Once upon a time, the word ‘radio’ might have conjured up images of old wooden boxes blaring out shipping forecasts or, more often than not, white noise to a small local audience. Today, it has almost the exact opposite connotations – evoking visuals of eccentrically dressed DJs shimmying in front of a pair of CDJs, perhaps even with a green screen thrown in. Freed from the limitations of short-wave broadcasting, today’s digital radio stations are now able to find global and niche audiences through the internet and often rely just as much on visual content as audio.
Leading the charge for this modern radio format since 2011 is London’s NTS, which attracts over 3 million monthly listeners globally to its online platform. Formed by Boiler Room co-founder Femi Adeyemi in response to the homogenisation of mainstream broadcasting and the hyper-localised focuses of pirate radio stations, NTS was founded on the principle of being “as diverse as possible”. In recent months, however, the station has come under scrutiny following American corporation Universal Music Group’s (UMG) purchase of just under a 50 per cent stake in the station. In particular, the crosshairs were centred on a perceived encroachment of commercial labels into the independent radio space, as well as UMG CEO Lucian Grange, who is a vocal supporter of the Israeli Defense Force.
In the wake of the buy-out which actually took place in October last year (2023), however, Adeyemi announced that they would “continue to program NTS impartially and fairly, focusing on artists we believe in”. Indeed, the station has continued to support Palestinian and independent artists in the year following their procurement by UMG.
Regardless of this recent controversy, there remains a wealth of independent stations that are continuing to redefine the meaning of radio in the digital age, celebrating unique corners of the musical landscape and creating communities along sonic rather than geographical lines. Below, from a French DJ platform based inside a restaurant kitchen to pillar of sonic resistance Radio Alhara we spotlight nine of our favourite community radio stations from around the world.
Let Him Cook: Let Him Cook Radio is an innovative platform where artists come to mix and perform live in a real kitchen, right in the middle of an intense service. The authenticity of this experience lies in the fact that the chefs around them are not from the music scene; they are immersed in their own culinary world, creating a unique dynamic. Just as ingredients blend to create delicious dishes, our episodes fuse musical talents with the unique energy of chefs.
This radio station is also a tribute to station founder @ferratotheo’s Vietnamese grandmother, who raised him during his childhood. A cook herself, she hoped he would pursue a medical career to take care of her as she aged. However, passionate about music and mixing from a young age, he chose this path to show her that it is possible to heal people through music.
A moment that perfectly embodies the spirit of Let Him Cook is when one of our DJs, in the middle of his set in a busy kitchen, had to briefly step away for a ‘natural need’, just as one would in a family context, while the kitchen continued its frantic pace. What makes this moment even more authentic is that he returned immediately to pick up his set as if nothing had happened. These moments, both humorous and unexpected, illustrate just how 100 per cent authentic our approach is, pushing artists out of their comfort zones and immersing them in an environment that is as lively as it is real.
Nico Adomako, co-founder: Oroko Radio is a not-for-profit online radio station, broadcasting from Accra, Ghana to audiences worldwide. We aim to uplift alternative voices and perspectives from across Africa and its diaspora, using music, culture, and conversation as a means to foster connection.
Kikelomo, co-founder: As a station based in the continent of Africa, it was really important for us to provide a platform for our incredible community to represent themselves in their own way. It was a platform built for us, by us, as a direct response to the outdated perceptions of music coming from the continent (it’s not everyday Afrobeats and Amapiano!). We were inspired by the work of our friends across Africa and its diaspora – the artists, musicians, producers, engineers, architects, graphic designers and more – so we wanted to help showcase the incredible amount of talent coming from our peers.
Adomako: I think we all have our different moments, but if I had to pick a specific set [to highlight], it would be from one of our residents, Muud Swingz, who was invited to play at the official closing party for the Biennale Euro-Africa in Montpellier, France last year. Seeing him perform outside of Ghana for the very first time and absolutely dominate the decks was a striking reminder of what’s possible. After leaving us completely speechless, he came up to me, smiled, and said, “You promised that you would give me the opportunity to play outside of Ghana one day to show them what we are doing, and here we are.”
Richard Price, Founder: SCR is an online platform showcasing underground music and culture in Seoul. Broadcasting live to our YouTube channel 4 nights a week, SCR is an archive to discover DJs, artists, parties and collectives who are active in the Seoul underground scene.
Founded in 2016, inspired by the UK pirate radio scene, back then SCR just wanted to show people what’s cool, in the Korean Scene which at the time only had 2 main underground clubs. 8 years later and with the scene thriving, SCR is seen as a stepping stone for DJs in Korea and internationally. It’s a badge of honour to have a set and brings through the next generations of stars in the scene.
We produced the first ever Jjimjilbang ( Korean Sauna) rave in 2023. Not only were these sets special because clips went viral globally and in Korea on both Instagram and TikTok, but the sets represent everything that SCR stands for showcasing Korean culture and underground music as authentically and genuinely as possible.
Pound and Yam: Pound and Yam is an independent, Black-owned online radio station and music platform based in Dalston, East London. Our primary focus is on showcasing and supporting emerging artists and talent from the UK and beyond. Our listeners can expect a wide range of eclectic genres, including electronic, world club, ghetto tech, ambient, indie, and alternative music.
Our mission from the start has been to amplify underrepresented voices from diverse backgrounds, creating a space where they can thrive without being diluted by commercial pressures or trends. We aim to keep the airwaves “non-gentrified” and inclusive of all identities, particularly those rooted in diaspora experiences.
We recently hosted our first club night at The Cause London, which encapsulated everything we’ve been building with Pound and Yam. The fusion of traditional and futuristic sounds, the energy, and the diverse crowd perfectly reflected what Pound and Yam stands for – unapologetically authentic and deeply rooted in cultural exchange.
20ft Radio: 20ft Radio is an online radio station broadcasting from a 20ft shipping container in Kiev, Ukraine, a multidisciplinary project that serves as a platform for the free self-expression of Ukrainian musicians and DJs.
The project started in 2016, during a peak in the Ukrainian rave scene and a decline in FM broadcasting. At the time, there was no platform where electronic musicians, DJs and selectors could freely showcase their work and be heard online. So, we defined our mission simply as “pumpin’ culture in the neighbourhood” and began regular broadcasts on shitty equipment.
Now, 20ft Radio stands for diversity and openness to new sounds. Our broadcasts feature everything from noise performances on homemade devices to curated selections of vintage Ukrainian music.
Ever seen a sexy chicken drop an industrial rave mix so hard it results in a (synthetic) nip slip? These bonkers moments are practically daily occurrences for Austrian station Radio Rudina which broadcasts from Vienna’s Studio Mahlerstrasse.
Spinning tracks from all corners of the electronic universe (literally, everything – from gabba and hardcore to “BBL Drizzy”), Rudina’s visuals somehow manage to be as eclectic as their sonics, with footage of eccentrically-dressed dance aficionados plastered all over their socials. The station is also rapidly emerging as the place to be for up-and-coming European DJs, featuring standout sets from the likes of Spanish DJ Adrían Mills, and increasingly collaborating with events and festivals across the continent.
Broadcasting from various locations around Japan since 2018, Tsubaki FM is one for the serious musos. With shows exploring everything from ‘ethnojazz’ to dub and ambient, and with regular collaborations with the likes of Japanese jazz-hip hop label Jazzy Sport and legendary Brighton record shop Mr Bongo, the station perfectly manifests the diverse and dedicated tribes that Japan is renowned for.
Keep an ear out for Tsubaki FM’s Kyoto broadcasts, which fuses jazz and dub in mixes as warm and verdant as the gardens of Kyoto themselves.
The percussive rhythms of Brazilian musical heritage forms a match made in heaven with the primal energy releases of grime, and it is exactly this fusion that Brasil Grime Show celebrates. Formed in Rio de Janeiro in 2019 and relying on uploaded sets rather than direct live streams, Brasil Grime Show stretches the definition of radio more than most, but is heavily rooted in the British pirate radio culture of the early 2000s.
Eagle-eared listeners might recognise classic grime instrumentals during the performances from the Brazilian MCs, who inject fresh flows and sonics into the genre in a hybridised culture sometimes referred to as ‘brime’.
Broadcasting from the Israeli-occupied Palestinian town of Bethlehem since 2020, Radio Alhara is more than just a radio station – it is a defiant site of resistance for oppressed peoples the world over. Rooted in the mantra “no one is free until we all are free”, the station tests the limits of sound as a political force with shows featuring spoken word, sound art and talks as much as music.
Back in 2021, in the wake of Israel’s continual encroachment on the Palestinian Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, the station protested by broadcasting nothing but static for 24 hours. This action soon morphed into what is known as the Sonic Liberation Front, a protest movement which travelled around the world to share messages of solidarity with the Palestinian people, as well as with adjacent struggles in Iran and Kurdistan.
Then, in 2023, following renewed aggressions in the region, Radio Alhara went silent for another 24 hours. When it returned, the station’s diverse and internationally-dispersed hosts began sharing their own thoughts and feelings about the crisis in Gaza which continues to this day.
“On the station, small communities started expressing their feelings about their own struggles, which were connected to other struggles in other parts of the world, and bringing those things together created a community which is even stronger,” station co-founder Yousef Anastas told Dazed earlier this year. “We have live sets from Indonesia, France, the US, Palestine, Japan, South Africa, Algeria… It creates a common understanding, and I think this is how the station is resisting the current situation. In Bethlehem, even on an emotional level, it’s also helpful to have a solidarity which isn’t patronising, but which enables you to find common ground with other people.”
If you’re looking for grassroots broadcasting from around the world, few can top the profoundly global sonic activism of Radio Alhara.
