By Lisa Masuku
Power FM is the 1st urban youth radio station in Zimbabwe, born on the 1st of January 2004.
Power FM was once known as radio 3 then it became 3FM and then on the first of January 2004 that is when it rebranded to Power FM Zimbabwe.
We are the source of hit music, entertainment and news in Zimbabwe. We are the trendsetters and we are known for being pacesetters because every player that joins the industry sets its goals and aspirations according to the bars set by power fm.
We have our own uniqueness of being able to speak to both younger and older audience. Our programming has programs which targets kids and the elderly. For a younger audience we have programmes like Power Kids which caters for kids aged between 12years and under. For teenagers we have Youth Parliament which talks about day to day issues affecting teenagers and the programme also speaks to parents. Then there is The talk which talks on socio-economic and political issues of the day that speaks to every Zimbabwean citizen.
Power FM is the only urban youth radio station in Zimbabwe broadcasting in mainly English and a bit of vernacular (Shona, Ndebele) with a broadcasting format that carries 70% local music and 30% international or regional music.
Power FM plays a great role in promoting local content. As highlighted earlier the station runs with a playlist of 70 percent local music. The station also brags of being the sole radio station that has remains committed to celebrating and pushing local stars.
With this background, Power FM’s sound is intertwined and inclined with that of local music which the station has always pushed since its inception. Power FM will for ever pay homage to its humble roots and the artists/ music that made the sound of Power FM to be what it is today.
The music included genres such as Hip Hop, Soul, R&B, and Dancehall. Musicians like Maskiri, Roy and Royce, Roki, Sani, Leonard Mapfumo, -, Plaxedes Wenyika, 2BG , David Chifunyise, Trinity, Sniper Storm, Winky D, Alexio Kawara, Ngonie Kambarami , Trevor Dongo and many more. The list is endless. Power FM was the only station playing and pushing these stars under a belt which was rose during the early 2000s and came to be known as Urban Grooves and Power FM became the custodians of the music genre.
The Power FM TOP100 Chart the stations biggest hits chat show in 2004 it was the first chart show to feature a local song as number 1. The number 1 spot featured Bvuma Ngoni Kambarami’s song.
We are also the only urban station with nationwide coverage with over 20 transmitters.
Power FM was the first station to digitalise and stream online in 2002 currently it is the only urban radio station that is on DSTV. It is on audio bouquet Channel 893.
The station boosts of 15years of broadcasting and not forgetting that it was recently honoured at the 2019 Business Awards as the Radio Station of the year 2019.
Power FM is a proud winner of the inaugural Superbrand in the Radio Section in 2012. The station was also appreciated at the 50th anniversary of the Zim Council for the welfare of Children for demonstrating influence and impact towards realisation of child rights.
Power FM was the official media partner for Busy Signal (2017), Roman Virgo (2016), Jah Cure (2016), Chris Martin (2016),