Radio Record — the history of Russia’s first dance FM radio station: launched in 1995, EDM and Dance CHR format, BPM evolution, Pirate Station and Trancemission festivals, return to Moscow, and its role in the country’s electronic culture.
Radio Record is a Russian federal radio station focused on dance and modern popular music, with its broadcast center located in Saint Petersburg. On air since 1995, it is now the country’s largest dance radio network, combining FM broadcasting, more than 100 proprietary internet channels, a festival division, a record label, and a booking structure.
The station’s core musical format is Dance CHR and EDM, while its key technical distinction is a continuous tempo-matched mix, which evolved over time from 128 BPM to 124 BPM, reflecting shifts in club culture and commercial sound trends.
The origins of the project (1986–1995)
The idea of creating a radio station called “Record” emerged in 1986 and belonged to Soviet composer Viktor Reznikov. After his death in 1992, the project was carried forward by Lyudmila Reznikova (Kolchugina) and Andrey Reznikov.
On August 19, 1995, the station went on air with test broadcasting.
On August 22, 1995 at 08:00, full-scale broadcasting began in Saint Petersburg.
The first track ever played on air is canonically considered to be
2 Unlimited — “Let the Beat Control Your Body”, which became a symbolic starting point for the station’s dance history.
Early years and the search for a format (1995–1997)
At launch, Record operated in an eclectic “4/4” format:
- pop music
- alternative scene
- rock
- Russian-language tracks
The on-air content was largely shaped by the DJs themselves. The station aired news, author-driven programs, and experimental shows. Well-known musicians, artists, and public figures appeared on air, making Record a vibrant and unconventional radio platform for its time.
The shift to a dance-only format (1997)
In 1997, the station’s management made a strategic decision to abandon a universal format and transition to full-time dance broadcasting.
The turning point was an experimental broadcast marathon consisting entirely of electronic music. Audience reaction was decisive: listeners actively supported the new format, even gathering in person outside the radio station building. This ultimately cemented the change in direction.
From that moment on, Radio Record became Russia’s first FM radio station with a permanent dance format.
The era of dance radio and scene-building (1997–2017)
After the format shift, the broadcast schedule was divided into:
- daytime block — dance music, interaction, charts
- nighttime block (21:00–04:00) — live DJ sets and author radio shows
Key programs of the era
- “Record Top 20”
- “Khochu i Basta”
- “Record Club”
- “Record Superchart”
- “Record Megamix”
The role of BPM and sound
- 2008–2017 — daytime broadcasting mixed into a continuous 128 BPM set, aligned with the aesthetics of electro house and the club sound of that era
- 2017–2018 — tempo reduced to 124 BPM, reflecting a shift toward a softer, more commercially oriented sound
For both audiences and industry professionals, this shift became an important marker of the format’s modernization.
The voice of the station: MC Vspyshkin
A special place in the history of Radio Record belongs to MC Vspyshkin (Vladimir Turkov).
His voice became a key element of the station’s sonic identity:
- on-air voice drops
- jingles
- “Bedtime Stories” (aired daily until 2015)
After Vladimir Turkov’s death in 2011, his voice continued to be used on air in branded elements, becoming a rare example of an artist’s “digital immortality” in radio.
In 2024, the voice drops returned to the air, this time with a different voice.
Technical and organizational milestones
- 2002 — studio fire, full restoration of broadcasting on the same day
- 2004 — launch of the official website and start of regional broadcasting
- 2006 — logo update (the signature “checkmark-seagull”)
- 2008 — transition of daytime broadcasting to a 128 BPM mix, discontinuation of Russian-language rotation
- 2011–2015 — broadcasting in Moscow on 98.4 FM
Festivals and expansion beyond radio
Radio Record became one of the few Russian radio brands to build a full-scale festival ecosystem.
Key projects
- Pirate Station
- Trancemission
- Superdiskoteka 90s
- Kolbasny Tsekh
Since 2008, in partnership with ID&T, the station brought the Sensation festival to Russia — a turning point for the domestic event industry that introduced international festival production standards.
Digital transformation and streaming
Since the late 2010s, Radio Record has been actively developing its digital ecosystem:
- thematic internet channels (over 100, including temporary and festival-based)
- video streams of DJ sets
- strong presence on social media
By this stage, the station effectively transformed into a multiplatform music media brand, with FM broadcasting becoming just one of many access points.
The experiment with Russian music and hip-hop (2018–2021)
In 2018, the station temporarily changed its format:
- increased share of Russian-language tracks
- abandonment of daytime mixing
- launch of hip-hop programs
The experiment triggered a negative reaction from the core audience, despite the preservation of the festival and online directions.
According to Mediascope, the station’s national rating during this period stood at around 3.7%.
Return to dance identity (since 2021)
On June 22, 2021, Radio Record officially returned to its dance format:
- restoration of the mix at 124 BPM
- return of classic Record tracks
- launch of video streams and guest mixes
On April 22, 2024, the station returned to Moscow’s FM airwaves on 89.9 FM, marking a long-awaited “return to the dial” after nearly nine years.
Scale today
- broadcasting in 220 cities
- federal status
- satellite broadcasting (Yamal-401 / Yamal-402)
- more than 100 internet channels
On August 22, 2025, Radio Record celebrated its 30th anniversary, confirming its status as the country’s longest-running dance radio station.
Legendary residents and on-air voices
DJ Feel, DJ Romeo, DJ Kefir, Magnit & Slider, DJ Tsvetkoff, MC Vspyshkin.
Conclusion
Radio Record is not just a radio station, but a system-forming pillar of Russia’s electronic music scene. Over three decades, the project evolved from a local FM experiment into a federal music media holding, while preserving its dance identity and a direct connection to club culture.
From an industry perspective, Record remains a unique example of a sustainable model in which radio, festivals, artists, and digital platforms develop as a single ecosystem.
