Giant leap for Durban radio

THE PRESS releases are ready to be written. But before I do, I may as well write it straight into the press, here. Backstage pass, as it were.

I’m really pleased to let you know that Durban Youth Radio is about to take its next leap.

But first, here’s the

Wikipedia entry about DYR:

“The station was founded in 1995 at the University of Natal, later transferring to a non-profit form of ownership in 2000. The station was forced to close in 2010 due to financial problems. After a period off-air, DYR resumed broadcasting in 2012 at new premises.”

And that’s it.

In a Radio-watch blog dated August 2012, then station manager, Sithembiso Sibisi said the station had been a launching pad for the illustrious careers of many radio stars, most of whom still thrive on the airwaves today.

The article then went on to say: “In its heyday the station was renowned for playing cutting edge music alongside sports and social commentary.”

In the past five years, Durban Youth Radio has had many different identities, but it has always been a more localised, ear-to-the-ground voice of the 031.

Back in May 2016, after a brief stint off air, I guess both for me and DYR, the station was relaunched with upgraded playlists – sticking to the cutting edge sound as before, with a heavy dose of music made here in our city and a rather eclectic library of “choons” gathered by the DJS.

I started on the breakfast show back then and have been getting up at 4.30am every weekday morning since.

Along with our traffic reporter and former radio colleague and technical whizz, Cameron Claassens, community radio specialist Tebogo Mashego, a whole host of young up-and-coming but fresh-behindthe-mic talent and a board of directors – some of whom have a long history with the station and who have given us the freedom to shape the

“new” station – we have managed to take the station to new heights.

People everywhere talk about us. In reality we’re a heady mix of progressive and amateur, and it turns out Durban quite likes that.

We’re music heavy, but we actually mean very music heavy, and our young team of DJS and journalists are basically learning on the job.

And everybody is a volunteer. All of us.

It can be quite challenging. Everybody has to pay their own way to get to and from the station. Nobody gets paid. We do it because we love it. We genuinely love radio. Already, many stars of our team have been poached by neighbouring stations and we are very pleased about that. We’re glad to see them grow, it’s what we are here to do.

We train. We teach. We show them radio as it should be and let them find their way after that.

We are growing so fast that we have outgrown our premises at the BAT Centre.

But we love the BAT Centre, down by the water’s-edge in the harbour. It’s gritty, it’s an integral part of the

CBD’S history. More artists, performers, creators and talent have been through the halls of the BAT Centre than you could possibly imagine. It’s still an integral hub for creativity in the city.

But, with the ever-growing audience of our little station, now called DYR105.1FM, and the popularity of our progressive stance catching on like wildfire, it’s time for us to move to shiny new premises.

So here in this little column on the side I can proudly announce that after many, many months of hard work, DYR will be heading over to Florida Road.

The district, too, is undergoing radical economic transformation. It’s getting a new coat and a sexy pair of heels. In a few months you’ll find it hard to resist the new tenants or the vibe in Florida Road.

The stylish urban makeover is being done by none other than Urban Lime, the company who played a huge part in regenerating and curating the Cape Town CBD and who have now set their sights on Durban. We’re in good hands.

And from the end of November, DYR will be broadcasting from new, custombuilt, glass-fronted, sexy studios in the heart of the district.

Phase two of the move, early next year, is to fix the signal issues that we have in the 35km broadcast radius.

I’m excited at the prospects for our city. We’re getting battered from every side with bad news about our country right now, but if you look around you, you’ll see progress being made every day. Let’s choose instead to unite and play our own part in continuing to make our city, our home, a kiff place to be.

PS: I’m on tomorrow morning at 6am, like always. Tune in. It’s like putting a shell to your ear. You can hear Durban.