Year: 2025

Two Liverpool stations have recorded a festive single to support Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

In Demand Radio and In Demand Decades have created Crackers for Christmas, bringing their full on-air teams together to produce a seasonal track that will raise money throughout the festive period.
The single will be released this year on 5 December, with pre-orders now open.
A music video, filmed at Sound House Recording Studios in Litherland, will premiere on 28 November and the fundraising effort will continue until Boxing Day. Supporters can donate directly to the campaign by visiting crackersforchristmas.com or by sending the text message detailed by the stations.
A spokesperson for In Demand Radio said “Alder Hey is such an important part of our community, and we wanted to do something that not only raises money but spreads a bit of joy, too.” They added that the whole team enjoyed taking part and are looking forward to the reaction from listeners when the single is released.
Crackers for Christmas brings both stations together on a project that highlights community spirit and the role radio plays in supporting local causes. The campaign uses the combined reach of both services to promote the charity and encourage listeners to get involved over the festive season.
The stations say that direct donations are the best way to support the appeal, while the single acts as a way to raise awareness and celebrate the work of Alder Hey during a busy and emotional time of year.

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A new pop-up station inspired by Stranger Things has launched on DAB in London, Global Player and smart speakers.

WSQK The Squawk is live from today and will run until 1 January, delivering a full 1980s radio experience linked directly to the final season of the Netflix series.
The station plays continuous 80s hits and features a cast of American presenters including Vance Goodman and Mindy Flare. Listeners will also hear a full set of retro-style commercials written in the spirit of Hawkins.
Sung jingles and voiceovers are filling the output too.
Fans can take part in Rewind at 9, a segment where a reversed track challenges listeners to identify the song, while Talk to Tammy provides advice with a Hawkins twist. There is also Dial-A-Dedication, giving listeners the chance to get their message on air by submitting it through the Global Player website.
James Rea, Global’s Chief Broadcasting and Content Officer, said part of the project’s appeal is that “fans love the show’s nostalgia and energy, and this station bottles that completely”. James added that creating WSQK with Netflix “has been a joy”.

To capture an authentic sound, the audio is being processed through a vintage Inovonics FM250 unit dating back to 1983, the same type used widely by radio stations during the decade. This approach gives WSQK a period-accurate tone that matches the Stranger Things setting.
WSQK The Squawk is available on DAB across London, on Global Player and on smart speakers by asking for The Squawk. It links with the release of Stranger Things Volume 1 on 27 November at 1am GMT, Volume 2 on 26 December at 1am GMT and the finale on 1 January at 1am GMT.

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