NOW BROADCASTING / 2026
DAYTIME EDITION
Steve King
Talks
Steve King — 40 years in commercial radio, accredited lecturer of The Arts Society, music historian. Ten lectures across six decades of popular music, available live and online.
STATION
SKT · 98.6 FM
HOST
Steve King
FORMAT
Live · Online
◉ LIVE FEED · LISTENER MAIL
Audience feedback.
2016 — present
"Steve has a very easy and engaging manner which belies the highly professional way in which he approaches his subject —lavish in both substance and style. Many of our members have asked for a return visit."
◉ LIVE
"Outstanding. Highly entertaining and very informative."
Arts Society Kings Lynn · Dec 2023
◉ LIVE
"Riveting from start to finish."
Arts Society Taunton · Jun 2025
◉ LIVE
"The overwhelming feedback was in the ‘outstanding category’ and comments included: A wonderful experience.
Excellent, clear, just the right amount of detail given.Wonderfully balanced, factual yet emotional. Struck a chord- made a very important musical era relevant to all."
Jane Stapleford Arts Society Leeds · Dec 2025
◉ LIVE
"Longest ovation I have heard at our society."
Arts Society Petersfield
◉ LIVE
"They love you Steve. You went down really well onboard."
Cunard · Queen Mary II
◉ LIVE
"We would be interested in Stephen King if he was available for this, he scored so
well on his last cruise."
P and O Cruises · Azura
◉ LIVE
"I've never seen our members so animated afterwards."
Louise Capell Arts Society Richmond
◉ LIVE
"Steve is the master of the cruise talk, using decades of radio experience to shed new light on the songs you’ve been singing along to all your life.
With exceptional research, personal insight and warm word-perfect delivery, he remains at the top of his game, regularly renewing his material and playing to full houses.
A genius at work".
Tony Horne - Ghostwriter, Podcaster, Cruise Ship Speaker.
INCOMING ⇢
"Wonderful material" ·
"Took me back to happy days" ·
"Most enjoyable" ·
"Brilliant" ·
"So lively and so enthusiastically presented"
·
"Very stimulating" ·
"Outstanding mix of video, music and fascinating insights" ·
"Wonderful walk through my youth" ·
"Very well put together" ·
"I cried!"
The talks.
10 programmes · live + onlineSKT-01
1960s–present
I Write The Songs
The stories behind the songs
"Save The Last Dance For Me" was recorded by the Drifters in 1960, but what single
event in the life of the song's lyricist inspired it? What is the truth behind the Beatles song "Lucy In The
Sky With Diamonds"? and who is Whitney Houston's biggest hit really about? Steve will answer these questions
and more as he reveals the real stories behind some of the world's best known songs.
SKT-02
1960–64
She Loves You
The Music of the Sixties (1960–64)
By 1960, interest in rock 'n' roll had started to fade, its biggest star was moving on
and a new generation of teenagers were seeking something different. It came in the form of the Beatles, who
broke all the rules and all the records. This is the story of the first five years of the 1960s, one of the
most creative and innovative periods in the history of music.
SKT-03
1965–69
Like A Rolling Stone
The Music of the Sixties (1965–69)
In 1965 British music dominated the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and the
Beatles were blazing a trail across the world. However, in America, the civil rights and anti-war movements
were gaining momentum, influencing a new breed of writers and musicians; electric folk was born, and album
sales started to increase exponentially. This is the story of the second half of the sixties featuring the
music of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles.
SKT-04
1970s
Without You
More stories behind the songs
"American Pie" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" are both considered to be defining songs of the
seventies, but what do they mean? When Mariah Carey reached number 1 in the UK for the first time, did she
know the full story behind the song that took her there? Steve will answer these questions and more when he
reveals more of these real stories behind some of the world's best known songs.
SKT-05
All eras
The Best Selling Songs Of All Time
The top ten, and why
We all have our favourite songs, but which songs make the all-time best sellers list?
Steve will reveal the top ten best selling recordings in history, and offer some insight into the reasons
why these songs have become so successful.
SKT-06
1960s–80s
I Bet You Think This Song Is About You
The muses behind the music
Songs are often inspired by individuals who come into the lives of composers — but who
are the people that motivated Neil Sedaka, the Beatles, Eric Clapton and Carly Simon to write songs that
have become classics?
SKT-07
1970–74
Get It On
The Music of the Seventies (1970–74)
By the end of the 1960s the UK had established itself as a world leader in popular
music, due in no small part to the international success of the Beatles, and those that followed in their
wake. This is the story of what happened next — a chronological journey through one of the most varied and
innovative periods in the history of music.
SKT-08
1975–79
Cool For Cats
The Music of the Seventies (1975–79)
The biggest selling song of 1975 in the UK was a song from the 60s by a band whose fans
were all too young to remember the original. New teen sensations and disco dominated the singles chart, and
album sales were soaring as progressive rock reached its height. The late seventies were set up to be the
age of the superstar, but someone spoiled the party.
SKT-09
Cross-decade
You Never Give Me Your Money
Copyright, Plagiarism and Infighting
A closer look at music copyright and the legal disputes and creative clashes that have
helped shape the copyright law over the last 60 years. Featuring the stories behind tracks by George
Harrison, Ed Sheeran, Procol Harum and Miley Cyrus the dynamics of authorship, originality, and ownership
are explored. These cases reveal how copyright laws impact artistic expression, how plagiarism accusations
are resolved, and how infighting over composer credits can cause issues that remain unresolved for decades.
SKT-10
1970s
And The Beat Goes On
The Story of Disco
Disco emerged in part as a reaction to the 1960s counterculture and was initially embraced
by those who felt they had little voice in mainstream society. Throughout the 1970s, however, it developed rapidly as
both a musical genre and a cultural movement, eventually becoming so dominant that even Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones
released tracks influenced by the genre. This is the story of how disco took the world by storm, and how three brothers born on
the Isle of Man found themselves at the very heart of the phenomenon, almost by accident.
PROFILE · TX 01
Forty years on the dial.
Steve has spent 40 years working in the radio industry. He is a popular Music Historian, Broadcaster, Programmer and Events Director. He has managed some of the biggest radio brands in the UK and has worked with many well known popular music artists.
His love of popular music and his work as a radio presenter and Events Director has enabled him to meet and work with artists including Olly Murs, Robbie Williams, U2, Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora. Steve has directed over 50 multi-artist events at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, London Palladium and Wembley Arena.
Steve has lectured at various media conferences and industry events during his career and more recently on cruise ships for Cunard, Fred Olsen, Saga, P&O and Marella.
● Accredited Lecturer, The Arts Society (May 2021)
● 40+ years in commercial radio
● 50+ multi-artist events directed
● Lectured for Cunard, P&O, Fred Olsen, Saga, Marella