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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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