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British Commercial Radio in the 1980s

British Commercial Radio in the 1980s. Responding to the AIDS crisis Emma Wray Centre for Broadcasting History Research 29 January, 2010. A “political football” (Stoller cited Street 2001) Heavily regulated Nature of regulation and “meaningful speech” (John Thompson, IBA, 1974)

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British Commercial Radio in the 1980s

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  1. British Commercial Radio in the 1980s Responding to the AIDS crisis Emma Wray Centre for Broadcasting History Research 29 January, 2010

  2. A “political football” (Stoller cited Street 2001) Heavily regulated Nature of regulation and “meaningful speech” (John Thompson, IBA, 1974) “All things to all listeners” (Carter 2003) Programme content – a social commentary The ILR sound in the 1980s

  3. Changing Times

  4. New approach to attitudes • Individual vs. society The new Thatcherite project was highly individualistic: it argued that public interest could only be secured by maximising the capacity of individuals to choose; and that government should seek to abandon controls, not exercise them. (Curran and Seaton, 2003: 207) • Emergence of AIDS created “A new frankness” (Marr 2007: 409)

  5. Government-led - £23M Multimedia campaign Leaflet drop to every household in UK Supported by commercial radio http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/1979to2006/filmpage_aids.htm Don’t Die of Ignorance

  6. Shift in the public sphere • Government’s intention: to promote not dissuade • Changing perceptions key part of campaign • Dispelling myths, taboos and changing attitudes • Evidenced in Phone-ins / advice programmes • LBC’s Nightline • Capital Radio’s Open Line

  7. Archives and social commentary • British Universities Film & Video Council • Social commentary (Falklands, Miners Strike, Poll Tax etc.) • An alternative view - non-BBC radio • Relationship between regulation and content • (Wray, forthcoming 2010)

  8. The road to deregulation • Broadcasting Act 1990: end of an era • “Open market regulation” (Hendy 2000) • Collapse of speech content on commercial radio • ILR’s legacy: • Social document • Programme-making skills akin to BBC Radio • Contrasting approach to today’s model

  9. References • Curran, J. and Seaton J., 1981. Power Without Responsibility. 6th Edition. London: Routledge. • Hendy, D., 2000. Radio in the Global Age. Cambridge: Polity Press. • Marr, A., 2007. A History of Modern Britain. Basingstoke: Macmillan. • Radio Authority., 2003. Independent Radio: The First 30 Years. London: Radio Authority. • Stoller, T., 2010 (forthcoming). Sounds of your Life: The history of Independent Radio. Eastleigh: John Libbey Publishing. • Street, S., 2001. The Hidden History of British Commercial Radio. IN: Aural History, Essays on Recorded Sound. London: The British Library, 100-110. • Wray, E., 2010 (forthcoming). British Commercial Radio in the 1980s: an investigation into the evolution and impact of programme regulation and catalysts for change. Unpublished PhD. • British Universities Film and Video Council, 2009. Commercial radio sound Archive. Available from: http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/

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