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MEGA ARTIST<br />
Issue no: 03<br />
Ashifashabba radio broadcasting<br />
experience.<br />
I started radio 21 years ago at Campus<br />
Radio TNT, then moved to YFM as a<br />
Technical Producer and DJ in 1999 and<br />
then moved to Capricorn FM as a<br />
shareholder, programmes manager and<br />
Presenter, and was approached by the<br />
Energy FM board in 2014 to help set up the<br />
station and mentor the new breed of<br />
presenters.<br />
What led you to a career in radio?<br />
I love attention, so radio is one of the<br />
platforms that I thought people will give me<br />
that. Lol …<br />
Radio landscape in Limpopo.<br />
Well, we are getting there but we are behind<br />
most progressive radio markets around the<br />
world, like : New Zealand, Canada, North<br />
America and Britain, in terms of technology<br />
and creative ideas. We are doing basic<br />
radio or should I say radio 101, I think there<br />
is a lot we are not doing and we have to<br />
stand up and start pushing the envelope<br />
and squeezing the creative juices out our<br />
brains.<br />
Do we still need more community or<br />
commercial radio stations?<br />
A big YES, North America has more than<br />
18,000 radio station on air as we speak. SA<br />
has less than 300. I know the frequency<br />
spectrum is clogged up, but I am happy that<br />
the Digital Migration process will resolve<br />
that challenge and as a country we shall be<br />
able to put more radio stations on air to give<br />
our citizen more choice and variety.<br />
Lack of professionalism at community<br />
radio stations. Problems and Solutions.<br />
Most of the problems are related to<br />
incompetence and other non-progressive<br />
stuff is happening mainly on black radio and<br />
that has to change, black listeners in this<br />
country deserve better. ICASA, MDDA,<br />
BCCSA, SAARF, NCRF and DOC should<br />
come to the party to educate and empower<br />
the organisations who have been awarded<br />
community broadcasting licences, we need<br />
more education and empowerment on<br />
needs of the sector. Exchange programs to<br />
other countries can also help.<br />
Current state of the radio "talent pool”<br />
particularly in Limpopo.<br />
Well, if the radio managers do not have the<br />
support from MDDA, DOC, ICASA, SAARF,<br />
NCRF and BCCSAwe are basically<br />
doomed, new talent will simply not survive.<br />
What is it about radio broadcasting<br />
that keeps you wanting to do it for a<br />
living?<br />
My passion for my audiences who need a<br />
different approach on how to consume<br />
information keeps me wanting more. I use<br />
humour to communicate and deal with<br />
serious issues in our communities. I believe<br />
that radio forms part of my purpose on<br />
earth. My business is entertainment; all I do<br />
is entertainment on all possible platforms -<br />
TV, Radio and stage.<br />
Radio NOW and THEN<br />
Wow, radio was great then, obviously<br />
because it didn't have much completion<br />
from new media like facebook, twitter,<br />
instagram, internet and other technologies<br />
distracting or taking away radio audiences.<br />
The relevance of radio in future<br />
Well, it is up to the practitioners themselves,<br />
I call upon all involved to commit to offer<br />
great radio for the sake of our listeners. Let<br />
www.megaartists.co.za FEB - MAR 2015<br />
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