Piccadilly Radio archives to be digitised after National Lottery grant  

Manchester Central Library has received a £99k grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to digitise the collection of Piccadilly Radio reel-to-reel tapes it holds.

The grant is to make the archive catalogues available to new audiences by curating 300 Piccadilly Radio clips at the Manchester Digital Music Archive.

Manchester Libraries Trust and former Piccadilly Radio staff have topped up the funding by matching the amount awarded from the grant.

A series of introductory podcasts with those who listened to and made the radio station famous will be made by journalism students from the University of Salford. They will include former Piccadilly Radio staff members, presenters and listeners.

The project grant will also help new young radio lovers by making the station more interactive through a collaboration with the Manchester Hip Hop archive. This will be a three-month project with young people to help them with podcast producing techniques through Piccadilly Radio’s soul and hip-hop shows.

There will also be a six-month exhibition at Manchester Central Library next year and behind-the-scenes tours of the venue for volunteers, participants, lottery players and listeners.

The Piccadilly Radio digital archive will be available on library access pods.

Members of the public are also being asked to share tapes from shows they recorded at home that aren’t already in the archives, such Mike Shaft’s Taking Care Of Business and Stu Allan’s Bus Diss.

A new project manager has been hired to oversee the process, which is expected to take 12 months to complete and officially ends in December 2025.

John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure, said: “It is brilliant to see the precious archives we keep of Piccadilly Radio at Manchester Central Library be supported to move into the digital era of archiving.

“The radio station has played an important role in our broadcast media in the city, for former staff members and its many listeners over the years. I am proud to see this being rightly recognised and for the project to be collaborating with diverse people in our community and being made accessible for young and older audiences.

“Piccadilly Radio has been a cornerstone for many Mancunians and its work with one of our biggest libraries in the city will cement its impactful history for years to come.”

Helen Featherstone, Director of England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Local radio holds a special place in the hearts of many people in the North of England, so it is fantastic news, that thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to support the Manchester Central Library to ensure that its Piccadilly Radio collection is preserved for years to come.

“This investment will mean that more people can learn about our rich musical heritage, gain new skills in podcast production and cataloguing and hopefully inspire future broadcasters.”

Brendan O’Shea, Chair of Manchester Libraries Trust, said: “Manchester Libraries Trust is delighted to have helped secure funding for the digitisation of Piccadilly Radio archives. Piccadilly Radio is an important part of the history of Manchester. Digitising the content will provide future generations with a vital insight into a time of significant social and economic change in Manchester.”

Tony Ingham, Former Producer and Programme Controller at Piccadilly Radio, said: “It was very important that the legacy of Piccadilly Radio be preserved. As someone that worked at the station for many years, it played a massive part of people’s everyday lives in the 70s and 80s and the fact that its cultural significance and magical memories will be accessible for them, and future generations is fantastic.

“I know that former colleagues who worked at the station are delighted and grateful to the Library and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for recognising the importance of the archive.”