Meet our Members

Brian Player

One of our regular contributors is Brian Player. He is a well-known radio show host of The Acoustic Café on Wey Valley Radio in Alton, UK. He is devoted to sharing the talents of the independent musician/singer/songwriter. You can listen in to his programs on Mondays at 1 pm CST and Tuesdays at 2 pm CST by clicking on The Acoustic Cafe 

Meet Our Members

UK Radio personality Brian Player

Brian Player is a well-known radio show host on Wey Valley Radio in Alton, UK. He is devoted to sharing the talents of the independent musician/singer/songwriter. You can catch Brian's show, Tea Time Favorites on Monday afternoons at 1 pm CST and The Acoustic Cafe on Tuesdays at 2 pm CST by using the tune in app HERE

The Role of Radio in Music ~ by Brian Player

Is there a role for radio in promoting music today? Well, I might

Deposit photos

claim there is but maybe not in the way we have come to expect from past history.

Never has there been such a choice of media to entertain as there is today. We all know about streaming services giving free or near free access to new music and the hundreds of radio services all competing for our attention.

So, how is the radio scene evolving? Who are the winners and how are listeners making their choices?

Firstly, national broadcasters continue to dominate the world of popular music. In the UK we are very much habit driven and still tune to the stations we know will deliver a balance of the tunes and chat we enjoy. Specialist shows also tend to be of a quality and content that can be relied upon for an enjoyable listen.

Where does that leave local and community services? We have over 400 in the UK alone.

Perhaps... All enjoying international reach through the internet and a massive choice for listeners.

The local element, news, interviews, and bands from

Acoustic Cafe

the area can be relied upon to provide a small increase in listener numbers when featured, which can also lead to a more loyal following for the station if the shows are enjoyed.

But I emphasize the word small, and this is where local and specialist shows can score against their bigger national competitors.

It takes work, but by clever manipulation of social media alongside digital broadcast any particular show or presenter can build a following of loyal supporters that will benefit his/her show, station, and those taking part.

The numbers will never be huge, but the reputation can be built to the extent that musicians and artists will see that show as giving real benefit in promoting their music.

Take the world of Indie and Folk Music. A popular radio show can draw a regular listening population of around 200, equivalent to a reasonably large gig but with the advantage of featuring lots of artists. And listeners can comment, chat and ask questions while the music is being played, without distraction.

This creates a social element where like-minded people come together over the topic they love... MUSIC. They are also sure to come back.

That could not be easily achieved in the bigger arena. The numbers would be too great. But via the local network, friendships develop that often span continents, and musicians come together with those who love their music on a personal level not possible in other areas.

Yes, a specific role for community and local radio not achievable elsewhere and helping musicians promote their music, the numbers will never be big but by offering a two-way interactive experience that will not matter.

In a recent survey carried in the UK the most important feature recognised by listeners to local radio was companionship.

What better example of that being achieved than in the enjoyment and promotion of independent music.

Brian Player, Host 

Acoustic Cafe

Wey Valley Radio, Alton UK

 

Niche Radio ~ by Brian Player

The success of our emerging artists today depends to a larger

extent on the amount of exposure their music gets both live and in the media. Live is very much a question of making contact with promoters and venues and being prepared to travel, often big distances to reach the widest possible audience.
     The media, of course, is to a certain extent a different story where contact can be made via social media or email in the hopes that the recipient will be impressed enough to play and pass positive comments to their audience.
   

 But live audiences are being spread ever thinner as more venues and promoters have come into being. There has also been an explosion in the number of media outlets, such as radio streaming services, all trying to attract the same audience.
     In the UK alone, the last 10 years has seen 355 local community radio stations licensed, each covering an FM broadcast range of around 15 miles plus an internet stream reaching world wide.
     Add to this the wide range of BBC and commercial radio services along with streaming from Deezer and Spotify or

Mixcloud and you can already see a potential for individual, in person concert audience numbers to be very low.
     If this wasn’t enough, it has never been easier to start your own radio station on the internet. Much of the software needed can be obtained free of charge and all you need is a home computer with a server big enough to handle the number of listeners you hope to attract.
     What does this mean for the struggling musician trying to make a name and reach as wider audience as possible? Well, I guess doing some homework is essential. Review each station and show carefully to estimate its ability to attract an audience, and in particular an audience that may like your music.
   

 It is worth moving a little outside the comfort zone. Whilst it may seem obvious to contact a station with the name of the genre you perform, it also follows that niche, single genre radio will attract the smallest of audiences, particularly if they are only available on the net.
     Like small specialist music clubs, individual radio shows have become niche, attracting a small number of followers and those who have a particular reason to listen in, will do so if maybe a relative or friend is being featured.
     Many shows have no listeners at all so it pays for the musician to be selective when choosing a show to send music to.
    Look for a high social media presence and pre-broadcast advertising and always be sure the station has the appropriate licences in place.

     Community radio is licensed but operates within certain restrictions. During the day (7am to 7pm) the music policy will be for wide appeal, hits from the last four or five decades and current pop.
     In the evening and at weekends it is all change and room is made for specialist and niche programming. As an emerging artist that is where you would be best to focus your attention.
     Most observers agree that radio is holding its own in the world of entertainment but, as with music itself, technology is changing the geography and we see a fragmented scene with many more radio shows than most listeners can cope with.

Brian Player is a UK radio personality with Wey Valley Radio and a regular contributor to Originality by Design. You  may contact Brian here

photos courtesy of pexels.com free photos and from the Acoustic Cafe Facebook page

The UK Music Industry and the Volunteer Revolution #OriginalitybyDesign

     By Guest, Brian Player

photo: socialindiemusicians.com

Here in the UK we are facing huge changes in areas where people have worked to earn a living…being paid for their efforts on a scale that reflects their skill and the demand for what they do. If one is particularly skilled and there is a high demand for those premium skill levels, monetary reward could be achieved, it isn’t so much that way today.

The music industry is a prime example of this. Large sums of money could be commanded by the most popular, and selling products, such as records or CDs, helped artists sell their efforts across a wide audience.

So, what has changed to reduce the amount of money changing hands? What has changed the impact of the reward enjoyed by those working in music?

Technology has revolutionised the recording, production, and distribution of music. Never has it been easier, or cheaper, for a working musician to produce a professional standard product and distribute it to those that will help he or she become better known. Whilst this is a great positive for those with talent and ability, it is also a negative because we are seeing an explosion of artists coming onto the scene, all trying to gain a piece of the action.

Secondly, the range of further education courses offering aspiring musicians the chance to learn and hone their skills in music has never been higher or more popular.

The result here is a huge increase in the number of talented graduates attempting to find a place in the industry or going out on the road.

The third area is those who, whilst practicing a career in some other industry, use early retirement or work part-time as an opportunity to indulge in their musical passion.

Some other indirect areas are also experiencing change:

There has been a significant increase in the number of venues and events where musicians can showcase their talent. These places are run by enthusiastic volunteers who see putting on a show as an opportunity to share talent they have discovered with others. These promoters are very often also part-time or retirees who are taking the opportunity to indulge in a passion.

While offering more opportunities for musicians, the very high number of events has meant that audience numbers cannot be relied upon and so entry charges have declined, or in many cases, event entry is free.

The overall effect of these factors is less money being generated and many in or associated with the industry providing service for free.

Areas not affected by these changes are artistic development and experimentation. The more the merrier and those who like to try new things are very well served by technology and opportunity.

The area affected most is for those hoping to generate an income and make a living. There are still high-ticket priced events attracting thousands of attendees but much less money changing hands at the lower end in clubs and small events were playing for free is rapidly becoming the norm.

Maybe, as has always been the case, our musicians need to find a path to the very top if they are to achieve commercial success. So, perhaps overall, things aren’t so very different. Music has always been a struggle. It’s just the challenges are that different.
                  ---Brian Player October 2018

Brian Player is a well-known radio show host of The Acoustic Café on Wey Valley Radio in Alton, UK. He is devoted to sharing the talents of the independent musician/singer/songwriter.