Alternative music on community stations
tompayne
Posts: 304 Forum Member
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Does anyone know examples of community radio stations that have 'alternative' music shows that play 100% (or predominantly) local bands?
Also do you think a mix of alternative genres within a show is OK, for example, pop-punk, death metal, indie-alternative, metal, rock, punk rock, etc. or better to be more genre specific (bearing in mind the limited amount of air time that might be available).
Thanks
Also do you think a mix of alternative genres within a show is OK, for example, pop-punk, death metal, indie-alternative, metal, rock, punk rock, etc. or better to be more genre specific (bearing in mind the limited amount of air time that might be available).
Thanks
0
Comments
There's a few community stations that have alternative or specialist shows, most of which focus on local bands or artists in that area.
Belfast's Blast 106 has two shows each week playing local alternative and indie music, as well as one show a week playing 'urban' music and one which plays a mix of mainstream rock, alternative, pop-punk, etc. Each show is only two hours a week though so as you said it is hard to cover so much in such a limited time.
96.7 Phoenix FM broadcasts YUBS - Yorkshire Underground Bands Show 6 - 8pm on Sunday's.
Cambridge 105 broadcasts The New Music Generator Monday's 10pm - midnight.
Vixen 101 broadcasts The Foxes Den on Friday's 9pm until Midnight.
Other than that I don't know of any others.
Some very good, some really awful but it is a platform.
http://youthcomm.co.uk/artist/done-by-sunrise/
Youthcomm has been going since 2001, and on FM since 2008.
The schedule doesn't mention any specialist music shows. When are they on?
Stuart Rodgers drivetime show is marvellous. The 70's selection, 3 big 80's songs and the rock slot.
+1 on that. I always listen when we go down there on holiday.
http://futureradio.co.uk/station/schedule/week
The website is www.phonic.fm which should give you an indication of what it plays. The station also has access to Sound Gallery Studios so can produce live sessions, as well as being able to take live feeds from other venues within the Phoenix in Exeter. It positively encourages live performances.
I am looking at starting an alternative show on Access FM in Bridgwater. The idea is a mix of about 50% Bridgwater bands and 50% from across Somerset, probably only an hour show and a mix of alternative styles. We'll see how it goes, as there could be plenty of room of more. I know there are quite a few very heavy metal bands in the area, and quite a few on the lighter side of things, so potentially room for 2 shows (one metal, one "indie/alt." )
I run a website / blog that tries to promote the local "alternative" scene, so (I think) I have quite a good understanding of the local bands. (The website is http://bridgwaterlive.wordpress.com in case you wanted a look - its just for fun, as a hobby. Its not just alternative music on there either, but trying to get listings for every gig in town, and reviews etc of live shows and records).
Might be best to start it as a two hour show first then if all is well extend it by an hour.
I have heard a bit of the Rock Show on Phonic FM. It has rebroadcasts on Total Rock and various other radio stations, including in America!
But I am a part of a show called AlterNation which is broadcast on NE1fm, Newcastle upon Tyne, Monday 6-8pm which features a lot of local and unsigned bands.
You can listen online at www.ne1fm.net
and I'm off before this sounds like an advert
I agree - there are so many talented bands / musicians that never get the recognised for their talents.
That is why I am trying to set up a show on my local station, especially as I already do the website/blog. Hopefully it might spur on others to do shows with other genres, or even as one of the other community stations mentioned above does in playing at least one local song each hour.
We'll see. There is definitely the content available, even just from the town, but taking into account the surrounding towns and the whole county, there is so much.
Good luck with it. I would guess that being located where you are you will build not only a good following but also attract submissions from across the whole of Somerset and down into Dorset where there seems to be a huge, and rather overlooked alternative music scene.
I hope you have a large capacity on your "in box" as it seems the norm for musicians and bands to submit huge files, as well as pointing you to all the usual outlets like Soundcloud and other up/download sites.
Do tell us how it builds.