Just in case you don't know, we started up this fully-licensed internet radio station as a reaction to the lack of folk music on the BBC, and it's proved hugely successful - getting thousands of hits per week from around the world, as people read gigs lists, listen to streaming docos and other programmes, browse the small adds, or enjoy the famous musical Billboard (3 hours of back-to-back folk tracks).
The idea was to create a one-stop shop window that would properly represent the folk musics of these islands - and all that goes with it - to the rest of the world. And I think we achieved that in spades.
So what's the problem?
Well, it's threefold. Over the past year the station has been largely funded by a lottery grant (there's money from members and sponsors too), but this has now run out. To complicate matters we've just lost our stalwart and hugely able administrator - Kate Bramley, who's having to move on to new priorities. And the sponsorship period's up too - so we need new sponsors as well, and fast.
How can you help?
Well, first off - you could yourselves become members (if you're not already), and encourage your chums to join too.
Second, you could put up some posters or fliers at your clubs - and mention us in your parish notices. This page lets you download and print everything you need:
Third, you could use the RBF listings page to advertise all your gigs, and plug it as much as you can. We need RBF to become the best, most comprehensive site in the land for getting folk bums on folk seats.
Fourth; you can get involved as a programme-maker - or maybe just suggest programme ideas to others to make. (Quoting Jacey) How about: The collected works of Frank Kidson; Shetland Fiddlers past and present; Traditional songs collected in Oxfordshire; Forty years of the Duck and Dog Folk Club; Seasonal Lore in Folksong; Harry Cox;Traditional Nose Whistling styles of Snoring Jim McGrath; Twenty first century FolkSongs; Tracing the History of Thomas the Rhymer... anything. If you have a passion about it, we want to hear it. Why not make a show about a favourite resident (or source singer - if you're lucky enough to have any!)? Or your next club season? RBF needs a steady stream of programmes.
Fifth; you could get involved in the (volunteer) management team. We need a sponsorship sec, a listings sec, help with scheduling and programme-finding, and we can always do with people to help on the promotion side, to gain max web presence (anyone know about Google Ads for example?)
Sixth: You could suggest some potential sponsors. Bigger clubs might even think of having a panel themselves, or maybe your day-job or local music shop or studio might be interested?
To be honest, if we don't achieve a big surge in interest and support we may go down the tubes, and pretty soon.