Rádio Nacional launches series celebrating 90 years of musical history

Rádio Nacional, a public broadcaster under Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), has launched a new episode of its documentary series ‘Rádio Memória’ to celebrate its upcoming 90th anniversary in 2026. The latest episode, titled ‘Sofrência nas ondas do Rádio’, explores the historical roots of ‘sofrência’—a genre of romantic, heartbreak-driven music—and its prominence during the golden age of radio.

Hosted by Dylan Araújo and featuring guests Mona Vilardo and Fabiane Pereira, the program examines how radio served as a primary medium for emotional connection and musical trends long before the digital streaming era. The episode utilizes historical archives, including a 1970 testimony from singer Dalva de Oliveira regarding her 1949 trip to Venezuela and her separation from Herivelto Martins. Other featured historical elements include a 1952 recording by Dircinha Batista and insights from journalist Ruy Castro on the samba-canção genre.

The series is part of a broader commemorative agenda titled ‘Do passado ao futuro. Sem Fronteiras’, highlighting the station's cultural legacy in journalism, music, and sports across its various Brazilian broadcasting locations.