Seaside FM: It's YOUR station, are YOU listening?

Mike Brown's picture
Posted August 16th, 2008 by Mike Brown in

I just wanted to say hello to everyone who has been listening to Seaside FM (or Seaside Radio as it used to be) since it started, it's nice to know your there, otherwise what would the point be? To be honest, It's a bit of a struggle for Seaside Fm to attract listeners and be promoted in the ways that the big boys do. We can't afford to paint our logos onto a bus, put up hugh billboards or have company cars with our name all over them! OK, we do have stickers, boards, badges, T-Shirts and other small promotional tools but, word of mouth is probably the best way that we can get more listeners and that is were YOU come in. As we only have a shoe string budget, it would be nice if you could tell as many people as you can about us. For example, does your next door neighbour know that there is a radio station on their doorstep? Knock on the door and tell them!

Seaside Fm needs all the support it can get and I believe that the service that station provides to the local community is second to none! Seaside Fm has interviewed people from all walks of life in our area, and that is the beauty of community radio. Let's put it like this...

Q: How often does Withernsea, Hollym, Roos or Patrington get a mention on the bigger stations that 'serve' the area? Answer: It doesn't!

Q: How often do you hear people from the local area being interviewed on the radio? Answer: You don't!

Q: If you rang up a station, would they play you a song? Answer: No!

OK, we may not sound as slick as the BBC and Commercial radio stations out there, but we give it our best shot and when you consider the fact that were using two yogurt pots and a piece of string (serious), I don't think we do too bad! We're not big shot DJ's with massive egos, were real local people who you may bump into down the pub, at the shops or eveat the kebab house!

Everybody in community radio works their backsides off to provide an exclusive service to the the area that they serve and most of the staff do it for free and get very little thanks!

Some community stations have even had to shut down after funding difficulties. It was
reported here on seasideradio.co.uk that Radio Cardiff was one such station. Radio Cardiff was set up to play music of black origin in the centre of the city and there mission statement was “to deliver a diverse range of music with shows that break the mould of traditional radio” which I kinda like! I'm pleased to announce that they have returned to the airwaves (even though it is on a back to back music basis) and are in talks with The University of Glamorgan to relaunch as a partnership, I wish them the best of luck with these future plans.

So, before I shoot off, i'd like to say hello to all our neighbours in Community Radio across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and tell them to keep up the good work! The stations that are closest to us are:

If your ever in any of those place, tune in and give them your support, they (and we) deserve it.

Keep listening, Mike Brown.

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