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6 Music Celebrates: 50 Years of the Cassette

Neneh Cherry celebrates the cassette with a look back at the format's role in music, from the early days of hip hop through to the C86 compilation and more.

Neneh Cherry looks at the role of the cassette in music history including the role of the tape in hip hop in the 80s.

In the 80s Britain was a nation in love with the cassette. At its peak we bought 83 million and the cassette became more popular than vinyl. Then came the runaway success of digital music with formats such as the iPod and the MP3 player and the eject button was pressed on sales of the cassette.

6 Music Celebrates: 50 Years of the Cassette with an hour's show looking back at the format's role in music from the early days of hip hop, through the legendary NME C86 Indie compilation tape, the 80s slogan "成人快手 Taping is Killing Music", to compilations, mixtapes and fond memories of the cassette.

The programme features contributions from artists including Grandmaster Flash, DJ Shadow, The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, The Kills, Friends, Django Django, The Shins, Mike Skinner, Beach House, Foals, The Cribs, The Pastels, The Manics, Mike Smith, David Toop, Neneh Cherry and a tiny label called the Tapeworm, who still produce cassette-only releases.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 9 Dec 2012 02:00

Music Played

  • Neneh Cherry

    Buffalo Stance

  • The O鈥橨ays

    For the Love of Money

  • The Strokes

    Modern Age

  • The Tornadoes

    Telstar

  • The Doors

    Hello I Love You

  • The Damned

    Neat Neat Neat

  • Chic

    Good Times

  • Spoonie Gee

    Monster Jam

  • Grandmaster Flash

    The Message

  • The Pastels

    Baby Honey

  • Wire

    Dot Dash

  • Wah!

    7,000 Names oF Wah

  • The Bodines

    Therese

  • The Wedding Present

    This Boy Can Wait

  • The June Brides

    Waiting For A Change

  • McCarthy

    Celestial City

  • Shop Assistants

    It's Up To You

  • Primal Scream

    Velocity Girl

  • Age of Chance

    From Now On, This Will Be Your God

  • Public Enemy

    Give It Up

  • Public Enemy

    Fight The Power

Broadcasts

  • Sun 2 Dec 2012 12:00
  • Sun 9 Dec 2012 02:00