It’s World Radio Day today and we catch up with Ghanaian radio veteran, Jon Germain! He hosts the mid-morning show on Starr FM.
1. Name the first 3 things that comes to mind when you think of radio
Communication, entertainment, music.
2. What’s your first memory of being intrigued by radio?
London 1989, I remember hearing British DJ Dr Fox and saying to myself, wow… how does he do this.
3. How old were you when you knew you wanted to be on radio?
I never really wanted to do radio, but because I am a musician I always loved radio till I got the opportunity to be a radio host in 1996.
4. Where did your radio career begin?
Ghana, at Choice FM in 1996
5. What’s it like hosting a mid-morning radio show?
It’s great. It’s much easier these days. Because you have a production team, sometimes a DJ… 20 years ago you had to do all by yourself.
6. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt on your radio journey?
You must not stop learning to be better, no matter your achievements on radio
7. What’s your fondest memory on air on radio?
Interviewing some of the best people from all over the world, like Buju Banton, Salif Keita, Meiway, Akon, Frank Bruno, Rev, Jesse Jackson, these interviews I recorded and played on my TV show and radio show as well.
8. If you could give a message to yourself 10 years ago, knowing what you know today, what would the message be?
10 years ago I had been doing radio for 14 years, so I think I would have said, ” you will be surprised how many lives you will affect positively with your voice on radio”.
9. Where do you think the future of radio is going?
Future of radio stations does not look too good because of music streaming websites and free downloads where u can download and listen to songs you want to hear. Not what someone wants to play for you, online radio might take over as well. In the next 20 years people might prefer to listen to their own playlists, instead of tuning into radio station, all the talk shows are on YouTube as well. We might have to be a little bit more innovative to keep radio going strong…
10. What 5 tips can you give to aspiring radio personalities?
- Keep learning
- Never accept being average
- Listen to yourself and ask yourself if you will listen to you if that was someone else’s voice
- Never forget the power you have been given to be able to communicate with thousands or millions of people, remember to use that opportunity positively
- Use simple language, if you fail to get people to understand what you are saying. You have failed.