Muslim minority radio broadcasting in the United Kingdom: The case of Fever FM in Yorkshire

This study examines how minority radio serves as a medium of expression and a site of identity construction, forming a symbiotic bond between broadcasters and their audience. In order to explore the symbiotic relationship between radio and minorities and to understand the dynamics of media representation and participation among minority communities, we draw on Couldry’s theory of voice as a theoretical framework, given its relevance to the study of radio as a medium and the centrality of audio in this realm. Using the UK community radio station Fever FM as a case study, we demonstrate that community radio thrives on a reciprocal relationship with its listenership and the broader community. To do so, this study adopts a qualitative case study approach, drawing on a mixed-methods approach of data collection. This approach includes semi-structured interviews with radio practitioners as well as minority radio audience members, audience surveys and the examination of archival data. Our findings reveal a reciprocal and evolving relationship between minority communities and their radio stations. While communities offer human resources, political support and financial resources, radio stations, in turn, develop tailored programming that addresses the specific needs of their communities. Beyond content production, minority stations function as participatory hubs in which community members learn media skills, comprehend the grammar of public communication and express shared concerns. In addition to enhancing cultural expression, this process configures who is entitled to speak in the public sphere, transforming community radio from a medium of representation into a medium of recognition and collective agency.