Stevie B gets down to business on LM Radio

PETER FELDMAN

In his matter-of-fact style, Stevie B (Steven Bacher) is already dispensing financial wisdom and interviewing key industry players in his slot on LM Radio on weekdays between 18:00 and 19:00.

The new LM Radio has been brought back to life and retains its old-style format of jingles, talk and music. It was first launched from Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique in the 1950s.

It went through many changes over the decades and in 2014 it was granted a licence to broadcast in Gauteng – but only started to broadcast in the province in April this year.

Said Stevie: “The music is old school and the jocks are well-known names such as David Blood. It is aimed at a 50-plus audience, but it also has an army of young listeners,” he said.

“It is going to have a niche market. My business show will take on the big guns, and I am excited to get on the ground floor and grow with them. I like working for smaller radio stations where I can build up a show.”

Stevie B has become a household name over the years and has made contributions to a host of radio stations, including KayaFm and 702, where he landed his first job. In 2014 he won the MTN Award for the best business show on radio – a career highlight – and he has served as “Brand Ambassador” for Discovery.

A fulltime stockbroker on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by trade, Stevie B always had a hankering for radio and approached 702 with an idea for a business show many years ago.

“Radio is a great medium to express yourself. It gives you the freedom to say what you want, within reason, of course, and it helps market you in other spheres, such as doing MC work and being a guest speaker at seminars.”

He feels he should have gone into radio earlier in his life, but has no regrets at the way his career is moving. “I loved working as a stockbroker and still miss it at times.”

When away from the studio, he enjoys riding his motorbike and can often be seen (especially in summer) pitching up at the studio in full leathers. “Riding a motorcycle,” he says, “allows me to relax.”

In his spare time, he enjoys writing poetry and his dream is to open his own radio station one day. “I still think it can happen in the future. I also believe there is a great future for Internet radio.”

His advice to budding broadcasters is to get a foot in the door, take whatever job they can, and work their way up.

His financial tips during these tough economic times, are that people should pay off high interest credit cards as soon as possible and try not to use them.

He warned about avoiding car repayments that were more than a quarter of one’s income and that bond repayments should not be more than a third of one’s income.

“Try to save 15 per cent of your pay packet and never get involved in pyramid schemes. It’s important, too, to budget every month and don’t spend more than you earn.”

* You can catch the new LM Radio on 702khz on AM and on DStv channel 921.