The UK’s first Black radio station, Choice FM, has been awarded a Blue Heritage Plaque.
Choice FM unveiled a new Blue Heritage Plaque on Thursday (1st April 2021) in Trinity Gardens in Brixton, marking the origin of Choice FM. Celebrating the station’s iconic past and commemorating the stations chronicled history on being the UK’s first Black radio station.
The plaque’s unveiling marked the stations 31st anniversary of the London based station, whose first broadcast took place on 31st March 1990.
The Nubian Jak Community Trust, endorsed by English Heritage, organised the unveiling with former director Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE, co-founder and photographer Neil Kenlock, and Mayor Councillor Philip Normal at the station’s original headquarters: 16-18 Trinity Gardens, Brixton.
Writing about the award on Twitter, former director Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE said: “I would like to invite you to share a very special day with us recognising on 31 March – 31 years ago, Choice FM the UK’s first legal black-owned 24 hr music station was born and made a mark in the history of the UK.”
Councillor Sonia Winifred, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture, said about the award: “Choice FM will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Lambeth community particularly in Brixton where it was launched in 1990 at Trinity Gardens. The first licensed independent Black music radio station gave us all a sense of pride and belonging. There has been no other to replace it and we owe a great deal to its co-founders Patrick Berry and Neil Kenlock when it started broadcasting 31 years ago, on 31 March 1990.”
Choice FM was the first independent Black music radio station to hold a London-wide licence legally. Later Choice FM won a second licence, bringing a version of their sound to Birmingham. Championing Black music of all genres and promoting Black artists, the station has been hailed throughout its 31-year history as the sound of Brixton. Over the years, the South London based radio station has picked up accolades from awards such as the MOBO’s (Music of Black Origins) and the Sony Radio Academy Awards. In 2013 the station was rebranded as ‘Capital Xtra,’ after being bought by the Capital Radio broadcasting group (Global) nine years prior.
Co-founder of Choice FM, Neil Kenlock, commenting on the radio station’s importance, said: “Many Black British people and those from many other communities remember Choice FM and the strong heritage that it has left behind. The station gave opportunities to UK and international artists, businesses, local community groups and charities like the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust who didn’t have a media outlet. Since Choice FM there has never been another Black owned, commercial licensed station that broadcasts across London.”
The plaque has been funded by the Choice FM Plaque Group and a Go Fund Me campaign. Funds raised will also be donated to The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT). Announcing the news on Instagram, the Choice FM Plaque group wrote: “We did it Choice Family!”
