The cult French radio station Skyrock, which launched the careers of the country's biggest hip-hop stars and started France's social network craze, is in crisis as its eccentric founder has locked himself in his office over a shareholder row.
Pierre Bellanger, a one-time pirate radio pioneer known for his unconventional private life, is staging a sit-in protest in his office as a rush of politicians take to the airwaves in support after shareholders tried to replace him.
At stake is the heart of French youth culture and the irreverent 25-year-old radio station, which revolutionised the musical tastes of teenagers and the multiracial suburban tower blocks. In the pre-Facebook era, Skyrock's website became one of the most important social network sites in Europe and it still hosts more than 33.5m French blogs. With 4 million listeners a day, it is France's biggest radio station for under-25s and at election time, politicians fight to appear on shows to up their street cred.
Bellanger, from bourgeois roots in the west of Paris, is famous for his rebellious streak and bizarre personal touches to the station. His personal clairvoyant has a successful show on Sundays, giving psychic advice to lovestruck youngsters.
He was given a three-year suspended prison sentence for corrupting a minor.
This week politicians jumped to Bellanger's defence after Skyrock's main shareholders, AXA Private Equities, announced he was to be replaced as director general. Bellanger said the move was aimed at running the station down and selling it, putting its independence at stake.
"I've decided to set myself up in my office and not leave it until this crisis is over," he told the media.
He currently holds a 30% share in the station but said he would now bid to buy the whole thing outright.
Hundreds of thousands of listeners mobilised online in his favour. The Socialist party issued a statement supporting Bellanger and one would-be presidential candidate, François Hollande, appeared on the station to defend its independence and the importance of urban culture.
The youth wing of Nicolas Sarkozy's rightwing UMP party also rushed to the station's defence. Rama Yade, the former sports minister and one-time Sarkozy protege tweeted her support.
In 2010 Skyrock's turnover was €32.7m (£29m), down on 2009.
- This article was amended on 20 April 2011 after receiving a letter of complaint from solicitors for Pierre Bellanger.
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