Digital radio – little music for grown-ups

The new generation of Anglo radio stations – variously available via DAB Digital Radio, digital TV and the Net – have massively multiplied listening options.

But, as far as grown-up music is concerned, it’s another case of “97 channels and nothing on”. Of the dozens of newly available DAB poprock channels, only Planet Rock, The Arrow and XFM stand out from the legions of Top 40/easy listening clones. On Freeview, only BBC 6Music pulled me in to sample.

I won’t be listening to any of them.

And there’s no single jazz, serious classical or world channel to sample. Not one.

Digital radio presents a major opportunity for niche music programming. But, in England at least, it’s a major missed opportunity.



Gerry Smith