Celebrate World Radio Day: 13 February

Today, the 13 February, is a date proclaimed by UNESCO to celebrate radio broadcast, improve international cooperation among radio broadcasters and encourage decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio, including community radios. It is an occasion to draw attention to the unique value of radio, which remains the medium to reach the widest audience and is currently taking up new technological forms and devices. It is thought that the internet radio's listener base has grown 27% annually since 2000. Online radio now has upwards of 80 million listeners in the U.S. alone. In Africa, between 80% and 90% of households have access to a working radio set. Therefore, it is clear that radio reaches over 95% of virtually every segment of the population. 

UNESCO encourages all countries to celebrate this Day by undertaking activitieswith diverse partners,such as national, regional and international broadcasting associations and organizations, non-governmental organizations, media organizations, outlets as well as the public at large. 

World Music Network are celebrating by disseminating the message and tuning into BBC's World Routes. The presenter Lucy Durán is also speaking at the World Radio Day, London: New Perspectives on Traditional Radiowhich is being streamed live on SOAS radio at 4.30pm today.