In Conversation with Crop Radio

Interview: Ella Kenneally @ella_kenneally

Photography: Josh O’Carroll @ocj0sh and Connor Cooper @connor_cooper

Launched in March 2024 and already cemented as a key voice in Manchester’s underground music scene, Crop Radio has quickly become more than just a station - it’s a movement. Born from a desire to spotlight emerging talent and build bridges between local and global sounds, Crop is rooted in community, collaboration, and culture. With a sold-out end-of-year celebration and a growing online presence, the platform continues to evolve while staying grounded in its mission: to amplify the voices that make the North West’s creative scene thrive. In this interview, we catch up with some of the minds behind CROP to reflect on their whirlwind first year, talk standout moments, dream guests, and how they’re keeping radio culture alive in the streaming age.

Image by Josh O’Carroll

What inspired you to start this radio station, and what gap in the scene were you hoping to fill? And why Manchester?

Connor Cooper: Manchester is a place where ideas can come to life. It is a city that is big enough to have an impact and small enough that you can gather a team to support an idea and grow together. It is the perfect balance. We wanted to create something that would put Manchester on a global platform. We feel that there is enough talent and greatness in this city to sit amongst the best in the world and if we all grow together, there is no reason why that cannot be true.

If you could describe your station’s sound and ethos in just three words, what would they be?

CC: Strength In Numbers.

As Crop Radio grows - both in audience and reach - how do you balance staying true to Manchester’s underground roots while expanding globally, ensuring the platform remains an authentic space for emerging talent and doesn’t lose its grassroots identity, especially in the digital age?

CC: This is a really great question and it is something that we want to keep in mind as things grow. We hope that there is enough space, time and energy to go around to support all emerging scenes whilst still creating something that is attractive to a global audience and global talent. We think whilst continuing to connect with our community through everything that we do, on the ground and in person, building what we do brick by brick with them in mind, we can stay true to what the city needs for us to provide to the people in it, whilst constructing an infrastructure and platform that is one of the best in the game. 

What’s one thing people don’t realise about running a radio station?

Tommy Cross: I would say that I don’t think people realise how rewarding it is to be running a community platform, providing a space for like-minded individuals to come together and network, dance, and share music is a privilege. If anyone out there is interested in getting involved then totally do it, volunteer at a station or even start your own, find some support, it’s possible.

Image by Connor Cooper

Are there any up-and-coming artists you’ve featured that you think people should have on their radar?

Sanchia Rusike: There’s so many ahh, but the three that pop into my head.

GINA - I just think she’s so sick, and more people need to have her on their radar. The way she beautifully waves the flag for bass music in such a refreshingly light and captivating way is just chefs’ kiss.

Kuriboh - Rojak resident, has become an unstoppable force in the scene - an amazing selectah with every set leaving me reaching for Shazam. Their recent set with atalaya was no exception, pure energy from start to finish, it got me locked.

Sophia Harari - A jack of all trades: singer, DJ, poet and curator - she has an insanely impressive portfolio of work, ranging from spoken word performances to her own selfwritten singles and vinyl sets.

Do you think radio still holds the same cultural power in the streaming era, and how does your station adapt to modern listening habits?

SR: I think radio’s cultural influence has definitely shifted, especially with the rise of streaming services, but I believe there has been a resurgence. In a time when algorithms serve up content that perfectly matches our tastes, it’s easy to fall into a routine of only listening to what’s familiar. Radio brings back the human touch - spontaneous music discovery, connection, and community. 

As an internet-based station, we not only stream live but also archive our shows on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. This way, listeners can engage with our content whenever it suits them and even months after the moment passes. But we’ve also adapted in a way that goes beyond just the studio. Our events are a huge part of what makes Crop Radio, they’re regular, diverse in programming, theming, and music, and they build our listener base in a self-fulfilling cycle - people discover us through the events, engage with the station, and come back for both the live and archived content. It’s a dynamic, evolving ecosystem where the physical and digital spaces feed into each other, keeping the community engaged in a way that feels organic and exciting.

Has there been a standout Crop Radio set for you so far?

Samantha Corcoran: It’s hard to pick just one with so many great artists coming through the station. I love the more talky shows like DJ Deep Heat and, more recently, Biz’s show, Tea n Bizcuits. That said, I also enjoy a highenergy set - some standout ones have been Shimrise and Selectacee.

Image by Josh O’Carroll

If you could have any artist, dead or alive, do a guest show on your station who is it and why?

TC: Pretty tough question this one. So manny possibilities. My answer to this probably has to Manchester Icon, Marcus Intalex. He did the DnB radio show ‘Da Intalex’ on Kiss FM Manchester for 7 years in the 90s, so well traversed as a host. Also I would just love to hear what he would have to play on CROP, whether it be drums, techno or something different. Either way, I would turn up our lovely in house sound system nice and loud for it.

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about, and how do they align with Crop Radio’s long-term vision?

CC: We have some great festival collaborations coming up this summer with the likes of Parklife, We Out Here, Green Island, SFTOC, Home Of The Drum, Manchester International Festival and more. It is always a privilege to be able to link up with amazing events outside the studio so keep your eyes peeled across summer as we are bopping about!

We sat down with some Crop residents, aka Manchester’s finest selectas...