Rick Houghton discusses career and future of radio in podcast

Broadcaster Rick Houghton spoke about his decades-long radio career and the future of the industry in the latest episode of a UK media podcast.

Rick became the UK’s youngest DJ at the age of 16 and went on to work across local, national and international stations, including a spell managing a station in Dubai.

He explained how his interest in radio began when he was nine, after hearing it in a friend’s dad’s car.

Rick described how he started out by answering phones at Radio Merseyside before moving into presenting roles and eventually programme leadership.

In the interview, he reflected on the shift from local programming to centralised networks and the effect this has had on communities.

He also spoke about the rise of small-scale DAB stations and their importance in delivering local content.

Rick said, “There’s still a real appetite for local radio and it gives presenters the chance to connect in a genuine way with listeners.”

He also addressed the emotional challenges of a long career in media, including the impact of job losses and career changes.

Rick now works at In Demand Radio’s Decades channel and continues to support locally focused content.

The full episode is now available on podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts.