Ilanit Chernick
METRO FM listeners breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after the station was granted permission to play 50% local music and 50% international music on Sundays.
This came after listeners complained that Sunday shows, which play mostly soul and R&B music, had lost their essence and were diluted by the new 90% local music quotas as there was not enough interesting local content to fill the slots.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, who had insisted that the broadcaster’s commercial stations Metro FM and 5FM would not be exempt from the new policy requirements, said yesterday the decision was made because Metro FM “knows and understands its audience better than us”.
“The principle has not changed. During the week 90% of local music will still be played, but we will be evaluating how this is working over a period of time.”
Kganyago explained that some radio shows might play around with the principle, depending on certain listenership and what they wanted.
“We’re looking to ensure that an overall amount of music played on the stations falls under the 90/10 principle, but some shows have different audiences so they will work around it.”
Earlier this month, SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng announced that at least 90% of music played on SABC’s 18 radio stations would be local, with 10% being from international artists.
On Twitter,
many said they had decided to go back and listen to Metro FM on a Sunday after moving away from it following the initial change in music policy.
“Yipee!” exclaimed @thatlady_cthaar, adding: “So now Metro FM will play 50% of local music & 50% of international music. This 90% of local music was starting to bore me.”
Listener @MsCougar21 tweeted: “Hearing Freddie Jackson’s All I’ll Ever Ask on Metro FM. I. Am. So. Emotional! Hello international R&B!”
@mis_cAro joked that the decision was prompted because “MetroFM Sunday ratings probably went down”.