Radio Moments - Clips

Some say it was a PR stunt. Others say it was Tony doing what Tony does - after all, he's at the stage in his career when he can afford to say he just won't work for you if he doesn't like the music. Or maybe it was a bit of both.

Cliff was not a key artist for the AM Classic Gold Network. Programme management had decreed, possibly wisely, in 2004 that although much Motown and Beatles and the like had stood the test of time, dear Cliff had not. Tony appeared to disagree. He played Cliff anyway and ripped up the offending directive on-air. The Nation sided, as it does, with the underdog and their dear Cliff rather than with 'management'. So did our MPs.

It all ended happily ever after; and likely proved inspiration to almost the exact same stunt a few years later when Absolute launched its 60s offshoot.

In the '80s, the regulator, the IBA was being pressured into growing the commercial radio network at a time when making a success of stations as stand-alones was proving tough. As a consequence, it cobbled Derby onto the Nottingham licence and Shropshire onto the Wolverhampton licence; although separate programming was to be provided for the new adjuncts. Beacon accordingly expanded in July 1987 to neighbouring Shropshire and Kenny G beamed out from its new mast on the Wrekin. The other Beacon continued to serve 'The West Midlands', seeking to push into BRMB's territory as much as it dare. Enjoy here some Shropshire test transmission promos.

The rulers of our land did not rush into letting us hear what they were up to. Reith, when DG of the BBC in the twenties, thought it might be a good idea for listeners to hear their elected members speak. It was so logical that it was unthinkable.

Thirty years later, when they opened the new Commons Chamber, they wired up microphones, just in case. MPs accordingly rushed into things. Well, they certainly rushed into making reports, and launched very serious inquiries. Then they voted against it. Eventually, in February 1975, they said yes. Well, they said yes to an experiment. On radio only. A toe truly dipped in water. Shallow water. Little did they realise that radio is actually the most exposing medium of all.

The first tentative steps were taken on 9th June, 1975. This broadcast experiment was deemed a success, despite normal folk being variously surprised or annoyed at the din heard. After the usual flood of reports, MPs agreed to the arrangements being sustained. They thought that broadcasting had increased public interest in Parliament. Just maybe no-one could quite believe what they were hearing. On 3rd April 1978, the permanent broadcasting of the Commons began. The opening feature saw the Secretary of State for Wales answering questions about the Welsh language. Hear, hear.

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 30th May 2014, without the sensible interviews and discussion.

This audio is now also heard at the end of the excellent weekly @radiotoday podcast http://audioboo.fm/channel/radiotoday

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 23rd May 2014, without the sensible interviews and discussion.

This audio is now also heard at the end of the excellent weekly @radiotoday podcast http://audioboo.fm/channel/radiotoday

Laser 558 was one of the last influential mass-market pirate stations to serve the UK. Its influence quickly helped to move a still traditional UK commercial sector towards a back-to-back music policy: "never more than a minute away from music. Until Laser, extended segues on UK radio were rare, as were female voices on slick music radio: Jessie Brandon on Laser became one of Laser's best known voices. Charlie Wolf's anarchic style was also another key influence.

The American-supported station launched in May 1984 from a ship called the MV Communicator, anchored in international waters in the North Sea. European laws, which had become more extensive by the eighties, sought to prevent the servicing of the ship. After its experience with Caroline and RNI, the British government was better equipped to monitor the Communicator's activities. The station closed on November 6th 1985.

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 16th May 2014, without the sensible interviews and discussion.

For a long-running soap opera to boast the same actor for over sixty years is a real accomplishment. When the Archers pilot episode was aired on the Home Service in 1950, 'Peggy Perkins' appeared, played by June Spencer. She was paid £12 for her work in the first five episodes. Over the decades the character became Peggy Archer and then Peggy Woolley. June popped out the series, returning as another character, before reverting to dear Peggy in 1971.

The way Linda portrayed her 'husband' Jack's Alzheimer's disease in the series was widely praised. The affliction was close to home: Linda's real partner fell victim to it ten years prior; and the actor who played her husband's part, Arnold Peters died with Alzheimer's in 2010.

June had worked on such programmes as Dick Barton and Children's Hour before she made her Archers debut. She received an OBE in 1991, and a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2014 BBC Audio Drama Awards.

Each week, the fine Radio Academy podcast features interviews and content from the world of radio at http://www.radioacademy.org/podcasts/.

The Academy podcast concludes with a slice of audio memories from the radio week in history, as they invite me to assemble a weekly compendium of my daily #radiomoments tweets @davidlloydradio, with audio and narrative.

Here's just that #radiomoments weekly review on its own, for the week ending 9th May 2014, without the sensible interviews and discussion.

May 2014 - and Heart was coming as it expanded once more - to 9.2m listeners in all. Here, hear the day before on three of the services.