[cma-l] Advice and comment

[Tony Bailey]

I seems to me that this is a case of congestion deja vu, in other words 
another city after London, where there has been a complete failure to 
address issues of cronic frequency shortage (apart from adding dab 
multiplexes) and a myoptic approach to community radio. The only remedy 
on the table seems to be pick out the odd pirate and heavily fine the 
rest. Eventually, renting a dab slot will look a less costly option.

Tony Bailey

Office - ccr-fm wrote:
> Ian and all
> 
>  
> 
> There are obviously a number of issues here. The main one being the fact
> that people have to resort to being pirates in the first place. I don’t
> think given the choice anyone actually wants to break the law ……….. I most
> certainly don’t …………… but as in the days of Radio Caroline / England /
> London etc rules are in place that have no bearing on reality.
> 
>  
> 
> In fact, if we shifted all the commercial and bbc clowns onto the digital
> then there would be no need for any pirates and everyone would be happy. An
> abundance of frequencies.
> 
>  
> 
> Fining and Jailing people serves no purpose in the long run, especially on
> issues like this …………….. Nelson Mandela was fined and jailed ….. he became
> an icon, a legend, a well respected man.
> 
> You cannot kill an idea, an ethos, a belief etc simply by being heavy
> handed.
> 
>  
> 
> We are complaining at the moment about certain rules and regulations …………
> even when you stop a layman in the street (who doesn’t understand it)    and
> tell them what is going on ….. 100% of people say …………… ‘’are you kidding or
> what’’                                               
> 
>  
> 
> To be honest, I don’t really know what I’m trying to say ….. except, if you
> back people into a corner, eventually they’re gonna’ come at you with their
> sleeves rolled up, technically this is where the fraturnity is at, at
> present and where some pirates found themselves …..??!
> 
>  
> 
> (Banging heads against brick walls springs to mind) (eventually one gets fed
> up and thinks, oh !  sod it !)
> 
>  
> 
> Regards
> 
>  
> 
> Nick
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Ian Hickling
> Sent: 25 October 2010 22:05
> To: info at radiofrequencyfm.co.uk; cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> Subject: [cma-l] Advice and comment
> 
>  
> 
>  
> You don't offer a name, which makes it difficult to claim any kind of
> credibility.
> There are quite a few misconceptions which need correcting.
> Licences don't come every 5 years.
> Ofcom invites applications from time to time and licences that are awarded
> run for 5 years.
> Licences aren't legal or otherwise.
> Either you have a licence or you don't.
> If you don't, regardless of your content, audience or good intentions,
> you're breaking the law and you must expect prosecution and heavy fines.
> Despite being pressed for an answer, Ofcom won't explain how Rinse obtained
> a licence.
> The only feasible route would appear to be for persons who had not been
> associated with illegal broadcasting for 5 years or more to submit a licence
> application in the name of the pirate and offer a similar genre of music and
> target audience.
> Ofcom doesn't make licences expensive - and you don't and can't buy one.
> The licence fee is £600 per annum.
> Compliance with other requirements such as music royalties which you won't
> have paid previously are what can cost a considerable amount.
> Ofcom isn't praising Rinse for what it has been in the past.
> It has decided that the Applicant had good enough reasons for being awarded
> a licence.
> Ofcom isn't persecuting Frequency by handing out crippling fines.
> It's obeying instruction from Government and doing its duty as a Regulator.
> The fines imposed are only to be expected by Frequency's actions and you
> surely know that.
> If you wish to become legitimate you should follow the actions of Rinse and
> you could well be successful.
>  
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: info at radiofrequencyfm.co.uk
> To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:44:26 +0100
> Subject: [cma-l] Advice, ideas, comments please. Thanks
> 
> For the last 4 years, Radio Frequency in Leeds has been synonymous with the
> underground music movement in Leeds. Crucial in pioneering new music, it was
> instrumental in bringing the now ubiquitous sound of Dubstep up North, & has
> broken in many artists who now command international respect. Today, it is
> home to over 50 DJs playing cutting edge music from across the board;
> whether it’s bass, house, garage, drum and bass or hip-hop, no other
> organisation has devoted as much time & energy to the underground cause.
> 
> In return for this hard work, Frequency swiftly became one of the most
> revered institutions in Leeds, and indeed the North, attracting thousands of
> listeners on a daily basis. So – what’s happened? It’s been over 6 months
> since Frequency was last heard on the FM dial, and whilst its online
> presence is still going, many feel its glory is fading; the truth, however,
> is that it is preparing to grow and be bigger than ever.
> 
> Turbulent times
> 
> Going back over the last 12 months, Frequency has experienced its share of
> troubles. It’s well known that two key members were arrested and taken to
> court on charges of illegal broadcasting. Despite not going to prison, a
> cumulative £12,000 fine was handed down. Frequency has always been
> non-profit; all money donated to the station has gone into the running of
> it, ensuring rent is paid, transmitters are replaced & the broadcast never
> stops.
> 
> £12,000 then, is not an easy sum of cash to come up with. Emergency measures
> have been taken; the costly FM broadcast has been switched off, leaving the
> radio as a solely online broadcast. Frequency is trying to get back on its
> feet, but with the FM gone the audience has dwindled, advertisers will pull
> out & a number DJs have show little loyalty & left entirely. The last few
> months have been tough. Within the circles of Frequency, it would be
> justified to look back at this time as a trial of faith.
> 
> It is perhaps a testament to the tenacity and dedication of the people
> behind the scenes, to the DJs who are still on board and the listeners still
> tuning in, that Frequency is making it through. Slowly, we are paying off
> the fines –
> 
> Two fundraisers in May and June helped, and regular donations from
> supporters are all greatly appreciated. A station run out of anything other
> than dedicated & unconditional love for music might have floundered & sunk
> under the recent pressure.
> 
> That said, the crippling effect these fines have had on the station can’t be
> ignored – there’s a long uphill struggle to win old and new audiences, to
> get people tuning in online and to bring in new talent. Furthermore, what
> happens once the fines are paid off? Does it switch the unlicensed FM
> broadcast back on? If this happens, there will be more arrests and more
> fines, and perhaps a jail term… In many ways, it is hard to see how
> Frequency can come back, at least in the capacity it was before.
> 
> Legal licences, Ofcom and Rinse
> <http://radiofrequencyfm.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rinse.jp
> g>
> http://radiofrequencyfm.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/rinse-150
> x150.jpg
> 
> A few months ago, London based pirate station   <http://www.rinse.fm/> Rinse
> FM was awarded a legal licence, amidst much fanfare and rejoicing from
> underground music fans around the world. After 15 years as a pirate station,
> it is quite an achievement. To many, it would seem the doors are wide open
> for new, underground and urban-leaning stations to pop up all over the
> country.
> 
> Certainly Rinse has all the makings a bonafide music-orientated business –
> it has regular CD releases, sell-out events at Fabric and Matter, and boasts
> a roster of internationally famous professional DJs. Yet, it is not legal;
> its pirate broadcasts continues, in breach of Ofcom regulations: its music &
> ticket sales clearly fund the organisation (& in turn, the aforementioned
> broadcast). Whilst Ofcom praises Rinse, it hands Frequency crippling fines.
> 
> Ofcom has recently announced there will be more community broadcasting
> licenses being given out in the Leeds area. This represents Frequency’s best
> chance of making good, to put the love and dedication & sheer hard work of
> the last 4 years into creating a positive, legal institution. As a community
> station, it could offer workshops for youths in DJing, radio production,
> broadcasting, sound engineering, even promotion & management. The target
> audience for Frequency is 14-30; there is massive scope for a legal station
> in the mould of Frequency to have a positive community influence.
> 
> There are problems though. Ofcom doesn’t make it cheap to buy a licence; an
> annual licence costs tens of thousands of pounds, which can be raised
> through advertising, but Frequency will either need to shake its reputation
> as a pirate station and the negative repercussions of the last 12 months, or
> hire some very good PR personnel.
> 
> Furthermore, Frequency needs to be able to manage itself – a legal
> organisation is different from a volunteer led pirate station, it will need
> to secure a professional team to lead it. Existing personnel will need to
> step up, knowing the end rewards are great, or there needs to be external
> volunteers brought in who would become employees should it go legal.
> 
> The future…
> 
> The possibility of a legal, urban music station with a youth &
> community-orientated approach is a perfect outcome. Existing organisations,
> such as the Pat Regan Legacy and Unity Day, have proven highly successful.
> The scope for Frequency is even greater than these. With a legal license
> behind us, we will be able to run workshops in the city’s schools &
> colleges, training young people in different aspects of radio broadcasting.
> 
> By engaging communities, playing music that is not heard anywhere else &
> presenting it in an approachable manner, we provide a valuable voice &
> outlet for sectors of society overlooked & underrepresented by
> commercialised media, championing the causes and needs of youth-orientated
> inner-city life. We can bring young people onboard, giving them a focus for
> their creativity outside of school.
> 
> Legal licences come every 5 years, and now we have a few at once. The time
> for Frequency to come back is now. Truly, this should be an exciting time.
> 
> Radio Frequency needs new volunteers in all departments. If you want to get
> involved and can spare a few hours each week – Frequency wants to hear from
> you. We want DJs, radio hosts, graphic designers, teachers, sound engineers,
> writers, bloggers PR, etc – people who want to learn about the music
> industry, or have knowledge already & want to use it for a community cause.
> 
>  
> 
> 
> If you want to help with Radio Frequency, either through donating towards
> the fines, volunteering on the station
> 
> 
> or you think you can help with the legal licence bid, please visit:
> 
> 
> www.radiofrequencyfm.co.uk or email  info at radiofrequencyfm.co.uk
> 
>  - Radio Frequency
> 
>  
> 
> 
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