2015: Everyone locked in to radio
From Beats 1 to pirate stations, radio was fresh and exciting this year
Just up the Kingsland Road, NTS continued to hold down its rep as the capital's most diverse independent station. You'll hear the weirdest 'n wildest outsider music blending into sessions from Laurent Garnier, Andrew Weatherall and Busy P, all broadcast from a tiny studio unit in Dalston. NTS does a great job of letting local DJs do their thing – shows hosted by Throwing Shade, DEBONAIR and Endgame are all essential – and its DIY ethos and honest commitment to quality music no doubt has the aforementioned big names queuing up to play (Seth Troxler and Justice also graced the platters this year). It celebrates five years in 2016, so now is definitely the time to get acquainted if you haven't already.
If all this talk of London feels a bit insular, have no fear: NTS recently started broadcasting from its Manchester studio, inviting the city's finest including Acre, Madam X and Ruf Dug. Then check out Leeds and you'll find KMAH, which has been broadcasting since March and hosted Bill Brewster, Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, Futureboogie, Mr Beatnick and a back-to-back from Jane Fitz and Brawther which is a firm Mixmag HQ's office stereo favourite. We should also mention 10Twenty radio out of Bristol, giving airtime to local crews like Sprung, ChopShop and Super Kitchen.
Pirate-gone-legit Rinse strode into its 21st year of operation and remains the goal for all aspiring underground DJs. Given its history and the lineage of selectors who have graced it, a slot on Rinse is something of an honour and its chosen DJs lived up to expectation: Mumdance turned out some of his wildest mixes, Hodge caned it and the Hyperdub show continued to be a lightning rod for the most forward-thinking dance music going. The pirates who aren't quite legit also played a key role, as this excellent article by Paul Gibbins points out, with Deja Vu, Mode and Flex providing space for budding MCs to flex and spit.
As you can see (and hear), 2015 in radio felt vital, energised and, as one of the most famous FM idents says, "essential".
Seb Wheeler is Mixmag's Digital Editor, follow him on Twitter here
