Folk on the Airwaves campaign

Subject: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: EFDSS
Date: 04 May 10 - 11:46 AM

The BBC is currently undertaking a Strategy Review Consultation, looking at its broadcasting output. Having received the Director General's recommendations, that include the well publicised closure of BBC 6 Music and BBC Asian Network, the BBC Trust wish to hear the views of the public. This is an ideal opportunity to make our voice heard.

Folk music is immensely under-represented in the BBC schedules, but the advent of digital radio is a great opportunity for them to fulfil their public service remit by providing niche market programming. Folk programming on the BBC is also an invaluable platform for folk artists at all stages of their career, but is especially useful for young artists or those just starting out. The folk industry has been identified* as one in which career progression is particularly difficult for young musicians, and the lack of a substantial national profile is part of that.

Folk music should be an essential part of the BBC's programming, and you can help us with our campaign to make that a reality - just add your name to our online petition before 20 May, and circulate the link to your friends and family. You can also complete a more detailed questionnaire on the BBC's website. Please help us show the BBC how passionate and active fans of folk music are.

*"Progression routes in London for young jazz, world music and folk musicians" December 2008, commissioned by the Centre for Youth Music; research partner The Hub.

Sign the petition now

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 May 10 - 12:07 PM

Signed ! Number 295

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 May 10 - 01:49 PM

Also signed - no. 322...

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Bernard
Date: 04 May 10 - 02:49 PM

338...

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Martin Harwood
Date: 04 May 10 - 03:22 PM

Anyone know when it's being submitted? It's growing pretty slowly at the moment. Wouldn't want it to backfire through lack of signatories being construed as lack of demand. Time to get Facebooking!

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Martin Harwood
Date: 04 May 10 - 03:31 PM

Oops! just read the OP properly - 20th May.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: EFDSS
Date: 05 May 10 - 04:41 AM

Martin - absolutely, it would be wonderful if everyone who signed the petition could pass it on through whatever channels you use (Facebook, email, Twitter, forums, old-fashioned word of mouth!). We all know the demand is there, we just need to prove it to the BBC.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Richard Spencer
Date: 05 May 10 - 07:07 AM

Signed up - 414.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 05 May 10 - 08:06 AM

422

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 May 10 - 09:06 AM

425

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Banjiman
Date: 05 May 10 - 09:43 AM

Depressingly only 429. Re posted link on Facebook though.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: theleveller
Date: 05 May 10 - 10:45 AM

I've signed (437) but I can't help being sceptical about its effectiveness.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 May 10 - 11:06 AM

Me too [sceptical]

I've added my name to piles've online petitions, but the powers that be seem to take not a blind bit of notice of them.

However, I'll sign this 'un as well!

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Bounty Hound
Date: 05 May 10 - 11:25 AM

Signed and posted link on Facebook.

John

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 05 May 10 - 11:31 AM

signed, with comment " The best kept secret this country has is its own traditional music".

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: buddhuu
Date: 05 May 10 - 11:34 AM

Signed. 444

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 05 May 10 - 12:20 PM

I've signed, with this comment.

I discovered British folk song through the "Ballads of Britain" series of radio programmes about 1963 and it has been a major interest for me ever since. A young person now would have no such luck, as few "folk" programmes are broadcast at all and those few include hardly any recordings of traditional singers.

Richard

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: ChocolateLover
Date: 05 May 10 - 02:07 PM

Signed. Oh, and bumpety bump :o)

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: EnglishFolkfan
Date: 05 May 10 - 02:07 PM

468 ..... Have sent it out on Twitter & FB ........

"The UK has it's own Traditional Music history & England is especially underrepresented on mainstream airwaves. A sad decline since the 60's of Folk in all it's guises being broadcast by the BBC and yet the live music scene is growing."

But I'm not going to hold my breath on this one, especially if the outcome of tomorrow's General Election is Murdoch getting his mitts on the doings of the BBC.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 05 May 10 - 03:11 PM

I signed - no 478, heading in the right direction, good luck!!

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Kevin Sexton
Date: 07 May 10 - 12:51 PM

No 783. Have added comment "Please also consider broadcasting some of the enormous selection of original recordings of traditional music in the BBC Sound Archive."

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 07 May 10 - 05:21 PM

Number 806

CC

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Gweltas
Date: 07 May 10 - 11:17 PM

Number 816

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 08 May 10 - 04:45 PM

Little chance when 4 1/2 hours is devoted to opera on Radio 3 this evening!

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 09 May 10 - 07:58 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: s&r
Date: 10 May 10 - 10:49 AM

refresh

Stu

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Tootler
Date: 10 May 10 - 04:28 PM

Done. No 963, except I mistyped my name.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Chris Partington
Date: 11 May 10 - 11:56 AM

Refresh.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Sven Baserat
Date: 11 May 10 - 01:51 PM

Done. 999

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 11 May 10 - 07:52 PM

Done. 1046

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: EFDSS
Date: 17 May 10 - 09:07 AM

Just a quick bump for this topic - we've only got a few days left before the deadline, so please pass the link far and wide.

http://www.petitiononline.com/folkon/petition.html

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Girl Friday
Date: 17 May 10 - 10:12 AM

Done. Me 1022 and Mumblin Len 1021. It seems to be working. Various folk (including John Tams) on Alan Titchmarsh's Sunday show. Also heard last night/ this morning on Janice Long Show: Richard Hawley singing "The Ellen Vannin Disaster"

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 17 May 10 - 01:26 PM

And Stephen Fry signed just after me.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 10 - 03:04 PM

up again

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: slowerairs
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:13 PM

Signed 1607

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Aeola
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:59 PM

Just signed

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: EFDSS
Date: 20 May 10 - 10:05 AM

And a final bump! Thanks all for your support - currently standing at 1703, it would be great if we could get it to 2000 before the end of the day...

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 20 May 10 - 01:26 PM

fresh again

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: JHW
Date: 21 May 10 - 05:31 PM

The petition only got to 1800 signatures, proving to the BBC that folkies are indeed an insignificant minority.
Rather than demonstrating the need for more folk music on the airwaves the BBC can now shrug off the need for any at all.
Shame.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 21 May 10 - 05:37 PM

JHW I disagree, I think the CORE problem is in education. But there has to be a decision made about education. How many people sang folk song for how long in the UK? Err was it like 'a rite fucking lot'? Yeah! So someone needs to think about that maybe...

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 21 May 10 - 06:01 PM

'Folkies' are not exactly the same as 'folk song and music'.
The Beeb aught to be looking at our musical heritage, but it's the bullshit over singer/songwriter popalikey stuff which has caused so much disinterest from formal sources. If TRAD folk had it's own identity, it might gain more formal acknowledgement.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 May 10 - 06:02 PM

I never sign petitions, they are a con. It's a way of making you feel your voice counts, then those in power ignore them.

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: JHW
Date: 23 May 10 - 06:03 PM

"it's the bullshit over singer/songwriter popalikey stuff which has caused so much disinterest from formal sources. If TRAD folk had it's own identity, it might gain more formal acknowledgement."
Agreed CrowSister.
John MacKenzie. Agreed your voice doesn't count. Why post?

Subject: RE: Folk on the Airwaves campaign
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 May 10 - 03:18 AM

;)