Metro FM responds to ‘ #UnathiGate ‘ and other matters

PRESS STATEMENT

22nd May 2013, Johannesburg.

METRO FM Station Management would like to address two unfortunate programming incidents that have happened
on-air in two of our shows respectively, ie. The First Avenue as well as the The Touch Down Show. The stance that we
as a station are taking on both the issues is as follows:

OPEN LETTER TO UNATHI MSENGANA

An open letter addressed to the host of METRO FM’s First Avenue breakfast show Unathi Msengana has been doing
the rounds on social Networks and this particular letter is now in the possession of the station. It is written by a
clearly disgruntled listener of the show and we as a Station hold the contents of the letter in high esteem. Each and
every listener of any of our Show’s on METRO FM is respected and appreciated by the station, hence our stance.

We would like to request that the public at large, our audiences as well as the media allow us as the Station’s Management
to investigate the strongly worded letter and the contents thereof accordingly. Over and above that allow us the time
to engage our presenter Unathi Msengana on her views and outlook in the matter at hand, after which we will make our
findings as a Station known accordingly. We trust that our request will be viewed favorably.

UNSAVORY INTERVIEW ON “THE TOUCH DOWN” SHOW ON 21st May 2013

As of today, the entire team of the Touch Down Show will not be scheduled on-air until further notice by Management.
Yesterday afternoon the team unfortunately conducted an interview which was a clear contravention/transgression of
Radio Policy. The interview was regrettably that of explicit nature which is an unfortunate violation of our mandate.
We are a station that informs, educates, entertains and that operates within strict confines of Broadcasting
Regulations and we intend to do just that in a professional and respectful manner.

Please note that team has not been suspended, but are merely not scheduled until we have gone through our internal
processes and procedures. A decision will then be made following the findings of the investigation and we will then
communicate these accordingly. Once again, we request that the public, our audiences, as well as the media allow
us as a station to manage this process the best way we can and revert back to you once this is complete. We trust that
our request in this regard will receive your favorable understanding.

METRO FM, its where you’re at!

Danny K releases Brown Eyes video

SA star, activist Danny K is back with a brand new single. It’s called Brown Eyes and it’s blazing at the moment. The song has been added to most of the radio playlists and with the video’s release, it’s bound to get loads of TV time and Internet views too. Good work Danny. Nice video too.

Chris Brown releases Fine China

Chris Brown is working on new music and a sample of the new offering has just been released. It’s his new single called Fine China and you can see the video above. Funky track… Hopefully he’ll be making good music like this to heal his ‘broken heart’, in light of his recent split from Rihanna

[Video] Pitbull – Feel This Moment ft Christina Aguilera

This man knows how to make good, catchy pop music. Pitbull’s latest offering, Feel This Moment features one of the most underrated artists of our time… Ms. Christina Aguilera. This post is about their song together, but friends go and check out Christina’s Lotus if you haven’t already. It’s packed with singles, powerful lyrics and even bigger Aguilera pipes. One of my favourite albums from 2012 that I believe didn’t get as much love as it deserved.

Full list of SAMA 19 nominees list

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Here they are:

• Album of the Year
Kelly Khumalo – The Past, The Present, The Future
Khuli Chana   – Lost in Time
Maleh  – Step Child
Ntokozo Mbambo  – Filled
The Muffinz – Have you Heard?
• Duo or Group of the Year
BlackByrd                              Strong
Desmond & The Tutus            MNUSIC
DJ Vetkuk Vs Mahoota            Dinaledi
Freshlyground                       Take Me to the Dance
The Muffinz                           Have you Heard?
• Female Artist of the Year
ChianoSky                             Hungry
Kelly Khumalo                       The Past, The Present, The Future
Lulu Dikana                           This is the Life
Maleh                                   Step Child
Ntokozo Mbambo                   Filled
• Male Artist of the Year
Arno Carstens                       Atari Gala
Elvis Blue                             Journey
Khuli Chana                          Lost in Time
ProVerb                                Fourthwrite
Reason                                 Audio3D
• Newcomer of the Year
Bongeziwe Mabandla           Umlilo
Khaya                                 For You
Tailor                                 The Dark Horse
The Muffinz                        Have you Heard?
Toya Delazy                        Due Drop Deluxe
• Best Rock Album
Arno Carstens                    Atari Gala
Desmond & The Tutus        MNUSIC
Prime Circle                      Evidence
The Plastics                       Pyramid
Zebra & Giraffe                 The Wisest Ones
• Best Pop Album
ChianoSky                          Hungry
Kurt Darren                        In Jou Oë
Lloyd Cele                          No Limits
Snotkop                             Oppas
Toya Delazy                       Due Drop Deluxe
• Best Adult Contemporary Album
BlackByrd                          Strong
Elvis Blue                          Journey
Freshlyground                   Take Me to the Dance
Lira                                  The Captured Tour Concert Film
Nianell                             My Heart
• Best Kontemporêre Musiek
Bobby Van Jaarsveld             Wat Geld Nie Kan Koop Nie
Jay & Lianie                         Bonnie En Clyde
Juanita du Plessis                 Jy Voltooi My
Romanz                                Hou Vas
Theuns Jordaan                    Roeper
• Best African Adult Album
Bongeziwe Mabandla           Umlilo
Cama Gwini                        Re-Birth
Kelly Khumalo                    The Past, The Present, The Future
Maleh                                 Step Child
Nomfusi                             Take Me Home
• Best Alternative Album
Bittereinder                                          Die Dinkdansmasjien
Fetish                                                   Little Heart
iScream & The Chocolate Stix                The Paradox
Tailor                                                   The Dark Horse
Yoav                                                     Blood Vine
• Best R&B / Soul / Reggae Album
Kabomo                                 Memory Remains
Khaya                                    For You
Lulu Dikana                           This is the Life
The Muffinz                           Have you Heard?
Zaki Ibrahim                          Every Opposite
• Best Rap Album
Khuli Chana                         Lost in Time
Last Days Fam                     Eternal Effect
PRO                                    Continua
ProVerb                               Fourthwrite
Reason                                Audio3D
• Best Kwaito Album
Bhar                                          Morning Bang
Kabelo                                       Immortal Vol. 2
L’Vovo Derrango                         The Headmaster
Professor                                   The Orientation
Teddybears                               Teddybears
• Best Dance Album
Black Coffee                              Africa Rising
DJ Pepsi                                    Royal House Collection Vol. 2
DJ Vetkuk Vs Mahoota                Dinaledi
Oskido                                       I Believe
Pascal & Pearce                         Passport 2.0
• Best Traditional Faith Music Album
Hlengiwe Mhlaba                     Abba Baba
Rebecca                                  Live in Concert
Thulile Mbili                            My Home-Heaven Spirit Of Praise Vol. 4
Winnie Mashaba                       Bophelo Ke Leeto
• Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Jonathan Butler                                                                              Grace and Mercy
Retief Burger, Helmut Meijer, Neil Büchner, Louis Britz                   In Verwondering
Loyiso                                                                                            Love Complete
Ntokozo Mbambo                                                                            Filled
Retief Burger                                                                                  Luidkeels Dieper
• Best Traditional Album
George Maluleke                                              Magolongwani
Shabalala Rhythm                                            Please Call Me
Soul Brothers                                                   Siphithiphithi
Dr. Thomas Chauke – Na Shinyori Sisters           Shimatsatsa No. 31
Zozo & Sangere Superbeat                               Mabindu Vol 14
• Best Maskandi Album
Ichwane Lebhaca                        Inkunzi Yomthakathi
Imithente                                   Vuka Mathambo
Ntombethongo                           Thokozile
Phuzekhemisi                             Bayede Zulu
Zero Khumalo                             O Sugar Daddy
• Best Jazz Album
Herbie Tsoaeli                       African Time
Kyle Shepherd                       South African History !X
Lindiwe Maxolo                     Time
Steve Dyer                            Ubuntu Music
Tutu Puoane                         Breathe
• Best Classic & Instrumental Album
Maria du Toit & Nina Schumann                      Luminous Shade
CH2                                                               CH 2 Guitar Duo Live with the UP Symphony Orchestra
Derek Gripper                                                One Night On Earth
Guy Buttery                                                    To Disappear In Place
Nibs van der Spuy & Guy Buttery                     In The Shade of the Wild Fig
• Best Live DVD
Black Coffee                            Africa Rising
Lira                                         The Captured Tour Concert Film
The Parlotones                         Dragonflies and Astronauts
Huisgenoot Skouspel                 Huisgenoot Skouspel 2012
Zahara                                     The Beginning LIVE
• Best Collaboration
Lloyd Cele Feat. Fresh, Euphonik & Slikour                              Louder!
Riot Feat. Zahara                                                                   Thetha Nami
Shabalala Rhythm Feat. Oliver Mtukudzi and DJ Tira                Please Call Me
V.Underground Feat. Mishka                                                   Gelo Wandi
Zahara Feat. Leroy Bell & Soweto Gospel Choir                        Hold On (Bambelela)
• Best Music Video of the YearBenza                                               AKA                                       Jealousy
Salomon Ligthelm                             Gangs Of Ballet                      Hello Sweet World
Warwick Allan                                   Prime Circle                          Evidence
Jolyon Ellis                                        Spoonfeedas                         Attack Of The Hadedas
Claudio Pavan                                   The Parlotones                       Honey Spiders

• Best Producer

Mark Beling                                       BlackByrd                              Strong
Crighton Goodwill                             ChianoSky                              Hungry
Theo Crous                                        Prime Circle                          Evidence
Theo Crous                                       The Parlotones                       Journey  Through The Shadows
Jax Panik                                          Toya Delazy                           Due Drop Deluxe

• Best Engineer

Christopher Tuck                              Macstanley                                                             Lucid Alive And Dreaming
Mark Beling                                      BlackByrd                                                               Strong
Crighton Goodwill                             ChianoSky                                                              Hungry
Jake Odendaal                                 Joe Niemand Night of Light Die Beste Van               Joe Niemand
Marius Marais                                                                                                                Huisgenoot Skouspel 2012

• Remix of the Year

Zynne Sibika                                     J Vetkuk Vs Mahoota                                Istokvel
Chris Sen                                          RJ Benjamin                                            2012 Change The World
DJ Kent                                            Theo Kgosinkwe                                       Thinking About You Ft. Zonke – DJ Kent Remix
Pascal & Pearce                                Toya Delazy                                             Heart – Pascal & Pearce Remix
ClassyMenace                                   Toya Delazy                                              Pump It On – Classy Menace Remix

The Twins hanging up their YFM headphones

The Twins

If there’s one thing we can be certain about it’s that change will happen whether we like it or not. This time of the year is when loads of radio personalities go into contract negotiations with their employers and potential employers. The result of these negotiations is often heard in the first week of April. As an aspiring radio personality myself, I feel for these professionals.

So with that in mind, here is the first of, no doubt, many changes to come. The Twins, Hlelo and Ntando Masina will be leaving youth station, YFM at the end of March. Read the official release below:

Johannesburg, Monday 04 February 2013 – YFM announced today that, after 5 years on air, YFM twins Hlelo and Ntando Masina, will be leaving the station at the end of March 2013. 

 

“Line-up changes are common practice in the radio industry, particularly with a youth station like YFM. After careful consideration of all aspects of our on air offering, we have decided to make the necessary changes to YFM’s Programming, and unfortunately the Twins will no longer be with us from the 1st of April 2013” said Programming Manager Tumelo Diaho Monaheng “In as much as we are totally committed to the development of young talent – like the Twins, we are also continually looking for new ways to enhance our station with new and exciting personalities”.

Continue reading

Pics: Kanye West in Jozi

Did you feel the beat of Castle Lite’s Sub-Zero Experience this weekend? 10 000 Jozi residents did. Check out some of the pictures above and if you were at the venue tell me more about your experience, the production (95m screen), Kanye West and of the rest of the impressive lineup.

Watch Ke$ha’s music video, C’Mon

This still amazes me. In just four days, singer Ke$ha’s C’Mon music video has amassed over 9million views already. Incredible. It’s a great video and I’m not sure if I’ve said this before, but her album is really good too. This coming from someone who wasn’t entirely sold by her first offering. I respect what she did, but it wasn’t for me. This album I dig. Check out the video above with the biggest hippy in the game right now ;)

Today I meet Ne-Yo

ne-yo-malibu-red1

Today I get to meet and interview one of my favourite artists, Ne-Yo. The star jetted into the country yesterday as part of his ambassador duties for Malibu. He is the creative director behind their new range of Malibu Red and so he’s out here to promote the drink and also to perform tomorrow night. He’ll be joined on stage by AKA and Toya Delazy, so it’s bound to be a good night out. More on that on Friday or keep an eye on my Twitter handle for more details.

If you’ve got any burning questions for Ne-Yo, you’ve got until lunch time (SA time) to let me know, otherwise be sure to check back here soon for the video interview.

 

Watch: Zolani Mahola Get Up (Zambezia soundtrack)

Freshlyground‘s Zolani lends her voice to the soundtrack for the hugely successful animated feature film, Adventures of Zambezia. The song is called Get Up and you catch watch it above. You can also go and check out the film in any good Nu Metro theatre now. I plan to go and see it very soon. It looks fantastic and I do love me an animated film every now and then.

Just a side note, the soundtrack has been nominated for 2 Annie Awards, which is fantastic news. Congratulations to all involved!