Changes to Radio Britfolk

Subject: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: nutty
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 02:41 AM

Am I the only one to have missed these changes - I can't remember anything being posted on Mudcat?

In 2007 there were considerable changes at Radio Britfolk which seemed to slip by virtually unannounced.

Now called 'THE MUSIC WELL' membership charges have been abolished and the site can be accessed by anyone.

There is an extensive archive of past programs which I will be working my way through in the near future.

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 03:31 AM

It was (and still is) in the PermaThread...

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 07:08 PM

Nutty - I'd spotted the change of name, but not that membership charges have been abolished. They are asking for donations though (rather like Mudcat..).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 03:54 AM

Yes. FolkWISE is more of an enabling organisation than an on-going managing company, so once the station was running smoothly we felt the right thing to do would be to hand the project over to Phil Snell, who I'd brought in to do the programming at the start, and who's done most of the hard graft ever since. (He's produced three of my albums too - a talented chap).

Both we and Phil agreed that a name change would be a good idea, to help signal the new ownership. The Music Well was the name of a similar project that Phil had been working on before we started RBF (and one of the reasons I knew he'd be the right guy for the job).

It's been Phil's decision to switch to a donation system - something that a lot of sites are doing now. There is so much music available for free on the internet that the philosophy is increasingly to open the doors wide and hope people will then say thank you with a little dosh. (The main pages of RBF were always free to use, of course).

FolkWISE is still committed to helping The Music Well, and quite a few board members are still actively involved.

We did issue a press release etc. but this was essentially business as usual, so we didn't make a huge fuss. All the main features are still there - specially the archive which is a really valuable asset, and Phil still needs support; listeners, listings providers, programme makers, reviewers, billboarders, album sellers etc.

Tom

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 01:42 PM

It might have helped to let people know who have linked to you. The point about links is mostly the surfing pattern and search engine rating.

If I ever change my name or URL I intend to trawl for all referrences to the old ones first.

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: astro
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 06:16 PM

I noticed a change in Folk Radio UK, it seems more contemporary music and less traditional. Do you know what happened? Sorry for bleeding into another online station on this thread...

Astro in Los Angeles...

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 06:27 PM

I still manage the url radiobritfolk.co.uk, and it continues to point to The Music Well, so there should be no issues with links or surfing patterns.

Subject: RE: Changes to Radio Britfolk
From: GUEST,Phil Snell
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 03:34 PM

Hi All,
Sorry for not letting you know about the name change to the Music Well. As Tom points out, all the old links still apply.
As ever with these voluntary-run things, day job stuff pushes it back somewhat.
I hope you continue to enjoy the site and we're always on the look-out for new programmes.
Cheers
Phil