I enjoyed your web-page. cool stuff, and a bit easier that getting you on shortwave here in New York 😉 do you QSL for web contacts?? 😉 ( just joking 😉 Tnx again!

Date: Sat, 03 Jun 95 11:34:06 -0700 Subject: Realaudio in The Netherlands Hello, Thanks for being on realaudio, i had never heard of your radio-station and just a few minutes ago, saturday 03/06/95 11.15 am Dutch Time, i located you on the short wave 7.125. The quality at the moment is bad, but i could follow the discussions. What i very much like is the information about UN on realaudio. Good luck and regards, Hans.

Date: Sun, 04 Jun 95 04:08:45 0600 Subject: (no subject) Keep up the great work with the Real Time Audio. I will be stopping by often to check out your progress. This has to be the start of something very BIG. Thanks for being on the forefront of this new technology. Rees Roberts Racine, Wisconsin USA

Date: Wed, 07 Jun 95 22:26:52 -0700 Subject: internet radio I want to congratulate you for a very nice page with interesting programs. It’s very nice for Americans to be able to hear broadcasts in languages other than English. Reception in San Francisco, California, is excellent tonight, 7 June, 1995. I hope you stay on-line and increase your services and available European programs. ————————————————————– ruth …a tout a l’heure….

Date: Thu, 08 Jun 95 21:08:30 -700 Subject: Internet Audio Receiving your programs loud and clear over the Internet in San Jose, California. Hope you keep it up! Mick

Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 16:07:46 -0700 Subject: RA Audio News Reports Dear Sirs, I wish to express my compliments on the fine work your group has done with this Web site. As a student of Foreign Relations, I found the stored audio news reports very informative and useful in my attempt to manitain awareness of world current events. The almost constant availablity of this information through the Internet allows me to access the information needed to assist my academic activities. I hope that this Web site can continue to be maintained beyond its test period and I am looking forward to continued access to all posted information. Thank you Sean Fannin University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio – USA

Date: Thu, 08 Jun 95 21:08:30 -700 Subject: Internet Audio Receiving your programs loud and clear over the Internet in San Jose, California. Hope you keep it up! Mick

Date: Sun, 11 Jun 95 08:42:04 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Your programs in the Internet are the only way to receive such great programs here in California. Please continue your work in the Net. I liked the segments of “Hello There”. Good job!! — Eduardo Villaseca

Date: Mon, 12 Jun 95 17:50:13 -0700 Subject: I have listened Hi! My name is Per and I live in Stockholm Sweden. I’ve just been listening to some of your programs, here on the WWW. It works quite fine with the Real Audio. I’m a DXer and radio-fan, so please put more radio related programmes on the Web. Thanks. 73 de Per

Date: 13 Jun 1995 12:30:40 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Congratulations on your audio site. I’ve just been listening here in Cork (Ireland) and reception is excellent. The quality is basically equivalent to reasonable MW, better than typical SW, with only the occastional break or jump in the datastream.I can’t tell you much about the technical side of the connection here – my pc, which has its own IP address, is connected via a university VAX mainframe. Piaras Mac Einri Department of Geography University College Cork Ireland

Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 00:47:10 +0200 Subject: internet radio Great idea and it’s even working! Please do go ahead! Greetings from Munich Rudolf Kuffner Bavarian Radio Broadcast, ARD

Date: Tue, 20 Jun 95 12:15:49 -0700 Subject: (no subject) I just wanted to write and say that I really enjoy your service. The Spanish language material is especially appreciated. Thanks Patrick Findlay

Date: Tue, 20 Jun 95 13:25:22 -700 Subject: thanks for providing the radio service Just wanted to thanks you for providing the real audio radio broadcasts. I really like being able to have access to non-American broadcasts/news. It is much more convenient to listen to real audio than to use a shortwave. Thanks.

Date: 22 Jun 1995 17:33:14 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Dear Sir/Madam, Further to my message last week from Cork (Ireland). Reception continues to be excellent – the quality would not be acceptable for anything except voice at present, but it is entirely adequate for this purpose. Curiously, I note that the quality is conistently better than the only other current European site, a UK newspaper, which is virtually inaudible as the sound continually “breaks up” and is not really comprehensible. I have no idea why reception from Italy should be so much better, when the packet-switching networks involved presumably work to comparable standards. I hope that you can continue to find a way to maintain your service, although I note that it is currently scheduled to stop in mid-July. It could provide a powerful means of countering much of the ill-informed and biased propaganda against the UN which has become so prevalent nowadays, especially in the United States of America. Having spent three years in a diplomatic posting in Lebanon and having seen at first hand the efforts of much-maligned UN forces on the ground, compared to the distorted media coverage which they often received, it is time for a more effective answering voice. Regards Piaras Mac Einri

Date: Fri, 23 Jun 95 16:53:12 -0100 Subject: Keep IRN in the net! Dear IRN, I¹m a listener from Hamburg, Germany, and I like your program best, looking around, what my be intersting and litening to your programm (I choose myself), when I can¹t stand the ²old³ radiostation in my hometown anymore ­ which happens quite often. I love “Radio on demand” as you do present it, and I hope, you¹ll survive the 15th of July best regards mic:­)

Date: Mon, 26 Jun 95 05:12:59 0000 Subject: (no subject) I AM TESTING REALAUDIO AND FINDING YOUR PROGRAMS ON THE NET WAS MARVELLOUS ! GREAT ! PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP ! – PIERPAOLO SARDELLI –

Date: Mon, 26 Jun 95 01:31:33 -0700 Subject: Internet Radio Nexus’s future As a long time shortwave listener and fairly new Internet surfer I really can appreciate the melding of the 2 mediums. Not long after I began exploring the web I realized just how similar it was to shortwave listening and felt it to be an extention of my interests in world culture outside my own back yard. I would encourage you to keep the site going as long as you are finacially able. I love RealAudio the possiblities it provides makes sites like yours very exciting ! I’ll be visiting this site often !

Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 14:02:29 EDT Subject: Listening in Boston! Just a quick line to say that I don’t have a shortwave receiver, That means that your audio files — in any form — .au, .wav. .ram, etc — are of the greatest interest to me, I’ve already listened to several of your programmes and been very impressed with them all. Please keep up the good work, and if you can, PLEASE * do NOT * stop your Internet broadcasts in mid-July! 🙂 Thanks again! F Tikhon

Date: Wed, 28 Jun 95 20:29:00 -700 Subject: Feedback Very good initiative. When this idea develops and spread, it will bee a good effort to bring us together on the globe. We can keep in contact with our place of birth and language even if we move to other areas on the globe. Interested people can check in and ithers point if view. God Luck. /Christer

Date: Sun, 02 Jul 95 07:05:33 -0700 Subject: comments re your web site I thought I would put my oar in here and let the powers that be it would be a shame to let your wonderful service die! I believe that the concept of real time audio over the net is one of enormous possibilities. It is going to be tough for any firm that is pioneering this form of media, but the pay-offs would be tremendous. Just think of the power of reaching 10’s of MILLIONS of listeners. Regards, VBH

Date: Wed, 28 Jun 95 23:13:04 -0700 Subject: Keep it alive Anna, I like the idea of REAL news here in the US. Its so hard to get a clean feed from the world news organizations with commercial and political fingers in all the pies. I’m not too keen on sending Money over the Internet, though. Can you give me a *real* address? Emil

Date: Thu, 29 Jun 95 22:40:27 0000 Subject: (no subject) Ho sentito, funziona tutto molto bene. Mi piacerebbe avere piu’ file in italiano da scoltare. Sara’ possibile in futuro avere un gateway in tempo reale delle trasmissioni che vanno sulla radio? Saluti, Carlo Maupoil

Date: Wed, 05 Jul 95 19:51:48 -0100 Subject: Please do stay… Hello, it’s terrible actually that you’re going to close down, but what can I do about it? I don’t have the cash to support you. I can only say that your experiment has indeed succeeded and that the work should definitely be continued. I love the extra news about ex-Yugoslavia because I’m involved in what’s going on because of my profession as a radiographer. So I really do hope that you are going to stay and keep doing what you have been doing until now. The implementation of ‘RealAudio’ is fabulous and of invaluable importance to the development and the future of the Internet and also to the way information will be provided and looked up. By the way, you’re the only European source of interesting RealAudio material and sincerely don’t want to listen to the American crap and ‘bull shit’ talk shows or whatever america-centric barbarity! Greetings from Amsterdam, Ronald

Date: Thu, 6 Jul 1995 12:04:24 -0400 Subject: feedback you are great! please, continue! I’m working with the Austrian Shortwave Radio & I really think that it is a big work that you are doing. Oswald Klotz

Date: Thu, 06 Jul 95 12:52:19 -0600 Subject: Stay on the “air”, Please! I found out about your site a little over a week ago. Since then I’ve been back at least 5 other times. You are one of the few sites that actually has something interesting to offer in RealAudio sound clips. I don’t have a shortwave receiver, so this connection is the only one I have to your station. Plus, as the technology develops for live broadcast of audio over the internet, maybe you could be on the forefront of that, too. I hope you can stay with us longer. Thanks.

Date: Thu, 06 Jul 95 14:36:06 -0700 Subject: internet radio Keep up the good job you are doing!!! great information and a great idea. I really like the site, and will tell my friends

Date: Fri, 07 Jul 95 11:34:12 -0700 Subject: feedback on internet radio This service is wonderful! Although I am not in the position to support you financially, I think your service deserves support of this kind from your government or local university. It is a wonderful service. Yours truly, James Choi. Sydney Australia.

Date: Mon, 03 Jul 95 02:01:40 -700 Subject: Unesco Radio This is excellent solution for radio broadcasting. No high power transmitters, no QRM and better (in the future) audio quality! Also the right way for Unesco-information!

Date: Sun, 16 Jul 95 08:02:28 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Just wonderful will be my comment. I really enjoyed listening to the reports from UN Radio about the situation in former Yugoslavia. I really don’t what to say to improve your site. Just keep up the good jog. Will be visit your site regularly. Please send me your latest schedule so I can try to listen to you on shortwave though it might be very difficult. Thanks and all the best P. Heng from Penang, Malaysia

Date: Sun, 16 Jul 95 21:02:54 -700 Subject: Internet Radio NEXUS Yours is an extremely interesting site to visit for good coverage of major international events, stories etc. Well done and keep it up. Steve Erasmus Johannesburg South Africa

Date: Mon, 24 Jul 95 14:32:47 -0700 Subject: (no subject) You site really reminds me of shortwave radio. I enjoyed the relay of United Nations Radio. Please lift the suspension of the “The World in Review.” Keep up the good work. Ed van der Meer

Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1995 10:01:25 -0400 Hi I am Luis Osorio from Chicago.I think that having radio news from you is great. This is my first experience with you and I just want to let you now that I was here. After having more contact with you, I will be writting my comments. Keep the good work. Question: Why have you stopped to updated the news on July 7?

Date: Fri, 28 Jul 95 22:16:55 -0700 Subject: UNESCO Radio via IRRS Shortwave It is really great to see that your organisation is using the net as a communication media. In future times I believe that you will play a crucial role in harnessing the power of universal education & knowledge thru this medium. Keep at it, Real audio is a great way to complete the package, Brian

Date: Mon, 31 Jul 95 21:33:51 0000 Subject: Great! This is really great, now the technique works it is time to get it organised so you can bring up to date news, music or whatever at every moment a day, that would be really outrageous! Chapeau as well to the people who made realaudio possible!

Date: Mon, 31 Jul 1995 23:07:25 +0200 Subject: realaudio sound quality I enjoyed listening to some of the sound clips featuring ‘Realaudio’. Yours is the best and clearest sounding implementation of this science I’ve heard to date. Interesting and informative subject matter too!

Date: Tue, 01 Aug 95 22:03:39 -0700 Subject: Your RealAudio clips Hello, I am really enjoying your RealAudio clips. I was wondering if you had anymore Italian, or Spanish excerpts or are planning to add a few more. Congratulations on a great job, and keep up the good work. Rafael