Aaron Duggan

Rhyme Republic is the premier platform for independent artists across the North of the UK. We champion grassroots music and raw creative culture, providing independent creators with genuine airplay, digital exposure, and a voice in an industry that often overlooks them. Integrated with my broadcasting work at 96.5 Bolton FM, we bridge traditional radio with modern multi-platform digital media to build real community engagement and drive organic growth.

My work is backed by the dedicated team of volunteers, engineers, and station managers at 96.5 Bolton FM, as well as the independent creators who power Rhyme Republic. Together, we work tirelessly behind the scenes—handling live studio broadcasts, production scheduling, multi-platform video editing, and digital marketing—to keep local community radio thriving and independent music front and center.

My journey is defined by resilience and reinvention. Growing up in Ireland, I was groomed into crime at just 13 years old. It was a heavy, complex environment, but through sheer determination, I gained my way out of the system by age 22. Deciding to take total control of my future, I channeled my drive into trade work as a barber, earned a First-Class Honours degree in Digital Content Creation, and launched Rhyme Republic. Taking that grassroots work ethic onto the airwaves at 96.5 Bolton FM, I host a 2-hour weekly show and have never missed a single week. My past taught me how to listen to real people—a skill that shapes every broadcast and piece of content I create today.