Folks,

I am crossposing this message for "discussion". It also appears on "that" mailinglist too!

I feel I have to defend Mr May here.

1) Brian (and indeed his fellow band members) have always been very shrewd business men. Why oh why do you think he'd be even remotely interested in investing in a station nobody knows about, nobody can hear (in a easy or portable way)?

2) Planet Rock has at least a reasonable method of delivery, which is supported in the mainstream of the radio industry (if not by those who listen to radio!). Therefore, there is at least a platform from which to promote it and sell ad space on it which at least may allow it to break even. (not saying Brian & Co aren't in it for a profit, but there's a real interest to keep it going).

3) Even if Brian wanted to invest his hard earned in Caroline, he couldn't! Peter Moore is not interested in the furthering/expansion of Caroline in any real way. He seems to be quite happy to allow interested parties to contribute to the current running costs of what is a hobby, rather than a real business. He does not want "shareholders" that then may sell these shares onwards to the "borg". That I get, but it keeps Caroline at a certain level, at which no-one in there right mind would give vast amounts of money in return for no share in the operation.

4) Anoraks should support what Brian & Co are trying to do. If there are successful, Planet Rock will remain a privately funded operation, outside the control of the Multi-National Radio Groups that control everything else. It will maintain it's right to choose it's own format (Classic Rock) rather than taking a feed from a studio in Germany (or wherever), with automated jingles and voice-tracked presenters.

5) IS THIS NOT WHAT "FREE RADIO" IS? – given that both Planet Rock and Caroline have a UK licence to broadcast and have to adhere to the conditions therein, surely the updated definition of "free radio" is as pointed out in 4) above?

Yours
carolinenorth