Folk and Blues under threat?

Subject: Folk and Blues under Threat?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 11:11 AM

Not ALL folk and blues, but the FaB Folk and Blues show that was so popular on Vale Radio.

Vale Radio has suddenly been sold to ViewTV/Star Radio.

Vale Radio was a solid community minded local radio station for North Yorkshire on DAB and online everywhere else.

Star Radio broadcasts out of Darlington (soon Durham), but has nothing to distinguish it from any other commercial syndicated 'local' radio station. There are no specialist genre programmes on its schedule.

In general commercial radio does not have a track record of supporting such shows in the UK. Unlike community radio they are not in the business of serving their listenership. They are in the business of making maximum profit for their executive boards and share holders.

To be fair, hopefully Star Radio may be more enlightened. Initial press releases state that they will support local genre shows, although their current output in Darlington does not demonstrate this.

So the task is to convince them that specialist genre shows do pay.

But how? In my experience (over 20 years, in aggregate, of folk broadcasting), having been 'bought out' three times before on other stations it seems that most local commercial radio does not want a discerning audience who can think for themselves. They want the kind of listenership that is easily swayed by the advertising. This does not describe the potential audience of folk and blues programmes.

So what is the answer? Maybe sponsorship of the show? Music shops, folk agencies, record companies etc?

Crowd funding?

My recent campaign of crowd funding for Dick Gaughan raised some £13,000. (BTW, how is he doing? I have had no further personal feed-back.) So Crowdfunding does work.

Interesting times.

I will report back when we know further, meanwhile you could express your support either by adding comments on our dedicated Facebook Page that already hosts many encouraging comments and in which the programme controller of Star Radio is a member:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/275747012549119/

Or by emailing the new owners at:

[e-mail]

Thanks Joe, for suggesting that I open this thread here.

You are a star.

Tone (Uncle - FaB)

Subject: RE: Folk and Blues under threat?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 12:29 PM

Why was Vale incorporated in such a way that it was a saleable entity?

Subject: RE: Folk and Blues under threat?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 08:29 PM

I have no idea.

But ViewTV may have just wanted Vale Radio's DAB coverage in North Yorkshire.

I suspect that Vale Radio had overstretched itself too soon and had run out of money. They were building new studios that ViewTV/Star Radio now own.

It is perhaps also significant that the ex-MD of Vale Radio has a show 7-12pm every weekday evening on Star Radio for the North East and I've heard, will still have the breakfast show on Star Radio for North Yorkshire.

Tone

Subject: RE: Folk and Blues under threat?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jun 17 - 05:16 AM

absolutely. next blues singer we see. let's beat him up!