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MacG’s journey from prime 40 radio to the highest of South Africa’s podcast charts
The previous decade has been monumental for the South African podcast scene. Radio stations used to clip snippets of on-air interviews, put up them on-line, and name it podcasting. However with numerous latest podcast launches, it’s clear that South Africa is getting into a golden period for the medium. In 2019, podcasts had been already the quickest rising sector for media consumption, however 2020 marked a watershed second as podcast creators gained visibility and listeners in droves — not simply throughout the African stage, however globally too.
Considered one of South Africa’s most outstanding DJs and podcasters, Macgyver Mukwevho, a.ok.a. MacG, knew the audio area intimately. He kicked off his profession in 2000 at simply 16 as a broadcaster on e-tv’s youth programme Craz-e. He then turned a DJ on Gauteng-based station YFM earlier than internet hosting a number of reveals on 947, a well-liked Prime 40 station in Johannesburg.
When MacG misplaced his gig at 947, he determined to fill his time by experimenting with long-form video podcasts which he co-hosted along with his YFM modern Lenn Moleko. The primary episode of Podcast and Chill with MacG was produced in summer season 2018, with a easy format — a relaxed chat that entertained, educated, and supplied a type of escape for listeners. “We needed a platform to specific our ideas unfiltered,” he defined to Patreon. As with many early-stage artistic ideas, MacG initially solely shared it along with his shut buddies. However phrase unfold quick.
In addition to unpacking scorching subjects in South African leisure information, Podcast and Chill with MacG hosts interviews with creators and artists. “To start with, I used to have individuals I do know come by way of as friends — these had been individuals I had developed relationships with throughout my time on radio,” he added. However quickly personalities had been reaching out to MacG immediately to look as friends on the present. “DJ Ankletap [who hosts YFM’s Breakfast show] got here by way of and the idea of movie star interviews was just about born from there.”
He has since interviewed creatives like radio pioneer DJ Sbu, actress and TV host Candice Modiselle, and dancer Zodwa Wabantu. “It has developed to turn into an important voice in society that celebrities wish to be related to,” stated MacG.
Along with Moleko, the podcast has a 3rd host, MacG’s associate, who prefers to not be on digicam. In early episodes, they jokingly known as her “The Ghost Girl,” which, a lot to their amusement, ended up sticking. However they may by no means have predicted that their quickly rising viewers would so wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to discovering who she is. To the Ghost Girl’s credit score, her true identification has by no means been revealed.
However whereas their viewership was rising and their video podcast format was standard, followers, or what MacG calls ‘Chillers,’ had been begging for an all-audio model.
Then the pandemic hit and recording the podcast dwell in-studio turned difficult to say the least. Podcast and Chill entered a brand new audio-only period which MacG felt performed an important position in serving to individuals discover an escape throughout a tough yr. South Africa’s lockdown restrictions had been robust, with the gross sales of alcohol banned for months on finish, so episodes provided listeners much-needed chill time.
Sporadic electrical energy and connectivity points imply on-the-go listening has at all times been a problem for the video-based podcast. However now, due to a lot smaller audio-only recordsdata, Chillers based mostly in South Africa can profit from WiFi hotspots and at last take heed to the present wherever they need.
With the South African podcast area increasing so rapidly, MacG’s recommendation to up-and-comers is consistency.
“Provide the product, and the demand will include that.”
Being on Patreon is a game-changer for Mukwevho, Moleko, and the Ghost Girl. “It’s superb as a result of the Podcast and Chill group are very invested within the development of the present, and what higher place to offer them that than on Patreon,” shared MacG. “We wish to give our patrons an unique expertise they’ll’t get wherever else — as a token of appreciation for all their help by way of these attempting occasions”.