What else is killing the Radio Star?

Let's get off the news for a bit shall we? I'm in the midst of a personal crisis, there's a thin person being held hostage inside the "big" me who is causing something of a war. The news is just too depressing today (imagine if journalists said that?) so I thought we'd dissect something tastier than worn out politics and sad gal angst.

I'm a big fan of radio, or at least, I used to be. So, let me cut to the chase, commercial radio is the death of rock and roll. Remember when radio stations used to play music from new or underground or local or new and local underground bands just trying to make it big and hear their hits on the radio. That was the vehicle to fame. The radio. These days its all become so sanitary. Its all clean cut and Pop Idols and what was once the holy grail has now become sleepy hollow.

Ah, for the times when we used to listen to the radio to stay in touch! Now, we have broadband so it seems we don't need bands anymore,you can just google the latest and greatest, check out some one's myspace or facebook accounts to see just what they've been up to musically.

So sad, makes me want to break out into that Punk Rock Girl song and pretend like love and music and social commentary are still alive and well. South African radio is in a bit of a political cul de sac though, there's no way out and in an effort to please all the people, all the time...the audience has gone from curious george's to lazy spongebob's just waiting for the next hit to be chewed up by the radio and spat out into our mouths. Mommy bird radio thinks she knows whats good for us baby birds. But I have to disagree with these feeding patterns? How will we ever learn to go out and fend for ourselves musically if we're so used to getting spoonbill fed?

South African music has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. I remember when Mango Groove was "a sensation" in musical terms, as was PJ Powers. These days, although we have some crazy talent, we also have some piggy backed, mass produced, Brit band wannabe lost souls just looking for a real outlet. An outlet like the radio. One that the marketing managers out there haven't already orchestrated.

Ah, I mourn the loss of the radio, I really do. First it was video that killed the radio star, now its social networking sites and the Internet. My heart is broken and the airwaves won't blow my worries about just who is left in the rage against the machine. Its easier to cooperate, just not as fun.

Long live the radio. Long live Tourism Radio! Tine in on your travels around South Africa and have a listen to some of the bands we're harbouring here. Are they the best of the best? Its for you to decide, but luckily, we're still the station that lets you decide if you digg.com it or not.

Tourism Radio votes 'YES' for Table Mountain

Earlier this month, Table Mountain officially became the South African nominee in the second phase of the New7Wonders of Nature Campaign. Tourism Radio has put their vote in for Table Mountain and lends their full support.

On the 31st of December 2008, Table Mountain (backed by the Table Mountain National Park), became the last South African nominee standing. Other SA nominations were unable to secure official support.

Chief Operations Officer and founder of Tourism Radio, Mark Allewell says:

“The Tourism Radio family could not be happier to have the chance to support Table Mountain and South Africa in the New7Wonders campaign. This is a wonderful opportunity for the world to see what our country has to offer and we can only hope that it will become one of the final seven to walk away with the title.”

Tourism Radio was founded at the foot of Cape Town’s Table Mountain in 2005 as the world’s first GPS-driven radio station. The station acts as an on-board guide for self-drive tourists. In 2006, after being featured in a new inventions program on the Discovery Channel, Tourism Radio was bought by an international venture capitalist. Since then, the company has expanded from South Africa to Namibia, Spain, New Zealand and the American state of Hawaii.

Back home in South Africa, Tourism Radio is expanding their service to Kwa-Zulu Natal, scheduled to launch in May this year. Visitors to KZN will then also have access to local music, fun and informative radio shows and area-specific information. Tourism Radio does not only tell listeners about the area that they’re driving through, it also draws their attention to points of interest or landmarks as the car approaches them, a specialised system known as “intellipoints.”

“This expansion is something we’re very excited about. It has always been one of our goals to have Tourism Radio in every part of South Africa and this expansion up to KZN is just the beginning. We’re sure that visitors to Kwa-Zulu Natal will find our product just as useful and entertaining as those in the Western Cape have. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be voting for a natural wonder to come out of the KZN province!” said Chief Operations Officer Mark Allewell.

For more information or to cast your vote, visit the New7Wonders Foundation site.