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Radio Bracknell Forest for the whole planet! |
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Local Radio Station with International Standing Has New Name, Same Community Spirit
Radio Bracknell changed its name to Radio Bracknell Forest (RBF) As more and more people listen to internet radio, Radio Bracknell, Berkshire’s newest community internet music radio station, has changed its name to Radio Bracknell Forest, already known locally as “RBF”. Radio Bracknell was launched in February 2009 after months of preparation by marketing and public relations consultant John Hicks, who has close family connections with Bracknell Forest. The station broadcasts a range of music and talk shows 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. John explained: “We are truly proud to be associated with Bracknell but we are working closely with the community right across the Borough of Bracknell Forest and, firstly, wish our name to reflect that fact. Secondly, our international following will help us to promote the whole area rather than just the town”. The station encourages local people, of all ages and backgrounds, to share their passion for a particular music genre by producing their own show. The youngest broadcasters are students at Sandhurst School who will be joined in September by fellow students from the Licensed Victuallers School. The eldest are pensioners, with a wide mix of people in between. Recently, Headspace Community Arts Centre in Bracknell town centre, opposite Iceland, opened a new public-access studio in association with RBF. This will enable all members of the community to enjoy the facility to make a show for broadcast on their local community radio station. This week saw the very first show produced at Headspace. This is called “Radio Headspace” and is put together by a group of adults with learning difficulties, supported by Bracknell Forest Council’s Marc Box and volunteers from RBF. Radio Bracknell developed a strong global following, far beyond the boundaries of Berkshire, among listeners for its unique range of UK pop, jazz, blues and world music. Despite being a local radio station by nature, Radio Bracknell became involved with major festivals and is an official radio partner of the Marlborough International Jazz Festival, Southend Fringe Festival and Odiham Jazz Weekend. It is also supporting the Cork Jazz Festival, Ealing Jazz Festival and Birmingham Jazz Festival. In addition, the strength of the station, which attracts over a thousand listeners a month from the US and Canada, led to many American broadcasters joining the presenting team and syndicating their shows to the station so that they receive an airing in Europe. Similarly, there has been a strong following in Australia which led to a major internet search engine, NetSearch Australia, sponsoring an international showcase programme enabling bands from all over the world to share their new releases and demo tracks with an international audience. That has proved so popular with the Australians that NetSearch Australia, who already run banners advertising the station, will be placing a “listen now” button on their front page. A front page that is visited by millions of people every year! Though, as John explained: “I am not sure that the name of Bracknell or Bracknell Forest ever needed to raise its profile internationally but, if it did, then I truly believe that the radio station has been a good ambassador. This has not meant that we have forgotten our roots and we have been pleased to support local charity events and live music gigs, or to encourage local music talent through showcasing their work.” Listeners can enjoy the programmes on their computers at work, PC’s at home, wi-fi radios, modern mobile phones, Playstation PSP’s and in-car entertainment systems through Bluetooth enabled hands-free mobile phone kits. The future of internet radio is enhanced by the launch by Sony of a new generation of internet-radio equipped car radios and the long-awaited development of a new widget which enables radio streams to be converted to an FM signal. John has been involved in several internet and local radio stations previously including being co-founder, along with international country music radio and television personality Lee Williams, of the very successful country music station, CMR Nashville (www.cmrnashville.net) which is ranked the number 1 country music radio station in Europe and recently opened its new offices in Nashville, the home of country music. The Radio Bracknell Forest website, where further information can be obtained, is at www.radiobracknellforest.com and John can be contacted at john@radiobracknellforest.com. Those that have programmed www.radiobracknell.com into their wi-fi radio or favourites list on their computer will still connect automatically to the radio station. |
