There are a few well-known names that I’m lucky to call close friends… although I’m proud of being known for keeping my trap shut! HA! Q: What type of music do you like to listen to? A: I love all types of music.
I think as a DJ, if you close your mind off and focus on just one genre, it really limits your depth as a human being. If it’s got a good tune, I’m all over it. Obviously, I love house music, but I’m an out and out pop music fan too, along with loving classical, funk, soul and alternative. ‘Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols’ is one of my favourite albums of all time, and only this morning I had ‘No One Knows’ by Queens of The Stone Age on full blast in the car.
My word, I love Dave Grohl! – So, yeah, bit of everything I’d say! Q: How has radio changed over the years? A: Radio is a totally different animal to what I first encountered as a 12-year-old. We now live in a brand-led world, dominated by stations like Heart, Capital, Magic and Smooth, whereas when I first started local stations were independently owned.
The DJs back then could play their own choice of music, which changed to the playlist model soon after I started. I recall there being a huge outcry at the time, but musically stations were all over the place and listeners didn’t know what they were getting from one DJ to the next. I still see radio playlists a lot like a dance floor, you’ve got to keep them dancing! Q: Any advice for anyone wanting to get into radio?
A: As I mentioned, we live in a brand-led world when it comes to radio. So, the first thing to do is work out which brand fits your personality. If you’re young, Capital might be where you fit the best or Heart. Listen to the station that reflects you as a person, and digest as much of it as you can.
Get to the point where you know the station inside out. Then, make a demo tape of yourself doing a show in a style that fits said brand. Remember, less is always more. Programme Managers Radio is a totally different animal to what I first encountered as a 12-year-old.
We now live in a brand-led world essentially didn’t leave until I was 18! I went on to work on almost every show, became a top-notch tea maker, and eventually made it onto the air aged 16 on the overnight show… a big hello to all you truckers out there at 3am! Q: Who are your radio heroes? A: Oh, this is a tough question.
Without doubt, there are the ones I grew up listening to on Radio Aire: Paul Stead, Carl Kingston, Peter Tait, Ray Stroud and James Whale. Then there are the nationally well-known ones like Bruno Brookes, who for my era was the master at presenting the chart, he just made it sound so massive. John Peel is another, for his passion for new music along with introducing me to so many different genres. Annie Nightingale is a legend, for being the first female DJ; in 2020 she is celebrating an incredible 50 years on Radio 1!
I also love Sara Cox for her wonderful gift of being able to empty her brain on the air in an incredibly entertaining way, Alex Lester for his unique ability to tell stories, and, finally, Kenny Everett for teaching me that every show is like a field of unpicked flowers. Create, Create, Create. You did ask!!! Q: You’ve enjoyed a hugely successful career in broadcasting... which radio stations have you worked on?
A: I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on some of the biggest stations in the UK during my 33 year career… although I did start very young remember! After first getting on the air at Radio Aire aged 16, I moved to The Pulse evening show at 19, right in the middle of the Brit Pop explosion. I then went to the Hallam FM drivetime slot at 21 years old, which moved me on in my quest to become a breakfast show host at 25. I achieved that with a move to Viking FM Breakfast, where I won my first Sony Radio Award.
This got me noticed by the big guns at Galaxy (which eventually became Capital), the biggest commercial radio station outside of London. I took over the breakfast show there in 2003 and remained with the station until 2014 with an audience of 1.4 Million. Alongside that I was chosen to take over from Dr Fox presenting the national chart show, Hit40UK, to 6 million listeners between 2004 and 2007. After all that I decided to take some time out from broadcasting, which I spent at home and in LA.
In 2018 it felt like the time was right to return to a daily show, which I now present for the BBC. *3 year standard; 6 years with product registration. ©, LLC. All rights reserved. QSC and the QSC logo are registered trademarks of QSC, LLC in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries.
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Which subwoofer is right for your application? Find out at /ks. don’t have a lot of free time, but they are always on the lookout for new talent, so keep the tape to around 3 minutes, avoid jargon like weather and time checks, but tell lots of stories. Be relevant and most of all creative, but don’t let the tail wag the dog! Listen to the broadcasters which you admire and take inspiration from how they connect with an audience.
Try to sound ‘real’ – talk like you would to your friends, with no mid-Atlantic DJ voice. The powers that be in 2020 look for authenticity. Keep it real, but keep your links short, concise and to the point! Also, call the station up to find out who is the Programme Editor/ Manager/Controller – Don’t email with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ – do your research about who you are addressing your audio to!
Good luck! Q: Who would be on your music quiz team? A: Ooooh, I know so many people with encyclopaedic knowledge when it comes to music. An ideal team would be built up of: Paul Gambaccini, Phil ‘The Collector’ Swern, Lee Thompson (Producer at R2 and music genius!), Daryl Denham, Steve White and, of course, Richard Lee!
Q: Live DJ Set or Radio? A: Both, although they are totally different, they have many similarities. Q: Kitchen Belters... tell us more? A: Where do I start… I have a Pioneer DDJ-SX2 controller which I use with Serato, and ahead of a gig I had that evening, I thought I would go through some of the new tunes I’d been sent during the week.
After a while I started playing some old skool ‘90s stuff to myself and thought I might do a Facebook live on my official page which has over 200,000 followers. Three years on, it gets weekly audiences of up to 80K, with a listen again option on Mixcloud. All from my kitchen! Q: What are you up to now?
A: I’ve joined the BBC! I work for BBC Radio Leeds and Manchester. ‘The Stephanie Hirst Show’ is on Leeds, Monday to Friday, 9am to midday, and my ‘Vinyl Revival’ is on Manchester from 10pm on a Saturday night. Both are available on BBC Sounds. I love hosting both shows, but they are very different.
My weekday show is made up of some brilliant current music, along with some belting tunes from the ‘00s, ‘90s and ‘80s, together with guests who make you think! Whereas my vinyl show is a very eclectic listen, made up of live requests, as I run back and forth from my 25,000 strong record collection playing every song from the original vinyl copies. Keeps me fit too! Q: What next?
A: I dabble in the world of television and although radio is my first love, I would like to do more TV work. I also have two new podcasts out this year, which is really exciting, along with my public speaking and more live DJ work… busy, busy, busy! Stephanie Hirst will share more of her life story, as well as lessons she has learnt over the past 33 years as a DJ / Presenter, during the Special Guest seminar slot at the Pro Mobile Conference. She will also host the Pro Mobile Awards as part of our 100th Issue Celebration Party on the evening of Sunday the 29th of March.
