Liverpool’s Melodic Distraction to cease broadcasting after nearly 9 years on air

Liverpool-based radio station Melodic Distraction has announced that it will be shutting down.

The community-centred broadcaster wrote on Instagram that “after nearly nine years, over 9,000 radio shows and countless live events, it is with a heavy heart that we’re announcing the end of Melodic Distraction and Melodic Bar.”

The station had relocated to the Fabric District just two years ago, where it moonlighted as a coffee shop and outdoor bar to increase revenue streams.

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The Melodic Distraction team cites “rising costs, fewer funding opportunities, the cost of living and the knock-on effect this had had on our management team’s mental health” as reasons for ceasing operations.

News of the Merseyside community radio station’s closure comes after Worldwide FM and SWU FM paused broadcasting in the previous year, with SWU subsequently being bought by Rinse and returning to the airwaves earlier this month.

Other community radio stations have also struggled with funding issues, with Balamii introducing a supporters’ subscription scheme at the start of the year.

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Despite funding issues Melodic Distraction have had a strong 2023 with highlights including stages at Gottwood and We Out Here, and standout shows from Martyn and Silva Bumpa. Melodic Distraction was not just a radio station, but a cultural hub, which delved into events, livestreams and a magazine.

The team have declared that they will be going out on a high and celebrating the achievements of the station with a final broadcast today, complete with a chat room and hotline number for listeners to send voicenotes reminiscing about their fondest memories of the station.

You can listen to Melodic Distraction’s final broadcast, live until 7PM, on their website here

Tibor Heskett is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter