By: Memphis of UR105.9FM

As I write this, I have one more day left as a DJ. People keep on asking me how it feels to let go of something that has been such a huge part of my life. I say that it’ll probably sink in next week, when the sun is up before I am, and I have much to say but no microphone facing me. It will be a sad day.

It was a young group of six that started it all, with the guidance of radio and music veteran RJ Jacinto. None of us planned to be in radio, really. We were writers, business owners, dancers and musicians. But when it came to radio, we were admittedly clueless and wholeheartedly earnest. It was something we had never done, and it was probably obvious by the way we fumbled and stumbled and stuttered on air.

Jaton Zulueta, Nina Glorioso, Yagi Olaguera, Niki Flojo, RJ Jacinto jr. and I were the first regular voices heard on UR 105.9, with other DJs jumping in on weekends for special one-hour shows. But it was that small group of inexperienced DJs who got together and contributed songs, wrote scripts for the weirdest commercials and recorded stingers as Confucius or Annoying Exclusive School Girl. We had no idea what we were doing, but man did we have a lot of fun.

UR105.9 started out as a radio station that was all about the music, and I am proud to say that today it remains the same. We have never accepted payolas or bribes to play anyone on the air – all we wanted was the band’s support and their songs. For as long as the music was good, they stood a chance. Listeners waited for those three songs in a row, classic, modern and Pinoy rock, to hear music that deserved to be heard. Some only listened in every once in a while, others stayed with us loyally these past four years, but everyone tuned in because they knew the music was going to be good, and it was going to be honest.

Cut to four years later.

UR 105.9 will be off the air soon. We weren’t on long enough to become one of those mega-radio stations. We weren’t the highest rating either, didn’t win any awards, and up until today there are still people who say that they’ve never heard of us. We’re a little radio station with no fame to claim with the masses.

But I have never been prouder of anything in my life. We started this from scratch, gave music from our own collections, learned how to DJ while training-by-fire and were able to put up something that gave people a chance. Very few things will give me the same joy, I believe, as the face of a struggling musician hearing his or her song for the first time on-air. I am fortunate for having seen those faces many times, and hope to one day see them again.

So many things are changing for UR. Soon it will only be heard on Facebook as UR Faceradio, the DJs won’t only be playing music but videos as well, and even events will be streamed live as part of the programming. It will be a new platform to be heard on, not limited to the range of radio airwaves. Even Pinoy musicians who are based in other countries will get their chance now. It’s a new day and a more exciting time for UR, and big proof that when you love something enough, you won’t let a little thing like going off-air beat you down.

There is one more celebration to be had before we fully move online, and I am hoping with my heart of hearts that you can be a part of it. This Saturday, May 28, Pinoy Musik Aid: Mabuhay ang Musikang Pilipino will be taking place at the Metrowalk Central Plaza. Barbie Almalbis, Kjwan, Mayonnaise, Slapshock, The Itchyworms and RJ Jacinto himself will be playing that evening, to launch UR Faceradio.

Aside from the great lineup, six other events will be taking place simultaneously at B-side, Sazi’s Bar, Molokai, Kalye Timog and Casa Nami as a part of the launch. The partner events will be streamed at the main stage in Metrowalk, and that’s why you need to be there. It’ll be like going to see six different gigs and you won’t even have to move from your seat. It’s a night you need to see for yourself, and we hope you come out to celebrate with us.

I have one more day left as a DJ, and AM Mayhem (the morning show I hold with my partner, Nick Zinger) will no longer be part of the new programming. It’s going to be quite a change, but we are hopeful that it’ll be a great one.

So that’s the show for today, thanks for joining us here on UR 105.9 folks! We hope you have fantastic days ahead! Keep on tuning in and join us again for even more of your favorite tunes. My name’s Memphis, and it’s been a real pleasure serving you. This has been AM Mayhem, and I’m signing out.