Tropic Fredi wants to know once again
Radio Tropic is back on the air—this time via the Internet. But we still don't have the necessary funds.
At the end of 2007, Frédéric Dru, the initiator of Radio Tropic, pulled the plug on his FM station after ten years and since then Roger Schawinski's Radio 1 has been broadcasting on the same frequency. "It will be a very long time before something like Radio Tropic comes into being again," Dru said sadly in the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper at the time. He had given up because he did not want to apply for a new FM license. The requirements regarding journalistically prepared local information did not suit his "cultural radio without too much blah blah blah" concept.
But just five months after the end, Dru became radio-active again. To be more precise: Dru's daughter and his wife founded a new company called Radio Tropic International on May 9, 2008, whose purpose is the "distribution of radio broadcasts on the Internet and through other electronic media". However, only Frédéric Dru provides information on this.
And he wants to try again. The response to the end of his radio station was so overwhelming ("some people even cried") that he decided to try again - with the same program concept. In other words, with around 270 different rhythms from blues, soul, reggae, tropical jazz, African jazz, gospel and tango, combined with news in German, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Of course, the Dru family will no longer be broadcasting on FM, but via the Internet and perhaps one day via DAB+. Frédéric Dru cites his love of music and of people and their different cultures as the reason for the new attempt. "Music has many powers. It is a medicine and provides inner balance. It also sets the emotions in motion," is how he describes his philosophy. Radio Tropic should also stand out. "We don't want to be like everyone else - after all, the world isn't just made up of the USA and the UK." His radio should rather contribute to broadening listeners' horizons. Money, on the other hand, is secondary to him. "I never wanted to be number 1 with Tropic and I never wanted to become a millionaire," he says.
Radio Tropic is not yet on air. No start date has been set either, although the Dru family at Limmatstrasse 31 in Zurich would be ready to start. The obstacle is the lack of funds. Dru has been making radio for ten years - often at the limit financially and only thanks to volunteers, friends and acquaintances. Dru no longer wants that. For the new project, however, they need sponsors or firm commitments from advertisers. "Many have shown interest, but no one wants to commit. Everyone is waiting for the final award of the broadcasting license. And the financial crisis has also made many more cautious," says the radio man. How much money does Dru need to get started - a million francs? Frédéric Dru waves it off. "Half that will do," he says, without revealing any budget details.
Markus Knöpfli
But just five months after the end, Dru became radio-active again. To be more precise: Dru's daughter and his wife founded a new company called Radio Tropic International on May 9, 2008, whose purpose is the "distribution of radio broadcasts on the Internet and through other electronic media". However, only Frédéric Dru provides information on this.
And he wants to try again. The response to the end of his radio station was so overwhelming ("some people even cried") that he decided to try again - with the same program concept. In other words, with around 270 different rhythms from blues, soul, reggae, tropical jazz, African jazz, gospel and tango, combined with news in German, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Of course, the Dru family will no longer be broadcasting on FM, but via the Internet and perhaps one day via DAB+. Frédéric Dru cites his love of music and of people and their different cultures as the reason for the new attempt. "Music has many powers. It is a medicine and provides inner balance. It also sets the emotions in motion," is how he describes his philosophy. Radio Tropic should also stand out. "We don't want to be like everyone else - after all, the world isn't just made up of the USA and the UK." His radio should rather contribute to broadening listeners' horizons. Money, on the other hand, is secondary to him. "I never wanted to be number 1 with Tropic and I never wanted to become a millionaire," he says.
Radio Tropic is not yet on air. No start date has been set either, although the Dru family at Limmatstrasse 31 in Zurich would be ready to start. The obstacle is the lack of funds. Dru has been making radio for ten years - often at the limit financially and only thanks to volunteers, friends and acquaintances. Dru no longer wants that. For the new project, however, they need sponsors or firm commitments from advertisers. "Many have shown interest, but no one wants to commit. Everyone is waiting for the final award of the broadcasting license. And the financial crisis has also made many more cautious," says the radio man. How much money does Dru need to get started - a million francs? Frédéric Dru waves it off. "Half that will do," he says, without revealing any budget details.
Markus Knöpfli
