BNR Radio

08/06/2026

06/06/2026

This morning's Top 20 Countdown with Brent Meder was a real nostalgic trip - the very first SA Top 20, based on record sales, dropped almost to this day 60 years ago in 1965 - yes the year on the graphic is incorrect. What do you think of this chart? How many songs, or artists, do you recognise? Please comment below.

On 4 June 1965, the first South African Top 20 was broadcast. Rick Nelson‘s ‘I Need You‘ was the nation’s favourite song that week, being more popular than The Beatles, who sat at 2 with ‘Ticket To Ride‘. The Top 20 would be extended to a top 30 on 27 May 1983 and the charts would run until 23 February 1989 when the production of 7″ singles ceased. The CD single never really caught on in South Africa so there were no further official charts for a long while. In February 2022, a new Official chart was launched which looks at streaming.

03/06/2026

Wednesday Women’s Show with DJ Brent now LIVE on Air FM Radio

30/05/2026

Brent Meder presenting the Air FM Top 20 Countdown Show this morning.

16/05/2026

This was your Top 20 Retro Countdown with Brent Meder this morning on Air FM Radio. This morning we revisited the SA Charts as they stood on the 14th May 1982. What a fantastic feedback on the studio WhatsApp 076 352 0685 - so many people sharing their memories of these songs. You can still give us your feedback in the comments below.

Despite the challenge from ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘Don’t You Want Me’ and ‘Centerfold’ the previous week, Kool & The Gang’s ‘Get Down On It’ held on to the top spot to make it 6 weeks at 1.

George Benson’s ‘Turn Your Love Around’ was the first of 3 songs to depart the chart this week. It had managed a run of 8 weeks and peaked at 14. This was nearly as good a showing as his only other hit to date, ‘Give Me The Night’, which had peaked at 5 during a 12 week run.

Also departing the charts this week was Lesley Rae Dowling’s ‘Grips Of Emotion’, which spent 15 weeks in the charts and peaked at 11. This was the lowest peak a song spending 15 weeks on the charts had managed, beating the old record of a peak of 9 which Lionel Petersen’s ‘That’s The Way’ and Zamfir’s ‘Summer Love (Ete D’Amour)’ managed. ‘Grips Of Emotion’ would be Lesley’s only SA chart hit.

Last to go was Kim Wilde’s ‘Cambodia’ which just missed out on giving her 3 straight number 1’s with her first 3 SA chart hits as it stalled at 2 during its 16 week run in the charts. Kim Wilde became the 6th act to see two of their first 3 hits top the charts and the 3rd peak at 2.

No act would ever see their first 3 hits go to number 1. The other 5 acts to have 2 chart toppers and a number 2 with their first 3 hits were 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Beach Boys, Engelbert Humperdinck, Pussycat and The Tremeloes. There would be 1 more act who would manage this. Kim Wilde would see 1 more hit make the charts.

09/05/2026

Join me as we revisit the SA Charts of 1980. Saturday morning 9-12 with me Brent Meder on Air FM Radio.

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