On 25 May 1981, Nova was created through the fusion of several radio stations. Since its creation, the station has been owned by the Nova Press company, which also owns the record label Nova Records and the jazz-oriented radio station TSF Jazz.
From 1985, Radio Nova was oriented mainly around world music, but around 1988 the musical programming was changed to include reggae, funk and
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
.
Around 1991, Nova changed its musical programming again, to include acid jazz and French rap. In 1999, its musical programming consisted mainly of Ambient, chill-out and jungle music.
Also in 1999, Nova Press bought the station jazz station TSF, which became TSF 89,9 and installed its studios next to those of Radio Nova.
Throughout the station's history, several well-known Parisians have had shows on Radio Nova, including Ariel Wizman, Edouard Baer, Jamel Debbouze,
Gilles Peterson
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Laurent Garnier
Laurent Garnier (born 1 February 1966), also known as Choice, is a French electronic music producer and DJ. Garnier began DJing in Manchester during the late 1980s. He became a producer in the early 1990s and recorded several albums.
Early influ ...
GIE
''Gie'' is a 2005 Indonesian biopic film directed by Riri Riza. The film tells the story of Soe Hok Gie, a graduate from University of Indonesia who is known as an activist and nature lover. The film is based on a diary ''Catatan Seorang Demonst ...
File:Logo Radio Nova 1981.jpg, Former Radio Nova logo from 1981 until 1995, with several variations very similar to this logo.
File:Logo Radio Nova 1995.jpg, Former Radio Nova logo from 1995 until 2008.
File:Nova radio.png, Current Radio Nova logo since 2008.