At the time, they were very few sources to keep abreast of what was emerging on the music scene. Prior to 1980, there were only very few music programs on the main national radio stations available in France (Europe 1, RTL and France Inter). That changed on June 2nd, 1980 when France Inter launched a new FM radio - Radio 7 - which just propel us all in a new age of trendy and accessible music. Of particular fond memory, I remember the 2 hours slot that Smith & Wesson had between 5 and 7 every afternoon. I would sit next to the hifi system, a BASF 90 minutes Ferro Super (or when fortunate a Chromdioxid Super one!) in the tape player, the finger waiting for the radio presenter to stop talking before each song he was playing, looking to capture the latest, the next, ... the future hit of the 80s!!
A year later, the socialist party came to power on May 10th, 1981. One of its first positive decisions was to liberalize the radio waves and allow private radio stations. In the process, Radio 7 losts its reason of being and was discontinued in 1987.
