Kooba Radio
Encyclopedia
Kooba Radio is an independent, non-profit, Internet-based radio station focused on alternative rock
, playing unsigned bands and artists with independent record labels. Kooba is PRS (Performing Right Society
) registered and plays to a listenership in over 20 countries.
Created 21 December 2002, Kooba Radio began its life in South East London
, where it is still principally based. Starting initially with founders Jon Chappell (Jonny Yeah), Alex Malloy (The Boy Malloy) and She Who Must Not Be Named, the main ethos behind the station was "if you've signed, you've sold out" with a strong impetus towards the promotion of promising bands hitherto ignored by major record labels. This slogan was abandoned when it became apparent that small labels and bands releasing their music on their own labels were struggling just as much against the rising tide of clones from the music industry and today Kooba focuses on bringing attention to unsigned bands and bands on small labels.
The flagship show of the station is the Jonny and Alex Show, originally featuring the principal founders (Jon and Alex) with the added participation of both occasional and regular guests appearing on a random basis. The content of the show, which often takes on the feel of the zoo format features occasional comedy sketches, irreverent chat, interviews and guest performances from musicians.
One of the many local scenes from South East London which Kooba helped promote was the Basement Rock
movement.
The station started out with a once a week show which streamed on-demand over the Internet using SHOUTcast
via a link on the website. It has since greatly expanded its listening audience following the advent of the popular podcast
broadcast platform, going on to be noted in Time Out London's Podcast of the Week in 2006.
The style of music played on the shows is varied and includes alt rock, electro, post rock, punk, post punk, classic rock, metal, folk, pronk, hip hop, rock and roll, comedy, blues, experimental and a myriad of other styles.
, which describes Christathon as An annual gathering in the city of London, where participants dress like Jesus and go on a pub crawl via various religiously named bars and pubs. Nominally to raise money for charity, but in reality, to offend as many cranks as possible.... Although the charitable aspect of the event seems to have taken root in later years with official backing from UK charity Christian Aid
.
Christathon went viral in 2011 leading to media attention from timeout and AllInLondon.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, playing unsigned bands and artists with independent record labels. Kooba is PRS (Performing Right Society
Performing Right Society
PRS for Music is a UK copyright collection society undertaking collective rights management for musical works. PRS for Music was formed in 1997 as the MCPS-PRS Alliance, bringing together two collection societies: the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society and Performing Right Society...
) registered and plays to a listenership in over 20 countries.
Created 21 December 2002, Kooba Radio began its life in South East London
South East (London sub region)
The South East is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. The sub region was established in 2008. The south east has a population of 1,300,000 and is the location of 500,000 jobs...
, where it is still principally based. Starting initially with founders Jon Chappell (Jonny Yeah), Alex Malloy (The Boy Malloy) and She Who Must Not Be Named, the main ethos behind the station was "if you've signed, you've sold out" with a strong impetus towards the promotion of promising bands hitherto ignored by major record labels. This slogan was abandoned when it became apparent that small labels and bands releasing their music on their own labels were struggling just as much against the rising tide of clones from the music industry and today Kooba focuses on bringing attention to unsigned bands and bands on small labels.
The flagship show of the station is the Jonny and Alex Show, originally featuring the principal founders (Jon and Alex) with the added participation of both occasional and regular guests appearing on a random basis. The content of the show, which often takes on the feel of the zoo format features occasional comedy sketches, irreverent chat, interviews and guest performances from musicians.
One of the many local scenes from South East London which Kooba helped promote was the Basement Rock
Basement Rock
Basement or Basement Rock music was a sub-genre coined in 2006 in an article by music magazine TGR. This was first in relation to the existence of underground record label Criminal Records but more for the independent bands they represent. The roots of the sub-genre are noted to be as far back as...
movement.
The station started out with a once a week show which streamed on-demand over the Internet using SHOUTcast
SHOUTcast
SHOUTcast is cross-platform proprietary software for streaming media over the Internet. The software, developed by Nullsoft , allows digital audio content, primarily in MP3 or HE-AAC format, to be broadcast to and from media player software, enabling the creation of Internet radio "stations"...
via a link on the website. It has since greatly expanded its listening audience following the advent of the popular podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
broadcast platform, going on to be noted in Time Out London's Podcast of the Week in 2006.
The style of music played on the shows is varied and includes alt rock, electro, post rock, punk, post punk, classic rock, metal, folk, pronk, hip hop, rock and roll, comedy, blues, experimental and a myriad of other styles.
Christathon
By far Kooba's most successful creation is Christathon – Kooba Radio’s annual crucifiction themed pub crawl. The term gained enough notoriety to appear in the urban dictionaryUrban Dictionary
Urban Dictionary is a Web-based dictionary of slang words and phrases, which contained over 6 million definitions . Submissions are regulated by volunteer editors and rated by site visitors...
, which describes Christathon as An annual gathering in the city of London, where participants dress like Jesus and go on a pub crawl via various religiously named bars and pubs. Nominally to raise money for charity, but in reality, to offend as many cranks as possible.... Although the charitable aspect of the event seems to have taken root in later years with official backing from UK charity Christian Aid
Christian Aid
Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia...
.
Christathon went viral in 2011 leading to media attention from timeout and AllInLondon.