Quiet revolution is happening in local radio

A quiet revolution is happening in the world of local radio in East Anglia.

As the big players in commercial radio and even the BBC move away from truly local radio, a new breed of stations is popping up to fill that void.

The latest to launch this week has seen the return of a much-loved name in East Anglian radio, Broadland.

The original Radio Broadland was around for decades before disappearing as its owners abandoned local radio and it got swallowed up like so many others.

It’s got an experienced line-up of presenters with BBC and commercial backgrounds and will serve Norfolk and North Suffolk.

I wish them well; you can’t keep a good presenter down!

It’s not easy or cheap to set up a radio station, I should know, as I’m part of the team at Suffolk Sound.

We’re just about to celebrate our second anniversary, and with very healthy listening figures and a great team, it’s going from strength to strength.

For many involved in these stations, radio is in our blood; some have had careers in professional radio, others just love the medium and thoroughly enjoy the buzz of being on air.

It reminds me of the days of the pirate radio ships when they gave the audience what they wanted and not what they thought people should listen to.

It’s this pure love of radio that will make these stations successful, as listeners want to identify with the local presenters and local events.

Mark Murphy MBE (Image: Charlotte Bond) They want to feel part of the station; they want to be involved and have some fun.

Life is tough at the moment, and many people are turning to stations like Suffolk Sound for some light relief and a sense of place.

It’s what both commercial and BBC local radio were initially set up for, but over the years, the pioneering radio folk have been replaced by bean counters who know nothing about the needs of a local audience, and much-loved local stations around the country closed down.

I can remember as a child how exciting it was when Radio Orwell launched in the 1970s; all of a sudden, the presenters weren’t in London, they were broadcasting from Ipswich town centre.

They became household names, people like Andy Archer, Keith Rogers, and Chris Opperman were opening fetes, and you could actually see them, talk to them and grab autographs.

They really were part of the local community and knew how important it is to be part of what’s going on locally.

Talking on air about simple things like what’s happening in the local area, sports coverage, and gardening shows all added to the rich tapestry of the broadcasts.

At Suffolk Sound, we have a great team of presenters, all volunteers, bringing a variety of shows.

We talk about Suffolk all the time, from unsigned artists to gardening and everything in between, there’s bound to be something there for you.

I love my radio show on a Saturday morning.

I host the breakfast show from 7 am until 10 am, and it’s the timeslot I had when I first went on air at the BBC back in the early 1990s, so it feels like home.

I’m joined by the legend Brian from Melton and by Lesley Dolphin, who reprises the popular competition, Dolphin’s Dart.

It’s all good fun, and the audience seems to be enjoying it.

So if you’re not getting your fix of what’s happening here in your part of Suffolk, why not check out one of these local radio stations like Suffolk Sound and join the local radio revolution.