Packed studios, live interviews and global sounds – we go behind the scenes of MusicHub, FreshAir’s home for discovering new music.
We all know and love FreshAir Radio. Maybe your flatmate runs a show, maybe you’ve tuned in once or twice, or maybe you spend as much time at Dropkicks as we do. But one corner of the station that can sometimes fly under the radar is MusicHub — the home of all things music at FreshAir. FreshAir gallantly hosts everything from ASMR to podcasts to broadcast journalism (shoutout News Hub). MusicHub, though, is where the station leans fully into discovering, discussing and celebrating music.
Behind the show is a small but busy team. Brad, FreshAir’s Head of Music, helps steer the project, while David, the show’s producer, keeps everything running behind the scenes. In the studio each week are a mix of co-hosts Euan, Anabel, Chloe, Angi and Brad. And on the social media side, I run around filming interviews and pestering students in George Square for their recommendations. Together, the team spends the week preparing for one two-hour show every Friday from 2–4pm.
For Brad, what makes MusicHub special is the collaborative spirit behind it.
“It’s not just one person sitting in front of the microphone,” he says. “MusicHub is a team coming together with a whole series of different tastes and sounds.
Edinburgh’s Student Music Scene
Put simply, MusicHub keeps listeners up to date with everything happening in the industry – from awards seasons and album drops to controversies and new releases. We like to think of ourselves as FreshAir’s feet on the ground in Edinburgh’s music scene. For many bands, appearing on MusicHub offers something a little different to the usual gig circuit (and perhaps slightly less chaotic than a Wednesday night at Sneaky Pete’s).
“The student music scene is an exciting area to find new and fresh talent,” Brad says. “They’re not yet bound by the expectations of labels or listeners, so for MusicHub to spotlight that is a huge privilege.”
Global Desk
One of the show’s most distinctive features is the Global Desk. While the main team focuses on Edinburgh’s grassroots scene, correspondents Daniel, Giulia, Celeste and Hana join the show to share artists and trends from international scenes. The result is a mix of local discovery and global perspective unique to FreshAir’s MusicHub.
LIVE
Of course, one of the most fun parts of MusicHub is when the studio fills up with musicians. Live interviews and acoustic sessions have become a staple of the show — even if it sometimes means bravely packing everyone into Pleasance West. In recent months, artists including Aldous, Oedipus and the Mamas Boys, and Perception have stopped by to chat.
Their vision for the future
“My main goal is to see MusicHub keep growing and staying consistent,” Brad says. “Battle of the Bands is coming soon — which I won’t say too much about, but getting bands together has become a bit of a tradition for us.”
He also has a longer-term dream for the station.
“I’d love to see a new ‘glory days’ of FreshAir, getting back outside and recording in the open again rather than staying in the bunker.”
And if you’re a student musician thinking this all sounds quite appealing, good news. MusicHub is always on the lookout for new acts to feature on the show. For more information, head to FreshAir’s Instagram page, where you’ll find updates, live interviews, and possibly me and a microphone roaming around campus asking the very important question: what are you listening to right now?
All images from Fresh Air Radio MusicHub
