Inspiration FM
Encyclopedia
Inspiration FM is a community radio
station in Northampton
, United Kingdom
.
Inspiration FM is a community led and managed radio service, providing access, information, entertainment and training. Inspiration FM encourages and promotes a voice for those who are under-represented or socially excluded to provide an outlet for creativity, shared vision and expression.
The station broadcasts to the whole of Northampton
from its studios in Northampton town centre, using a low powered transmitter located off-site.
station, that first started broadcasting in 1994 as a result of collaboration between young men and women of African Caribbean descent who shared a passion for music, dance and communication. The ‘Inspiration Family’ as they have become known, identified the needs of the diverse Northamptonshire
communities who were under-represented in media. Programmes on this community radio station are multicultural and tailored to reflect its mainly Punjabi, African and Irish listeners.
Working with organisations including local councils, the Council for Ethnic Minority Communities and the Black Policeman’s Association means that this project has moved beyond negative images and now creates positive role models for all young people. With over 60 volunteers and 8 committee members, weekends and evenings are spent working with others, especially young people, encouraging them to utilise their spare time in a positive constructive manner.
Inspiration FM's first legal broadcast was from 18 November to 15 December 1996 on a 28 day Restricted Service Licence
(RSL) and since then it has been on-air on a total of 15 RSLs. A show for the Greek community was added to the station's line up in 1997, the first and only show of its kind outside of London, and the station was included among the limited number of RSL stations who were allowed to broadcast during the Millennium
celebrations.
In 2000 Inspiration FM's Mark Dean was approached by BBC Radio Northampton
's Editor about presenting a programme to reach all sectors of the community and the show Inspirations was formed. With Marks strong links within the community the Inspirations Show has been going strong covering hard hitting local and international news, and guest stars like Beyonce.
The Somali community show began in 2003 and a Polish community show was included in 2007 to cater for the large influx of Poles to Northampton after Poland joined the EU in 2004.
In 2004 the organisation was awarded the Queen's golden jubilee award for voluntary service by groups in the community
.
On 24 July 2008 Inspiration FM was awarded a 5 year community radio licence by Ofcom
and has 24 months from this date to begin broadcasting, though this period may be extended depending on individual circumstances. Following this the station began 24/7 broadcasts when it was officially opened by Northampton Mayor Marianne Taylor on Saturday 24 July 2010
, Gospel
, Rap
, Funk
, Dance
, Old Skool
, Soul music
, Asian
, African, Greek, Polish, Eastern European and Irish Folk music, The famous "Film and Band review" on a Wednesday evening, and a regular Children's show on Saturday Mornings.
Programming is aimed at representing areas of the community that are currently under-represented by mainstream radio, this includes the polish community, Afro-Caribbean, Irish and Asian although many more are also represented including Children.
The policy of "Inspiration FM" Multi-Cultural in its Programming - for the people, by the people.
and one of Inspiration FM's founding members Mark Dean sits on the organising committee.
Inspiration FM produces the "Inspirations" Afro-Caribbean Show for BBC Radio Northampton
and one of Inspiration FM's founding members Mark Dean also presents Atlantic Soul and co-presents The Green Welly Show on the same station.
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Inspiration FM is a community led and managed radio service, providing access, information, entertainment and training. Inspiration FM encourages and promotes a voice for those who are under-represented or socially excluded to provide an outlet for creativity, shared vision and expression.
The station broadcasts to the whole of Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
from its studios in Northampton town centre, using a low powered transmitter located off-site.
History
The roots of Inspiration FM are as a pirate radioPirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station, that first started broadcasting in 1994 as a result of collaboration between young men and women of African Caribbean descent who shared a passion for music, dance and communication. The ‘Inspiration Family’ as they have become known, identified the needs of the diverse Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
communities who were under-represented in media. Programmes on this community radio station are multicultural and tailored to reflect its mainly Punjabi, African and Irish listeners.
Working with organisations including local councils, the Council for Ethnic Minority Communities and the Black Policeman’s Association means that this project has moved beyond negative images and now creates positive role models for all young people. With over 60 volunteers and 8 committee members, weekends and evenings are spent working with others, especially young people, encouraging them to utilise their spare time in a positive constructive manner.
Inspiration FM's first legal broadcast was from 18 November to 15 December 1996 on a 28 day Restricted Service Licence
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
(RSL) and since then it has been on-air on a total of 15 RSLs. A show for the Greek community was added to the station's line up in 1997, the first and only show of its kind outside of London, and the station was included among the limited number of RSL stations who were allowed to broadcast during the Millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
celebrations.
In 2000 Inspiration FM's Mark Dean was approached by BBC Radio Northampton
BBC Radio Northampton
BBC Radio Northampton is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Northamptonshire. It broadcasts from its studios in Broadcasting House, Northampton on 104.2 and 103.6 FM. The station also has two studios in Daventry and Corby...
's Editor about presenting a programme to reach all sectors of the community and the show Inspirations was formed. With Marks strong links within the community the Inspirations Show has been going strong covering hard hitting local and international news, and guest stars like Beyonce.
The Somali community show began in 2003 and a Polish community show was included in 2007 to cater for the large influx of Poles to Northampton after Poland joined the EU in 2004.
In 2004 the organisation was awarded the Queen's golden jubilee award for voluntary service by groups in the community
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, also known as the The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community is an annual award given to groups in the voluntary sector of the United Kingdom. Winning groups are announced in the London Gazette on 2 June each year, the...
.
On 24 July 2008 Inspiration FM was awarded a 5 year community radio licence by Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
and has 24 months from this date to begin broadcasting, though this period may be extended depending on individual circumstances. Following this the station began 24/7 broadcasts when it was officially opened by Northampton Mayor Marianne Taylor on Saturday 24 July 2010
Programmes
Broadcasts from Inspiration FM's studios in Sheep Street Northampton include popular genres like R&B, ReggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, Gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, Rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, Funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, Dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, Old Skool
Old school hip hop
Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music , and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended . Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group...
, Soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, Asian
Asian music
Asian music encompasses numerous different musical styles originating from a large number of Asian countries.Musical traditions in Asia* Music of Central Asia** Music of Afghanistan** Music of Kazakhstan** Music of Mongolia** Music of Uzbekistan...
, African, Greek, Polish, Eastern European and Irish Folk music, The famous "Film and Band review" on a Wednesday evening, and a regular Children's show on Saturday Mornings.
Programming is aimed at representing areas of the community that are currently under-represented by mainstream radio, this includes the polish community, Afro-Caribbean, Irish and Asian although many more are also represented including Children.
The policy of "Inspiration FM" Multi-Cultural in its Programming - for the people, by the people.
Activities
Inspiration FM is a major sponsor of the Northampton CarnivalNorthampton Carnival
The Northampton Carnival has had strong traditions in the town from the 1960s through the Midsummer Meadow times in the 1980s, to its short break in the late 1990s until its revival in 2005....
and one of Inspiration FM's founding members Mark Dean sits on the organising committee.
Inspiration FM produces the "Inspirations" Afro-Caribbean Show for BBC Radio Northampton
BBC Radio Northampton
BBC Radio Northampton is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Northamptonshire. It broadcasts from its studios in Broadcasting House, Northampton on 104.2 and 103.6 FM. The station also has two studios in Daventry and Corby...
and one of Inspiration FM's founding members Mark Dean also presents Atlantic Soul and co-presents The Green Welly Show on the same station.
Community radio in the UK
- Community radio in the United KingdomCommunity radio in the United KingdomIn the United Kingdom, Community Radio refers to a system of licensing small, micro-local, non-profit radio stations, which started in 2002. In its early days, the pilot scheme was known as Access Radio.-History:...
- List of UK Community radio stations