Station Birthdays - To celebrate or not to celebrate?
Follow @mediaukdiscuss
June 8th is the birthday of Newcastle upon Tyne’s NE1fm 102.5, and we’re not doing anything specific of note on-air (besides perhaps the odd mention from presenters) for it. For the station’s first birthday in 2008, however, we upped sticks to a pub and broadcast live from there all evening.
This has got me wondering – Is it good, or bad, to celebrate the birthday of a radio station on-air? Do the audience care, or is it something that should remain purely internal, and maybe make the website at most?
Obviously some radio stations have made a big deal of birthdays, especially if it’s a major milestone. The BBC put together an album for Radio 1’s birthday a few years ago, for example. Others, however, seem to completely ignore it – Which is the better of these two pathways?
For milestones, yes (including the first birthday). I don’t think anyone cares about a fourth birthday though.
Nice to maybe do something for the staff. Big cake or something. But pretty sure the listener doesn’t care about the station in the way we think they should.
I tend to agree with Ian Thomas here. For the first, and then majors, like 10 or 25 yes, but the rest, as has been said, does the average listener really care how long their local networked station has been on air.
Just the milestone ones. When Mercia FM turned 25 there were some on-air celebrations, but they hosted a night for former staff in Coventry I believe internally. 1st, 10th, 21st, 25th, 30th, 40th and 50th.
You can use an account you already have, or register. More info
By logging in, you are consenting to a cookie that personally identifies you to us. Here's more about our cookies.
In this day and age – for smaller stations, no. For well established stations that have been on for decades, maybe – but that wouldn’t include the likes of Heart.