NTS Radio

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NTS Radio
NTS Radio Logo 2018.png
CityHackney, London, United Kingdom
Ownership
OwnerFemi Adeyemi
History
First air date
April 2011
Links
Webcastwww.nts.live/radio
stream1
stream2
Websitewww.nts.live

NTS Radio (also known as NTS Live or simply NTS) is an online radio station and media platform based in the Hackney area of London, England. The station was founded in April 2011 by Femi Adeyemi[1] and produces a diverse range of live radio shows, digital media and live music based events.

The Guardian described the radio as "somewhere between BBC 6 Music’s diversity and pirate radio’s DIY spirit"[2] and has built a reputation for championing underground scenes and a leading voice in alternative culture. Music Business Worldwide reported in early 2020 that NTS has 1.5 million monthly listeners.[3]

NTS has live stations in London, Manchester, Los Angeles and Shanghai.[4][5][2][6] According to the Institute of Contemporary Arts, "NTS Radio is a family of like-minded and passionate individuals, dedicated to supporting exciting music and culture through online radio and events. NTS uncovers the best of the musical past, celebrates the present and cultivates the future of the underground music scene, and prides itself on being open-minded and experimental".[7]

Origins[]

The name NTS is an abbreviation for 'Nuts To Soup', which was the name of a previous blog run by Adeyemi.[1] Adeyemi, who had also been involved in founding Boiler Room,[8] started NTS on a budget of £5,000,[3] inspired by his love of pirate radio, MTV2, US college radio stations like WFMU[9] and the creative community around London nightclub Plastic People (where NTS CEO Sean McAuliffe was a resident). In an interview with Music Business Worldwide in 2020,[3] Adeyemi speaks of starting NTS as a response to a homogenous radio climate; “Pirate radio stations were laser focused on specific sounds and the mainstream radio stations the same… there are so many different tastes in London, why don’t we just set up this thing that plays everything? Let’s keep it as diverse as possible.” [10]

Programming and creative[]

Across NTS two live channels, there are currently over 500 resident artists, music producers, DJs and record collectors globally that make up the regular shows on the platform, most of whom own share options in the company.[3] Regular hosts range from the likes of Sunn O)))’s Stephen O’Malley to The XX’s Jamie xx, Yellow Magic Orchestra's Haruomi Hosono, Mount Kimbie, Yaeji, Zack Fox, Homeshake, Show Me the Body, Moxie, Four Tet, Mark Leckey, Floating Points, PAN, artist Martine Syms, Eclair Fifi, Kelsey Lu, Erol Alkan, queer-punk outfit Limp Wrist, Moor Mother, Fenriz, Young Turks, Kristin Kontrol, Kamaal Williams, Smithsonian Folkways, The Numero Group, jazz musician Angel Bat Dawid, XL Recordings owner Richard Russell, and, until his passing in February 2020, celebrated DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall[11][12] The NTS breakfast show (broadcast from their London studios) was called The Do!! You!!! Breakfast Show and was presented by Charlie Bones up until August 2021.[13] Bones was often joined by guest hosts and performers, including the likes of Slick Rick, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Dexter Wansel.[14]

In addition to the regular hosts on NTS, a number of musicians, DJs, artists and other notable figures have appeared as guest hosts or as guests on NTS. These include:

From these guest shows, many have been used by the hosts to as an opportunity to premiere new music, with the following airing their releases as a ‘first listen’ on NTS before official release; Death Grips,[15] Arca,[16] Flying Lotus,[17] Jeff Mills,[18] Dean Blunt,[19] Nicolas Jaar,[20] Kelela,[21] Autechre,[22] Mount Kimbie[23] and Arthur Russell[24] have all debuted on NTS in recent years.

In late 2018, NTS launched a new feature called ‘Infinite Mixtapes' - music-only themed streams without any traditional radio talkover. Originally exclusive to the NTS iOS app, this led to a feature on the Apple Store as ‘App Of The Day’ [25] and now accounts for 20% of their overall streaming figures according to Music Business Worldwide.[3]

NTS video output in recent years ranges from live sessions with artists such as Kamaal Williams and Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Toop, original music videos for Ariel Pink and Klein, and the first-ever livestreamed video performance from Aphex Twin, live from Field Day, London 2017.

NTS programmes live events and club nights across the world throughout the year. This is most prominently the case in London, where NTS has been behind the debut UK shows for the likes of Playboi Carti, Princess Nokia, Arca, PNL, and Pi'erre Bourne.[26]

Notable projects and collaborations[]

NTS has worked with a variety of collaborating music partners, brands, arts institutions and public bodies. Every month, NTS curates live music experiences at the Tate Lates event series at the Tate Modern gallery in London - an event that is co-sponsored by clothing brand Uniqlo. NTS has an artist development programme called Work In Progress, which aims to take six artists to the next stages of their musical careers. Supported by Carhartt, Work In Progress [27] is run in partnership with Arts Council England, and attracted over 9,000 applicants in its first year.[28]

In 2019, NTS teamed up with independent electronic indie label Warp Records to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary. Over a long weekend, Warp took over both of NTS’ live channels, broadcasting over 100 hours of original content from the likes of Boards of Canada, Brian Eno, Flying Lotus, Death Grips, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kelela and many more.[29] Celebrated New York jazz record label Blue Note also co-programmed a takeover broadcast with NTS in celebration of their 80th anniversary, which featured radio shows hosted by Jeff Garlin, Dr Lonnie Smith and Don Was.[30]

NTS launched a capsule clothing collection with Adidas Originals during the summer of 2019, run under the NTS signature tag line of ‘Don’t Assume’. The marketing campaign for the collection featured musicians and artists as models, including reggae musician Lee "Scratch" Perry, who was 83-years-old at the time of the photoshoot.[31]

In September 2019 NTS and Netflix devised a two-day series of workshops and panels about getting into the creative industries, directed at 16-25 year olds in London. The event featured director Jenn Nkiru, Skepta manager Grace Ladoja, former NTS presenter Tiffany Calver and rap engineer Sean D, alongside Top Boy actors Ashley Walters and Micheal Ward.[32]

In January 2018, NTS collaborated with Jeff Mills, in partnership with NASA and the pioneering techno artist’s Axis record label, to produce a new six part radio series themed around space with original music from Mills, entitled The Outer Limits.[33]

In April 2018, Autechre announced a four-week residency on NTS that would go on to be the release of the cult electronic duo's thirteenth album release, NTS Sessions 1–4. It was not made known that the residency would include new material until after the first session was broadcast, leading many to assume that it would be another of the band's extended DJ mixes.[34] A few days after the first session aired, Warp announced that each of the two-hour sessions would be released as a digital download immediately after broadcast, with 12-LP and 8-CD boxed sets of the entire album, as well as 3-LP pressings of each individual session, to be released in July, primarily through Bleep.com's Autechre store.[35]

On 19 February 2020, the Venezuelan experimental musician and artist Arca premiered their new 62-minute single @@@@@ via a special NTS radio show entitled DIVA EXPERIMENTAL FM.[36] The release was accompanied by a audiovisual directed by Frederik Heyman, and was then widely released on 21 February by XL Recordings.[37]

On 2 May 2020, NTS announced a 24-hour charity broadcast called Remote Utopias, raising funds for The Global Foodbanking Network. The broadcast brought together musicians, DJs, artists and filmmakers from across the globe to present radio shows and mixes, exclusive premieres, and live video streams. The likes of Erykah Badu and Tame Impala premiered new music, radio shows and mixes came from the likes of Jonah Hill, JME and Jorja Smith, readings came from the likes of Wolfgang Tillmans, and special video performances from Bladee and Ecco2K, Standing on the Corner and Mica Levi (as Therapy Garden).

Notable NTS brand partners have included SONOS,[38] YouTube Music[39] and Adidas[40]

Awards[]

NTS won the 2014 Best Online Radio Station in the World Award from Mixcloud and the official International Radio Awards Festival.[41]

In 2018 Femi Adeyemi as founder of NTS Radio won the AIM Independent Music Awards as "Indie Champion" of the year.[42]

In 2019 NTS Radio won the Outstanding Contribution category in DJ Mag's Best of British Awards.[43]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "NTS Radio founder Femi Adeyemi can be the next John Peel — if he wants to — What's on". Hackney Gazette. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b Considine, Clare (3 April 2015). "How London's NTS is helping to redefine live radio". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e ""NTS Is All About Total Freedom of Expression. That Lies At the Core of It"".
  4. ^ "NTS Radio: Open Call For Jingles". The Wire. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  5. ^ Nosheen Iqbal (26 April 2013). "Liz Kershaw; Morning Marauders: radio review | Television & radio". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  6. ^ "NTS Radio Comes To Los Angeles". The Guardian. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  7. ^ "NTS Radio - Institute of Contemporary Arts". Ica.art. 4 April 2018.
  8. ^ "The Rise and Rise of NTS Radio". DUMMY.
  9. ^ "The Force Behind NTS Radio". Something Curated.
  10. ^ "Free and Easy Listening with NTS Radio's Femi Adeyemi". SSENSE.
  11. ^ "Andrew Weatherall Dies Aged 56". The Guardian. 17 February 2020.
  12. ^ "NTS Residents". NTS. 26 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Charlie Bones announces departure from NTS radio". www.DJMag.com.
  14. ^ "NTS Residents". NTS.
  15. ^ "Death Grips Unreleased Material NTS". Crack. 24 June 2019.
  16. ^ > "Arca debuts new music single in NTS show Diva Experimental FM". Dazed & Confused.
  17. ^ > "Flying Lotus Debuts New Mix with Unreleased Music". Pitchfork.
  18. ^ > "Jeff Mills Scores the Lunar Surface For His Outer Limits Series on NTS". MixMag.
  19. ^ "Listen to Dean Blunt New Album Zushi". Pitchfork.
  20. ^ "Nicolas Jaar uploads new all-originals Against All Logic mix, hints at new EP with FKA twigs". Resident Advisor.
  21. ^ "Kelela Sings Over Aphex Twin on New "AQUAPHORIA" Warp NTS Mix: Listen". Pitchfork.
  22. ^ "Autechre - NTS Sessions 1-4". Resident Advisor.
  23. ^ "Mount Kimbie announce NTS Residency". FACT Magazine.
  24. ^ "NTS Arthur Russell Day". NTS.
  25. ^ "Apple App of the Day". Apple.
  26. ^ {{cite web |url=https://www.nts.live/events%7C title=NTS Events |website=NTS>
  27. ^ "NTS WIP Artist Development Programme 2020". Carharrt.
  28. ^ "NTS WIP 2020 News". MixMag.
  29. ^ "Warp Records Announces Three Day NTS Takeover". Pitchfork.
  30. ^ "Blue Note 80". NTS.
  31. ^ "Adidas Originals Launch Collaborative Partnership with NTS". Adidas.
  32. ^ "NTS and Netflix Top Boy Academy News". MixMag.
  33. ^ "Jeff Mills The Outer Limits". NTS.
  34. ^ "Autechre NTS Radio Residency". FACT.
  35. ^ "Autechre NTS Sessions". Warp.
  36. ^ "ARCA PRESENTS @@@@@ - DIVA EXPERIMENTAL FM". NTS.
  37. ^ "Arca - @@@@@". YouTube.
  38. ^ "Erykah Badu is Crafting a Plant Based Mix for NTS". Clash Magazine.
  39. ^ "Nosey x NTS x YouTube Music presents Unearthed". Noisey.
  40. ^ "adidas Originals X NTS Launch Collaborative Partnership with NTS SPRT Capsule". Adidas.
  41. ^ "NTS online radio award winner". Radiotoday.co.uk. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  42. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (5 September 2018). "AIM Independent Music Awards Winners: Jorja Smith, SOPHIE, Ninja Tune & More". Billboard. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  43. ^ "HERE ARE ALL THE DJ MAG BEST OF BRITISH AWARDS 2019 WINNERS". DJ Mag. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

External links[]

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