It truly is the end of an era.
Today, Global, the UK’s premier radio company revealed that as of this Monday 7th October, long-running black radio station Choice FM would cease to exist and would instead be relaunched as Capital XTRA, the first commercial urban dance music station to be broadcast nationally across the UK.
Ashley Tabor, founder and executive president at Global said: “The launch of Capital XTRA is a great moment for listeners, for commercial radio, for the DAB platform and for our team here at Global. People right across the UK will now get to enjoy a truly national station in Capital XTRA – the only commercial station to play urban dance music nationwide. We’re taking the best presenters and shows and building on that by adding even more new talent to the line up and we believe Capital XTRA has a very bright future.”
Despite the excitement among Global execs, the public’s reaction to the news was mixed at best, particularly among many of Choice FM’s loyal listeners, who criticised the move as part of a larger plan to water down ‘urban’ content and phase out black voices in radio. The decision seems even more controversial considering the recent departure of one of Choice’s most popular presenters, DJ 279, to make way for DJ Tim Westwood.
Choice FM originally started out as an independent company, first broadcasting from Trinity Gardens in Brixton back in March 1990, Britain’s first black radio station to cater predominantly to African and African Caribbean audiences. Capital XTRA launches at 6am this Monday 7th October, kicking off with Kojo and Jade in the morning.
