[cma-l] Future thoughts for CMA

[Office - ccr-fm]

Steve

 

What a fantastic e-mail !        and believe it or not you are dead right !
what you have put in this e-mail is exactly what I say to people week in
week out, our volunteers, people making enquiries,     er     sponsors
sometimes when I want to be honest and upfront --------------- that's my
bloody problem ... I'm too honest, to straightforward - a spade is a spade -
what you see is what you get and all that jazz.

 

I don't really know what to say except that regardless of my little
'paddies' .... and tantrums, I actually LOVE what I do ....... This is the
problem I'm afraid. It is the fact that WE (CCR) love it and believe in what
we are doing that makes us so passionate and ready to 'battle' if we get
attacked.

 

If we look at this in plain old simple radio terms and take all the
community stuff out of it ...... give me our dear Heidi Reed, Brian Moores,
Sandy Holtappel, Nick Hawkins, David Anderson etc etc anyday before the
moyles's and evans of this world ..........  THEN AGAIN I WOULD SAY THAT.

 

On our station you get community, you get real localness, you get national
stories, ..... You get the bloomin' lot ... why do I want to listen to the
regionals and the nationals ....... no way jose' !

 

But, as you quite rightly say ..... it ain't what you, or I or ofcom think
etc etc it is what Mr Joe public, Mr Jim Grant, and Mr Fred Sponsor thinks.

 

HOWEVER :-                   I'll turn this whole argument right on its head
......... If the powers that be don't give a shit if that's how we wish to
describe it ....... then why don't they      BUTT OUT / PISS OFF / and go
and irritate and thwart someone else. Don't keep moving the goalposts.

 

It's time these clowns stopped hiding and stood up ........

 

1)       It is quite simple ..... for these people to still be implementing
restrictions etc and not putting in proper funding, then I would argue that
they have actually taken sides.

2)       By taking sides puts a whole new meaning on the situation ...... it
means that the pussyfooting around ceases immediately and as a collective
body we get the legal people in, roll the sleeves up and 'have a go' !
friendly persuassion and being nicey nicey ain't gonna' have any sway.

 

They need to get off the fence. If they care about it, then support it !
they know all the arguments for and against ...... if they don't support it,
then as I have said ///// SOD OFF and let us fight our own battles. 

 

Basically we are in a war, we are in a battle against quite a lot of
adversity ..... What is right will win in the end. They'll see sense, coz
they'll get fed up of us pecking at their heads all the time, the
commercials etc will also have to give us some respect as providing we can
hold our own on our own, we will pinch lots of listeners from them and we
will win support for what we do in the community.

 

I'll certainly soldier on ........ even if it means being stood there like
General Custer at the end surrounded by Indians with an arrow through my hat
!

 

But ...... Your e-mail is bang on, quite correct, dead right !

 

Top man

 

Regards

 

Nick ........... All the best for the new year everyone

 

  _____  

From: Stevensuttie at aol.com [mailto:Stevensuttie at aol.com] 
Sent: 25 December 2010 19:39
To: office at ccr-fm.co.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Future thoughts for CMA

 

Hi Nick,

 

Boy Oh Boy you are a passionate campaigner for the sector. I take my hat off
to you and your overwhelming enthusiasm. I may have hung up my station
manager jacket and opted for real life away from the chaos of community
radio... but I still follow the sector with great interest and I feel your
pain.

 

I left Salford City Radio in July after 3 and a half years. I did a good
stint at Ribble Valley Radio before it so I have more than 6 years of
hardcore community radio frustration behind me.

 

The problem is simple. I want you to sit down...

 

Nobody gives a shit about community radio. The only people who see any point
in it are those, like you, who put everything into it, your volunteers and
perhaps a few local folk who think its great that the local community has a
voice. But in the grand scheme of things... the general public, the
politicians and the countless "organisations" that are paid to deliver
public service are disinterested in it. Its not mainstream media.

 

I'm not saying its unpopular... its just not popular. I don't know why its
not popular, but I have tried to find out why the public are not jumping up
shouting "whoop whoop" about CR.  The bottom line from my experience and
research into the problem is that the public perception of community radio
is simply that its just not as good as Key 103, XFM, Radio 4 or whatever
they listen to. Joe Public, with no interest in radio is not arsed what good
you are doing, they just have radio on in the background, in the car, at the
warehouse. That's about 99% of radio listeners! 

 

They arent bothered, nay, they havent the time nor interest, to learn that
community radio is doing an extraordinarily great job for its
participants.... giving excellent confidence and self esteem building skills
and providing incredible opportunities. Most folk out there ain't arsed. 

 

That's the trouble my friend, and those who decide whether or not to fund it
better are aware of the problem. I have this on excellent authority from a
once high ranking MP. But I'm no name dropper.

 

You on the other hand are probably the most passionate contributor to the
CMA list... your outbursts demonstrate a genuine and deep seated love for
the sector and an incredible desire to change things around. But, and you
knew there'd be a but - its not the CMA, PPL, PRS or OFCOMS fault that there
are difficulties. 

 

I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I respect your views and I
totally understand where you are coming from...with great intentions. But
before you get totally frustrated - try and get it into perspective and most
of all - ENJOY what you are doing!

 

I hope that 2011 is an incredible year for Canalside. Good luck mate, and
have a great New Year.

 

Kind Regards

Steve

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