'Nowon Music Broadcast' 1st Anniversary Achievements?

Comfort for Tired Daily Life... Music and Stories Flowing Along the 12.6km Urban Trail... Music with Stories... A Music Broadcast Where the DJ Takes Real-Time Song Requests and Stories

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that Nowon Music Broadcast, operated on the urban walking trails, is receiving great responses from residents.

The district recently celebrated the 1st anniversary of Nowon Music Broadcast and analyzed stories and song requests to examine the factors behind its popularity.

□ An Open Chat Room Connecting Hearts

Nowon Music Broadcast is an interactive communication channel hosted by a DJ at night. Over the past year, more than 20,000 conversations have taken place through the Nowon Music Broadcast open chat room, with an average of over 150 daily users.

The most frequently appearing words in the chat room were “walk” (961 times) and “corona” (330 times). Regarding family, “mom” (355 times) was mentioned more than twice as often as “dad” (146 times). The trot fever with singers like Lim Young-woong and Kim Ho-joong was also reflected in the music broadcast, and BTS was the most mentioned singer, demonstrating their popularity.

Song requests mainly featured stories of families out for a walk together. Stories from daughters and sons to their dads and moms, and from husbands and wives to each other, conveyed heartfelt feelings that were usually kept inside through the broadcast.

A daughter who used to walk with her dad shared a memory of being carried on her dad’s back to a concert as a child, crying and getting kicked out, and requested “Dream” by Jo Deok-bae, expressing her wish to listen together with her dad.

Children out walking with their parents requested their parents’ favorite songs along with words of love they usually found hard to say. Mothers mainly requested songs that encouraged children struggling with studies and employment. Meanwhile, many husbands requested songs for their wives as surprise gifts, expressing gratitude they usually did not say.

□ The Secret to the Music Broadcast’s Popularity? Stimulating Retro Sensibility!

The secret to the popularity of the evening broadcast, where the DJ hosts by receiving residents’ stories and song requests in real time, was precisely its stimulation of retro sensibility.

Nowadays, people can listen to desired music anytime and anywhere through streaming services on their phones, but those lack stories. The music broadcast filled that 1% missing part.

For teenagers unfamiliar with the concept of listeners, the music broadcast offers a chance to feel the emotions they only saw on TV, and for generations who used to request stories on the radio, it brings back memories of those times.

The charm of the music broadcast lies in the anticipation that the DJ might read the story you requested, and the moment your requested story and song play, sharing the same music with strangers in different places creates a sense of empathy.

□ Music Broadcast Creates a New Walking Culture as a Vitalizer of Life

The chat room has naturally become a cozy space where people ask about each other’s well-being. Loyal listeners who share photos of scenery taken during walks and pictures of dogs and cats have even suggested having Zoom video calls to chat regardless of COVID-19, and requested the DJ to hold a public broadcast once the pandemic ends.

A resident of Gongneung-dong, Mr. A, who listens to the music broadcast daily while walking his dog, said, “Now, a walking trail without music feels empty, and with music flowing in what used to be a simple walking space, walking has become enjoyable, so I purposely walk to match the broadcast time.”

Mr. B, in his 20s, said about the charm of the music broadcast, “Even when I walk alone without friends, I can enjoy the walk, and I get excited when a familiar song plays.”

□ Nowon Music Broadcast Pursues Diversity

Before full-scale operation, the district conducted a survey last April targeting residents to ask about preferred broadcast times, music genres, and opinions on broadcasts hosted by DJs.

Then, the district selected Danghyeoncheon (5.8 km) and Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail (6.8 km), the most popular walking trails among residents, as the broadcast locations. After a year of preparation including the broadcasting system, the first broadcast started on April 27 last year.

Based on the survey results, the music broadcast operates from Monday to Saturday. From 12 PM to 4 PM, it plays calm and diverse music such as light music, classical, and opera without commentary, and from 6 PM to 8 PM, two DJs take turns daily to receive residents’ stories and song requests in real time.

Listeners can access the broadcast and make requests via the KakaoTalk open chat room or by scanning the QR code on the notices posted along the walking trails during broadcast hours.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I am glad that the music broadcast has become a great healing agent for those exhausted by COVID-19,” and added, “We will continue to strive to make Nowon Music Broadcast grow even more.”

Nowon Village Media Support Center