A Radio Station In A Train Station? Meet Linea

Have you ever seen a radio station inside a subway station? Based in the heart of Milan, Italy, Linea is a radio station and creative hub that does things a little differently. In addition to broadcasting radio from Monday to Sunday, it offers space for young creatives to express themselves freely. Whether that’s a private event, pop-up shop, art exhibition or book launch. Creative ideas are allowed to come to life and Linea is a home for it all. Through their activity, Linea has connected many dots in Milan’s artistic scenes, and they’re just getting started.

We spoke to Linea’s founder, Andrea Distefano, about the station, why its base in a subway is crucial to its identity and Milan’s creative community.

How did Linea begin?

Andrea Distefano: Linea was born from the idea of creating a space in Milan’s subway system, combining creativity and functionality. The name itself reflects its location: long, narrow, and directly tied to the underground. We wanted to redefine how people interact with art, music, and culture in unexpected places.

What is important to you as a radio station and creative platform?

Inclusivity, authenticity, and experimentation. We aim to provide a platform for both established and emerging voices. There are so many topics that don’t get enough attention and so many talented people who didn’t have many opportunities in the past. They deserve space. It’s also a way to ensure a generational shift and bring the old and new generations together.

Linea does a lot of things – radio, hosting private events. How do you think that’s allowed you to build a community?

By offering diverse activities, we’ve created a multi-layered experience where different audiences overlap. Someone might come for an exhibition and discover a DJ set, or a radio listener might join a live event or you can see passengers stopping by and dancing during a radio stream.

How did you come up with the idea to have the radio station broadcast from a subway station?

The subway is a place of transit, but also of encounters. LINEA serves as both a meeting point and a place of passage, embodying the metro’s role as a democratic and accessible connector, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This connection to the metro is not just physical but symbolic. LINEA embraces movement, change, and the energy of urban life.

What are some of your proudest achievements so far?

Just building something like this inside a subway station is already a huge achievement. Not just for the people we manage to engage, but also because it shows that Milan is open-minded and progressive enough to embrace unconventional ideas like this.

Linea’s studio as Milan’s underground passengers pass by. Photo credit: Cartella Stampa

Tell us a bit about the creative community in Milan, where you’re based. What are some interesting things about it?

The Milanese creative community is constantly evolving. In recent years, we’ve been experiencing a significant shift, with the emergence of new collectives and spaces dedicated to cultural initiatives and clubbing. There are many smaller, more specialized scenes that now collaborate more than in the past, when there were clearer divisions between genres, communities, and clubs. Many cross-disciplinary projects are bringing different aspects of creativity together in shared spaces.

What have been the best parts about building your community?

Seeing people connect through our platform and return regularly is incredibly rewarding. It’s also satisfying to watch emerging artists grow and thrive after being featured at Linea.

What are some of your golden tips for building a community?

To remain yourself in every situation, whether you’re struggling or rising. Keep things simple and stay authentic.

Who are some members of your community that we should be keeping an eye on?

Nava, Bulma Brief, Aldave, Carlo Alberto, Vaitea, Tania Kim, The Saturn Movement, Millesuoni, Insert Coin 80, Gestalt, Ny Sound, Gramophone, Mixology (but you already know!), Series of Taboo, FiloQ, Mountain Groove, Delta Ramificazioni Culturali, E L A, Bruna.wav, Sabina Kaufmann, The Rapture, Mark Brunetti, Glo my, Jean Hazaar, Thomas Costantin, Marais, Hylo, Bernardino Femminielli, Luce Clandestina, Ssaramood, Details Sound, Mentalità, Hyperacustica, Die Sekte Recs, Alsogood, Cucina Sonora, Poche Cltv, Bopintrouble, Andrewww, Showgun, This is Dnb, Jihane, Marcobaleno, Quattro Bambole, Simona Zamboli, Dj Ankles and Monurga!

What have you got planned for 2025?

Our plans for 2025 revolve around expanding and refining our model to create more opportunities for our community. A key focus will be redistributing a portion of our revenue to our hosts, ensuring that the artists and creators who contribute to Linea also benefit directly from its growth. We also want to step outside of our physical space for selected external events, bringing the Linea experience to new locations and reaching different audiences. International collaborations will play a big role as well, allowing us to connect with like-minded creatives and organizations beyond Italy, fostering a global network.