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!”

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

A post shared by Choice FM (@choicefmplaque)

The Nubian Jak Community Trust, in association with English Heritage, will place the plaque on  Choice FM’s original Brixton HQ. The ceremony coincides with the station’s 30th anniversary. There has not been another black-owned, commercial, radio station in London, since it began to broadcast in 1990. It earned a reputation for it’s diverse discography, which included Hip-Hop, Soul and Reggae shows.

The Nubian Jak charity aims to honour ‘stalwarts of black history‘. They place distinctive monuments in locations of Afro-Caribbean cultural significance. Therefore, the award outlines Choice FM’s impact on the black community.

Media company, Global, bought the station and re-branded it as Capital Xtra in 2013. However fans of the station, operating under the alias ‘The Choice FM Blue Plaque Group’, lobbied for a plaque to commemorate Choice FM’s influence. They paid for the plaque through a GoFundMe page.

View this post on Instagram

We are pleased to announce the unveiling of a blue heritage plaque in honour of Choice FM, the first and only black radio station with a London wide commercial licence. On March 31st 1990, a group of pioneering entrepreneurs and DJs delivered the first historic broadcast on the famous 96.9FM frequency. This year marks the 30th year anniversary and to commemorate its history a blue plaque unveiling organised by @nubianjak will take place on Wednesday 07th October 2020 . The plaque has been funded by the Choice FM Blue Plaque Group and other members of the black community who are making donations through a Go Fund Me campaign. The donation page was set up to give people the opportunity to support the campaign for the plaque and raise awareness of the history. Funds raised will also be donated to an amazing charity, The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (@acltcharity). Choice FM worked closely with the charity during their broadcasting years, to help provide hope for patients living with blood cancer and other illnesses. The Choice FM Blue Plaque Group continue to support their work through the campaign. To celebrate this moment in history please share your memories, stories, favourite songs and photos using #ChoiceFMBluePlaque. You can also support through the Choice FM Plaque Go Fund Me Page. Link in bio Thanks for your support! #ChoiceFMBluePlaque #ChoiceFM #Choicefmplaque #music #blackmusic #rnb #hiphop #reggae #dancehall #soul #funkyhouse #garage #drumnbass #afrobeats #music #gospel #raregroove #neosoul #soca #calypso #choicefmmemories #blm #blmmovement

A post shared by Choice FM (@choicefmplaque) on Aug 11, 2020 at 1:05am PDT

Neil Kenlock, Choice FM’s co-founder, explained the channel’s significance. ‘The station gave opportunities to UK and international artists, businesses, charities and local community groups that did not have a media outlet‘, he stated.

Kenlock also dedicated the plaque to The Windrush generation. ‘The blue plaque will highlight the work of Windrush descendants and our huge impact on the radio and music industry in the UK. I would like to thank everyone, including Lambeth Council, for their support for this project‘, he added.

Choice FM was the sound of Brixton for over two decades. The opportunities they provided are as limitless as the artists they inspired. Therefore it is only right that, 30 years on from the station’s inauguration, Choice FM should be rewarded for their seismic impact on London’s black community.