Paper short abstract:

My interest in the concept of soundscapes comes from an ethnographic research on local radio broadcasting in Portugal conducted few years ago (1999-2003). Using my fieldwork data, and in the spirit of the workshop proposal, I want to discuss how listeners and participants of these radio shows use radio frequencies to express emotions and share memories with the audience.

Paper long abstract:

My interest in the concept of soundscapes comes from an ethnographic research on local radio broadcasting in Portugal conducted few years ago (1999-2003). My fieldwork was mainly focused on two popular radio call-in programs broadcasted by two different portuguese local radios. Using my fieldwork data, and in the spirit of the workshop proposal, I want to discuss how listeners and participants of these radio shows use radio frequencies to express emotions and share memories with the audience. Through several examples I will demonstrate how the "sonic interactions" that occur on air contribute to shape a sense of belonging to a community of listeners by sharing histories, songs, prays, instrumental music and ritualized "small talk". In short, I want to show how the immateriality of these (radio) sounds is materialized in the everyday life of the listeners and how these radio shows provide not just "company" but also a large network of online and offline interactions.