Lyric FM 20 years a-growing: So enriching

Some communications technologies have a conviviality that sets them apart from the great stampede of social media; they are embraceable in a way that makes them a companion rather than a challenge.

Radio, despite an ever-changing media landscape, endures, indeed excels, because of that quality.

More than 3.17m people — 83% of the population — tune into radio every weekday and spend an average of four hours a day doing so.

One of the stations that contributes to that figure, albeit modestly, is Lyric FM which marks 20 years in broadcasting tomorrow.

The station concentrates on classical music though it offers much, much more, attracting 120,000 listeners every weekday, a market share of 1.7%.

It is said that a society can be judged by how it treats its weakest members. That principle may be extended to how we encourage enriching art forms, even if they rely on a minority audience. Lyric does that splendidly and exemplifies the inestimable cultural value of public service broadcasting.

Long may it continue — Happy birthday Lyric FM!