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Do We Get A Fair Deal From The Radio?


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Many years ago I wrote to the Mail newspaper complaining about the lack of Folk music played on the radio and was subsequently backed up by readers agreeing with me.The BBC reaction was to play a Worzels record the following day which ,although I enjoy listening to the odd Worzel recording was not what I had in mind.The Irish have got it right a little bit of Irish traditional music mixed in with the usual mixture of modern and new tunes/songs is what I had in mind.I certainly would not like English Traditional music rammed down peoples throats but certainly a few bits here and there would be nice.

It was a sad loss to lose John Peel who died of a heart attack this week, he at least would give all music a chance.

English traditional music has suffered over the years,even American Country music gets more plays than our own traditional music.I think that it is only traditional players like some on this site and Folk festivals that is keeping our old music alive.I think that we get a raw deal and apart from the very occasional folk featured programms the BBC has almost forgotten us.

Al :(

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>I think that we get a raw deal and apart from the very

> occasional folk featured programms

 

You're not alone, Al.

 

Here in Washington, we have one local folk program on public radio -- and mostly, all the host does is talk. We also get a nationally syndicated public radio program on "roots music" that's heavily talk.

 

We used to have 3 hours of bluegrass every afternoon, but that was replaced by... talk radio.

 

You can go for months without hearing a concertina on the Washington, DC airwaves.

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As an American folk DJ myself, whose show has been more or less squeezed off the air as the station shortens it and keeps moving it to less desirable time slots, I have to agree. Station management, which was so enthusiastic about volunteer folk DJs coming on in 1994 and 1995, has been enamoured of talk radio for years now. It was a relief to move away and have an easy excuse to "retire." Before I commit to my next radio gig I will look carefully at the station's commitment to the music.

 

Ken Coles

WBAA radio, May 1995- December 2004, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

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It was a sad loss to lose John Peel who died of a heart attack this week, he at least would give all music a chance.

Yes, Al, you're absolutely right - I think Andy Kershaw summed the loss to music up brilliantly on the 6 o'clock news that night, when he said (I'm paraphrasing) "If you're in a band and are trying to do something new you've lost your one main ally today".

 

Kershaw is of a similar calibre as a DJ I think - he once called Half Man Half Biscuit "the most authentic British folk group since The Clash", which I really appreciated :D But people with really open ears like those two are few and far between at Auntie Beeb these days. The controllers, sadly, prefer safe playlists, regardless of genre. I'm sure it's part of some evil conspiracy to turn us all into Robbie Williams fans.

:ph34r:

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As Jim mentioned WETA in Washington, D.C. is the best local folk programming in that area. I used to record it to HiFi VCR years ago and then edit out the choice bits to cassette 90-minute tapes. I still have them – about 168 tapes I think – recorded over a period of about ten years. Unfortunately I don’t listen to tapes anymore but I have actually converted some of my favorite cuts that I can’t get elsewhere to MP3.

 

When I moved from Washington 15 years ago I lost even that source. In Southwestern Michigan where I now reside we do have a few local stations within my reception area that have weekly folk programs but generally the folk has to compete as stepchild to Bluegrass. English folk music is practically unknown. I was pleasantly surprised when the local radio station here started a local one-hour traditional Irish music program on Sunday evenings. They even played concertina music last week from the Branch Line CD!

 

For those with high speed Internet access I would suggest Internet Radio. There is much available via Internet feed. In my case I cannot get high-speed access at home but have found a great way to get programming from Internet Radio anyway- Replay Radio. Replay Radio (which I may have originally heard of on this forum) is Windows Software that allows you to set up recording sessions to capture Internet Radio programs. Replay Radio has a lot of features. One of it’s best is a downloadable program guide that you can use to search for, and set up to record programs. You can also configure recording sessions manually.

 

Here is what I do: I have set up to record several programs over the weekend on my office PC where I have high-spped Internet access and automatically save them to 30-minute MP3 files. I then burn the weekend’s harvest to CD during the following week and then listen to them at my convenience. The weather and news breaks are out of date as are the events calendars – but hey – they aren’t from my neck of the woods anyway. If I find a song or tune I can’t live without I use an editing tool to cut it out of the 30 minute MP3 files and save it as individual files in my MP3 library. Replay Radio cleans up the signal so the recordings sounds better than the original feed did – usually as good as local broadcast quality. I have, through experience found the best settings for myself. If anyone would like details please let me know.

 

I now record Traditions every week from WETA in Washington via their Internet feed. I also record a good program on KUNI out of Iowa every week. My favorite Internet feed though is Folk Alley. Folk Alley is run out of the Public Station at Kent State in Ohio where my daughter goes to school. The feed is high quality, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

 

Another benefit I have gained from the Replay Radio software is its ability to digitally capture anything run through my PC sound card. I have a new Sony Hi-MD recorder. Sony managed to screw up a great piece of hardware by making it impossible to transfer your own live digital recordings. Replay Radio allows me to do that.

 

If you have high-speed Internet access Internet Radio is the way to go. Can you folks on the other side of the Atlantic give me advice about folk music via Internet radio over there?

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My favorite Internet feed though is Folk Alley. Folk Alley is run out of the Public Station at Kent State in Ohio where my daughter goes to school. The feed is high quality, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Let me add my vote for WKSU folk alley, since it was buried in SP's post. Here's a sample performers from the last 24 hrs.

 

The Chieftains, The Waifs, Donovan, Patty Larkin, Altan

Bob Dylan, Dougie Maclean, Christine Albert, Fairport Convention

Emmylou Harris, Simon & Garfunkel, Eva Cassidy, Cosy Sheridan

Latitude, Richard Gilewitz, Patty Larkin, John Prine, Milladoiro

Karan Casey, Inti-Illimani, Capercaillie, The Clayfoot Strutters

Susan McKeown, Niamh Parsons, Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald

Jeremiah McLane, Eric Bogle, Pierre Bensusan, Natalie MacMaster

Lunasa, James Keelaghan, Danu, Eliza Gilkyson, Solas

 

Mostly mainstream folk from a variety of traditions.

 

If you want really off-beat indy, without a folk focus, check out Whole Wheat Radio from Talkeetna, Alaska.

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>Let me add my vote for WKSU folk alley, since it was buried in SP's post.

 

A good folk outlet. Too many singer-songwriters for me, but that's an individual preference, and on balance it's a pretty good mix, considering different tastes. Grassy Hill Radio and WUMB, both available through the radio section of I-Tunes, are also pretty good.

 

Folk music isn't profitable, and even our "pubic" radio stations are essentially commercial (one of our public stations that we've supported for years with our contributions took off much of the acoustic music because they said they could increase their "market share." If that's not commercial, I don't know what is. We no longer donate to them).

 

>As Jim mentioned WETA in Washington, D.C. is the best local folk

> programming in that area.

 

WAS. The host talks more and more; you can listen for LONG stretches and not hear a single note. I began listening to her in 1976, but gave up a few years back because of her endless yapping.

 

It's supposed to be folk music, not folk talk.

Edited by Jim Besser
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What about having our own radio station such as internet radio? The Button Box has had quite an interest in having it's own station for several years now. Unfortunately due to lack of time we haven't been able to progress very far with our plans. Even with Jim Lucas's very generous assistance we've not been able to get far off the ground.

 

The infrastructure is there. We're planning on being part of the Live365 "broadcast" system. They host our content and stream it out for folks to listen to for free. The cost to us is pretty modest.

 

So what's keeping us from airing "CONCERTINA RADIO"? We got bogged down in dealing with the permissions and royalty issues for all the musicians we'd like to air. Lots and lots of work....

 

It is exciting to think about... we can stream out Alistair Anderson, Noel Hill (who's already agreed!), Dave Townsend... as well as Regondi, Mexborough.... We can also stream out-of-production recordings, privately made session recordings, home-brewed stuff, etc. (so long as we get our permissions in order). We could do special event things like "the Best of NESI concerts" or seasonal music (carols around Christmas, Morris in the spring...).

 

Anyone interested in helping this project out? Or maybe we could start a concertina.net radio where the Button Box could be a source of recordings rather than foot it alone?

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Interesting idea Richard certainly you would have my support.

My concern behind writing this posting was mainly that I am concerned that our music will die out unless it gets heard.As we all know if we play in pubs or dances people love what we are doing ,they love the music and have fun with the dances.

Ireland has kept it`s Folk heritage,but here in the UK it is hanging on by it`s fingertips, in fact Indian Folk tradition is now probably stronger here than our own.

Most stations here have been purchased by local radio networks and the old folk programs have gone with the sale,like you are experiencing in America.

Going our own way may be the answer.

Al

Edited by Alan Day
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Anyone interested in helping this project out? Or maybe we could start a concertina.net radio where the Button Box could be a source of recordings rather than foot it alone?

Well, I'm certainly interested, as an individual, rather than speaking for concertina.net. [i'm sure Paul and I would be even slower than you Rich about getting permissions!] Write me offline if there is anything specific to discuss.

 

I was a regular listener to WKSU the one year I lived in Ohio (1988-89) - very good. There is not much on broadcast here in the Pittsburgh area. The former "folk" station is too much rock (whether Adult Alternative or not) for my taste.

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I know I'm being cynical but I feel that one of the problems lies in the promotion of "packaged" music by the big players such as the Sony's of this world. Their interest is in pushing their "popular" music regardless of cultural origin or background in a "one size fits all" mentality so as to maximise profits. Of course the likes of the BBC, in their naivety, swallow this and churn out the music in the impression that this is exactly what all of us really want. Naturally when all the recordings (and goodness knows what else) are supplied free that's a good start and enables them to distribute much of our money in royalties to a fairly small group of largely minor talents. The British Government of course reinforces this with the Public Entertainment Licencing laws which pushes people like us further to one side.

 

As an example of the marginalisation of folk music in Britain you just have to see the treatment by the BBC of the last Sidmouth Festival. True the Festival got a very good hour in a well presented programme. Unfortunately this only just skimmed the surface and left out so much of the content. Interestingly, Jazz at Witney was featured shortly afterwards and received several hours of close coverage. Whilst I am sure the jazz was excellent and I know I'm biased, surely if someone bothered to do some research, they would find that folk music enjoys at least as much popularity as jazz and probably more given the diversity of all it's genres.

 

As may be seen on the BBC's website, different types of music may be chosen by heading. Folk music however is lumped in with Country music as if it's one and the same thing. What a sad statement for a considerable part of our cultural heritage. Apologies for ranting, this topic makes me see red. :angry:

 

Pete

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I know I'm being cynical but I feel that one of the problems lies in the promotion of "packaged" music by the big players such as the Sony's of this world.

Cynical? I'll show you cynical!

 

Why are they pushing "their" music? For power. For control.

Some say it's for money, but money is really just today's way to gain power.

(Used to be that becoming a lord insured wealth; it gave you a right to take things from others.

Now attaining wealth gets you a lordship.)

Folk music is diminished and suppressed specifically because it's independent, i.e., "out of control".

 

As long as we have our festivals and sessions and independent recordings, we'll survive, though the "public entertainment" laws are already trying to suppress independent public (and even private) gatherings.

Beware the day they make it illegal to hold a festival, session, or even a house concert without first obtaining a major corporation or political party as a sponsor.

It's already not possible to have a major political party without corporate sponsorship, and they've done that without writing it into law. :(

 

How's that for cynical? ;) :angry: :o

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Here we go - rant mode.

To my mind, in England at least, the problem is the BBC run a mile from the F word as they are obsessed with youth listener figures (It doesn't matter that their audience invariably aren't at home so can't be listeners).

 

Listening to the likes of Mike Harding, it is hard to tell whether it is a Country & Western programme or pop music as it definitely isn't Folk. He will say the program is called Folk & Roots, but that is a feeble excuse. Why not have a separate Roots program (Gardners Question Time?)

 

A brilliant example of a good Folk programme is Folkwaves (Radio Derby on Mondays) 2 hours streamed Folk run by 2 instrumentalists (Mike Peat & Lester Simpson) so the singing is kept to 50:50.

 

I do listen to Late Junction and Any Kershaw if I am in the car late at night and they play an incredible amount of Trad Folk (including concertinas!), providing you listen to a lot of other stuff in between, so they are allowed to play it (after 11pm).

What there is a dearth of in the North of England is local Folk, since the BBC axed Henry Ayrtons programme without warning (thats how worried they were about axing it). That programme used to cover from Radio Derby up to the Borders with info about who was playing where and it was popular but not to under 20s. So what? The programme that replaced it is dire, unprofessionally produced and not really worthy of Local Radio funding. Keep nagging the BBC all of you!!!!!

 

So the answer is, compared with Radio Scotland (around 8 weekly folk programmes) and the Irish output, we do not get our licence fees worth of folk.

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Jim said, and I think it applies to all non-corporate music, whether live or recorded:

Folk music is diminished and suppressed specifically because it's independent, i.e., "out of control".

 

This is the reason why huge bars with blaring loud televisions can play football games at deafening volumes to hordes of drunk kids without a licence. The authorities know exactly what's going on - despite the fact that there will probably be trouble of some sort, the situation is simple and clear-cut - it's a load of kids getting drunk and watching football.

 

As Jim says, these uncontrollable bands of kids with guitars, folkies singing old industrial songs, or [insert genre here] are far more dangerous. They might (shhh) have ideas. :huh:

 

I started writing more on this, but it made me even more depressed, so I've deleted it. :(

 

Jim:

It's already not possible to have a major political party without corporate sponsorship

 

Although, thankfully, it is still possible to have a completely independent political party, in the UK at least. I'm often asked why I bother to put so much effort into the Monster Raving Loony Party - and it's all bound up in this. Apart from it being fun to do absurd things and dress in a ridiculous manner, I think it's important that we're there to be a thorn in the side of "safe" politics, in however small a way. I feel the same way about music.

 

OK, I've finished now. :)

Edited by stuart estell
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I am interested in the comments regarding programme content.Some of the presenters love the sound of their own voice, or are they just cutting costs on royalties?The most interesting was the Radio Two Folk programme which is now no more.It was supposed to be for us people that liked Folk music, but I never found anyone who liked the programme.I think that the problem was that the mixture of music was so diverse that it almost tried to reach every folk persons music interest.It would switch from perhaps an old forgotten ninety year old, singing a song his grandmother taught him, to a folk dance band,to an Irish traditional fiddle player etc you never knew where you were.The mixture and blend of music is important and has to appeal to the majority of people listening and bring new people in to our type of music.The BBC with that programme, was I think a disaster, driving people away rather than creating an interest.

I am sorry that I have made you all angry but it is the only way to get a bit of action and it looks like it`s happening.

Al

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