Massive gig to 'keep the lights on' at celebrated student radio station

Big names are coming together next week in the name of keeping the lights on at 95bFM.

The student radio station has championed some of Aotearoa’s most creative artists and broadcasters – long before they ever hit the limelight.

But with a slow move to digital over the last two decades, independent broadcasters like bFM have struggled to stay afloat.

Which is why the fundraising event aims to bring a line-up of stellar Kiwi acts which the station has supported since the beginning.

Acts like Concord Dawn will be holding their final ever performance, Rock And Roll Machine will be hitting the stage for the first time in 10 years, and Shihad will be playing their debut album in full.

Plus, there will be plenty of other acts to get amongst throughout the night.

The station’s general manager Tom Tremewan told Breakfast operating costs have gone up, and with Covid-19 and natural disasters hitting the region, they are asking their audience for long term support.

“The importance of student media and student radio in particular will always be vital for music ecology in Aotearoa to champion and uplift new alternative and independent artists.”

Tremewan said the appetite of younger audience have changed, and they are becoming harder to reach, but that doesn’t mean they can’t move into those spaces as well.

Shihad frontman Jon Toogood said the 95bFM “thrashed” their first album, giving them the much-needed exposure they may not have gotten from the start on more commercial stations.

“So many new artists don’t have that platform, so it’s really important,” said Toogood.

Tremewan added algorithms on streaming platforms will repeat music listeners already like, and may not expose them to new up and coming artists.

“It will becoming very insular, and you’ll have this feed of music you already know and like. It’s road tested and you’ll eventually become top 40 in a lot of ways in terms of your listening habits.

“Stations like bFM are not algorithmically driven, we don’t have a monthly subscription like Spotify, and we pay better royalties to our artists. But we’re going to expose you to weird and wonderful music.”

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Without student radio, Tremewan said it would be “shocking” to miss out on the next Shihad, Fat Freddy’s Drop, or Lorde.

For tickets to the 95bFM fundraising event, “Save The b!” visit the Ticketmaster website.