[cma-l] reflections on the CMA conference

[Office - ccr-fm]

Dear All

 

I couldn’t make it Saturday, but all seems to have gone OK ……………………. Good e-mail from Peter …… I couldn’t have done any better myself …………. I have to agree with a lot of this.

I think possibly a slight bit over the top with the dig at Ofcom ……..(they’re just doing a job)      and certainly correct about faffing about, pussyfootying around worried about upsetting certain ones. It seems alright for them to upset us, but we’re supposed to just sit there and take it …………. Er think not.

 

On a final note, I am a bit confused with the assumption that Online radio is ‘crap’                                     I actually think Commercial Radio is ‘crap’

 

Do you want me to name names ……………….. ??     I don’t mind …… look at the map -------------- all six of our commercial stations in our area are crap    ER NO    when I’m travelling the country and my search locks on to commercial radio in ???? wherever ------ they’re ‘crap’ as well …………. They all pee in the same pot !     obviously just my opinion and the thousands that listen to them of course disagree.

 

However 

 

Bear in mind though that radio listeners fall into three categories

 

1) Highly interlectual / Interesting

2) Someone in the middle

3) Deadpan

 

Community Radio tries to aim at all three ………… sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t ---------- we try to be all things to all men ……. As I said, sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.

 

Commercial Radio is a number 3 ……………….     90% of the time, they succeed …………………. Like I said                  ‘CRAP’ !

 

I was in a shop in Manchester about a month ago ………. I can’t remember now whether it was Real or Key …. But they were running a competition …………. The 4 callers that were on air were struggling to string three words together so a sentence was completely out of the question ……………….    If I had been the presenter I would have asked them to say RED backwards !

 

Is this now the ‘in-word’  ??      ‘crap’             Peter and Jaqui’         go and wash your mouths out with soap !              LOL

 

Regards

 

Nick

 

 

 

  _____  

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of London Chinese Radio
Sent: 14 June 2011 20:19
To: CMA-L; cmamembers-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk; Community Media Association
Subject: [cma-l] reflections on the CMA conference

 

Hello all, 

 

It was a good AGM on Saturday, although I tried to find those who wandered off to the pub afterwards, but couldn't find you. In the end gave up and went home - had a headache anyway...

 

Something nagging at the back of my mind forces me to write...

 

I brought up a question (twice) about why online only radio stations are being excluded from the BBC radio player, and the response I got has got me wondering:

 

Jacqui got some titters from the audience when she said (twice) that most (or a lot) of online radio is "crap" - a semi-profane word which may seem amusing, but also reveals an attitude towards online radio operations and their work. And attempts to paint a huge sector with the same brush. I wonder how much of these stations she actually listens to?  I don't think she listens to much. (because she thinks they are 'crap').

 

So, as a member of the CMA, I was hoping that they would be campaigning on my and other online radio stations behalf. However, I think I will be disappointed here, because if that is the attitude towards online radio, I shouldn't build my hopes up. And that's a pity, because I think online radio is where the future is. I know a lot of people will disagree here, but I really think the internet has changed society, and will change radio too. 

 

I would like to challenge the view that internet radio is crap, not just because of the wealth of excellent radio content out there, but also because I have a logical argument:

Online only stations are not having to run FM licenses, and have no duty to ensure every second of airtime is filled, however meaninglessly, so they have the leisure to take time and properly produce feature programmes, including narration, interviews, sound bites, etc. This takes a long time, but it is something that online only stations can do. Also, many online radio stations provide niche content that serving particular communities. 

 

Now, when I think about 'crap' I can think of output by licensed stations that is also crap, including even the BBC, who don't want 'crap' on their player. Stuff like prank calls by Johnathan Ross and Russell Brand to name a specific example. (it's a long time ago, but I don't listen to BBC radio, there's too much good alternative content out there). But these stations are all allowed on the radio player because they are 'licensed' by Ofcom. Ofcom, oh dear, Ofcom. One quango that really shouldn't have survived the govt cuts. Don't even get me started on that.... ('not fit for purpose' springs to mind)...

 

As I mentioned at the meeting, it seems to me that the only purpose I can think of for the BBC Radio Player's existence is to exclude a huge swathe of radio stations in one foul swoop. This can be seen in its claim to put all of UK radio stations in one place. Handy. Yup, a very handy way for an organisation that was opposed to the community radio sector from the outset to do away with a huge number of online stations. So why on earth is the CMA supporting it?

 

Anyway, out of that disappointing discussion came a beam of light from the audience. The CMA radio player. Someone pointed out that the CMA's new player is out, and could be positioned as a competitor to the BBC Radio Player. The CMA radio player has several  advantages, no least the fact that the CMA doesn't have to enter into long negotiations with the BBC to try (or not, as the case may be) to get community stations (online or licensed). The CMA radio player could be a lot cheaper (if not free) for stations using Canstream. 

In fact, why on earth is the CMA on one hand developing its own radio player, and on the other hand encouraging stations to join the BBC Radio Player which will be in direct competition with it? 

 

I think that we should all back the CMA Radio Player. It's one really good thing that the CMA have come up with. Disregarding everything I have written just now, I still believe that the CMA are genuine about furthering the community sector, and and have our best interests at heart. I don't think the BBC ever was or ever will be, and I really think the CMA should be more aware of the thousands of volunteers and thousands of hours of hard work and top quality radio, from both online and licensed radio that they are representing. And bearing that in mind the CMA should be far more assertive instead of worrying about upsetting their contacts.

 

'nuff said

 

 

Peter Vautier

London Chinese Radio



-- 


野火烧不尽，春风吹又生


 

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