Music radio is the most listened to form of radio, and one of the least researched by
academic ethnographers. This research project addresses industry structure and agency in an investigation into the relationship between music radio and the record industry in the UK, how that relationship works to produce music radio and to shape the production of popular
music. The underlying context for this research is Peterson’s production of culture
perspective. The research is in three parts: a model of music radio production and
consumption, an ethnographic investigation focusing on music radio programmers and
record industry pluggers, and an ethnographic investigation into the use of specialist music radio programming by alternative pop and rock artists in Glasgow, Scotland. The research has four main conclusions: music radio continues to be central to the record industry’s
promotional strategy for new commercial recordings; music radio is increasing able to
mediate the production practices of the popular music industry; that mediation is focused through the social relationship between music radio programmers and record industry pluggers; cultural practices of musicians are developed and mediated by consumption of specialist music radio, as they become part of specialist music radio.