For the Record is a conversation series where we speak with all manner of music heads — DJs, music journos, indie label captains, record shop owners, listening bar kingpins, et al — about their stories + the music that makes them.

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Dougal Perman is a seasoned figure in Scotland's music industry, with a career spanning over two decades. In 2001, he co-founded Radio Magnetic, one of the UK's pioneering internet radio stations, dedicated to promoting underground and alternative music. His leadership extended to the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), where he served as Chair from 2016 to 2023. During his tenure, Dougal played a pivotal role in launching and developing the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, now recognised as Scotland's national music prize. He was actively involved in lobbying government and industry representation during the pandemic.

Beyond his contributions to music media and industry development, Dougal loves playing music. He began DJing at 16, ran hip hop clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow later was a resident at Kinky Afro at Glasgow's Sub Club and various Radio Magnetic nights around Scotland. He plays piano, guitar and oboe, and occasionally creates electronic music. Music is a family affair, Dougal enjoys jamming with his girlfriend and children. He believes that music is in all of us, it's part of what makes us human.

MUSIC MENTIONS

• The Who
• Ian Dury
• “The Jungle Book” Soundtrack
• Scottish Chamber Orchestra
• Segei Rachmaninoff
• The Temptations
• Usher Hall (Edinburgh)
• Apollo Theater (NYC)
• Iron Maiden
• Led Zeppelin
• Frank Zappa
• MTV
• Nirvana
• “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
• NME
• Melody Maker (publication)
• Subcity Radio
• Rolling Stone
• Cafe Graffiti (Edinburgh)
• Radio Magnetic

Radio Magnetic (31:00):

• Warner Music UK
• Ultimate Dilemma Records
• Mushroom Records
• Much Music
• Soma Records
• Slam
• Phonetic Recordings
• Tania Swift
• Jill Mingo
• Chicks on Speed
• TripTych Music Festival
• Underground Solution (Edinburgh)
• Rubadub Records
• Ninja Tune
• Grand Central Records
• Compost Records
• Kompakt Records

Q&A

• Chemikal Underground Records
• The Delgados
• Scottish Music Industry Association
• “dinny greet” by rEDOLENT
• The National Piping Centre
• Celtic Connections (festival)
• First Aid Kit
• Björk
• Joanna Newsom
• Constant Follower
• “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations
• “Double Figure” by Plaid
• Warp Records
• Vicki Troop
• David Kelly
• Honeyblood

Discovering music today (1:01:24):

• Bandcamp
• Shazam
• Bleep
• Scottish Album of the Year Award

First album ever purchased (1:07:45):

• “The Song Remains the Same” by Led Zeppelin

Most recent album purchased (1:08:25):

• “Ash Grey and the Gull Glides On” by Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman

Artists discovered in the past year (1:11:15):

• rEDOLENT
• Becky Sikasa
• Charm of Finches
• Irish Mythen
• Bird Vox
• Jemima and the Fuse

Desert island discs (1:17:00):

• “All the Million-Sellers” by The Temptations
• “The Rite of Spring” by Stravinsky (Dutoit, Orchestra Symphonique de Montreal)
• “A Hi-Tech Jazz Compilation” by Galaxy 2 Galaxy (Underground Resistance)