LWR RADIO – OUR STORY
LONDON WORLD RADIO is with you today having navigated a few decades whilst maintaining its status as the major music force. LWR of the music industry. A bold but substantiated statement. Here is how and even why.
LWR took to the airwaves as London Weekend Radio on 1 January 1983. The station was a then joint venture between two DJs, John Dawson (Keith Green) and Johnny Haywood both with previous experience of unlicensed radio broadcasting, commonly referred to as pirate radio. At that time, considered to be a scourge and smear on society and therefore receiving constant oppression from the authorities.
THE EARLY CHALLENGES
In early 1984 LWR were hit hard by a series of raids on their transmitter sites. Broadcasting from the tops of tower blocks meant that the authorities could turn up any time and take away the transmitter, no warrant necessary.
However, other stations were by now exploiting a loophole in the law which meant a transmitter on private premises could only be inspected prior to a court formally ordering its seizure.
The station decided that if it was going to survive it would have to join the other airwaves buccaneers, and on 10 March 1984 the station went 24 hours as LWR – London Wide Radio.
TRANSFORMATION & GROWTH
With the coming of the new Telecoms Act in 1984, which closed the loopholes under which pirates were more freely operating, LWR made the decision to close down on 14 July 1984 before the new Act came into force the following day.
When LWR returned in September 1984, it was with new backing from events and club promotions team Zak & Dee Productions, run by brothers Zak and Fuzzy Dee.
They invested and assumed control, making wholesale changes that saw the meteoric rise of the station in the ensuing years.
THE LEGENDARY TEAM
More street DJs were added as 1985 progressed, including future rap star Derek Boland, Joe Douglas, Daddy Ernie, Steve Edwards, Barry B, and many others who went on to shape the sound of UK radio, entertainment and music generally. All areas of the entertainment world has been and continues to have representation from LWR’s ideas and our personnel.
LWR also featured more female DJs than any of its competitors, helping redefine representation on UK airwaves.
MODERN ERA & DIGITAL TRANSITION
LWR returned to the airwaves in 2000 before transforming into an online digital station, lwrradio.com.
Today, LWR Radio offers 22 unique channels spanning genres from AfroBeats to Worship, continuing a legacy of innovation.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: lwrmedia1@gmail.com
Website: lwrradio.com
The full LWR story will be accessible online and in book form this year. Please register for your advance copy. Keep in touch with LWR for all station related updates.