BBc defends folk awards

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 05:23 AM

Howard Jones wrote:
What is interesting is that the list sent to the judges is based on what's been played on Mike Harding's show.

As one of the so-called judges, I can say that this statement is inaccurate.

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: Banjiman
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 05:21 AM

Fascinating stuff.

It doesn't sound as if there is any representation from Folk Clubs at all on the voting panel......festivals, agents and record companies etc but not Folk Clubs.

Interesting that.

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 05:01 AM

Gemma Kidney's Glory Hole

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 04:00 AM

What is interesting is that the list sent to the judges is based on what's been played on Mike Harding's show. That immediately limits it to a certain category of music which fits the SmoothOps/MHS remit. No one, not even SmoothOps, seems to think that the MHS is representative of the folk scene in general.

So when they call it the "BBC Folk Awards", what they mean is awards for folk who've been on the BBC. Not exactly inaccurate, but...

Despite this, I'm not one of the conspiracy theorists. The Folk Awards may be flawed, but they are a showcase for the best of folk music - some of the best anyway. No matter what the cynics say, it is real kudos and a definite boost for those who are nominated. I've got my ticket, and I'm looking forward to it immensely. I'll be cheering on my mates in Pilgrims' Way who are up for the Horizon award.

A bit more transparency would remove most of the grounds for carping and allow us to enjoy it for what it is.

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:46 AM

I'm just surprised there are as many as 170 movers and shakers in the folk world to be judges.

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:44 AM

Smooth Operations ? come clean ? give us a break, from the above links it's fairly obvious they never will, Mike Harding says the judges names are not secret and John Leonard says they are, clear as f...ing mud, and totally dishonest.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 11 - 03:40 AM

Zackly. The reason why there's so much griping about the folk awards is the lack of transparency.

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 07:10 PM

Oh no! If Smooth Operations come clean, what will be left for us to speculate about?

Subject: RE: BBc defends folk awards
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 06:26 PM

thankyou.

Subject: BBC defends folk awards
From: EmmaHartley
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 06:00 PM

http://theglamourcave.blogspot.com/2011/11/bbc-folk-awards-raising-blood-pressure.html

A piece about some issues surrounding the folk awards, provoked this response from the BBC and Smooth Operations.

http://theglamourcave.blogspot.com/2011/11/smooth-operations-and-bbc-compliance-on.html

It's possible the folk awards are in breach of the BBC's "how to run an awards" code of conduct - the parts about transparency and business connections between judges and nominees.