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Welcome to another edition of Beyond Global Waves, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of international broadcasting! Today, we’re spotlighting a station with a unique identity: Radio City, The Station of the Cars.
The legendary legacy of offshore broadcasting in Europe deeply inspires Radio City’s roots. These early ship-based commercial stations revitalised European radio with non-stop music and hourly news, offering advertisers their first chance to use radio commercials. These offshore stations influenced the operator behind Radio City and have been involved in various forms of pirate broadcasting, including shortwave, medium wave, and FM transmissions, honing skills in broadcasting live and improving program flow over the years.
Radio City was chosen in 1991, and the distinctive slogan ‘The Station of the Cars’ was adopted to stand out from other stations with a similar name. This connection to cars is integral to the station’s identity. In its early years, the station would transmit car commercials and other commercials originally heard on offshore stations. Favourite music included car songs like The Beach Boys’ ‘Fun Fun Fun’.The station operator is also interested in vintage cars, often taking pictures of them at vintage car meetings, and has owned classic vehicles like a 1966 Chrysler New Yorker and a 1973 MG Midget. This shared bond between cars and music has been present over the years.
The programming on Radio City follows a fixed structure. Each show begins with a featured act, playing three tracks by the same artist, sometimes including songs in different languages, reflecting its nature as an international music radio station. The focus is primarily on music from the 1960s, though older and younger songs are also played, often highlighting hits not commonly heard elsewhere. Another key segment is “Dateline,” which looks at events from a specific month in past years, followed by songs by the mentioned artists. A notable part of “Dateline” features a record from Radio London’s offshore station (Big L) chart from 1965 to 1967. The rest of the program features a broad selection of international music, including European, North American, Latin American, Asian, and sometimes African music like Congolese rumba. Listeners cannot request songs but are encouraged to write to the station’s contact email. Each program is followed up with a QSL letter, which verifies correct reception reports and provides information on the station, schedule, music, and artists. It also presents a different vintage car each month.
Radio City’s broadcast reach has evolved. Originally broadcasting from its transmitter, it later rented time on various pirate stations in Europe, North America, Uruguay, and New Zealand. In the new century, coverage expanded through hiring time at a 100 kw station in Latvia and also getting free airtime at a co-owned MW station there. From 1996, Radio City moved to IRRS, transmitting from Europe. For years, transmissions on 9510 kHz on Saturday mornings, and occasionally an evening slot on 7290 kHz, provided widespread reach across Europe, and sometimes reached Eastern North America, Guatemala, Egypt, New Zealand, and Australia. However, adapting to challenging and unpredictable radio propagation conditions due to high solar activity became necessary.
As the skip zone varies, reception from the south is favoured under these conditions. Consequently, the platform was changed. Radio City shifted from IRRS on 9510 kHz in the morning to IRRS-MediumWave on 1323 kHz in the late evening, holding onto the third Saturday of the month. This frequency, 1323 kHz, is clear in the late evening, and with a 10 kW signal, it covers most of Europe, from Ukraine to the British Isles.
This broadcast is facilitated through the International Public Access Radio (IPAR) service. IPAR is a public broadcasting platform provided by NEXUS-International Broadcasting Association, offering airtime on shortwave and AM/Medium Wave frequencies. NEXUS-IBA supports freedom of expression and provides a platform for diverse viewpoints, welcoming programs from individuals and organisations interested in reaching a worldwide audience. IPAR aims to promote free speech and combat censorship, using powerful transmitters and directional antennas to reach target areas across the digital divide and overcome internet firewalls. Radio City utilises these facilities to bring listeners its unique blend of music and automotive inspiration.
So, whether you’re a fan of classic hits, vintage cars, or the enduring spirit of independent radio, join us as we explore the world of Radio City, The Station of the Cars!
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