KCR FM
From: "Christopher England" <(Address removed)>
I asked about KCR FM a while ago when I thought it was still called
Rocket Radio.I'm no longer able to get it via the website and am reading that it's
all gone Pete Tong.You guys in the Merseyside type area: Is anything anoraky going out on
106.7 or is it off air as well?
I've just checked and it appears to still be on the air on 106.7. It appears just to be non-stop music at the moment with jinglee type things thrown in too, there was also no news at 3 pm. I only have it on for about 10 minutes a day on my drive to work and back so don't really notice any subtle differences. To be honest the station has changed owners that many times in the last few years so I don't know who owns it. The word on the street is that it is losing shed loads of money, that is probably why the website went, also a rumour that they were locked out of their studio complex due to non payment of rent.
It does seem to prove a point that stations that turn away from the tight rotation playlist and try something different tend to struggle to attract "Mr Ordinary Listener", even though us radio "experts" hate tight playlists it seems they seem to be the only way to make a go of it in the commercial sector, sadly.
I hope KCR's troubles are short term, but it aint looking good at the moment!
I hear tell that there a bit about KCR FM in Wednesday morning's Liverpool Daily Post.
Any of you North Western Lads able to scan a copy or at least give us the gist of what's said?
From: "Christopher England" <(Address removed)>
I hear tell that there a bit about KCR FM in Wednesday morning's
Liverpool Daily Post.Any of you North Western Lads able to scan a copy or at least give us
the gist of what's said?
I haven't seen it so cannot comment but I will try to find out.
From: "Christopher England"
I hear tell that there a bit about KCR FM in Wednesday morning's Liverpool Daily Post.
So the doors have been locked !! – you seem to be taking a real keen interest Chris? – lol – are you thinking of the licence if the current holders lose it? and then you can challenge Pete Price.
Liverpool Daily Post
by Richard Down
October 29 2008
Bailiffs have shut the doors on a Merseyside radio station after "persistent breaches of its lease".
Liverpool's KCR 106.7fm, formerly known as The Rocket and based on the Huyton business park, has also been hit by broadcast watchdog Ofcom this month.
Ofcom handed it a Yellow Card warning for having no local content, information or news.
The notice came after Sale based landlords Brookhouse sent in the bailiffs who changed the locks on the smart offices in Paramount Business Park.
A notice pinned to the door yesterday said: "Landlords have taken peaceful possession of the property and the locks have been changed as a result of the persistent breaches of the former lease.
"Access can only be allowed with the consent of the landlords."
Landlords served a Notice of Distress in July this year. This is a common law remedy in which landlords can take property without a specific court order, to satisfy a debt or demand for payment.
Entering the premises is now an illegal action.
Regular listeners have written in to the station's website forums to ask what is happening.
The bailiff's action may impact plans for KCR to undergo another name change to avert falling listener figures.
Last night Ben Scanderett, of Brookhouse, said: "We're hoping for an amicable resolution by the mid to late part of next week."
Jay BS <(Address removed)> said:
– you seem to be taking a real keen
interest Chris? – lol – are you thinking of the licence if the current
holders lose it? and then you can challenge Pete Price.
Damn it! You've got me sussed. If I can't get a show on KCR and so get really desperate waiting for that call to be the hero to replace Pricey, then I'm going to have to steal the MAR transmitter and broadcast on top of him. :-)
(Thanks for the links to the Post, btw)
Steve Martin <(Address removed)> said:
A notice pinned to the door yesterday said: "Landlords have taken peaceful
possession of the property and the locks have been changed as a result of
the persistent breaches of the former lease."Access can only be allowed with the consent of the landlords."
From an anoraky perspective, I wonder what actually happened. Like, did they wait until everybody was out, like overnight, and just come in and change the locks? And isn't there a potential fire hazard or Health and Safety issue with leaving things 'on' behind locked doors?
Or was somebody on the air and mid-link when the bailiffs raided in pirate-raid stylee, and there was an audible on-air battle to get them out of the DJ seat? That would've been cool!
At the risk of seeming obsessed, I now have the output of KCR FM streaming down to me for my private anoraking purposes. It's costing my hundreds of thousands of Pounds a day. Ok, I lied in that last sentence.
It seems somebody must have been in to change the playout, or maybe remote accessed it. There are no longer news jingles and 10 minute news beds, sports jingles and 10 minute sports beds, or even the weather jingle. Apparently they were all taken out a few days ago. However, there is a tolerable travel news jingle and bed, but bloody adverts. I think they left the travel jingle and bed in because it carries a sponsor. Speaking of sponsors, about 4 different ads, mainly for funeral directors and ambulance chasers, have appeared and play every 15 minutes or so. I'm wondering if they are trying to not lose even more cash by not playing them and the travel sponsor jingle.
I haven't listened for long enough to suss the repetition. It's quite obvious and high on the 'currents', but the oldies seem to be coming from quite a wide library.
Dare I say it, a very good listen.
Hoods up.
Christopher England said:
Damn it! You've got me sussed. If I can't get a show on KCR
............................
Only a show Chris, I was expecting you to buy and run the station and then offer me a job?
Jay BS <(Address removed)> said:
Only a show Chris, I was expecting you to buy and run the station and
then offer me a job?
Buy it? Nah mate. I'm far too poor. No spare cash. I might be able to spare 50p out of me Giro this week.
Hmmm. 50p? Maybe I could buy Dune FM as well. Has that collapsed yet?
Anyway, what job would you want? I don't imagine KCR could pay those fancy wages you used to get as a City millionaire. :-)
Christopher England said:
Anyway, what job would you want? I don't imagine KCR could pay those fancy wages you used to get as a City millionaire. :-)
.....................................
I would settle for Station Manager/Admin? – the crazy days of wages in radio have gone except for the few radio stations. In bad times at City I went without an annual pay rise several times to give it to my own staff and also went down in range of company car when times were bad, if you love what you do and are committed as long as it pays the bills and you are happy? that is all that's important.
From: "Jay BS" <(Address removed)>
Christopher England said:
Anyway, what job would you want? I don't imagine KCR could pay those
fancy wages you used to get as a City millionaire. :-)
.....................................I would settle for Station Manager/Admin? – the crazy days of wages in
radio have gone except for the few radio stations. In bad times at City
I went without an annual pay rise several times to give it to my own
staff and also went down in range of company car when times were bad, if
you love what you do and are committed as long as it pays the bills and
you are happy? that is all that's important.
Quite a refreshing attitude John. And you are right of course if have a reasonable income from a job you love then that is far better than getting loads of money from a job you hate.
Steve Martin said:
Quite a refreshing attitude John. And you are right of course if have a reasonable income from a job you love then that is far better than getting loads of money from a job you hate.
........................................
Steve
A lot of people would not believe what really does go on in the real world of radio, being single with a company car, petrol and other perks, it was more important giving up wages increases at times to keep my staff content. It did sadden me at times though after doing this for them and they never knew the moment they received the better increase than they would have been given they were not content, but it was not a love of radio for them it was a job that seemed a life and career a little different.
A few at management board level I worked with put radio first before their own personal interests, so not everyone in radio is bad! – I was once approached and offered a move from City and the owner of the group of radio stations gave me a blank cheque and said write what you want on it, yes I was interested, but at the end of the day it was job satisfaction that meant more and I remained at City, if only EMAP had thought the same way about senior staff. In the end when I said no to the new contract offer to leave, the owner said then I will buy the radio station!
John
Steve Martin said:
Quite a refreshing attitude John. And you are right of course if have a reasonable income from a job you love then that is far better than getting loads of money from a job you hate.
........................................
Steve
A lot of people would not believe what really does go on in the real world of radio, being single with a company car, petrol and other perks, it was more important giving up wages increases at times to keep my staff content. It did sadden me at times though after doing this for them and they never knew the moment they received the better increase than they would have been given they were not content, but it was not a love of radio for them it was a job that seemed a life and career a little different.
A few at management board level I worked with put radio first before their own personal interests, so not everyone in radio is bad! – I was once approached and offered a move from City and the owner of the group of radio stations gave me a blank cheque and said write what you want on it, yes I was interested, but at the end of the day it was job satisfaction that meant more and I remained at City, if only EMAP had thought the same way about senior staff. In the end when I said no to the new contract offer to leave, the owner said then I will buy the radio station!
John
