by Thembeka Mazibuko
In an industry where many presenters choose to play it safe, Gavin is doing the opposite, and his audience is responding.
Recently, Gavin made a bold on-air decision to introduce a Bollywood song into his playlist. While unconventional for his usual programming, the experiment quickly proved that sometimes, taking a risk is exactly what radio needs.
“I think presenters love playing it safe and going by the rules,” Gavin explains. “But I’m different from that. I’m like a toddler, I like digging around to find what else people would like.”
This curiosity-driven approach is what led him to experiment with music outside the expected norm. Rather than viewing playlists as fixed or restricted, Gavin sees them as spaces for discovery, not just for himself, but for his listeners as well.
The positive audience reaction highlighted something powerful about music: its ability to connect people beyond language, culture, or background.
“Different songs from different music cultures bring people together,” Gavin says. “Sometimes you think people from different races wouldn’t love a particular song because it’s not in their language. But look at Nkalakatha, it brought everyone together.”
The Bollywood track had a similar effect. Listeners didn’t reject it because it was unfamiliar; instead, they embraced it. The response was so strong that Gavin was asked to play the song again a clear sign that the audience was open, engaged, and eager for more.
“It was a good response,” he adds. “People wanted to hear it again.”
For Gavin, this moment wasn’t just about one song it was about challenging the unspoken rules of broadcasting.
“Sometimes broadcasters follow the rules,” he says. “But I differ from that.”
His approach raises an important question for the media industry: are audiences as rigid as we assume, or are they ready for more diverse, inclusive content? This experiment suggests the latter. By trusting his instincts and respecting his listeners’ openness, Gavin created a moment that felt fresh, exciting, and human, reminding us that innovation doesn’t always require new technology, just a willingness to try.
Looking ahead, Gavin’s vision is even bigger. He hopes to use his platform to take listeners on a global journey through sound.
“I want to take the listeners worldwide,” he says, “so they get to experience music from different countries across the world.”
It’s an ambitious goal and one that aligns perfectly with the evolving role of radio as a space for cultural exchange, storytelling, and connection.
Gavin’s Bollywood playlist experiment is a reminder that meaningful media moments often come from courage, curiosity, and trust in your audience. By stepping outside the rules, he didn’t alienate listeners, he brought them closer and sometimes, all it takes is one unexpected song to prove that the future of radio is more open than we think.