Alumna Kay-Lee Golding raises awareness about the lack of diversity in UK radio

The article looks at the lack of Black representation across the UK’s most recognised radio stations. As a mixed-heritage female radio presenter and DJ, Golding talks about how she has been affected emotionally by the industry’s absence of diversity. She interviews other radio presenters such as Fee Mak, who presents the Drivetime show on London’s Westside Radio, and Swarzy, who presents on KISS FM and is one of only two Black female presenters across the KISS network.

Golding is an advocate for the Radio Silence movement which was set up by two other University of Westminster alumni Sara Hebil-Motie and Pulama Kaufman. She wanted to get involved with the movement to help share the message and raise awareness about the reality of Britain’s radio industry. The movement highlights the importance of the broader Black Lives Matter movement which has been pushed to the forefront of the news after recent events such as the murder of George Floyd. 

Golding’s career in the industry has been very successful. She has worked on mainstream stations such as BBC Radio 1, as well as KISS FM and Capital Xtra, and is the Head of Production at The Beat London 103.6FM. She specialises in Urban music and has interviewed guests such as Krept and Konan and the late Cadet.

Golding said: “I am an absolute radio geek and I love nothing more than broadcasting, so it really upsets me that the radio industry doesn’t love my community as much as we love radio, despite how much black music is played on the radio. So, this is the reason why it was so important for me to raise awareness about the lack of diversity in radio, in every way possible. Originally, this was only on social media, but writing an article in DJ Mag just took it to the next level for me and it was so nice to know that a media outlet like DJ Mag is taking these issues seriously.”

Read the full article titled Radio Silence: the movement to diversify the UK radio industry.