DSU’s resident student radio station will be featured on BBC Radio 1 this summer.
De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU)’s resident student radio station will be featured on BBC Radio 1 this summer.
DemonFM is one of just 12 student radio stations from across the UK to have won the chance to have an hour-long themed playlist of their choice featured on the BBC’s flagship station for new music through their membership of the UK Student Radio Association (SRA).
The playlist, titled ‘This One Time On My Gap Yah’, is based around travel and features a diverse mix of music reflective of DemonFM’s huge membership of both De Montfort University (DMU) students and community members.
Ollie McGrath, Demon Media Representative, coordinated the playlist picking procedure and said: “When we heard there was an opportunity to potentially have a show on Radio 1 we knew we had to take the opportunity!
“We were asked to make playlists which would be relevant for students’ lives and we all know someone who doesn't stop talking about their gap year so we decided to follow a tongue-in-cheek theme and called it ‘This One Time On My Gap Yah’.
“We spoke to everyone at the station and got them to suggest songs based on each playlist we submitted so it was a real team effort across the station. Three producers and I [Maddie Stanier, Ryan Cooper and Rhiann Tintor] then curated the playlist going through the songs suggested and bringing the whole project together.
“This is such a massive opportunity for the whole of DemonFM as we are actually going to be broadcasting on Radio 1! It still hasn't sunk in yet but this means so much for us. It will give us the chance we deserve to showcase what DemonFM is to the whole country! I have to particularly thank Rhiann, Ryan and Maddie for helping bring the project together.”
The winning playlists were selected by BBC Radio 1’s Head of Programmes, Rhys Hughes, and a team of Radio 1 Editors.
Luke Smith, Head of Programming at DemonFM, said: “I am still buzzing from this news! To have been picked as one of the twelve student radio stations receiving a show on Radio 1 is an enormous thrill.
“Just a few weeks ago, the thought of DemonFM being in charge of the playlist for a Radio 1 show would have been utterly bonkers – and yet now it’s actually happening! I couldn’t be more proud of the station right now or more thankful to all of those who contributed to getting our playlists together.”
An ecstatic Adam Redfern, VP Media and Communications at DSU, said: “I was so excited by this opportunity when I heard about it at the SRA Conference in Cardiff last month.
“In true Demon FM style we threw everything at it. I am incredibly proud of everyone involved in this huge opportunity which is a chance to showcase how good our members are at what we do.
“I hope this will provide a springboard on to even bigger and better things for DemonFM in both the near and distant future.”
The playlist is expected to be played on Radio 1 over the summer – stay tuned to the DSU website for more details!
(L-R) Demon Media Representative Ollie McGrath, DemonFM Head of News Hannah Rowe and DemonFM Head of Programming Luke Smith.