The Europa Plus radio station celebrates its 20th birthday on April 30.
The top hits of each year of broadcasting – from 1990 to 2010 – will be played on the air. Renowned artists and close friends will come to the station to congratulate Europa Plus on its jubilee. The audience can also win big prizes in a special game.
RG correspondent Susanna Alperina interviewed Alexander Polesitsky, general director of the European Media Group, which incorporates Europa Plus.
RG: As I understand, you were a founder of Europa Plus, right?
Alexander Polesitsky: George Polinsky was among its founders. He was one of the pioneers of FM-broadcasting in Europe. George started as a radio pirate in the 1980s. In 1989, he came to Russia and received permission to launch the first independent radio station in the Soviet Union with the support of the then-Gosteleradio (State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting).
RG: But you joined him in the very beginning, didn't you?
Polesitsky: I helped launch the project in Leningrad six months after broadcasting started. This was the initiative of Anatoly Sobchak, the then-mayor of the city, who liked the idea of starting a radio station in Leningrad. At this point, we (the chairman of the Lenteleradiokomitet – Leningrad Television and Radio Committee – and I) found Polinsky in Paris and agreed that Leningrad would be the second city where Europa Plus would commence broadcasting. The project also became feasible owing to the participation of Vladimir Putin, the then-chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. The radio station started as a joint venture. Hence, Putin's signature can be found on the constituent documents of Europa Plus Leningrad. Several years ago, the then-President Putin signed a decree granting Polinsky Russian citizenship and the RG has already written about this.
RG: Was Europa Plus immediately accepted after opening in the country?
Polesitsky: It was launched at a time when the ideas of a common European home and cooperation were very popular in the country. The first name of the radio station, "Europa Plus USSR," meant that it was set up to be a bridge between this country and Europe. In this sense, it was received positively, although the idea was new and nobody knew anything about musical broadcasting, licensing or advertising.
RG: What were your "turning points" over these 20 years?
Polesitsky: Europa Plus started as the first radio station to broadcast absolutely "unknown" music. At one time, this music was banned and, therefore, perceived as a forbidden fruit. It was designed as a radio station for people of all ages. At first, Radio Europa Plus did not broadcast Russian music at all, but it was this very station that put many Russian stars on the air, ranging from Leonid Agutin to Gorod 312 and Vintage.
At the same time, it became clear that a radio station could not cater to all ages and we opted for a younger generation.
RG: Now Europa Plus is part of a big holding incorporating Radio 7, Retro FM and other resources. How do you manage to have your own image amidst so many musical radio stations?
Polesitsky: Life is a struggle, and we must think about this every day. Europa Plus has been on the market for quite a while. It has occupied its niche and it's next to impossible to oust it if, of course, we continue working and searching for new ideas. The radio station is changing every day – it simply cannot stand still.
By Susanna Alperina