STORY:
Youth Millennium Party Broadcast Worldwide

British radio station targets teens worldwide with a Internet concert

Teens around the world can tune in to the sounds of Britain via the Internet this New Years Eve. YouthFM is the being called the world’s first 24-hour radio station and Internet site run by young people for young people. Now you don’t have to live in Britain to hear the station or be a part of its New Year’s Celebration.

According to London’s newspaper "The Guardian" millions of teens will travel to Greenwich for the actual broadcast inside the dome. This is Britain’s main celebration of the millennium and they want the world to take part in the party, so it’s being broadcast around he world via the Internet.

A special agreement has been made between YouthFM, Milestone Pictures and BBC World Service. A special license was issued and the broadcast will go directly into Edinburgh, Belfast, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Leeds. The presentation will be broadcast over the Internet live.

YouthFM went on the air in July of last year after being launched by Youth Clubs UK. The department of education sponsored the first pilot station in Ilfracombe and found there was a real lack of youth oriented material around the world. According to Jeremy Dry, YouthFM project manager, the New Year’s Eve party at the dome will hopefully increase popularity of British bands.

Dry says there will be no commercial breaks but there will be opportunities for sponsorship. The radio station is aimed at 14-25 year olds, with teenagers making up the core market. The teens don’t just listen to the music; they work at the station also. YouthFM gives young people a chance to work alongside broadcast professionals and learn the business of broadcasting.

YouthFM isn’t just about music either. The station covers arts, entertainment and runs debates on topical youth issues. The station is already seeing it’s popularity increase.

The Guardian reports the station’s sound archive is building up and productions have been rebroadcast on American and Australian radio stations.

"Young people are very creative. There are lots of problems in the world but the spirit of the young is strong and gives me great hope for the future, " Dry is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

The New Millennium Experience Company that owns the dome supports YouthFM. The station has also received grants from the National Lotteries Charities Board. Part of that grant money will be used to buy the Greenwich license for the New Year’s Eve party.

Programming ideas for YouthFM are welcome and can be sent via e-mail to:[email protected].

DATE: 10/13/99

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