An exciting and dynamic radio project, which will provide a voice for the Island’s youth, is heading to the Isle of Wight in 2020.
DJ and radio presenter Ian ‘Knocka’ Dore is being his ‘Youth Radio Rocks’ project to the Island having run it successfully for the past 3 years in Bath.
A brand new studio will throw open its doors for local broadcasters and podcasters to use
Ian Dore is well remembered for his shows on Isle of Wight Radio and Power FM before moving to Eastbourne and then finally to Bath as the newly headhunted breakfast show Presenter at Bath FM. Many will also remember his club nights such as Dynamite and Casualty, as well as being a regular at Woody’s, Temptation and Bestival.
He explains:
“Through personal circumstance, I am back on the Island where I started my radio career. With that I have bought with me this fantastic Youth entity which has benefitted so many. In the three years running in Bath, the station notched up numerous awards and has had over 3,000 individuals on air. This is radio how it should be. We don’t have adverts, and we don’t do news. We focus on creating rich, stimulating, engaging shows and ensure that participants from all backgrounds and abilities, get their audio heard as quickly as possible.”
Georgie Luton, a former presenter with the station, said:
“I trained and was on air with Youth Radio Rocks from the beginning. As well as learning essential skills, I had an enormous amount of fun and made a lot of new friends. The time investment paid off and I now have my own slot on a Radio Station in Bristol and the BBC.”
Ian continues:
“I’ve been very fortunate over the years to work with and learn from a myriad of experienced, gifted people at varying levels of radio, broadcast and media. Also in my early days of radio, I had a good mentor. That is the back bone to Youth Radio Rocks. Offering support, pushing positivity, open-mindedness and a‘can do’ attitude.
“Often in life all you need is a bit of guidance to get where you want to go and many youngsters just need a bit of cajoling in the right direction. My role is to find the spark and ignite the talent within. Radio or DJing may not actually be your thing but I guarantee you, an increase in confidence and transferable skills for whatever you choose in life.”
“Over the last ten months we have been testing the systems in a brand new studio in Ryde and from early next year, Islanders are in the chair behind the mic. That’s not to say that some haven’t already had a little go, they have and you can read and hear of their experiences on the website now. The setup is a tad different from Bath though as the Island has a slightly different set of requirements. However, I’m a massive fan of the F word and it features a lot. FUN. If you can’t have fun with what you’re doing, do something else.”
The station is funded not by advertising or sponsorship but from personal investment and revenue bought in by some of the experiences they have to offer. These you will see on the website and every single penny goes towards the sustainability of the project. A number of Islanders have already booked and taken part in these.
For the immediate future, Youth Radio Rocks is letting people know what is coming via their website and social networks and if you want to get involved, tick the like box, tick the follow or get in contact with a view to becoming part of the radio revolution in 2020.
Ian signs off:
“Some say that Youth have nothing to offer. That is a blinkered and ignorant view and I can assure you it’s 100% wrong. In my experience they have everything to offer and this is the project that proves it. Open your ears and let the goodness rush in.”
Well done knocka!