2015: Everyone locked in to radio

Radio's like vinyl: both never quite went away and they've enjoyed a healthy resurgence in 2015.

Biggest of the radio-related headlines this year was Zane Lowe's move from Radio 1 to Beats 1, the main station on Apple Music. He became one of its leading presenters in the summer and was joined by Hot 97's Ebro Darden and ex-Rinse FM voice Julie Adenuga. The launch of Beats 1 was a muscular move from Apple, keen to offer a diverse range of content on its new streaming service (which also includes our very own profile page). But business aside, it signifies that there's definitely an appetite for radio from listeners and brands alike.

You'll find guest shows hosted by everyone from Dr Dre to Stormzy on Beats 1 and there's now an ever-growing wealth of talent to be heard on Spotify. Not be outdone, it launched its In Residence series in the autumn, offering up specially curated playlists and chat from Mike Skinner, Jungle and Big Narstie, among others. We've also got a show, so stream Mixmag's In Residence while you read the rest of this now.

Apple and Spotify are doing admirable work to get quality music to a mainstream audience (Zane Lowe was recently bigging up South London MC Elf Kid and Mike Skinner's been recommending the likes of Bicep and Section Boyz, for instance) but arguably the most interesting developments have come from the underground. Well, where else?

Londoners will have had their ear to the city's newest station, Radar, which celebrated its first birthday this year. It's currently incubating a wealth of niche dance music talent, from on-point DJs like Beneath, Riz La Teef, Jetsss, Brand New Wayo, Amy Becker and BBC AZN Network to MCs such as Novelist, Jammz, Big Zuu and AJ Tracey. The station hasn't slacked on guest spots, either, with Uniiqu3, RP Boo and Kablam all passing through in '15. See the Radar birthday party in full effect on Just Jam and keep an eye on the burgeoning station next year.

Continued...