Tony Christie backs DAB launch as Music for Dementia hits the road with a mobile AdVan campaign visiting care homes across South and West London
m4dRADIO, the free specialist music service created by Music for Dementia, is now available on DAB in South and West London, with a launch campaign taking the service directly to care professionals and care homes within the region.
The campaign, backed by singer Tony Christie and supported by a partnership with Dementia Disco, will see a branded mobile advertising van travel around central London on Monday 14 September before visiting selected care homes across South and West London.
The Music for Dementia team will meet care staff at participating homes, distribute m4dRADIO goody bags and provide information about how the service can be used by residents and care teams.
m4dRADIO provides 24-hour access to familiar music with no adverts, chat, news or interruptions. The DAB service carries the MIX channel, a continuous stream of familiar favourites from the 1940s to the 1980s, while the full service – including five dedicated decade channels – remains available online.
Music can play an important role in the lives of people living with dementia, helping to create moments of joy, comfort and connection. Familiar songs can prompt memories and emotions, encourage people to sing or move, and provide opportunities for interaction with family members, carers and other residents.
For care homes, professional carers and activity coordinators, m4dRADIO is designed to be a simple resource that can be incorporated into everyday care and activities. The MIX channel can be used as background music, for singing along or gentle movement during activities, or simply to create a relaxed atmosphere. Dedicated playlists such as Feelgood Friday, Move It Monday and Sunday Hymns can also provide a ready-made focus for different activities and moments throughout the week.
Tony Christie, 83, who is living with dementia, surprised Dementia Disco revellers in Merton on September 13 for a special ‘switch-on party’ to celebrate m4dRADIO launching on DAB. He says: “Music is my life and I know from my own experience how powerful it can be for people living with dementia like me. I can forget people’s names and things, but when the music starts, I’m back. That’s why I think it’s so important that people living with dementia can easily access music they know and love.
“I grew up in a generation listening to the wireless. When I think of listening to music I think of my vinyl collection or the radio. m4dRADIO is a really simple way for people like me to be able to listen to the music we love without fiddly apps and passwords.”
Amy Shackleton, CEO at Music for Dementia, said: “Moving to DAB is a fantastic milestone for m4dRADIO. We’ve been campaigning to make the music people love more accessible for those living with dementia, and this is a major step on that journey.
“We hope our Dementia Disco ‘switch-on party’ with Tony Christie and our mobile AdVan campaign reach as many care homes, care professionals and family carers in South and West London as possible. We’re confident when they discover m4dRADIO it will become an invaluable tool for them.”
How to listen
- m4dRADIO is now available on DAB across South and West London
- The online service for m4dRADIO has a range of five decade channels, covering the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, plus the MIX channel. You can access this via m4dRADIO.com on a phone, tablet or laptop
- m4dRADIO can also be played through Alexa. The first time you use it, say: “Alexa, enable M Four D Radio.” After that, simply say: “Alexa, play M Four D Radio.”
