The beginnings of the RMF FM radio in Poland

Abstract

In 2024, it will have been 25 years since the democratic changes that took place in Poland. One of the consequences of the political transformation in 1989 was the emergence of independent media separate from government control. This resulted in the development of not only free newspapers and magazines, but also electronic media. Initially, private radio stations were established as a part of this media transformation. The first radiostation to break the monopoly of Polish Radio was
Radio Małopolska FUN, later known as RMF. This article presents the political, economic, and social conditions during the birth of independent private radio and the entire media system in Poland. The author focusses on the legal environment that initially hindered the development of this segment. It describes the actions taken by the founders of RMF to overcome bureaucratic restrictions, such as using legal loopholes and conflicting interpretations. Another aspect discussed is the construction of the editorial team and the programming. At that time, it was a completely new concept, using market research and audience analysis to build the station's offerings. The experiences of primarily
French radio were adapted to Polish reality. This article shows the realities of the emerging radio market in Poland from the perspective of the first independent, commercial station, Radio Małopolska FUN – RMF.