Star FM at Bulawayo Centre (file photo)
Showbiz Reporter
ZIMPAPERS’ radio station Star FM has taken its leadership and dominance of the broadcasting industry to a new level following the establishment of Star FM Listeners’ fan clubs by loyal listeners of the station. The fans, whose age ranges between 25 and 35 have been brought together by their love for the Star FM brand, which has seen them establish the following fan clubs: Team Harare, Team Bulawayo, Team Bulawayo Prisons (made up of Prison officials and their families) and Team Beitbridge. The teams engage in robust discussions on Facebook and Whatsapp over the different programmes aired on Star FM. They also organise meetings where they have braais and network while discussing Star FM programmes and personalities.
Zimpapers Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager Beatrice Tonhodzayi said what is amazing about this initiative is that the listeners organise themselves, use their own resources to hold get togethers and mobilise even more support and listenership for the country’s leading radio station.
She said when the public takes a business as their own project it only shows that they have a buy in and believe in the brand.
“As Zimpapers we’re proud to see our brands garnering this much support from the public. It’s exciting and gratifying in that it shows that the business decisions we’re making have the support of the community in which we’re operating. We would like our fans to continue to stand with us because at the end of the day our relevance is determined by their support,” Tonhodzayi said.
Star FM’s Programming Manager Napoleon Nyanhi, who has been invited to some of the get- together activities hosted by the fan clubs, said he was touched by the level of commitment expressed by the fans.
“To have people putting in their own resources and driving across the country to meet and discuss how they can continue to support the station in these difficult times shows how much these fans value the station. We’re truly humbled and will continue to do our best so as to retain the confidence of our listeners,” he said.
Star FM has been riding on a wave of success over the past few months. Its general manager Comfort Mbofana won two Leadership awards at the Megafest and Zimbabwe Leadership Awards respectively. Star FM itself, also won several awards.