THE GREAT RADIO DEBATE

In a move which is likely to have a dramatic impact on the independent radio sector, FM104 have committed themselves to playing a significantly higher percentage of Irish music.

During last year, when monitored by Hot Press, FM104’s Irish plays were at a low of between 4% and 5%. However, the station’s managing director Dermot Hanrahan has been involved in informal negotiations with the IRTC over the past few months on the issue, and there has been a significant increase in the station’s Irish output. Now Hanrahan has publicly declared FM104’s commitment to increasing the proportion of Irish plays to an average of 20%, a vast increase within a twelve-month period.

Monitored over two days recently, FM104’s output between 7am and 12 midnight reached 19% on one sample and 21% on the other, peaking at 28% over one evening between 7pm and midnight. Tracks featured, and spread evenly through the monitoring period, included current hits by The Revenants, Blink, D:Ream, Therapy?, Sinéad O’Connor and Aslan, as well as previous hits by such established acts as U2, Van Morrison, Chris de Burgh and Thin Lizzy.

AUTOMATIC RIGHT

Hanrahan has also come out strongly in favour of the Jobs In Music campaign. “There is no way that we want people to be in a position to question our Irishness or our commitment to music coming out of Ireland,” he commented. “We are anxious to support Irish music, let there be no doubt about that. But we will only play music that fits in with our overall music policy.”

Hanrahan made the point that it was now easier for FM104 to make such a commitment to local artists because there has been a substantial increase in the number of quality Irish records which lend themselves to the station’s format. Their increasing listenership has also given rise to a greater degree of confidence at the station. Hanrahan pointed out that when you subtract Gerry Ryan’s impressive audience figures (and FM104 programmes during the same time-slot), over the entire day from 7am to 12 midnight, FM104 are now significantly ahead of 2FM in the Dublin area.

Hanrahan has been critical in the past of the promotional activities of those representing Irish artists and he returned to the theme, arguing that the JIM campaign should have a role in encouraging Irish bands, record companies and managers to, as he put it, get their act together. “It is galling to hear some people complaining that we won’t play their records when they haven’t even sent us a copy. There is no such thing as an automatic right to airplay,” he told Hot Press.

PIRATE STATIONS

Asked to define the station’s policy regarding fostering new Irish talent, Hanrahan said that Eamonn Carr’s weekend show will continue to encourage emerging acts but he argues that the nurturing of new Irish talent is largely the responsibility of 2FM under its public service brief.

As a further means of both fulfilling the station’s obligation to play Irish music and supporting the JIM campaign, Hanrahan is planning to introduce live sessions with Irish acts, as well as several other initiatives yet to be fully worked out. The FM104 move comes at a time when other stations around the country are not only increasing their commitment to Irish music but are making sure that the music community is fully aware of their support.

In the wake of the FM104 announcement the JIM Committee issued the following statement: “We wholeheartedly welcome this imaginative initiative by FM104, not least because the station enjoys such a wide population reach, but it confirms our belief that Irish artists can compete alongside the best in the world. We hope that those remaining stations who have heretofore been unsupportive of Irish music and musicians will be encouraged to re-examine their policies.”

While restricting the operation of pirate stations is a matter for the Department of Communications, Hanrahan is also critical of the IRTC in this regard.

“It is grossly unfair that we as a legal station should have to play by the rules, paying for the music we use, obeying the 20% requirement on news and current affairs and so on, while illegal operators can openly break the law. The present situation actively encourages people to flout the law. It would make more sense to issue more licences and make all broadcasters subject to the same rules.”

He would also, he stated, like to have more open accountability as to what is done with the 3% levy which all stations pay to the IRTC, a comment which provoked a somewhat bemused response from IRTC Chief Executive Michael O’Keeffe.

“I’m not sure that Dermot knows what he’s talking about,” he commented. “The IRTC accounts are published annually and we are answerable to the Dáil Committee on Public Accounts, just like any other state or semi-state body, so there is no lack of accountability.”

• Artists, record companies and managers wishing to have their records considered for airing on FM104 should ensure that copies are sent to Programme Director Scott Williams and Dave Kelly (Music Director)