The Music Box Information: Programmes

 

I have always thought that there was a lack of programmes dedicated to playing purely instrumental music and I saw this as an opportunity to introduce 'The Music Box', a series of thirty minute programmes, with tracks taken from CD, vinyl and sometimes cassette tape.

 

The first programme was broadcast on Thursday 8 July 1999 on Hospital Radio Tayside (later to become BRIDGEfm Hospital Radio) when the station re-opened after moving from Dundee Royal Infirmary to Ninewells Hospital. I have been a member of this station since 1986 and was awarded honorary membership in 1995.

 

Now over sixty programmes have been recorded and broadcast on Hospital Radio throughout the UK.

 

Basically any track that has little or no singing can be featured on the programme - although I occasionally find an excuse for including a few other tracks as well! In addition, two tracks linked together in some way make up the 'Twin Tracks' feature in every programme. In fact, the 'Twin Tracks' feature has proven to be so popular that there are occasional 'Twin Track Megamix' programmes featuring a series of twin tracks played almost back-to-back.

 

The programmes are simply presented with each track fully identified along additional information where appropriate. The programmes are timed to last for 30 minutes (exact times vary slightly from 30:02 to 30:10) and the final track is always chosen to end rather than fade out. They are ideal for scheduling on computer playout systems or for filling short gaps in live schedules.

 

'The Music Box' programmes have been supplied to over fifty stations across Ireland, the UK and Gibraltar. Click here for a full list of stations.