Does Country Music make your heart sing or make you cringe?

BBC Radio 5 Live asks the question:

Does Country Music make your heart sing or make you cringe?  



Tony Livesey BBC Radio 5 Live



Lively late-night chat on stories you're talking about

Late-night chat on stories you're talking about.

Tony Livesey taps into the views and experiences from listeners across the UK, and wants to hear your thoughts on the day's news.

Tony Livesey - Very exciting, American Country Star, Taylor Swift has beaten Adele and Lady Gaga to be named the highest-earning pop artist of 2011 by trade publication Billboard. U2 came second and third was another country music star Kenny Chesney artist. But country music always seems to provoke a Marmite reaction – You either love it, or you hate it



Music snippets played :

Taylor Swift “You Belong With Me”,

Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” ,

“Jolene” by Dolly Parton,

Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison Blues”,

Kenny Chesney with “She Thinks My Tractors Sexy” and Billy Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart” which in 1992 was #1 in America, peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and  made him famous.

As well as garnering triple Platinum status in Australia the video of this hit, is said to be largely responsible for catapulted line dance into the mainstream becoming a worldwide craze

Tony Livesey – Ah, interesting seeing and hearing the reactions of my next guest to those songs. Brian Ahern is with me in the studio, journalist and avid country music fan, hello Brian.

Brian Ahern – Nice to see you mate

Tony Livesey – Brian, you were nodding enthusiastically along with Johnny Cash but then you looked to grimace a bit with Kenny Chesney, You Think Me Tractor’s sexy?

Brian Ahern – Well that’s OK I’ve seen Kenny Chesney do that live. Many a time I’ve got to The States because I’m a fan and because I’ve worked for National publications and we’ve done tours over there.

Tony Livesey – Is ‘She thinks My Tractors’ a parody or is that a serious country and western song?

Brian Ahern – No in many ways, you keep saying country and western Tony, I must bring you to task there

Tony Livesey – What should I say?

Brian Ahern – Its called country music

Tony Livesey – Oh, What happened to the western?

Brian Ahern – The western bit died out with the old movies

Tony Livesey – Did It

Brian Ahern – People make this mistake they keep saying cowboys this and cowboys hat.

NO a cowboy hat and Cowboy boots are part of the dress where it’s most accepted

Tony Livesey – Yes

Brian Ahern – So naturally people assume things. Like do you remember the old folk days when you used to say about the scarves and the glasses and the things like long hair? 

Tony Livesey – And the beards

Brian Ahern – Yeah, It wasn’t really because there were all folk fans of different styles, you know what I mean

Tony Livesey – Yeah, OK, I’m with you on that, alright. James Walshe is here as well he is the programme Director of Kerrang! Radio and James al we could hear from you while that music was playing was deep sighing.

James Walshe – Did you ask to play it? I’ve just been vomiting into a bucket

Tony Livesey – (laughs), what’s wrong with it?

James Walshe – It’s the most hideous sound ever created by man. Taken in isolation it’s bad enough. It’s a bit like those massive American cars, its fine on a highway in Nevada but it’s just out of place in Leighton Buzzard. I just think It’s horrible a horrible, horrible noise. I think there is a bit of a mix up as well when it comes to country and western.

Tony Livesey – Country music

James Walshe – Country music, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers that lot. They wrote songs that influenced a generation that fought against the establishment. But the latest wave or the recent wave in the last 20 years of country music is like for drunken people who think they can dance.

Tony Livesey – Erm Brian, what do you say to James?

Brian Ahern – What I say to James is that you’re entitled to your opinion Sir. I think there is many a person who wouldn’t agree with yer. So OK, you’ve got an opinion. Your music or your Kerrang”! music or whatever you call it is a different type of music that I listen to. But what you’ve listened to now is across the field thing and most of what you’ve just listened to is 30-40 year old.

Tony Livesey – Yeah, he’s saying it’s not moved on. Do you accept his point that in its heyday Johnny Cash was a trend setter wasn’t he?

Brian Ahern – Without a doubt. Johnny Cash was a country music icon.

Tony Livesey – But who does that today, Brian, in the field of country music, whose doing that today?

Brian Ahern – Well you’ve got Garth Brooks. He’s actually come out of the business because of his divorce. The story is he didn’t want to pay his wife 50% of his earnings. I think most of us have relations or been down that road ourselves and now he’s working venues like Wynn, Vegas. You’ve got Toby Keith who has a chain of restaurants. Successfully, promoting country music throughout America.

Tony Livesey – Yeah, I guess that is what James is saying. That’s its natural setting. If your line dancing in Tottenham its not quite the same is it? When I lived in Fulham there was a country and western club there they had a bit of line dancing every week, that was in the 80’s though.

Brian Ahern – The Fulham country music club. I used to go there, I knew the guy who ran it

Tony Livesey –  Right near the Tube    

Brian Ahern – It’s a matter of taste. What you’ve got to realise is that country music is a very broad genre. It embraces jazz, folk, swing, popular music in general. What they do when they send country music to Britain is de-countrify it. They de-twang it in other words. They take out the steel guitar and fiddle, which are the basis of the music.

Tony Livesey – er James your knocking country music but you’re probably used to defending your own brand of music aren’t you?

James Walshe – Yeah that’s true, people have a go at rock music. They say rock music is all people wearing black and having long hair and tattoos and all that stuff, so I guess it’s a similar kind of thing in a way. I just don’t hear the variety that Brian is talking about as far as the variety of genres is concerned. To me it sounds just like one thing and you did mention just there, well I dunno, I become tense and feel myself wanting to explode when I think of those 2 words, LINE DANCING. It’s one of the worst things to blight the history of mankind and that’s country music that caused it. So there’s no way on earth I could ever warm to country music. 

Fremont St, Las Vegas



Tony Livesey – James, you’ve never seen line dancing done in anger then I don’t think? I was in Fremont Street in Vegas last summer. Have you been there Brian?

Brian Ahern – yes

Tony Livesey – There must have been a hundred people, two hundred people all doing the same dance and it was hypnotic it was fascinating.

James Walshe – (laughs) its not real dancing though, it’s like watching the Third Reich marching in cowboy hats

Brian Ahern – (laughs) that’s a nice one James, I like that can I use that.

Tony Livesey – He’s going to use that in his material. Brian, you must be used to that people having a go. Do you just get a tin hat and say I’m just going to enjoy my music and to hell with the rest of you?

Brian Ahern – To be quite honest with line dancing music I’m not the biggest fan of line dancing. The music of line dancing, yes, I like. But the actual dance itself I think it very stoic (?) and very uninteresting as James says. I’ll agree with the guy he is quite right on that. The think that annoys me, the dancers tend to dance, one dance, to one song, which to me is totally and completely wrong.

James Walshe – Where do you stand on Achy Breaky Heart?

Brian Ahern – It was unfortunate that the guy who had the hit with it [Billy Cyrus] had that as a first hit. It was unfortunate as the guy can really sing. Achy Breaky Heart is a parody sort of thing, umm, mixing the music up in general. I don’t mind it as it’s like ‘Crystal Chandeliers’ when I was younger. That used be the “no no” song.

Tony Livesey – If I’m going to play one song a 1 o’clock at the end of this programme Brian. What should I play to give anyone a real taste of country music at its peak?  

Brian Ahern – I would think anything by the likes of Toby Keith

Tony Livesey – Yeah, (pauses), Oh, I was hoping you were going to say Johnny Cash there. I was really hoping to play ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ at the end of the programme.

Brian Ahern – ‘Folsom Prison Blues’  is a great song but you’ve got to bear in mind it’s not in any stretch of the imagination a modern song.

Tony Livesey – No

Brian Ahern – I think you have to go back to the 50’s for that when he first recorded it.

Tony Livesey – OK what are people saying on the text?

Kate - You were asking people what their favourite tracks were?

Dave in Leeds said the best country music track is ‘Independence Day’ by Martina McBride or ‘Wide Open Spaces’ by The Dixie Chicks.

Kim in Clacton of course the greatest country music tune must be ‘Orange Blossom Special’, Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys.

Rob in Cheadle, top 3 country tracks: Hank Williams ‘ Lost Highway’, Willie Nelson ‘Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain’ and Emmylou Harris ‘Boulder To Birmingham’

But Murdoch in Reading says NO!!!!!!!!!!!, turn it OFF it HURTS my ears.... sings while I says things better than that Country & Western rubbish.

Tony Livesey –  It will always be us Brian, it will always have its detractors. Are there a lot of young people going into country music now or is it an old person’s game?

Brian Ahern – The think is, it’s known as an old person’s music. But I would say pound for pound the kids are getting into it. Not the country music as we know it with the twang. They are getting into different sorts of it. A lot of the singer-songwriter stuff can be related to country music. 

Tony Livesey – OK, good to hear from you Brian, thank you very much. James are you going to have one ear open at 1 o’clock for my choice?

James Walshe – Well I’ve got a couple of requests if you like.

Tony Livesey –  Go on

I’ve been stood here doing some research at the moment. How about this one: ‘If My Nose Was Full On Nickels I’d Blow It All On You’. How about that one or ‘I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life’ or ‘I Feel In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me’

Listen to Audio

About Tony Livesey - 48-year old Anthony Livesey is a British journalist and broadcaster who currently presents a late night show on BBC Five Live. The show runs from 22.30 to 1:00 from Monday to Thursday.

He began his career with the Nelson Leader and then worked in the Middle East at the Gulf News in Dubai. Returning to his native Lancashire, he worked at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph before spending 18 years with Sport Newspapers where he was editor-in-chief and managing director of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers. After resigning in August 2006 from the Sport newspapers, he joined the BBC, presenting the breakfast show on BBC Radio Lancashire, until he joined BBC Radio 5 Live in January 2010.

Livesey presents the late night discussion show from MediaCityUK, Salford Quays

Tony Livesey’s BBC Radio 5 Live page - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00psvgw

About Brian Ahern – Country music Journalist (Country Routes Magazine) Known as “The Godfather” which is a bit of fun his peers named him in respect of his long term involvement within country music at most levels and a willingness to impart his knowledge to others. Pre PC days Brian was the “Google”.

James Walshe - First started working in radio for nothing as a teenager making lots of tea for people and has since worked his way to being the Programme Director of Kerrang Radio 

James has flirted with television, travelled the length of the UK whilst working for 2 radio stations, has worked for a number of different radio stations doing a number of different roles and has picked up masses of experience. Walshe added: “With listeners increasingly turning to technology and the Internet for music, we need to give them reasons to listen to the radio beyond music. We think the future is in the hands of knowledgeable and charismatic presenters who’re trusted to talk about whatever is relevant to the audience – be it about music or lifestyle” – and in this case, through radio, TV and the world’s biggest selling weekly rock magazine. 

Kerrang! Magazine
Nov 2009 Cover



Kerrang! Radio is a specialist rock music radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands, England. The station's format mixes modern & classic rock with speech programmes targeted at young people and an adult rock audience. Broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands and DAB & Freeview and online, boasting a large audience of 1.3 million listeners. It is connected with the Kerrang! print magazine in name, ownership and style, although the radio station has a more mainstream adult rock output than the magazine, featuring more indie and alternative rock. 1

Kerrang magazine “is the world's biggest selling weekly rock magazine, and delivers the hottest news, reviews, gig guides, exclusive features, posters, videos and more”

Take a look inside: LINK

   

SOURCES - BBC Radio 5 Live (Broadcast Monday March 12, 2012 - Showpage)

Programme transcript:

Richie McDonald Interview on BBC Radio Kent

Interview with Richie McDonald from LONESTAR



Richie McDonald
Cropped Media Image



Country band Lonestar were excited to announce late last year their reunion with their original lead singer Richie McDonald

who left five years ago. Although the band members tried others avenues they came to the conclusion that the band is something meant to be.

To celebrate this they have started recording a new album for 2012. The band announced they would be touring in 2012 and have already four dates overseas in Europe.

The buzz about LONESTAR began when the band sent a Tweet which read:

“Big news for Lonestar fans coming tomorrow! 2012 marks our 20th anniversary. What would you like to see and hear from us?”

On Wednesday evening 22^nd February, 2012 with just 4 days before the Wembley International Festival Of Country Music BBC radio presenters Roger Day (BBC Radio Kent) and Steve Cherelle (BBC Radio Essex) and Wembley compere hooked up to talk with Richie McDonald before he embarked on his trip to England.

Roger Day (RD) - It’s the Country hour here at the BBC right across the south, were excited to be talking to a gentleman from Lonestar, aren’t we Steve?

Steve Cherelle (SD) – We are yes, big star

RD – Evening Richie, how are you doing?

Richie McDonald– I’m fine thank you how ya’ll all doing?

RD – We’re terrific, are you over here or in the States still?

Richie McDonald - We leave in the morning actually, tomorrow morning [Thurs 23 Feb], so I’m just out running some last minute errands getting some last minute items for the big trip. We’re really excited about this. It’s been a while since we’ve been over especially with me back in the band; there are a lot of good things going on for Lonestar right now.

RD - Sure, When was the last time you were over here Richie?

Richie McDonald - For me I guess it would have been 2000 when ‘Amazed’ was so big. Amazed was a 9 week number one on the country chart here and it was one of those songs that crossed over and kinda had no boundaries. It was huge over there so we went over to support that and made a lot of new friends and fans, so we look forward to coming back.

RD - What stimulated you going back with the band how did that all happen?

Richie McDonald - Well about 5 years ago I decided to slow down and spend more time with my family and watch my children grow up and just do some other things. It wasn’t because we didn’t got along; we’ve always been like brothers. I just was ready to slow down, so that is what I did. This is the 20 year anniversary of Lonestar since we formed the band and the guys we talked you know. There wasn’t a lot to work out. We just said it makes sense to get back together and do this on the 20^th anniversary, so that’s why I’m back!

RD - So that’s the Beach Boys back together and you as well

Richie McDonald - Exactly, how let’s see who else is getting back together. I think The Mavericks are getting back together; there are a lot of bands getting back together, so it’s a good year for bands.

SC - Have you had much time to rehearse Richie?

Richie McDonald - We have actually; I guess it’s a lot like riding a bike as they say. You know the songs but you get back together. Really the reason that we rehearsed was more for the new material than the old material because we’re back in the studio working on a brand new album. We’re excited about that, but more to learn those songs and kind of refresh our memories of the old songs. We’ve rehearsed and done a few shows over here and we’re excited and ready to go.

SC - When you formed the band if you go back when you were playing on the theme park did you all know each other or did someone put you together? 

Richie McDonald - Well we kinda one another from other bands. We played in other bands around the Texas area and we knew of one another just in passing. When Dean Sams the keyboard player it was really more his idea to form Lonestar which back then when Lonestar was known as a really awkward name called Texassee, which was a combination of Tennessee and Texas together and when we got a record deal we changed it to Lonestar. It was kind of where it all started, we didn’t really know one another, we felt like after we met it was one of those things that was meant to be because we found out we were all from Texas, you know, it was meant to be.

SC - Tell us about where you are now, you mentioned about time with your family, so away from the music what is your home life and you’re kind of day to day, what is it that you do?

Richie McDonald - Well, I’m a Mr. Mom!

RD & SC - (Laughs), were playing that

Richie McDonald - I’m a Mr. Mom, no, my home life is basically the kids are older now so they’re more independent than they were back 5 years ago. My oldest is 16 and he’s driving now and my middle child Mollie is 13 and Maisie is 10. So they’re at ages that’s a little more independent and fend for themselves. I think it’s just a matter of Dad being around and spending quality time with them and just doing things with them. I was still doing shows over the past 5 years by myself but I was spending more time at home and doing things with them.

SC - Are any of them musical, any of them getting into what they’re Dad is in to?

Richie McDonald - You know what they are, my son [Rhett] is 16, played piano from five to eleven and at eleven years old he broke his wrist and he let that heal but he never played the piano again but he picked up with the guitar and picked up from where he left off on the piano and I tell my son that he is kind of a freak because he is one of those kids that it just comes natural, you know. It’s scary how good he is at 16 now. His influences are John Meyer, Stevie Ray Vaughan and loves that kind of blues music and he can play it very well.

SC - Have you had him onstage with the band?

Richie McDonald – He has been on stage with the band before. That’s what he want to do this summer to come out with us and grab his guitar and play right beside Michael Britt [lead guitarist]. Mollie my middle girl she sings as well and Maisie she sings also. They are all very musical I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree as they say.

RD & SC - (Laughs) 

SC - Richie we’re going to play the ‘Amazed song’ because it was such a massive worldwide hit for you and has done wonders for you and we know you will be performing this over here in the UK, won’t you?   

Richie McDonald - Absolutely, Like you say this song like you say was massive and went beyond boundaries that really surprised us and guess it goes to show that music can be a universal language, no matter what style it is, where it starts, it just kind of morphs into something even bigger.

SC - This is Lonestar and “Amazed”   [Youtube Official video]

RD - Richie a song that you wrote that I love actually, I mean I love that but “I’m Already There”. The version I really love is the one that someone puts some interviews and voice tracks from the serviceman’s wife’s and kids. We’re you anything to do with that or was that someone else that put that together?

Richie McDonald - That’s actually called the “Message from Home” mix [Youtube track]. It was about 2001 when that song came out. This was a song that I wrote from a phone conversation that I had with Rhett when he was about 3 years old and we’d [Lonestar] been gone for 6 weeks. And Rhett in a squeaky little voice said “Daddy when are you going home”. I remember hanging up the phone and basically crying in my hotel room there in Southern California just wishing I was home and just thinking I was already there, you know mentally not physically.

RD - Sure

Richie McDonald - The song that I wrote from that little phone conversation turned out to be so much bigger with the men and women in the military basically after 9/1. That’s what happened all these spouses of men and women in the military were calling radio stations and requesting that song and leaving messages for their loved ones, so that just kind of happened.

RD - Every time I listen to it, it cracks me up, you know I like to think I can handle myself but it moves me to tears when I hear those people sending messages to their loved ones abroad. It’s such an emotional song isn’t it?

Richie McDonald - It really is. The military did adopt that song to help them through a tough time. That’s what’s music is meant to do, make you laugh or make you cry and get in touch with your emotions and that song definitely did that.

SC - You’re getting together for this 20 year that you have known the lads and music that you’ve been producing, so what happens after this? You said you were in the studio, is this just for a small period of time, you’ll do some work, do the 20-year thing and then go your separate way again?

Richie McDonald - Oh no, this is for good actually. I think you reach a point when you realize that one thing is not good without the other and that’s kind of the point that we reached. They [Lonestar] were out there doing their deal with another lead singer that was singing the songs that people didn’t really connect with because it did not sound like me. The guys were just trying to keep going and me doing the same. But you know what its just one of those things that isn’t as good without the other and we realize that, I realize that now, and we’re going to do this for as long as we can and make this album. We know we’re not spring chickens anymore were not 16, 17 or 18 years old.

SC - But your as good as you once was

Richie McDonald - Well yeah, thank you Toby [Keith]!

SC - Yeah, that a good line. This new album you’re writing the songs and putting it together. Is there anything on there you think is going to come out and hit the level of these other songs that you’ve had like ‘Amazed’ and ‘Already There’?

Richie McDonald - Well we’ve cut 4 songs so far and we want to go back in and cut 8 more and finish the album in March but we feel like all 4 songs that we’ve cut are very passionate about. We think that any one of the 4 could be a big hit. There’s a song on there called ‘Countdown’ that we absolutely love, there’s a song called ‘If It Wasn’t for You’ that I wrote with Dean that I love.

I think we’ve covered the fun song to the serious love song and kind of covered the gamut so far. So I don’t know we just feel like if we put out best foot forward and cut great songs that hopefully the rest will take care of itself. It’s crazy that we’re working as much as we’re  right now. I think there’s still a fan base out there for Lonestar that wants to hear the old hits,  ( SC - very much) and also they’re interested in hearing some new music as well.

RD - Will you be doing songs at the show over here, new songs from the album?

Richie McDonald - We are, we’re definitely doing some new songs.

SC – Richie, we’re chuffed to bits over here that your coming to the UK but your also playing on the Wembley stage, the festival you know your sharing the stage with Reba McEntire, Asleep At The Wheel and some other good names like Ricky Skaggs. So do you enjoy that when your sharing the stage with other big artists or do you prefer being on your own?

Richie McDonald – You know what I couldn’t imagine it being any better than what it’s going to be when we get over there with Reba and Ricky Skaggs and is it Little Big Town?

SC – No, they’re not on but Asleep At The Wheel are on and George Ducas will be there.

Richie McDonald – George is great, Asleep At The Wheel they are from Texas and were really good friends with them. You know what for all of us to come over and represent country music there is a wide variety of music and there is not a better Entertainer out there than Reba McEntire. So no, we enjoy sharing the stage with multi acts and just being a part of it. We’re honored to be involved with something so big and honestly to start our 20-year reunion world tour over there is just amazing for us.

SC – And you go from London to Ireland and a couple of other countries but the first date is Wembley. It’s in 4 days time on February the 26th of February. Richie, thank you for taking some time out of your day. What is the time over there?

Richie McDonald – Right now it is 4pm

SC – And what are you doing tonight, what is on your agenda?

Richie McDonald – Right this very second I was heading to the mall and looking for a couple of shirts. I was checking the weather I just want to make sure that I’m dressed appropriately for the weather. It looks pretty mild but I just want to make sure I have that right.

RD – Well this weather changes a lot over here it could be freezing by the time you get here.

Richie McDonald – If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes?

RD – Yes that’s right and I must just translate something Steve said , he said “chuffed to bits” that means VERY PLEASED  in plain English by the way so they you go you might not of run into that expression before.

SC – Richie, I’ll be there on the day hosting some of the events and I’ll be back stage there’s Carmel, Karen and Fara that are going to be looking after the bands backstage and they are ecstatic about meeting you guys, as our many of the fans.

Will you be out there talking to some of the fans as well?

Richie McDonald – Absolutely, without a doubt that’s why were coming over. We just want to meet as many fans as possible that we have time for and play some music and have the time of our lives.

SC - Richie thank you, good luck with your shopping today. We’ll see you in a few days time. From me and Roger have a safe flight over and we’ll see you in a few days at Wembley.

Richie McDonald – Alright Steve, thanks to Roger, thank you so much

(Interview ends) with song “Mr. Mom”  played.  

SOURCE – Transcript of BBC Radio Kent  Interview

(Conducted Wednesday 22 Feb, 2012)         

  

About Richie McDonald- Richard Vance "Richie" McDonald was born February 6, 1962 in Lubbock, Texas. From 1992 until his departure in 2007, he was the lead singer of the group Lonestar. They recorded seven studio albums on BNA Records during his tenure as lead vocalist. McDonald co-wrote several of the band's singles, and sang lead on all but one of them. Outside the band, he has charted twice as a guest vocalist on others' songs, in addition to releasing two independent albums and four solo singles.

Website - www.richiemcdonald.com

Listen to Amazed: The Best Of



Steve Cherelle BBC Photo



About Steve Cherelle

He is “an accomplished country music artist” and presents a country music show every Sunday on BBC Radio Essex (Sun 2 – 4 pm) BBC Show Page -  He co-presents the country hour, a  Wednesday evening programme (9pm-10pm) on BBC Radio Kent.

WEBSITE - Myspace.com

About Roger Day -  BBC Show Webpage



Roger Day BBC Photo



He started his radio career when he joined one of the many pirate ships broadcasting off the coast of England and thus began a radio career that has taken him across the country - including presenting on the legendary Radio Luxembourg and Radio Caroline. Roger's love of music is legendary and his encyclopaedic knowledge of music is matched by the awesome fact that he owns every Top 10 single released since 1955.



He is also a massive Beach Boys fan - so expect plenty of Beach Boy tracks in his show amongst a mix of classic tracks from the past 4 decades.

He once had the opportunity to compere the Beach Boys tour of Britain, which Roger describes as a 'marvellous experience'.

Roger is now using his vast music and radio experience as the voice of weekday evenings on BBC Radio Kent.

The evening show is all about bringing together the music and the listeners. Roger says: "The way I look at my show is like a social club in your own home. I feel like I've invited a few of my mates round to share some great music. I bring along the music and the guests and the listeners add in their memories and thoughts. All this put together makes the show complete."

                   

BBC Cuts - Save Country Music on BBC Radio

Proposed BBC Cuts Threaten Country Music Programmes on the BBC Last week it announced in the press that The BBC has announced it will axe 2,000 jobs and make widespread cuts to programming to save £670 million a year by 2016/17. BBC cuts in detail:     http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8810868/BBC-cuts-in-detail.html Looking at the details as it stands they are looking to axe all specialist shows across the BBC network especially those outside of peak hours and at the weekends. As a result of this it will mean that potentially ALL country music programmes across the BBC regions could face the axe. These specialist country programmes have the biggest FM listener reach than any other UK radio Stations as the country programmes disappeared from commercial radio programmes years ago. Since the end of December 2010 we have already seen 3 BBC country shows scrapped in a way to make savings so this new BBC consultation could be the final nail in the coffin. Cuts In Brief Proposals BBC Radio 2 Safeguard the mainstay of daytime programmes Replace regular comedy programmes with comedy showcases and ad-hoc comedy series, in order to continue to develop new comedy talent Reduce the amount of live music broadcast on the station, by a small increase in the number of repeats of Friday Night is Music Night and In Concert re-cast as an occasional event within the weekday evening shows BBC Local Radio Focus spend on peak-time programmes - breakfast, mid-morning and drivetime - sport, and faith on Sunday mornings Increase levels of sharing in off-peak slots: weekday afternoons, Sunday afternoons and evenings On weekday afternoons most stations would share programming with their neighbouring stations, although a few, which serve a particularly distinct audience, would remain separate On weekday evenings between 7pm and 10pm, programming would be shared across England, with all stations coming together except when providing local sports commentaries. At other off-peak periods sharing would occur at a variety of levels. Some would be akin to the regional television areas, and during the late evening in five larger areas: the North; the West Midlands; the East Midlands; the East and South East; and the West and South West All stations would broadcast Radio 5 Live from 1am until the start of their breakfast programme. Already we are beginning to see evidence and fears of these proposed cuts and the repercussions they will have for COUNTRY MUSIC in the UK

1 )  The Shropshire Star reported: A number of shows on Radio Shropshire could be axed as part of the BBC’s plans to cut 20 per cent from its budget over the next five years. http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/10/07/radio-shropshire-shows-at-risk-amid-budget-cuts/ The station, which has offices in Shrewsbury and Telford, will lose 20 per cent of its workforce as 8.5 jobs are axed. Today a BBC spokesman said there would be more programme-sharing for local radio outside peak hours, including the creation of an all-evening England programme.  Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire at The UK Country Radio Awards  He said: “These proposals protect BBC local radio peak-time programmes when the audience is highest and the output is the most distinctive. That is breakfast, mid-morning and drive-time programmes, plus sport and faith on Sunday mornings. “The shows currently likely to be affected by these proposals are Ian Perry’s Early Morning Show, 5am to 6am; Colin Young’s Lunchtime Show, noon to 3pm; Paul Shuttleworth’s Sunday lunchtime show, 1pm to 3pm; and specialist evening shows such as folk, jazz, country, the Trunk of Funk and the Jim Hawkins Rock Show, on Saturdays 6pm to 9pm. “The proposals are subject to consultation by the BBC Trust, but the proposal is to implement the changes by April 2013.” Unfortunately it looks like Marie Crichton’s country show on BBC Radio Shropshire will be one of hundreds of victims of these new cuts. They are looking to axe all specialist shows from Shropshire and the impression is that it could be across the board.  Joe Fish BBC Radio Lancashire   2 ) In an email Joe Fish a former CMA Broadcaster Of The Year who presents “Joe Fish Country” on BBC Radio Lancashire said “For those who listen to my radio programme on BBC Radio Lancashire I wanted to make you aware that the recently announced BBC cut-backs have resulted in decisions which will mean all Specialist programmes including Joe Fish Country will be removed from the station. If you have strong views on this, or the future of local radio, I would ask that you complete the SHORT survey using the link below, to voice your views “ 3) Paul Braithwaite on BBC Radio Cumbria ended his show on Sunday 9 October, 2011 saying:    "It's been an interesting week here at the BBC,  were rounding off with Burns And Poe, I NEED A JOB !"  Allan Watkiss-BBC Radio Sheffield 18Sept2011  4) On BBC Radio Sheffield on Sunday 16 October, 2011 country artist Mike Lane  - (website) who hails from Doncaster was interviewed by current CMA Broadcaster Award recipient Allan Watkiss on the “Your Country” programme. The subject of the cuts was broached. Mike Lane - “I heard a whisper that there’s going to be some cuts” Allan Watkiss – “Yeah its true the BBC is making 20% cuts and it puts programmes like this at risk. Basically in our area they have decided that programming on Sunday afternoons will be shared with other neighbouring stations” Mike Lane -“What other neighbouring stations”? Allan Watkiss - “Leeds and York for example they are in a similar region. There is no guarantee that this programme will be included” Mike Lane - “I am in this position how sitting in front of this microphone talking to your fans that you have built and I would appeal to all of them to ask the BBC bosses to think twice should they even be thinking of axing this programme. It would be such a sad loss, it really really would and your not costing anybody money because you have no assistant” Allan Watkiss – “Thank you Mike very much for your support....Its no good saying anything to me I won’t be making any of the decisions. I just turn up till told otherwise. There is a website to have a look at bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/ . The BBC Trust is the organization that makes the full decisions. I also think there is a case to convince the management here at BBC Radio Sheffield who I have to say have always been really supportive of this show, all the way through its 10 years. This show is up against others to be saved so maybe there is a case if you want to save the show to contacting the management here directly” SOURCE - Listen Back from 1 hour 46mins available till 23 October http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00kp64v/Your_Country_16_10_2011/ or LISTEN on SOUNDCLOUD - http://soundcloud.com/live0158/allan-watkiss-mike-lane-bbc List of BBC Programmes who currently broadcast a country music programme These go out on FM and right around the World on the Internet via the BBC iPlayer with shows archived for Listen Again for 7 Days BBC Radio 2 – Bob Harris Country Thurs 7 - 8pm – Show Page Station total Audience - 13,966,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Cumbria - Paul Braithwaite “Braithwaites Country” Sunday 7 - 9pm - Show Page Station total Audience - 147,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Essex – Steve Cherelle  “Essex Country” Sunday 2 - 4 pm - Show Page Station total Audience - 294,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Kent ‘The Country Hour ‘ Roger Day +  Guest presenter (Alan Cackett or Steve Cherelle) – Weds 9 - 10pm - Show Page Station total Audience - 244,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Kent - Dave Cash classic years and an hour of country music from Sunday 7pm – 8pm – Show Page BBC Radio Lancashire - Joe Fish Sunday 2 - 4pm - Show Page Station total Audience - 229,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Merseyside - Kenny Johnson Sunday 6 - 8pm - Show Page Station total Audience - 338,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Norfolk - Keith Greentree “Rodeo Norfolk”  Saturday 9am-12 - Show Page Station total Audience - 235,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Shropshire - Marie Crichton Monday 7 - 9pm - Show Page Station total Audience - 115,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) BBC Radio Sheffield – Allan Watkiss “Your Country” Sun 4 - 7pm -  Show Page Station total Audience - 242,000 adults per week (RAJAR/Ipsos MORI/RSMB June 2011) PLEASE NOTE If you are a country music fan and value listening to any or ALL of the above programmes please make your feelings known by completing the sections in the BBC Trust consultation. If you are a recording artist from the UK, Ireland, Europe, America, Canada or Australia and value the importance of country music programmes on the BBC in order to promote your music, make fans aware of your tour dates and build a radio profile then please ask your UK fanbases to complete the BBC Trust consultation. If you are a promoter and understand how important country music programmes on the BBC are to help to represent your roster of artists please ask your UK contacts to complete the BBC Trust consultation. If you are a country music publication or an online music retail store and believe the loss of country music programmes on the BBC will have a serious knock on effects then please ask your UK readership, email subscribers and contacts to complete the BBC Trust consultation. Dates the Consultation is Open -  Runs from 6 Oct 2011 to 21 Dec 2011 BBC Statement: - We're also running a consultation about the proposed changes to the BBC's services and content. Some of the proposals made by BBC management as part of Delivering Quality First concern the future strategy of BBC Local Radio. Therefore questions relating to these proposals are asked as part of both consultations. BBC Trust Consultation: Delivering Quality First BBC Public Consultation – Tell Us What You Think Make your protest known regarding BBC Local Radio cuts by completing the BBC Trusts consultation document online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/local_radio.shtml OR Please send your response by email to: local.radio.review@bbc.co.uk or by post to: Local Radio Review BBC Trust 180 Great Portland Street London W1W 5QZ