The last 10 years has seen a decline in the availability of Gospel music on the main broadcasting networks. Many like the BBC, would argue that we now live in a multicultural/multifaith society and their content needs to reflect this change.
The net result is that we have lost many of our long-standing shows and their legendary presenters.
In response to this a small group of well-known individuals in the UK Gospel industry have joined forces to build a high-quality Radio platform specializing in Gospel Music of Black Origin (GMOBO).
Called āAffinityXtraā, the station is the brain-child of Bernard Reilly (aka DJ Proclaima) and Roger Moore (GL360) and their dedicated team.
āWe recognise that because Gospel Music has been marginalized in the UK and wanted to do something about it. In the last 10 years audiences have been disconnected from their artists, which means awareness is down, which in turn has had a negative effect on sales. God spoke to us and told us that it is time to stop being dependant on the major networks and too build our own platforms. We are putting Gospel Music back on the map, which is why our motto is #BeXtraā - DJ Proclaima
āThere is a major problem amongst young people in our communities, too many are involved in destructive behaviour that is leading to violence and a decline in moral standards. Our heart is to reach out to them with message of the Gospel in a culturally relevant way. Furthermore, we have a generation of younger people in Church who really do not connect with Gospel Music in the way they should be. AffinityXtra is a way of beginning to address this issue. Letās start a revolution and put Gospel Music back into mainstream and back on the agenda!ā - Roger Moore
The focus for the station will be to play a range of black Gospel Music that will appeal to every generation, saved or unsaved. The Affinity team are also promising an impressive line up of presenters and DJās that represent the whole of the UK.