UK popular music show launched on QBS Radio

The British Council has announced the launch of The Selector, a popular international radio show which has begun broadcasting via QBS Radio in Qatar every Sunday on 97.5 FM from 4pm to 6pm. The show is part of the programme of Qatar-UK 2013, a yearlong creative collaboration between the two countries, which aims to celebrate and exchange art, culture, education, sport and science-based experiences. The Selector is an international radio showcase for the best new music from the UK, covering all styles of contemporary music which includes a variety of eclectic music from Jazz, Rock, Rhythm and Blues, indie, dubstep, folk, soul, hip hop and more. The show features interviews, guest DJ mixes and exclusive live sessions from some of the UK’s most popular artists. The show avoids many mainstream acts in favour of emerging talent and underground styles reflecting the brilliance and diversity of music, promoting the modern musical culture to an international audience. The underlying aim of The Selector is to challenge people’s perceptions and to showcase the wealth of creativity and innovation the world of music has to offer.Naser Ahmed Bilal, controller of foreign programmes of QBS described the collaboration with British Council as another step in aligning with the goals listed under the social pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.“Those goals specifically aim to develop society to a level where all people in Qatar are capable of interacting positively with other communities thereby playing an important role in the global partnership for development.”Qatar-UK 2012 project manager Lana Kayed said QBS’s audiences in Qatar will really appreciate the quality programming that The Selector will offer. “One of the key audience groups we want to reach through the action-packed activity calendar of Qatar-UK 2013 is youth,” she stated. Around the world The Selector is broadcast to a 4mn-strong audience in 37 countries. The show has earned many accolades including the prestigious Gold for Best Weekly Music Programme at the Sony Radio Academy Awards in 2005. In 2011, The Selector was named ‘International Radio Show of the Year’ at the International Radio Festival in Zurich and won bronze for Best Regularly Scheduled Music Programme at the New York Festivals Awards. It has also won Radio Progamme of the Year in Hungary.