BBC Closes Down Folk Show
folkiedave
Roots Show, which goes out on Thursday nights at 9.00pm, is to be axed
from this evening, Thursday March 27th. Fifteen years under various
titles and axed with virtually no warning.
This programme goes out all over the North of England Radios
Humberside, Sheffield, Leeds, York and BBC North Yorkshire. Henry has
been great, encouraging local artists in live sessions; indeed this
evening's programme is devoted to these sessions. This evening's diary
publicised events as far south as Matlock and as far North as
Darlington.
Letters of protest to the Assistant Editor phil....@bbc.co.uk will
attract a standard reply, which tells you that the programme is being
axed because:
<snip> ‘change' is vitally important to any creative broadcasting
organisation and - after much consideration - it has been decided that
at BBC Radio Humberside, the time for change has come</snip>
And the result of this creative thinking – more sport!!
Before your protest is taken any notice of then you have to reply to
this standard letter.
Please contact these people and let them know that when the BBC
ignores "folk" it does not do it without protest.
It might help as well to send letters to the BBC Local Advisory
Council, which is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/acc/nacc.shtml
Best wishes,
Stephen Kellett
Jeez - I don't live in an area where I could have heard this programme,
but Radio 5 Live is where the sport is meant to be on the Beeb (except
cricket, for some godforsaken reason, which has to take up Radio 4).
Stephen
--
Stephen Kellett
Object Media Limited http://www.objmedia.demon.co.uk
RSI Information: http://www.objmedia.demon.co.uk/rsi.html
wheelzuk
I don't know whether Iain had a say in his move, but, he's now reduced to one hour every weekday evening, from a two hour mid-afternoon slot. His programme content has changed from a Celtic/Folk base, to what's best described as (mainly) American singer/songwriter middle of the road, crap. Prior to his move, the BBC slowly changed the nature of his afternoon show and Tom seems to have slipped nicely into the changes, 'forced?' on the great man.
I realise I seem to be coming over as anti American, that's definitely not my intention, despite what their President is doing in the name of big business and oil interests (Where's the WMD George, been there a week and found nuthin, eh?). However, I get furious when I see folk replaced by banal country tinged stuff.
We have the Brand New Oprey on BBC Scotland, hosted by Bryan Burnett, A Glaswegian, psuedo Texan, oft seen on Scottish Television game shows with contestants you'd want to criminally commit for their individual and collective stupidity, or he's on holiday programmes, to places half the people of Scotland couldn't find on a map, afford to visit or part with their Tennants lager for! Now, if I hate one individual on this planet, it's Bryan, the guy is so banal, monotone and presents his show as if he's just realised his one brain cell is still actually working! ;-) If people really want country music, I'd suggest BBC Scotland has found the right presenter for the job and that's where it should be confined to.
Thank God (your God, my God, or anybody's God) for Archie Fisher, Take the Floor and Celtic Connections and Mike Harding on Radio 2, rare treats in an ever dwindling world of folk music!
Perhaps we need to collectively advise the BBC that change is not always a good thing. They seem really intent on reducing their listening numbers, replacing quality music, with middle of the road nonsense and crap, or, maybe it's a ploy to drive us all into purchasing Freeview and they'll eventually only feature Folk music on one of their more obscure Digital DAB thingies, that half the population can't yet receive? They already seem to have pigeonholed Asian and other ethnic cultural music, in this fashion and dressed it up as progress and modernity!
John
Martin Banks
<51a79044.03032...@posting.google.com>,
da...@deyre.plus.com (folkiedave) wrote:
> <snip> ‘change' is vitally important to any creative
> > broadcasting
> organisation and - after much consideration - it has been
> decided that
> at BBC Radio Humberside, the time for change has
> come</snip>
>
Just love that bit, especially as the Beeb has been spending
a (virtual) fortune promoting its World Music Awards concert
on every channel it owns. But then again perhaps its another
example of that wonderfully English thing about everyone
else's music is great and ours is best forgotten.
Chris Beeson
> And the result of this creative thinking – more sport!!
>
people will be interested in local sport (or actually local
teams participating in national sport, nothing from the grass
roots) without having to do any research to justify it. More
people attend places of worship than attend professional
football matches, but that's not exactly reflected in BBC-LR
schedules. I wonder how the figures stack up for live music vs
football?
Chris Beeson
Stephen Kellett
>by banal country tinged stuff.
Same thing happened to the Isle of Arran Folk Festival.
That was a fantastic Celtic bash between 91 and 93, slowly got worse
after 93 (as the SNP got its teeth into the festival committee - you
couldn't serve on the festival committee if you couldn't speak Gaelic
(spelling?) - so an anti-Scottish measure by the Scottish, how weird)
and I finally stopped going when after 97 they had country singers on
stage in 97. Awful, truly awful.
The festival is now a shadow of its former self. Shame.
Stephen Kellett
>schedules. I wonder how the figures stack up for live music vs
>football?
One of things I really like about music and dancing is how infrequently
I hear people talking about football (almost never).
Nick Wagg
>
> ...More people attend places of worship than attend professional
> football matches, but that's not exactly reflected in BBC-LR
> schedules.
Also true of fishing. Hardly rivetting broadcast material tho.
--
Nick Wagg
bogus address
> This is a BBC-Local Radio laziness thing. You can assume local
> people will be interested in local sport (or actually local teams
> participating in national sport, nothing from the grass roots)
> without having to do any research to justify it. More people
> attend places of worship than attend professional football matches,
> but that's not exactly reflected in BBC-LR schedules. I wonder how
> the figures stack up for live music vs football?
No idea, but apparently more people attend car boot sales than either
churches or football matches. Are we going to see, live from a car
boot in Hull, cameras focused onto a set of Ford Escort hubcaps and
last year's curtains sitting in an oily patch of school playground,
with cliffhanger suspense to see if they'll sell?
Broadcast media aren't in the least interested in genuinely local sport
anyway (like the village football teams round here, or local cricket
in Fife). You need the local papers for that.
========> Email to "j-c" at this site; email to "bogus" will bounce <========
Jack Campin: 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU; 0131 6604760
<http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/purrhome.html> food intolerance data & recipes,
Mac logic fonts, Scots traditional music files, and my CD-ROM "Embro, Embro".
Stephen Kellett
>churches or football matches. Are we going to see, live from a car
>boot in Hull, cameras focused onto a set of Ford Escort hubcaps and
>last year's curtains sitting in an oily patch of school playground,
>with cliffhanger suspense to see if they'll sell?
I hope not, sounds about as interesting as watching football.
Martin Banks
cbe...@cix.co.uk (Chris Beeson) wrote:
> I wonder how the figures stack up for live music vs
> football?
now *that* would be a very interesting piece of research -
all live music of all types in a week, vs, football. There
just has to be a PhD in that for someone.
Martin Banks
nick...@transcendata.com (Nick Wagg) wrote:
Though I'd venture to suggest that fishing gets more TV
time than folk music, even if it is only Sun Sport 3 (and
this is, I admit, based on observations taken personally and
totally randomly when we had access to Sky. Whenever I
happened to tune to Sky Sports (rarely) fishing seemed to be
on one of the channels.
folkiedave
> >No idea, but apparently more people attend car boot sales than either
> >churches or football matches. Are we going to see, live from a car
> >boot in Hull, cameras focused onto a set of Ford Escort hubcaps and
> >last year's curtains sitting in an oily patch of school playground,
> >with cliffhanger suspense to see if they'll sell?
>
> I hope not, sounds about as interesting as watching football.
Actually I am a season ticket holder at a football club as well!!
However the stations are replying to emails so get at it!!
Dave
Chris Beeson
wrote:
> Also true of fishing. Hardly rivetting broadcast material tho.
>
a programme strand that wasn't vulnerable to being kicked off
air by football)?
Chris Beeson
folkiedave
I spent some time talking to an ex-BBC Executive last night.
His advice was to use the closure (and similar ones all over the
country) to campaign for another folk programme on Radio 2. People's
thoughts on what this might look like would be appreciated. The
reasons for doing it this way are complex and I have explored some of
them further on Mudcat. Believe me this advice comes from a guy who
really knows what he is talking about.
I am happy to do some campaigning towards this in the form of emails
and letters.
Anyone else fancy offering some expertise?
Dave
Ian Anderson
> I spent some time talking to an ex-BBC Executive last night.
>
> His advice was to use the closure (and similar ones all over the
> country) to campaign for another folk programme on Radio 2
snip
> Anyone else fancy offering some expertise?
Radio 3 should be a much better target, bearing in mind the incredible response to the recent English folk
evening which R3's controller Roger Wright was absolutely delighted with (particularly the level of intelligent
and positive response). From what I hear on the grapevine, folk on 2 is barely tolerated by the incumbent
controller. This may change when he leaves next year, but it could also get worse.
You would not be alone in seizing the initiative and campaigning in the direction of 3 right now.
But please, please NB that the first rules of such campaigning are
- Be positive
- Be brief
- Be general (avoid parochial specifics that won't be understood)
- Avoid knocking existing programmes: salute what's there, campaign to fill the gaps.
- Avoid folkie whingeing and lengthy anti-BBC diatribes that turn off potential allies within.
--
Ian Anderson
fRoots magazine
fro...@frootsmag.com
http://www.frootsmag.com
remove anti-junkmail .donot to reply
folkiedave
Thanks for all those comments Ian and I agree with all you have said.
I am sure there is a good case to be made for it on Radio 3(though my
BBC type did not). However here is a second question - what should
such a programme look like?
I emphatically do not want to restrict it to English - it excludes too
much other stuff I would like - or traditional - cuts out some of the
best stuff around - eg the Hush............or British
Isles.........cuts out the genre of pipers I love like Susanna
Seivane, Budino etc.
On the other hand it would be great to here Carthy, Watersons, Nic
Jones and more of the early tradition and some of the older stuff
including a BBC archive pot on each programme for example.
Then budget comes into play for airtime etc.
Any thoughts anyone?
ddwyer
<da...@deyre.plus.com> writes
>
>Any thoughts anyone?
Examples exist already, RTE Late session contrives to have live
performances and archive recordings perhaps too much chat.
My introduction to folk at the age 9? was with "As I Roved Out" Sunday
mornings whilst my parents were otherwise engaged.
Peter Kennedy Seamus Ennis Coppers etc. I knew at that time that it was
my music and I have never deviated.
We must provide a similar opportunity.
There are still performances to be recorded archives to be mined regions
to be laid bare.
Themes to be explored, I would like to trace the sources of Vaughn
Williams and the more obscure like the 2?Morans
--
ddwyer
bogus address
>> You would not be alone in seizing the initiative and campaigning
>> in the direction of 3 right now.
> my BBC type did not). However here is a second question - what should
> such a programme look like?
> I emphatically do not want to restrict it to English - it excludes too
> much other stuff I would like - or traditional - cuts out some of the
> out the genre of pipers I love like Susanna Seivane, Budino etc.
On the contrary I would say that as a badly retrograde step. Radio 3
already has Late Junction which does most of what you want.
The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL. That gives
it a whole lot more options than anything that goes out across the
whole of Britain/UK; providing a showcase for local performers and
local community-based activities, making local references you could
never do on a UK-wide medium without getting complaints about their
obscurity, and so on. Is Radio 3 going to run an announcement that
you can catch Jez Lowe at a folk club in Hebden Bridge this week?
I never heard Ayrton's programme, as I doubt I could have received it;
if I *had* been able to, I expect a lot of it would have been way over
my head, which is a *good* thing. Most people in Yorkshire would miss
many of the references Archie Fisher or Robbie Shepherd make on their
Radio Scotland programmes, too. That's a sign that a programme is
embedded into a culture confident enough in itself that it doesn't
need to continually give footnotes for the benefit of outsiders in
supposedly "dominant" cultures.
Obviously Blairism has an ideological objection to local culture in
any form, but a local radio station itself has no business toadying
to that.
Sexycutable
You mention Archie Fisher and Travelling Folk ... it's a good program, but
really far too chatty for a music program. It would be certainly be better
without all the extremely parochial notices which are totally irrelevant to
someone living sout of the border, even if I do have the blood.
Actually, I've always found the 'parish notices' boring, even at club
level, let alone at local or national radio level. I wasn't alone in this
... I seem to remember many people were in the bar for duration. When I
sense that a list is on its way on the radio it's a good excuse to go and
get a coffee.
It also p*sses me off that all the national folk and country hosts announce
the tracks over their intros and outros. Actually people, we're listening
to the radio to hear the music, not you!
My choice would be:
1) Minimal chat, just announce the tracks at beginning and end and
don't do it over the intros and outros. No artist interviews on air, put
them where they belong, on a web-site where those who are genuinely that
interested can look thenm up.
2) Play a selection of recorded music old and new, what's current
now will get played anyway, what's missing is a balanced mix.
I'm just listening to R2's James Taylor show via the web player - a good
example of how to do it, minimal chat, and what there is is quite
humorous. Perfectly listenable even if you're not a big JT fan.
"bogus address" <bo...@purr.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:10...@purr.demon.co.uk...
[snip]
> The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL. That gives
> it a whole lot more options than anything that goes out across the
> whole of Britain/UK; providing a showcase for local performers and
> local community-based activities, making local references you could
> never do on a UK-wide medium without getting complaints about their
> obscurity, and so on. Is Radio 3 going to run an announcement that
> you can catch Jez Lowe at a folk club in Hebden Bridge this week?
[snip]
Phil Myers
from
Radio Cornwall and they had a few weeks notice of the end.
What if any where the reasons for ending that show?.
I have already e-mailed phil....@bbc.co.uk
but have recieved no reply as yet.
Phil.
Ian Anderson
> >> You would not be alone in seizing the initiative and campaigning
> >> in the direction of 3 right now.
> > I am sure there is a good case to be made for it on Radio 3 (though
> > my BBC type did not). However here is a second question - what should
> > such a programme look like?
> > I emphatically do not want to restrict it to English - it excludes too
> > much other stuff I would like - or traditional - cuts out some of the
> > best stuff around - eg the Hush............or British Isles......cuts
> > out the genre of pipers I love like Susanna Seivane, Budino etc.
>
> On the contrary I would say that as a badly retrograde step. Radio 3
> already has Late Junction which does most of what you want.
>
> The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL. That gives
> it a whole lot more options than anything that goes out across the
> whole of Britain/UK; providing a showcase for local performers and
> local community-based activities, making local references you could
> never do on a UK-wide medium without getting complaints about their
> obscurity, and so on. Is Radio 3 going to run an announcement that
> you can catch Jez Lowe at a folk club in Hebden Bridge this week?
>
Yes, I agree entirely. Local radio ought to be the backbone of all this
just like local folk magazines are so valuable. It's a compliment to call
these things the parish notice board - they can be a real catalyst. There's
no point in a national radio show going into the intricate small details of
a local community scene, any more than a national magazine can give
details of the activities of local amateur/ semi-pro artists all over the
country. In all the years I was a performer, the areas with the most
healthy scenes *always* had a good little local magazine or radio show
holding it together. In-jokes, local activism, local chit-chat. Invaluable.
The only reason I mentioned R3 was that the poster had mentioned
lobbying R2, which I thought counter-productive on that level for
the reasons I gave.
David Kilpatrick
Sexycutable wrote:
> My choice would be:
>
> 1) Minimal chat, just announce the tracks at beginning and end and
> don't do it over the intros and outros. No artist interviews on air, put
> them where they belong, on a web-site where those who are genuinely that
> interested can look thenm up.
>
Disagree with most of this. That would creating a folk equivalent of the
brain dead factory muzak played by our local commercial station - just a
few ill-chosen words between tracks and nothing to inform anyone about
anything. I enjoy all the info and interviews, and it has nothing to do
with Scotland or being local - I enjoy the same kind of thing on Radio 3
jazz programs and I don't even like jazz all that much! The talk stuff
actually makes it MORE interesting, not less so. Ditto classical.
David
David G. Bell
<3E87F7EC...@frootsmag.donot.com>
fro...@frootsmag.donot.com "Ian Anderson" wrote:
> bogus address wrote:
>
> > The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL. That gives
> > it a whole lot more options than anything that goes out across the
> > whole of Britain/UK; providing a showcase for local performers and
> > local community-based activities, making local references you could
> > never do on a UK-wide medium without getting complaints about their
> > obscurity, and so on. Is Radio 3 going to run an announcement that
> > you can catch Jez Lowe at a folk club in Hebden Bridge this week?
> >
>
> Yes, I agree entirely. Local radio ought to be the backbone of all this
> just like local folk magazines are so valuable. It's a compliment to call
> these things the parish notice board - they can be a real catalyst. There's
> no point in a national radio show going into the intricate small details of
> a local community scene, any more than a national magazine can give
> details of the activities of local amateur/ semi-pro artists all over the
> country. In all the years I was a performer, the areas with the most
> healthy scenes *always* had a good little local magazine or radio show
> holding it together. In-jokes, local activism, local chit-chat. Invaluable.
>
> The only reason I mentioned R3 was that the poster had mentioned
> lobbying R2, which I thought counter-productive on that level for
> the reasons I gave.
There's been some changes in style for both R2 and Local Radio, over the
years, and I can certainly see why folk music can be getting messed
about. But there's a difference between change-of-presenter/format
stuff and outright loss of programming.
Has the BBC any national policy, or a national contact, for local radio.
The folk programmes I know of are regional, carried by a group of
stations, though some stations also have their own little bits. And
some of the late-night regional stuff seems indistinguishable in general
style from the daytime R2.
So who can we lobby?
At a guess, for one of these collective programs, both your local
station and whichever local radio station actually produces it. But who
else?
Maybe the WI? Not so silly: they have a certain interest in traditions
and local culture.
And then there's that government department that deals with this culture
stuff, whatever they call it this week.
Well, maybe not. Unless you get the boot polish out, and learn to play
"John Peel" on a sitar...
--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.
"Let me get this straight. You're the KGB's core AI, but you're afraid
of a copyright infringement lawsuit over your translator semiotics?"
From "Lobsters" by Charles Stross.
ddwyer
<phil....@ntlworld.com> writes
written on various occasions protesting/proposing alternatives involving
the regular pub sessions as well as clubs they always sound interested
but it comes to nothing .
--
ddwyer
Martin Banks
This is a guess, but I have seen it happen in other areas,
and I suspect the psychology holds true. When someone new
comes in as station controller at a local radio show they
usually want to make their mark in some way - particularly
as local radio is a training ground for `greater things'. So
they change programme schedules and then axe programmes. It
certainly happened on both our local stations - BBC Three
Counties and Chiltern Radio - both of which had very good
local programmes in the 80's and both of which died in the
90s as new controllers came in.
In this context, folk is a soft target, if only because it
is one of the few genres without a political vested interest
tied to it. So they can do what they like without causing a
furore.
Anahata
>
> The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL
> never do on a UK-wide medium without getting complaints about their
> obscurity, and so on. Is Radio 3 going to run an announcement that
> you can catch Jez Lowe at a folk club in Hebden Bridge this week?
>
folk clubs, pointed out that feeding your local radio station with
what's on at your local folk club is a very effective and often
neglected form of free publicity. I wonder how many do, and if they
don't it's no wonder that local radio stations are unaware of any
much interest in folk music in their locality.
--
Anahata
ana...@treewind.co.uk -+- http://www.treewind.co.uk
Home: 01638 720444 Mob: 07976 263827
folkiedave
> > Has the BBC any national policy,
Unfortunately it seems to have one that says close them down!!
In this context, folk is a soft target, if only because it
> is one of the few genres without a political vested interest
> tied to it. So they can do what they like without causing a
> furore.
In fact there is often a furore - and this latest is not unusual. The
problem is that the BBC takes no notice of them!!
> > Maybe the WI? Not so silly: they have a certain interest
> > in traditions and local culture.
Not knocking them for certain - look how they blew Blair out of the
water!! The BBC have an out-of-date image of folk, I think maybe the
best way around this thinking long term is to try and get some more on
BBC 3 - and then press for local versions of a similar show - I can
see the disadvantages - BUT it might be a way forward.
I want to keep this going for a while - lets see if we can reach a
consensus and then give it a real go.
George Hawes
David Kilpatrick <icon...@btconnect.com> wrote:
>
>
> Sexycutable wrote:
>
> > My choice would be:
> >
> > 1) Minimal chat . . .
> Disagree with most of this.
Nice to find myself in complete agreement with you, David . .
It's a difficult balance (IMO the Radio 3 English Roots had far too much chat
with too little direction . . ) but, as you pointed out, intellegent
consideration and comment greatly enhances the material. IMO, clearly.
G.
--
George Hawes (george...@orange.net)
and Sawston Arts Festival: Next event:
Ryburn Threestep - 28th March. Ask for details.
George Hawes
Anahata <ana...@treewind.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <10...@purr.demon.co.uk>, bogus address wrote:
> >
> > The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL
> > ...making local references you could never do on a UK-wide medium
> A while ago, somebody on this newsgroup, in a thread about running
> folk clubs, pointed out that feeding your local radio station with
> what's on at your local folk club is a very effective
We've always done that. Up to 18 months ago it was highly effective
(give-or-take the 'on air' interview where the connection went down at
their end just before it started). However all contact in the last 6 months
have been totally ignored . . .
folkiedave
> folk clubs, pointed out that feeding your local radio station with
> what's on at your local folk club is a very effective and often
> neglected form of free publicity. I wonder how many do, and if they
> don't it's no wonder that local radio stations are unaware of any
> much interest in folk music in their locality.
An excellent point. Perhaps we should bombard Radio Humberside with
events. Excellent idea.....the more I think about it the better it
becomes.....
Thanks,
Dave
folkiedave
> folk clubs, pointed out that feeding your local radio station with
> what's on at your local folk club is a very effective and often
> neglected form of free publicity. I wonder how many do, and if they
> don't it's no wonder that local radio stations are unaware of any
> much interest in folk music in their locality.
An excellent point. Perhaps we should bombard Radio Humberside with
Phil Myers
I have just been on the radio Stoke website, they get
2 hours on a Thursday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/prog_parse.cgi?FILENAME=20030403/20030
403_1900_52275_43069_120
and 2 hours on a Sunday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/prog_parse.cgi?FILENAME=20030406/20030
406_2000_52275_43208_120
and they can probably pick up 2 hours of 'Folkwaves' on Mondays as well.
Jammy S**s
Phil
David G. Bell
<51a79044.03033...@posting.google.com>
da...@deyre.plus.com "folkiedave" wrote:
If you're on the south bank, try Radio Lincolnshire as well.
There's a long-running tendency for the local media to stick too rigidly
to the old Lincolnshire/Humberside division, but I've no idea if it's
them, or people who send out announcements.
Martin Banks
<51a79044.03033...@posting.google.com>,
da...@deyre.plus.com (folkiedave) wrote:
> In this context, folk is a soft target, if only because
> it is one of the few genres without a political vested
> > interest tied to it. So they can do what they like
> > without causing a furore.
>
> In fact there is often a furore - and this latest is not
> unusual. The
> problem is that the BBC takes no notice of them!!
Not quite what I meant, Dave. Yes, we all get upset and jump
up and down, but we are a minority community that the Beeb
can happily ignore for we have no political champions in the
wider world. It is difficult to say this without appearing
racist - and I am not, to the best of my ability - but until
recently I lived in Luton, an area with a very large Asian
community. Consequently, local radio covers their interests
and has native-language broadcasts etc. Fine, nothing wrong
with that. But if the controller decided to axe the
programmes the row would be great and widespread - and
rightly so. Axe a folk programme, however........When it
happened we tried to get the local papers interested in the
story but they weren't - and aren't.
Political vested interests only work when the politician (or
newspaper editor/journalist) has something to gain
themselves. When it comes to folk music there is no
advantage to them. There are few votes for local councillors
(often the contrary because any `music' means `disturbance'
and `late-night rowdiness') while local paper journalists
are often young trainees for whom `local music' coverage
means reviewing mainstream rock-band CDs so they have a
cuttings file to show NME when they go for the job
interview.
lookinsig
<bo...@purr.demon.co.uk> writes
>The point about the axed programme is that it's LOCAL. That gives
>it a whole lot more options than anything that goes out across the
>whole of Britain/UK; providing a showcase for local performers and
>local community-based activities, making local references you could
>never do on a UK-wide medium without getting complaints about their
>obscurity, and so on. Is Radio 3 going to run an announcement that
>you can catch Jez Lowe at a folk club in Hebden Bridge this week?
Jack and I are not always on the same wavelength, but in this case he is
absolutely right. While I think we should also be campaigning for more
folk on the national radio channels, LOCAL radio has a duty of care
towards minority music, and local programming for local clubs, local
artists and artists on tour locally are what the local programmes should
be based on.
The regionalisation of folk shows in Yorkshire (and elsewhere) was the
beginning of the end. If you condense three shows into one - but
broadcast that one show to all three (and more) regions, you can hardly
be accused of closing down folk shows, and when, many years later, you
close down one folk show - well, it's only one show, innit? Such a small
thing to lose!
I have already sent one strong protest. This is just a beginning. We
have to campaign long and hard for folk programming on local stations.
Maybe, if the BBC feels that a change is needed, we should go back to
having individual folk programmes on Radios Leeds, Sheffield and
Humberside, as it used to be, and while we're at it add Radio York to
our campaign.
Please don't let this drop. Send in your complaints and then reply to
the standard fobbing off letter that you're bound to get.
Go to it!
Jacey
BTW, I'm pleased to hear Radio 2 is getting a new controller next year.
This bugger seems to be a C&W fan and could hardly be more anti-folk.
--
Jacey Bedford
Ignore the spam blocker: type <artisan at artisan hyphen harmony dot com> to
reply
Molly-not-dancing
> Jacey
>
> BTW, I'm pleased to hear Radio 2 is getting a new controller next year.
> This bugger seems to be a C&W fan and could hardly be more anti-folk.
Not from Radio Norfolk is he?
Molly-not-dancing
Molly
on Sat, 5 Apr 2003, Molly-not-dancing <ba...@emendesigns.co.uk> wrote:
>Not from Radio Norfolk is he?
>Molly-not-dancing
Your handle always troubles me, because it makes me feel as though I
*should* be. And I don't think the floors will take it.
--
Molly
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person
who doesn't get it.
Pie4lidy
Yes, I did too, and as yet no joy.
eliza C
folkiedave
I wonder if it is because they have had so many letters of complaint.
Certainly he stopped replying to me after two letters and Radio
Sheffield has made it clear they will not entertain any more
correspondence (well not from me anyway).
I have no doubt correcting his (mis)use of apostrophes and somewhat
quaint use of English did not endear me to him - but I am surprised if
he took it out on other people. " A tough one to call!!" strikes me as
being American and archaic. I am afraid I said so. It was tough call
to resist and I didn't.
I think the Local Advisory Councils need to be contacted, though to be
honest they can only give the Editor a tough time!!
Dave
Ian Anderson
I didn't get a reply either. Maybe you could get your ma and pa to write subtly
quoting their gongs and so pull rank . . . having had a pat on the head from Mrs
Windsor might yet impress a BBC oik even if we're now the 51st State . . .
lookinsig
<pie4...@aol.com> writes
reply within a couple of days. I'm back home from the USA now and raring
to get my teeth into this.
Jacey
Jacey Bedford
<look...@nospam.invalid> writes
>In message <20030406121823...@mb-cl.aol.com>, Pie4lidy
><pie4...@aol.com> writes
>>
>>>>
>>>>I have already e-mailed phil....@bbc.co.uk
>>>>but have recieved no reply as yet.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Phil.
>>
>>><phil....@ntlworld.com>
>>
>> Yes, I did too, and as yet no joy.
>>eliza C
>I've not had a reply either but I intend to phone if I haven't had a
>reply within a couple of days. I'm back home from the USA now and
>raring to get my teeth into this.
Well - I phoned...
The chap in question, Phil White, is off work with Chicken Pox. I told
the receptionist that if I had all the folkies in Yorkshire screaming at
me, I'd have _Chicken_ Pox, too. I think he's due back next week.
So, chaps, we've got to keep on their case with this, politely but
firmly. The BBC only sends a standard letter back to your fist query.
They don't even log your first query as a complaint. It's only from
letter 2 onwards that they have to log them. After 2 letters they _have_
to give you a personal reply and from then on you can set up a
persistent dialogue.
However, don't waste your stamps writing to Phil White - it wasn't his
decision. It wasn't even the decision of head of Humberside, Helen
White. Ultimately the man responsible was Colin Philpot and he hangs out
at BBC Radio Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9PN. He's the head of the
cluster of stations covering BBC Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire (i.e.
the same area as Yorkshire Arts covers, Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire
and North East Lincolnshire.)
As of the management board meeting tonight, Yorkshire Folk Arts will be
lobbying for the return of the programme - or at least a return of the
one hour folk segment within it. But we can't do this alone. Please keep
up the pressure with firm (but - please - POLITE) letters stating your
case. Don't rest after the first fobbing odd letter, ask for them to
answer your questions point by point.
The object of this exercise is not just to complain, but to aim those
complaints towards getting a positive result - the return of folk
programming in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Please help by not letting this matter drop.
Many thanks.
Jacey
--
Jacey Bedford ja...@yorkshire-folk-arts.com
Development Worker www.yorkshire-folk-arts.com
YORKSHIRE FOLK ARTS
10 Park Head, Birdsedge, Huddersfield, UK, HD8 8XW
Ph 01484 606230 Fax: 01484 606290
BigAl
"Jacey Bedford" <Ja...@yorkshire-folk-arts.com> wrote in message
news:+mTiG3GY...@artifact.demon.co.uk...
> In message <2MQRRyQL...@artifact.demon.co.uk>, lookinsig
> <look...@nospam.invalid> writes
> >In message <20030406121823...@mb-cl.aol.com>, Pie4lidy
> ><pie4...@aol.com> writes
<snippity dooh dah>
> So, chaps, we've got to keep on their case with this, politely but
> firmly. The BBC only sends a standard letter back to your
> fist query.
Hmmmm. Gawd knows what your impolite response would be Jacey :--)
BigAl
lookinsig
<bigal...@virgin.net> writes
I'd say the same thing, without smiling, and I'd let the Alsatian off
the leash.
:-)
Seriously, though, I'm a softie... really...
Alan
lookinsig
<alan....@ntlworld.com> writes
>Let Artisan off the leash..............
>
>
:-)
Peter Thomas
<look...@nospam.invalid> writes
>In message <DmNoa.32$P77....@newsfep2-gui.server.ntli.net>, Alan
><alan....@ntlworld.com> writes
>>Let Artisan off the leash..............
>>
>>
>Rooooaaaaaarrrr!!!
Overtaken by a BMW somewhere in Dasset, reg no ART154N. Yours?
--
Peter Thomas
lookinsig
<pe...@godthoms.demon.co.uk> writes
Never even thought of that one - but now I know it exists, I want it.
So, come one, what number plates can we invent for other folkies?
I did once see RAD101 and RAD102 driving in convoy along a road near
Cricklewood - unlikely as it seems - and presume the BEEB has RADIO3/4/5
to match.
Julian PCT
Dominic Cronin
<look...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>In message <jjI43VGM...@godthoms.demon.co.uk>, Peter Thomas
><pe...@godthoms.demon.co.uk> writes
>>In article <SSCSBPWo...@artifact.demon.co.uk>, lookinsig
>><look...@nospam.invalid> writes
>>>In message <DmNoa.32$P77....@newsfep2-gui.server.ntli.net>, Alan
>>><alan....@ntlworld.com> writes
>>>>Let Artisan off the leash..............
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Rooooaaaaaarrrr!!!
>>
>>Overtaken by a BMW somewhere in Dasset, reg no ART154N. Yours?
>I wish...
>
>Never even thought of that one - but now I know it exists, I want it.
>
>So, come one, what number plates can we invent for other folkies?
>
>I did once see RAD101 and RAD102 driving in convoy along a road near
>Cricklewood - unlikely as it seems - and presume the BEEB has RADIO3/4/5
>to match.
>
>Jacey
>
>>
The most inventive I ever saw was BUL 541T
The lettering had been carefully chosen to help things along.
--
Dominic Cronin
Amsterdam
Steve Mansfield
<look...@nospam.invalid> writes
>So, come one, what number plates can we invent for other folkies?
>
>I did once see RAD101 and RAD102 driving in convoy along a road near
>Cricklewood - unlikely as it seems - and presume the BEEB has
>RADIO3/4/5 to match.
>
Given my predilection for small flutes I've always fancied F1FER but
it's already taken ....
RUS13Y for Kate R perhaps?
And how much would MU51CAL go for?
--
Steve Mansfield
http://www.lesession.co.uk - abc music notation tutorial,
the uk.music.folk newsgroup FAQ, and other goodies
*** Mail to sfmans @ yahoo . com doesn't get read. ***
*** Replace http://www. with contact@ to mail me. ***