SA’s biggest youth radio station, 99.2 YFM, introduces the future of SA DJ culture with the announcement of their 2012 line-up… and it’s nothing short of a TKO…

Having paved the way for young authentic talent over the years, YFM is raising the bar again with its selection of young talent spearheading the new school revolution. Leading the pack is popular stalwart and heavyweight, Tholi B, who is taking over the afternoon drive time show.

In a bold and bullish move, the station follows up on its commitment to placing young talent in primetime spots. Former UJ FM campus radio DJ, Bryce ‘AnkleTap’ Clarke, will now host ‘The Tap Mansion’ from 12-3pm. This new show marks another historical milestone, as ‘Ankletap’ becomes the first white DJ in a primetime slot, since the inception of the station. The witty Mo Flava remains in his ever popular breakfast show.

Leading the new young blood crew is former Voice of Wits DJ, and one of SA’s most recognizable faces from his days as a YoTV presenter, the funky fresh cool kid Musa Mthombeni.  Also joining the team is the sassy and spunky actress Thando Thabethe, famed for her role in SABC1’s ‘My Perfect Family’. This fiery young talent, like Musa, also gained valuable radio training during her time spent at campus radio UJ FM.

“YFM has always groomed young talent, giving them a commercial platform in the industry. Our new line-up offers some of the hottest and best young DJs in the game today” says YFM Programming manager Tumelo Diaho-Monaheng.

Another new and very exciting development that hit the YFM airwaves on April 02, is a new music mix format – YTKO. YTKO promises to deliver a lively party atmosphere, turning any dull weekday at the office, into a weekend session at the club. This new daily mix feature, packed with good pure music is geared up and ready to introduce a new era in South African DJ culture.

“This is a true coming of age story as a brand. YFM has come full circle, and with the introduction of YTKO the texture of live mixes on radio will be transformed and perfected. YFM ignites your passion and sets your soul on fire, whatever space the listener is in, we aim to MAKE THEM MOVE!” said Monaheng.

Carrying weight in each of their respective musical genres and finely selected from the underground scene, YFM welcomes a new cutting edge mix DJ team with DJ Shimza, dynamic Miss Cosmo, Just Mo, Jose Chave and Zan-D Read the full story

Rhythm100radio is a newcomer in the world of radio broadcasting, but that has not stopped this commercial Internet radio station from posing as competition to well-established stations like YFM and East Coast Radio. The station launched about two years ago and already boasts a listenership of over 100 000 people from around the globe. What distinguishes Rhythm100radio from other stations is its passion and aim to promote African content and talent. The man behind Africa’s number one internet radio station tells all in this short but informative interview.

Q: To those who don’t know you, who is Kaunda Chama?
A: Kaunda Chama is a son, a father, a brother and a journalist with a passion for online, print and broadcast media. He is currently the general manager of Rhythm100 Radio, based in Johannesburg and targeted at the youth all over the world.

Q: What is Rhythm100 Radio about?
A: As out motto states: Africa is our soul and our soul is African. It is basically about young African talent on air showcasing talent from in and around their own communities and others on the continent.

Q: What inspired you to launch an internet radio station?
A: It is something I have always wanted to do, so once my partners and I identified the opportunity and put together a business plan and a strategy, we just decided to go for it. It was something that Africa needed.

Q: How did you recognize the opportunity to start a radio station?
A. My partners and I were scanning through local radio stations and at that time they were all sounding the same and playing the same songs and that was boring! So, we decided to provide an alternative radio experience and decided to target it at the whole of Africa and other people around the world that are interested in African talent. The continent has so much to offer to itself and the rest of the world. At the same time, we use the station as a platform for developing young radio talent. There are a lot of youngsters out there with talent and they just don’t have an outlet, and the station is a perfect place for them to develop and even move on to bigger things.

Q: Creating a radio station requires a lot of money. How did you finance the project?
A: We all scraped every bit of savings that we had together to set up the station. However, that is just stage one. After the station is set up, keeping it alive requires strong advertising and marketing strategies and Read the full story

25-year-old Josi Chave is a man on a mission. In a country where every second person wants to be a DJ it takes something really special for someone to rise above the riffraff and be noticed. Josi seems to have found the path that leads right to the top. His secret seems to be to not put all his eggs in one basket. In addition to being a DJ he also owns the record label Blacknoize Records and co-hosts the popular show The Warehouse with fellow Yfm DJs Ankle Tap and Just Mo. Josi explains that “It’s a Dance show for all the born again House heads every Saturday at 3pm.”

Oskido, Black Coffee, DJ Gregory and Dead Mau5 are just some of the DJs that keep him inspired. The trouble began back in 2000 when he was 14 years old. He started playing at House parties. In no time he was doing clubs and corporate events. Fast forward to 2011. This year sees the release of his latest compilation Black Frequency. Die-hard SA music fans will be pleased to know that this compilation is free of international interference. All the tracks are locally produced. Gone are the days when we relied on folks way overseas to get our parties started. It is evident from the first track that Josi’s style has been enriched by an expansive array of musical genres. Should you see Josi cruising along the high way chances are he won’t be bopping his head to a House song. He lists Hip Hop, Kwaito and Reggae as some of his favourite genres.

Josi sheds some light on some challenges and misconceptions that plague DJs; he also gives some advice to all aspiring DJs that could help you avoid some major music industry potholes.

• What does releasing a compilation do for a DJ? Read the full story

Hot personalities and a cup of coffee make for a little flavour in the morning

By Motheo Khoaripe

Since our last chat with MO Flava, his breakfast team has welcomed new members and a new flavour to Joburg’s top youth radio station. I parted with my blankets at ungodly hours of the morning to try catch up with the peeps that make up the new breakfast menu.

Arriving at the Y studios it’s quite unsettling seeing people highly energised and ready to work at 5am, especially when you are the only one feeling half dead. I make friends with the kettle and coffee supply as the team gathered around new executive producer Kutloano ‘Kuxx’ Nhlapo to finalise the morning’s show. The varying personalities are clear but one thing is common, pure talent and a serious sense of humour.

The 23 year old Daveyton-born producer relayed his story of breaking into regional radio, citing the hardships he experienced juggling a day job and a late show on a campus radio station. He tells of his love/hate relationship with radio that started while he was in high school in Benoni making trips to the Rosebank studios, trying to get exposure to a career path he loved so dearly. It wasn’t all romance and roses, he highlights, recounting the many muggings, dropping out of college and investing his salary in voiceover demos while trying to break the radio fold.

His ability to be patient and his hard work paid off when he pitched a new format and way forward for the show in front of an intimidating Yfm senior staff, after which a contract and an intense shadowing process with then outgoing Executive Producer Tsheko, left him feeling at home with his new challenge. When I inquired about the late nights and early hours he would be having, he simply said the pace and madness that happens comes with the territory, one he thoroughly enjoys. He added that radio’s mental artistry keeps him forever intrigued and the opportunity to express one’s creativity with an energetic listenership makes it all worthwhile for the deep-voiced producer. Read the full story