Why is Reggae ignored?

lezn · 06-27-2019, 06:17 AM

Why is Reggae ignored by most Radio stations? Here in England it is rarely heard. Maybe the odd one considered a novelty or Bob Marley or UB40 but not much else gets played mainstream.

**Exo** · 06-27-2019, 09:51 AM

Because radio stations suck unless they're free-form. Reggae is huge in the UK, especially dub artists. Find yourself a nice free-form station to listen to even if it's streaming only.

OccultHawk · 06-27-2019, 09:53 AM

I ain’t ignored it.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 06-27-2019, 06:01 PM

Reggae is very popular in the West Midlands

no you're not going to hear it on Radio 1 but there is plenty of pirate radio around.

Lisnaholic · 07-03-2019, 07:20 AM

^ Blimey, is Radio 1 still around ? I remember the day it came into existence - guarranteed an audience because all the DJs came from pirate radio stations, which had recently been declared illegal. The pirate stations were very popular, with non-stop pop music, a faint air of rebellion and the romance of coming from ships moored in the North Sea. By comparison, Radio 1 was a bland corporate enterprise stomping on radio freedom, a move that generated this protest song, played for a month or two on the pirate stations, but never on Radio 1 afaik:-

The song exhorted people to "fight for the pirate stations", but I didn't make it to the barricades myself, being 12 years old at the time. In any event, there was no effective protest and all the DJs changed sides overnight.

Plankton · 07-03-2019, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ Blimey, is Radio 1 still around ? I remember the day it came into existence - guarranteed an audience because all the DJs came from pirate radio stations, which had recently been declared illegal. The pirate stations were very popular, with non-stop pop music, a faint air of rebellion and the romance of coming from ships moored in the North Sea. By comparison, Radio 1 was a bland corporate enterprise stomping on radio freedom, a move that generated this protest song, played for a month or two on the pirate stations, but never on Radio 1 afaik:-

The song exhorted people to "fight for the pirate stations", but I didn't make it to the barricades myself, being 12 years old at the time. In any event, there was no effective protest and all the DJs changed sides overnight.

Have you ever watched Pirate Radio?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX1SSiFWF-s

Lisnaholic · 07-03-2019, 05:00 PM

^ No, never heard of that movie, so I'll be looking for it soon. Thanks. It looks like some good nostalgic fun, and even has (at 1:48 minutes) the actress from British sitcom, The IT Crowd:-

Paolo · 08-19-2019, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lezn

Why is Reggae ignored by most Radio stations? Here in England it is rarely heard. Maybe the odd one considered a novelty or Bob Marley or UB40 but not much else gets played mainstream.

Question of where do you look, mainstream there is definitely less.

DJ Sepia · 09-01-2020, 01:14 AM

I'll be devil's advocate here, and suggest that the establishment doesn't like hearing unfiltered black expression on the airwaves... Some of the most powerful reggae has deep cultural value as an expression of suffering, history and empowerment. This challenges the dominant cultural narrative in many Western countries.

ando here · 09-06-2020, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ Sepia

I'll be devil's advocate here, and suggest that the establishment doesn't like hearing unfiltered black expression on the airwaves... Some of the most powerful reggae has deep cultural value as an expression of suffering, history and empowerment. This challenges the dominant cultural narrative in many Western countries.

That sounds about right. But hasn't it always been the case? Reggae listeners have never been part of the mainstream.

06-27-2019, 06:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
lezn Groupie Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 30	Why is Reggae ignored? Why is Reggae ignored by most Radio stations? Here in England it is rarely heard. Maybe the odd one considered a novelty or Bob Marley or UB40 but not much else gets played mainstream.

06-27-2019, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	Because radio stations suck unless they're free-form. Reggae is huge in the UK, especially dub artists. Find yourself a nice free-form station to listen to even if it's streaming only. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

06-27-2019, 09:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	I ain’t ignored it. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

07-03-2019, 07:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ Blimey, is Radio 1 still around ? I remember the day it came into existence - guarranteed an audience because all the DJs came from pirate radio stations, which had recently been declared illegal. The pirate stations were very popular, with non-stop pop music, a faint air of rebellion and the romance of coming from ships moored in the North Sea. By comparison, Radio 1 was a bland corporate enterprise stomping on radio freedom, a move that generated this protest song, played for a month or two on the pirate stations, but never on Radio 1 afaik:- The song exhorted people to "fight for the pirate stations", but I didn't make it to the barricades myself, being 12 years old at the time. In any event, there was no effective protest and all the DJs changed sides overnight. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

07-03-2019, 05:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ No, never heard of that movie, so I'll be looking for it soon. Thanks. It looks like some good nostalgic fun, and even has (at 1:48 minutes) the actress from British sitcom, The IT Crowd:- __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

06-27-2019, 06:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Reggae is very popular in the West Midlands no you're not going to hear it on Radio 1 but there is plenty of pirate radio around.

09-01-2020, 01:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
DJ Sepia Groupie Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 4	I'll be devil's advocate here, and suggest that the establishment doesn't like hearing unfiltered black expression on the airwaves... Some of the most powerful reggae has deep cultural value as an expression of suffering, history and empowerment. This challenges the dominant cultural narrative in many Western countries. Last edited by DJ Sepia; 09-01-2020 at 01:14 AM. Reason: Clarification