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Anyone who would like to put us on air again..!
full story below...keep reading...
World Music Vs the Man ....how Tudno FM shafted the world music show
The World Music Show was started in 2007 by Rob Shrigley, however following months of being moved round the schedules at short notice and its first cancellation Rob left Tudno FM. The vision, dedication and drive of Mike Roberts succeeded to keep world music in the schedules and the show settled into its Sunday evening time slot. During Summer 2008 Mike ensured the promotion of local artists as well as visiting and highlighting some of the bands who played at Sesiwn Fawr.
In September 2008 Dewi Llwyd Evans joined the show as co-presenter. A promoter and DJ, he has been instrumental in bringing many world music acts to North Wales and was the founder member of Byd Mawr .
The show went from strength to strength providing a platform for artists and musicians both local and global. The following artists graced us with their time and presence – members of Bandabacana, Cajuns Denbo, Hiraeth, Rhys Mwyn (Anrhefn, Hen wlad fy Mamau), Lhotse from Oxjam, Rhys Roberts (Anweledig and Gwallgofiaid),
We featured lengthy interviews and live music in session from the Santa Cruz River Band on tour from Arizona, Gwilym Morus playing to support the release of his great album "dressing gown goddess", and the fiery bodrhan playing of Alan Collinson. We also provided one of the first UK interviews for the fascinating Africa to Appalachia project by Canadian banjo player Jayme Stone and Malian Kora player Mansa Sissoko.
Our last show featured heavily the music of the late John Martyn and some of the artists who had collaborated and inspired him such as Lee Scratch Perry, Bert Jansch, Pharoh Sanders and Songhai.
We played exclusive mixes from redstripe and Alternative Information, and featured a weekly gig guide- for us it was just as important to feature local talent along with the amazing sounds we were picking up from all corners of the globe.
Sounds good..? It was.....most of the time : )
ok sometimes in between tracks we died on our asses (!) but we believed in our music and were convinced we were onto a winner- the listener feedback was positive as was the reaction from our featured artists –many who felt we were streets ahead of most local radio output, and indeed some of the nationals. Tudno FM also reacted positively by extending the show to a full two hours from October 2008 – however they hardly ever publicised us and never gave us the blog or jingles we had been promised from the start.
So why did we get pulled? Egos, schoolyard politics or “professional†management? ...depends on your point of view. Tudno FM to us never seemed a particularly stable organisation and at times it seemed like too much power rested with too few people. A recent purge culled many of the most innovative programmes like Tudno FM unsigned (showcasing local bands), presenters with opinions and personalities who weren’t afraid to voice themselves got sacked or felt they had no choice but to leave. Mike Roberts voiced his frustration in an email and via facebook (inadvertently) – consequently he too was dismissed. No written warning, no appeal, no attempt to mediate.
Dewi was an innocent bystander and oblivious to all this, preparing for the next show. A cursory phone call informed him that he too was part of the cull even though he was told that there was no problem with the show’s quality or the material which had been broadcast. He was patronisingly informed he could apply to become a volunteer despite having already been one on a weekly basis for the previous five months. No matter what the inconvenience to future guests or listeners- the show was being pulled with immediate effect.
The bland generic pulp radio which replaced us gave no mention of why we were off the schedules – a fair indication of the respect Tudno FM has for its audience and loyal listeners. A thank you for our efforts might have been nice too...
A sad tale for sure but it was great while it lasted..we remain grateful for the opportunity we were given- and thank you to all the people who gave their time readily to be our guests..and to our listeners THANK YOU for being there – we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did....
.....The spirit of the World Music Show lives on...!
- If you want to express an opinion on what has happened see below
UPDATE
Following several phonecalls on the 11 + 12 February 2009 Tudno FM demanded that we remove the above piece from our page threatening us with legal action as it was "libellous". We have reviewed the article and conclude that it is factually accurate and a reasonable criticism of their actions in cancelling the show. We have made a few amendments to make it clearer where we are expressing opinions which may not be shared by everybody.
Communication with TudnoFm should be undertaken by snail mail to the following address
Mr Mike James, TudnoFM, Studio Manager, Ty Hapus Community Resource Centre,Ffordd Penrhyn,Llandudno LL3 1HB
or by email to Matt Syddall,Technical Director, Tudno FM
Email Matt
