Mission Statement
When Manchester is Music magazine became Manchester is Music Radio in summer 2008 it was with a clear set of goals:
1) To bring unsigned Manchester music to a worldwide audience
2) To allow our regular readers to hear the music that we talk so passionately about
3) To always promote new bands and new DJs
4) To merge unsigned music with comedy
5) To be different from every other radio station on the planet
You see, when Manchester is Music was first created in January 2006, it was borne of frustration. Frustration at a city that betrayed its musical roots by pushing glamour and fashion over substance and grit. Frustration at a music industry that treated Manchester like an unwanted cousin. Frustration at all of the music magazines that ignore our city and treat it like a social pariah.
It took a lot of time, courage and passion to get MiM off the ground, and in its time it was absolutely revolutionary. The 'free online music magazine' format was a new concept that we exploited to the maximum, and our range of guest columnists, celebrity and unsigned interviews and brilliant commentary on the new Manchester music scene made us the number one music website in Manchester.
From there, we underwent a few changes. Firstly, after the founder and editor, Matt, became unwell, the magazine switched from a fortnightly to monthly format, to ease the pressure on the small, dedicated team who worked so hard to make MiM Magazine what it was. Then, we brought out our New Bands 2007 CD, which featured ten absolutely amazing Manchester bands and really changed the face of what we were all about.
As 2007 dawned, we took on the role of managers for unsigned indie hopefuls, The Reason, and stayed with them for around six months. It was then that we diversified into music videos, creating videos for both The Reason and The Words, as well as various other forms of online media. That summer, we first launched Manchester is Music Radio, which, as an instant way to actively promote Manchester music, became an absolutely integral part of the MiM picture.
2008 saw the continued growth and success of MiM Radio, as we became part of the international online syndicate, Rosko Radio, under the watchful eye of legendary DJ Emporer Rosko, and we followed this success by launching our first documentary, Unsigned Heaven: The Rise and Fall of The Reason, which was met with acclaim by many industry figures (and which is available now via our online shop with all proceeds going to Unicef).
In around April 2008, Emperor Rosko pulled out of the syndication format, leaving MiM Radio temporarily without an online home. Behind the scenes, this situation has been rectified, and we look forward to joining our new team in spectacular fashion at some point in 2009. In the meantime, MiM has been rebranded as MiM Radio, and we continue to bring the very best unsigned bands that Manchester has to offer.