[cma-l] Avoiding sexually-explicit songs

Wed Nov 2 01:31:35 GMT 2011

Have read with interest and ultimately couldn't stop myself - well here goes

What follows is my personal opinion and in no way represents a CMA position, I say this mindful of my council membership. That would be a disclaimer - something we used to employ before, during and after programming that might be regarded as potentially offensive to listeners of Sound Radio when it operated as a licensed community radio station. This included programmes with language, lyrics and views outside of mainstream sensibilities. 

The Sound Radio philisophical position regarding giving a voice to those at the margin, or on the other side of the margin, of society was we believed central to our reason for being. As a result what this discussion alludes to was at times included in our programming. For me one of the reasons, amongst many, for the pursuit of an additional form of radio broadcasting in the UK was to challenge mainstream mediation of what they considered okay . Much of the process of arriving at what is okay in the mainstream has resulted from a fear of what might possibly be considered in breach of  one law or another, rather than what is actually illegal, and that in addition to the cultural sensibilities of those running or owning mainstream media.  

In amongst the opportunity for alternative analysis of local, national and world events from those in communities with a different perspective, there was/is also the opportunity for community radio to present alternative cultural and artisitc forms. It may well be that many of those involved in community radio share the sensibilites of mainstream broadcasters at least in terms of "language", and certainly a high proportion of the schedule for which I was responsible on Sound Radio I disagreed with, or just wasn't my cup of tea - that said I considered it my duty to fulfil our mission to present alternatives to the mainstream. 

Before anyone feels the need to lecture me on the legal implcations in adopting this approach don't bother - I know what they are - the point is whether you feel that there should be an intelligent challenge to the status quo or whether you don't. In amongst the trials and tribulations of survival and day to day operation of a community radio station such principles - if they are relevant to those involved - can become functionally an additional problem best left for another time. 

What am I saying - for those who feel there is any credence in my view of community radio as an opportunity to be truly different from the mainstream -  try to be as brave as you reasonably can - and for those who disagree try not to be too dismissive or judgemental of those who have a bash at pushing the boundaries. 

P.S. Sound Radio ran out of money , before it exploded - if you look to the sky at night there's a little star that twinkles cheekily at the big ones.

Lol Gellor - the unexpurgated version hopefully

________________________________
From: Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>
To: eddie at kcr.fm; cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Sent: Tuesday, 1 November 2011, 16:04
Subject: [cma-l] Avoiding sexually-explicit songs

Legal and Social Responsibiity doesn't vary with time of day.
You have no idea as to the age and susceptibility of your listener.
Nor with internet delivery where in the world your audience is listening.
Don't use a fictitious "watershed" as a defence.
Just make the rules for your presenters and manage their implementation.

------------------------------------
Ian Hickling
Partner
transplan UK

________________________________
 Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 15:28:50 +0000
From: eddie at kcr.fm
To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Avoiding sexually-explicit songs

Oh accepted - we're more relaxed later in the evening, but it's important to remember that Ofcom don't have a watershed in the way that TV does.

I often hear radio presenters mention a watershed.....

Eddie

On 01/11/2011 15:11, Two Lochs Radio wrote: 
Eddie
> 
>Although there isn't a regulatory/statutory watershed for radio, I think quite a lot of stations work to a self-imposed one.
> 
>Alex
> 
>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: Eddie Stuart 
>>To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk 
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 2:31 PM
>>Subject: Re: [cma-l] Avoiding sexually-explicit songs
>>
>>Its radio - what watershed?
>>
>>Eddie
>>
>>On 01/11/2011 10:55, Andrew David wrote: 
>>   
>>>Dear All,
>>>The mood of the Ofcom meeting was very clear – ‘fess up to a problem and they’ll be as helpful as possible, so long as you can show that you’re trying to fix the issue and put robust but simple systems in place.  It was interesting that the mainstream commercial and BBC representatives are also experiencing the same sorts of dilemmas that CR is facing.  So, having paid people to check compliance of songs, doesn’t always work.
>>>Siren FM’s policy (with a 9-24 year old focus in the KCs) is, LEGAL, DECENT and HONEST and for safety’s sake we do not have a watershed.  It’s always (streaming) before 9.00pm somewhere.
---
KCR is the operating name of Keith Community Radio Ltd
KCR broadcasts to the whole of Moray & beyond on 102.8FM
and to the World at http://kcr.fm

---
Keith Community Radio Ltd - The Friendly Sound
Registered in Scotland No.SC173805
Registered Office: 59a Land Street, Keith, Banffshire, AB55 5AN 
_______________________________________________ Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/ _______________________________________________ Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/ _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit: http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
_______________________________________________

Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk

The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media
http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/
_______________________________________________

Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
_______________________________________________

To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:
http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20111102/31d89004/attachment.html>