Radio ESMAE – A radio? An artistic radio? A free radio?

Abstract

This paper aims to describe the Radio ESMAE project, understanding to what extent artistic experimentation makes this an artistic radio, envisioning possible futures for the emergence of other radios with this nature. It also aims to describe which artistic, technical and/or pedagogical tools the radio can enhance in an artistic school.

For the execution of this paper, the study of texts by authors who have addressed the link between radio and art was deepened. Seven semi-structured interviews were carried out, in person and with audio recording, to students who are volunteers and artists at Radio ESMAE, hereafter referred to as students/artists. The sample selection criterion was that participants were responsible for a program of this radio and for their availability, thus forming a convenience sample.

The results of the interviews analysis suggest that Radio ESMAE reflects the artistic profile of those who participate in it, without constraints of artistic and radio programming, imposed by commercial needs. Thus, it revealed itself as a place of great experimentation, especially at the level of technical sound tools and voice exploration. The results also point to the desire of these students/artists to find in FM broadcasting the future possibility of interaction with the listeners.