The Mike Harding Petition

Subject: Folklore: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 01:58 PM

I suspect the BBC will take no notice but lots of us do think Mike has done a great job and should carry on doing it and it will give a good shout out for Folk

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-bbc-reinstate-mike-harding-to-his-bbc-radio-2-weekly-folk-show-2

The Petition

Sorry can't get thee clicky to work

L in C#

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 02:16 PM

What the heck is so difficult about the clicky generator for so many people? Copy link to the first box, write some text in the second one, click button, copy what you get, paste it.

Petition link

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 02:32 PM

Thanks Jack,

it generally works but on a number of occasions whenI click for 'Create Link' all the gubbins disappears to be replaced by whatever link words I chose - in blue and underlined. When I copy this into my message it does not give the link

Les

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 03:02 PM

Waste of time IMHO. Didn't save Folkwaves.

I don't like the bloke for my own reasons, but yes go for it, but doubt if it will do any good.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Morris-ey
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 03:12 PM

If they were axing the programme perhaps, but to save Mike Harding from what can only be seen as some sinecure that almost anyone could do as well - no.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Betsy
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 03:27 PM

Done.
For my money he hasn't done enough wrong to lose the position - especially to someone I don't associate with Folk music of the English , Irish , Scottish , Welsh and the English speaking parts of the World including USA and Canada.
Shame on the BBC .
Betsy

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 04:09 PM

Why not Andy Kershaw?

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 04:12 PM

Here you go, Les:

Petition for the BBC to reinstate Mike Harding

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 04:15 PM

Mike Harding has had a good run. He is now 67.

He should show some gratitude to Smooth Operations for the past 15 years and take this opportunity to enjoy his bus pass.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 04:25 PM

Best of Luck to Mike perhaps going back to what he is really good at playing to live audiances

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Tootler
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 04:31 PM

What seems so wrong is the way he was dismissed.

I suspect his face no longer fits and once that happens, no amount of petitions will change anything.

Been there.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 06:17 PM

Nothing personal against Mike Harding but I ceased listening some years back. The progarmme seemed to have a very strange idea of folk music and used the same old narrow range of "in" performers and ignoring so much else. I am pretty sure that the format has nothing to do with the front man and that whoever presents it will matter very little.
Personally I wouldn't bother wasting my time. Nobody will take any notice of your petition.

Hoot

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 07:36 PM

Mr. Harding....Certainly has no credit to his books...the other side of the pond. The UK gets what they are taxed for. (Sorry, big bird ... but you will be nuggets soon.)

Give an audtion...perhaps to "Slip Sod Swank of the Bird's Eye Fleet" or apply for an Omma grant by Kindle of the MC.

Looks like "Little Rabbit FooFoo" to me.

Hare...today.....Goon ... tomorrow.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 03:55 AM

Completely pointless.The show will be virtually indistinguishable anyway as the same producers are picking the records. It's the BBC. The golden age of knowledgeable presenters who were great broadcasters like Alexis Korner, John Peel, Charlie Gillett and Andy Kershaw died with the last century. Harding had a good run on Radio 2 off the back of a one-hit-wonder single and should be grateful he got out alive, most of those others didn't.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 04:02 AM

"off the back of a one-hit-wonder single "

Is this all you know of MH? Campaings stopped the closure of Radio 6 - so stuff can happen.

However, I want to show support for MH and for the music I love and that he has promoted so well.

Give it a go

Les

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Silas
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 04:31 AM

I have listened to the BBC folk programme in its various guises for at least 35 years, in my opinion, ALL of the presenters have, at some time or other, have fallen out of favour either permanently or temporarily with the listening audience. My own opinions would have Jim Lloyd as one of the worst and Cyril Tawney one of the best – but I expect few people to agree with me here. However, to allow someone with the knowledge and experience that Mike has to just go is incredible. If the BBC was a commercial organisation this would never happen. Replacing highly qualified staff just because the 'controller' thinks he knows what the audience for this programme want is the height of arrogance and will alienate more people that it attracts. I feel truly sorry for Mark Radcliffe, he has now been handed the shitty end of the stick, a stick that had been shat on by the tossers at the BBC.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 05:08 AM

People have moaned about MH since he started doing the show. How come they're supporting him now? I think he's OK and hope the BBC hasn't got rid of him just because of his age. Mark Radcliffe burbles too much for me, though he seems very knowledgeable about the music.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 05:15 AM

"What the heck is so difficult about the clicky generator for so many people? Copy link to the first box, write some text in the second one, click button, copy what you get, paste it."

One might also ask: what the heck is do difficult about cutting and pasting text into a URL? I can't be arsed with that clickie generator most of the time.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Silas
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 05:17 AM

"People have moaned about MH since he started doing the show"

Yes, but always the same people, and its always the screaming minority that get heard.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 05:26 AM

Replacing highly qualified staff just because the 'controller' thinks he knows what the audience for this programme want is the height of arrogance and will alienate more people that it attracts.

Just on a point of accuracy (and I don't care one way or another myself), it's highly unlikely that the opinion of just one person at the Beeb is the force for change. It's more likely to be a policy change that's been well discussed at several levels, and the controller will be one of those voices - albeit one with some clout and the one who probably makes the final decision.

There's also a long-standing Audience Research Department within the BBC which carries out continuous monitoring of audience figures and reactions to programmes by various means - I used to do some compilation work for them now and then - and there's no doubt that any assessment of what an audience wants would take the Audience Research figures and reactions into consideration. It wouldn't just be the view of one person.

Which is not to deny your own viewpoint, Silas - just adding a little perspective to it. I don't care for the programme, or for much on Radio 2 for that matter, and I wouldn't work for the Beeb these days for any money.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 05:55 AM

I think a more appropriate petition would be one to Smooth Operations demanding that Harding be given a generous lump sum cash present for his loyalty/good work over the years.

The Beeb aren't going to change their mind. But at least Smooth Ops could acknowledge the awkwardness of their position (getting to keep the show Harding has built up listener figures for, but with a different DJ from their own ranks) with the freelancer's equivalent of a generous redundancy package.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Betsy
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 08:30 PM

Why not dump Smooth Ops ?
Well-said Silas and expanded upon by Will Fly .
This thread has got on or two views from anonymous Guests which feel to be a little antagonistic.
Maybe one day Joe as his Gnomes will make this a "Members Only" to post, but with the ability for Non-Members to freely read.
Might I suggest that Mike Harding's presentation be moved to Radio 4 - as this seenms to be the Station for niche programmes - and given the demography of contributors to this thread ( OK I'm guessing and generalising now) it would seem a sensible an apreciated listening base. Apologies to any contributors who are not hovering around the 55 to 65 years old mark !!
Betsy

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 04:15 AM

At the UK Folk Music website, we have covered this and commented also on the changes to BBC Local Radio which will be implemented in January 2013.
UK Folk Music comment

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 04:26 AM

Yes, a new petition calling for Smooth Ops management to be put on a Trebuchet and fired off to Mars would be an EXCELLENT idea!

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Oct 12 - 01:04 PM

Nearly 2,000 people have signed so far! :0)

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 03:44 AM

At least we got used to knowing what to expect with the prog

I would rather have heard more music and songs than interviews and featuring a wider and truer reflection of the music that there is.

One hour was hardly enough time during a whole week anyway

Why do the celtic countries pay more attention to their own musical culture ? Because it is valued.

The prog only paid lip service to 'Folk' that's why calling it 'roots and acoustic' was an attempt to dump the term and to diassociate the prog with the what the name 'folk' implies 'as it carries 'image' baggage in the eyes of Joe Public.

maybe Mike was percieved as being allied to that image in some way.

Hey BBC , How about a folk prog for folkies ?

no wonder English culture is the subject of Steve Knightley's song 'Roots'. he hit the nail on the head when he came out with that one.

Well done to the Affro and Celts

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 05:50 AM

IMHO I think MH is well enough out of it & if in his shoes, I wouldn't want to go back, as the beeb seem such a load of w***k**rs.

MH has the enormous kudos of popularity & support of numerous fans & would prob fare better doing his thing independently; web radio etc

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 06:07 AM

no wonder English culture is the subject of Steve Knightley's song 'Roots'. he hit the nail on the head when he came out with that one.

Never heard this before, but I came across this critique:

http://fitzroy.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/roots-by-show-of-hands-of-course-the-bnp-love-it/

Nail on the head? Sounds to me like he whacked himself on the thumb.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 06:29 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUCuFBYnLWo

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 06:25 AM

Fitzroy went up the wrong road, poor soul.and up his own a... too.

English know hundreds of English folk songs ?

They know nothing compared to the celtic cultures.

Music in schools is not music very little singing takes place unless it is popular non-descript trivia.

btw great work in primary schools in Manchester area with musicals recording history.

Great song about the Olympics came out of the last production

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Eddie1 continuing sans cookie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 09:52 AM

Many happy returns Mike!

Eddie

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:34 AM

Few people know this but Mike's middle name is Badger

Les

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Steve Young
Date: 11 Jan 13 - 07:27 AM

Please reinstate Mike. I've hardly missed his great show in 15 years. Steve Young.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: treewind
Date: 11 Jan 13 - 10:00 AM

What we now have is better than the BBC's MH show - The Mike Harding Folk Show weekly on the internet and downloadable as a podcast.

Better, because unlike the BBC Smooth Ops controlled show, on this one Mike is playing the music he wants to play. Less commercial and more folk.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 11 Jan 13 - 02:38 PM

I must agree, Mikes new show has been pretty good so far.

Dave H

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,colin
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 05:55 AM

Mr Radcliffe may or may not be a good dj but he knows very little about folk music.I will be listening Mike's online show and not the BBC's poor substitute.

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: GUEST,Phil at work
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 07:53 AM

on this one Mike is playing the music he wants to play. Less commercial and more folk.

I'm surprised to hear that. I've only just caught up with this & listened to most of the first one. I have to say, I thought it was very Radio 2 - I'd never heard "Byker Hill" made to sound so sedate or "Rain and Snow" so bland. The Mary Dillon song was wonderful, mind you.

It looks like a quality piece of work for those who like that sort of thing, but I'm not sure I'll listen to many more of them. Maybe I'll start my own campaign - Love Folk, Hate Easy Listening!

Subject: RE: The Mike Harding Petition
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 04 Feb 13 - 11:09 AM

It seems to have passed most people's notice that we actually have nothing to moan about..Shock horror!!
We now have two hours of Folk Music available nationally.Forget your particular likes and dislikes, the overall picture is more than healthy.

Lay back and enjoy, meanwhile all you folk club organisers out there, rest on your laurels, job done, Folk is now part of the mainstream.