Is this the moment independent digital commercial radio came of age?

COLOURFUL Radio is the only digital commercial radio station focused on meeting the needs and aspirations of the Britain's diverse communities. The recent riots are proving to be a turning point. Covering events from a unique perspective COLOURFUL has featured interviews with the Tottenham-born novelist Diran Adebayo, Roz Griffiths of Brixton Splash, youth leader Suleiman Matthews, Enfield Tory councillor Denise Headley, criminologist Roger Graef, and the Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Kavanagh.

In the last four days online listenership has increased by 300% and increasingly politicians and public figures are turning to it for its coverage of the riots and gauge the pulse of London. Chuka Umunna, the Streatham MP and Shadow Minister for Small Business and Enterprise said "Colourful offers an absolutely vital service to London's diverse communities. I'm a regular listener as it helps me stay in touch with the community's needs and concerns".

With ex-BBC Today programme producer Henry Bonsu at the helm COLOURFUL is proving itself invaluable to understanding the riots and giving it a wider context.