Last night, four hours before my show went live to a global audience, I received an e-mail from Alex Jones's office saying he had to pull out of the show because he was "too tired"! Message for Alex - we all get too tired sometimes, but most of us try NOT to let others down! Thisappearnce had been headlined by stations all over the world that were taking the show, and an awful lot of Alex Jones fans felt very let down.
Luckily, my friend Laura Zaky stood in at very short notice and did a fantastic job for an hour on air.
It got me thinking though, about the very future of the show, which has now been going for over 4 years. Now THAT'S Weird started in Sept 2005 on a station I used to be involved with, and migrated with me to Glastonbury Radio. But I announced this week that I will be leaving Glastonbury Radio in January to take a law degree course (if I am accepted and get the necessary grants!) and this leaves me wondering whether to continue the show or give it up completely.
I have often thought that maybe I would be better doing the show for an American FM network and relocating out there, as my biggest audience is in the States and I have a lot of friends out there. George Noory does a similar type show and is now getting over 15 million regular listeners!
I guess a lot of this comes down to fate as to what doors open up for me in the future, and life has a habit of sending you in a different direction to that which you plan. After all, before I came to Glastonbury I was planning a move to Capetown to work for Cape Talk Radio, at that point I had no intention of staying in the UK, but look what happened! Fate can play a huge part in your future.
All I know for certain, is that I need a change of direction. I have built Glastonbury Radio into something good, with a great potential future, and have kept it going for two and a half years, but now I feel it needs some new energy to take it forward to it's next stage of development.
Ross
- A change in direction.
-
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
nomadrush- October 17th, 10:42
restless
- Amusing competition!
-
- nomadrush
- September 24th, 11:03
amused
When Glastonbury Radio took to the airwaves in March 2007, we were the only radio station in Glastonbury, broadcasting to a global audience 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In that time we have built up a big worldwide following.
Since then, a local FM station has been granted an OFCOM licence to broadcast locally within a small radius of the town. Initially they couldn't raise the money to get on air, and we offered them £10,000 of funding which they refused. We felt there was room for both sations and we wanted to help and get involved. But they didn't want us!
It's a "community venture" funded by lottery money and at the moment they are advertising everywhere for volunteers, yet when anyone from Glastonbury Radio offers a show, they are turned down lol! So it's "community" when it suits them it would seem!
When they finally went to air, they offered us a one hour "best of the Internet" show which we turned down as we didn't want our programming diluted and edited down in this way. Now at this time they were an FM only station, but now they are advertising that they will shortly be streaming online, so thus entering into a direct competitive battle with us! lol
Being OFCOM governed, they can't broadcast free-speech in the way that we do, they are not allowed to "sell advertising" and they can only broadcast esoteric programmes under conditions laid out by the governing body, so realistically, they are VERY different to us.
They operate from a portacabin in a football club car park, whereas we have state of the art studios in a custom built unit in the town centre, and the unit is often closed when I drive past, so a lot of the time they are rolling out un-manned programming.
So why I ask, are they not talking ti us and working WITH us instead of tryingto take us on in a very commercial market-place? So many community radio stations fold within two years and have to hand back their licences and it seems that their short-term vision may see them experience difficulties in the future.
Ah well - I guess time will tell lol!
Ross
- Update on Glastonbury Radio
-
- nomadrush
- August 20th, 9:41
Glastonbury Radio is staffed by volunteer presenters, and of late some of them have taken to time off for varying reasons leaving us with more than the usual number of repeats. We apologise to listeners for this and can assure you things will be changing soon!
We have also heard of out-of-date adverts being played in some shows, where presenters that make their shows from home or other studios, have not downloaded the latest ad breaks. Again we apologise to listeners for this.
We have a new Autumn schedule starting soon and amongst the new presenters is the legendary broadcaster Mike Mendoza (brown envelopes may be sent here to be forwarded lol!) Mike spent years on Talksport Radio and is now very interested in the growth of online radio and will be providing a three hour talk show.
Last night at the shareholders meeting I was given the go-ahead for new attractive ad folders to send out to interested advertisers showing why advertising on Glastonbury Rdaio is cheap and very efective!
We have now been on air for over two years, 24 hours a day 7 days a week providing information about Glastonbury to a worldwide audience, and unlike some, we do not get grant aid!
We are planning some very interesting expansion moves at the moment and all I can say about that is WATCH THIS SPACE!
Ross
- Let's go for an adrenalin ride......
-
- nomadrush
- August 17th, 9:50
- amused
Over the years, I have been known as a businessman who makes many surprise moves and often pulls "rabbits from hats" and this week I may yet make another surprise move lol!
Now obviously I can't tell you what I am up to as it wouldn't then be a surprise, and there are forces out there trying to hinder my plans whenever they think we may be doing well, so let's keep them all guessing!
It has been a very difficult few weeks for many people, there seems to be some bad energy around that is affecting a lot of people at the moment, and we have to be careful not to get sucked down by these energies. So over the weekend, and again today, I am working on pulling a few more of those rabbits from the recently under-nourished hat! lol
Now it may or may not work the way I envision it, but it will be a hell of a ride trying lol!
Ross
- Entrepreneurs, a dying breed?
-
- nomadrush
- August 13th, 16:43
- discontent
I mentioned a week or so ago, about South West Radio Ltd going into administration, and that Brunel FM, Bath FM, 3TR and Quay West Radio all coming up for sale.
Unfortunately my efforts to raise a consortium to bid for these stations seems to have met with the usual apathy. Does no-one have any entrepreneurial spirit any more?
I spoke to Deborah Meaden from the BBC TV series Dragon's Den this week in an interview for Glastonbury Radio, and she said that in the past year, despite the so-called recession, she has made MORE investments than she did last year! This is a time of great OPPORTUNITY for investors and entrepreneurs but can I find anyone with that adventurous spirit? Nope!!
All people seem to want to do is whinge and whine about how the recession is hitting them, despite the fact petrol prices are lower than before said "recession", food prices in supermarkets are dropping, and for many the low interest rates mean lower mortgage payments!
I'm sure some forward thinking businessman/woman will see the potential of these four FM stations and may even take Glastonbury Radio into the same fold.
Ross
- Fancy owning a radio station?
-
- nomadrush
- August 11th, 11:09
Glastonbury Radio has been on air since March 2007, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has a decent size listening audience that is growing week to week.
The station has grown in stature as more and more people realise that online listening is the FUTURE of radio and with talk of FM being phased out by 2015. People are even contacting us now whilst listening on the move with their I-Phones etc!
But now we need some BIG investment to take us to the next stage and make us the No. 1 online broadcaster in the world and perhaps a big name celebrity as a shareholder to get us international publicity! Perhaps the celeb may even be the investor we are looking for? lol
We have seen share values rise dramatically in the past year, bucking the alleged recession that so many businesses are whinging about, and with the general growth of online radio, the company will probably be worth millions in years to come! So it represents a sound investment.
There are some big plans for the company in the years ahead and the new business plan is quite impressive. Alas I feel it is time for me to hand over the reigns to someone with new thinking, new creative ideas and the ability to take the company forward into this exciting time ahead.
So if you think this may be YOU or you know someone who you think might be interested, then let me know by e-mailing ross@glastonburyradio.net
Don't forget Glastonbury Radio is up for two big awards at the moment, namely BEST WEBCAST and BEST MUSIC AND AUDIO DELIVERY SYSTEM! Please take a moment to vote for us in both categories at http://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/Readerschoiceeurope/
Thanks
Ross
- Life in the public eye
-
- nomadrush
- August 10th, 9:47
annoyed
Since the age of 14 I have lived life in the public spotlight. Initially playing in pop bands, and later appearing on TV and radio on a regular basis.
I have also been quite vocal online with blogs and forum postings, which has left me open to constant attack from forum trolls and those who want to have a public pop at me.
Now don't get me wrong, I chose that life in the public eye, so only have myself to blame when arguments go public. But as I get older I am starting to wonder whether I want to STAY in the public eye.
Of late, I have started to think how nice it would be to disappear to a different corner of the world and live life quietly without that public focus. The trouble is, to do that you need large sums of money lol!
I must admit that I find the constant attacks very waring, and the stress it puts on myself and my family is extremely annoying, especially as most of the attacks are unwarranted and are steeped in the jealousy of others.
I guess there are too many people out there who just need to get a life and stop interfering with those who actually have one!
Ross
- Want to buy a handful of FM radio stations?
-
- nomadrush
- August 6th, 9:51
- cheerful
Another series of FM radio stations went into administration this week, namely those that were part of the South West Radio Group - amongst which were Bath FM, Brunel FM and Minehead and Watchet's Quay West FM.
It is sad that this group of stations has gone under, and I feel for those employed by the stations, however it does represent an opportunity for a forward thinking investor.
Many FM stations are crashing to the ground at the moment, as they are expensive to run, are governed on what they can do by Ofcom rules, and advertising income is on a downturn currently. That said, there have been some good examples of smaller companies and individuals taking over stations that had gone into admin, and turning them around.
A lot of the time, all it takes is a couple of new presenters and a new Sales Manager to make that difference!
Had my own finances been better, I would bid for Quay West and Bath FM, and if the right investors come in with me, I still may!
I think Ofcom's decision to have so many community radio stations is a factor in the number of local radio stations folding. Let's face it, there is only so much advertising out there and when you have so many radio stations in one area, they are all fighting for that ad revenue.
It will be interesting to see what happens to these local stations over the next week or two.
Ross
- Time for a change?
-
- nomadrush
- August 5th, 10:20
- excited
This week sees a few changes in direction and some new goals for my own future.
Being an "entrepreneur" I am always looking for new challenges and new ventures. Sometimes I feel like I take a project so far, and then it's time to hand it over to someone else to see it through to completion whilst I start on my next project. It keeps the excitement in life and keeps me "fresh", as it's so easy to go "stale" if you stick on one thing for too long.
I was saddened to hear that South West Radio Ltd have put their radio stations including Bath FM and Quay West Radio (Watchet/Minehead) into administration this week, and if I could find the finance, or a suitable business partner, I would be interested in acquiring these stations, as I believe they CAN be made to work. But as we are in an alleged "recession" it's not the best time to set up new projects like this. That said, they will be sold for "a song" and a real bargain is possible for someone.
There are always new opportunities being offered to me, often with FM stations and TV shows, but many would involve moving miles from here, or even abroad, and I like it too much here, so it would take a very special offer to take me away from the lovely place I currently reside in.
It is a time of major change for many people and one never knows for sure what is round the corner. As a friend of mine said recently "we live in interesting times".
Ross
- Changes and a moan about time spent on PC!
-
- nomadrush
- July 30th, 10:25
thoughtful
I must admit to being a bit of a PC addict! When I'm not checking e-mails and surfing the web, I'm playing my PC football Game!
I guess that with so much crap on TV and so little to do "outside" in this crappy weather, I don't have a great amount of choice! I do believe however, that I shouldn't spend as much time on this damn thing as I do lol!
Every morning when I get up, I have to update the websites, add the latest news to the "tickers" on the sites and compile my blogs, after which I'm usually editing audio for radio shows and contacting potential future guests for my shows!
However, today I have taken the decision to quit two of my Glastonbury Radio shows for a while, namely Moaning Old Gits and The Feel Good Friday Show, to free up time for other projects. I am hoping the shows may continue with other presenters though. (Volunteers feel free to e-mail me lol)
I will continue to present Now THAT'S Weird on Friday nights, and this week we have DAVID ICKE and NICK POPE on the programme and the chance to listen to an interview I did with Edgar Mitchell (6th man to walk on the moon) earlier this year.
I plan to get out and about a lot more in the coming months ahead and not spend quite so much time here on the PC!
Ross
- David Icke talks about Swine Flu.....
-
- nomadrush
- July 28th, 10:02
- thoughtful
Last night I interviewed David Icke for broadcast on my show "Now THAT'S Weird" this coming Friday. The subject of the interviews was "what is really going on with Swine Flu".
David believes that the mandatory vaccination we are all going to be told we must have, is a chemical that will break down our immune system and leave us open to all kinds of bugs and infections!
He also talks about plans he believes are being made, to inject a microchip into every single one of us under the guise of a "vaccination", which if true, is particularly worrying.
David also fears they will release a far more dangerous "mutated strain" of the Swine Flue virus on us in the Autumn, and we only have 6 - 8 weeks to come together and say NO to this vaccine!
Hear David's interview with me in full on Friday from 9 p.m. at http://www.nowthatsweird.co.uk
Wake up people - the mainstream media are not telling you the truth about Swine Flu and this Tamiflu "remedy" and vaccine!
Ross
- Please vote for us (and ask your friends!)
-
- nomadrush
- July 16th, 9:15
bouncy
I am pleased to announce that Glastonbury Radio have now made the final six of the European Readers Choice Streaming Awards. We have been made finalists in two categories, namely:.
BEST LIVE WEBCAST of 2009
BEST MUSIC & AUDIO DELIVERY SYSTEM
The station which has been on air since March 2007, is now recognised worldwide with a growing global audience as one of the fastest growing online networks in the UK. Share values in the company have risen dramatically despite the recession, and last week the station broadcast a three song acoustic set recorded exclusively by Sharon Corr (The Corrs) at Glastonbury Festival!
Recent guests on the station have included Rolf Harris, Pete Waterman, Tony Christie, Paul Heaton (Beautiful South), Francis Rossi (Status Quo) and of course Sharon Corr!
Please vote for us online at http://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/Readerschoiceeurope/ - just register free, and then vote in both of the above sections. (Where it says "company" just type "NONE") YOUR vote could help us win one or both categories!!
Glastonbury Radio, proud to be promoting Somerset to a global audience.
Ross
- Glastonbury Radio shortlisted for two awards!
-
- nomadrush
- July 14th, 16:38
- chipper
PRESS RELEASE - July 14th 2009
Local online digital radio station Glastonbury Radio have made the shortlist for this year's European Readers Choice Streaming Awards!
Glastonbury Radio are nominated and shortlisted in two categories namely:
BEST LIVE WEBCAST of 2009
BEST MUSIC & AUDIO DELIVERY SYSTEM
The station which has been on air since March 2007, is now recognised worldwide with a growing global audience as one of the fastest growing online networks in the UK. Share values in the company have risen dramatically despite the recession, and last week the station broadcast a three song acoustic set recorded exclusively by Sharon Corr (The Corrs) after meeting Glastonbury Radio at the Glastonbury Festival.
Recent guests on the station have included Rolf Harris, Pete Waterman, Tony Christie, Paul Heaton (Beautiful South), Francis Rossi (Status Quo) and of course Sharon Corr!
You can vote online at http://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/Readerschoiceeurope/
Glastonbury Radio, proud to be promoting Somerset to the world!Ross Hemsworth
Business Development Director
Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd
Glastonbury Radio - www.glastonburyradio.net Tune in ONLINE from anywhere in the world
The company - www.glastonburybroadcasting.net
- Please vote for us (Spread the word!!)
-
- nomadrush
- July 6th, 17:03
- cheerful
Hi everyone
Glastonbury Broadcasting have been nominated to the shortlist of the Streaming Media Awards and now need your votes in the following two categories:-
1. Best Live Webcast
2. Music & Audio Delivery
Please register and vote at http://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/Readerschoiceeurope/
Every vote counts!
Ross Hemsworth
Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd
http://www.glastonburyradio.net
- A day on the back of a lorry!
-
- nomadrush
- July 5th, 11:53
tired
We had a fantastic day at the fund-raising roadshow yesterday in Glastonbury town centre, and a lot of people donated money and items.
We won't know what we raised until later int eh week as the there were collection buckets, a raffle, and auction etc so it all needs to be totaled up.
Tasmin Archer played a sensational set of five acoustic songs live on the stage and she was a delight to work with having freely donated her time and coming all the way from the North of England to perform for the charity.
A local painter called Paul painted a picture of Tasmin Archer whilst she was on stage and we auctioned that from the stage after Tasmin signed it and got £100. Paul also painted local singer Mark kelly and we will be auctioning that on E-bay shortly!
Another local singer Lenny Savage also performed on the stage and went down very well.
I presented the show alongside Trevor Jones and DJ Jazzy G, with Dr Liz Williams making an appearance too.
I'd like to thank all the people that helped us on the day, with everything from electrics, sound and lighting to those who went aorund collecting for us.
The whole event marked the second birthday of the Gauntlet Shopping centre in town, with many shop-keepers dressing in pirate them for the day.
The programme will be repeated during the week, please watch the website for anouncements at www.glastonburyradio.net
Ross
- Today on the Feel Good Friday Show!
-
- nomadrush
- July 3rd, 11:06
- amused
Today on my Feel Good Friday Show, I will be talking about some of my experiences at Glastonbury Festival this year, and about some of the great acts that formed part of this year's line-up.
Also, joining me live on the phone will be Linda Nolan, telling us why the Nolan Sisters are reforming and staging a major tour later this year.
So tune in to the show that gets you in the mood for the weekend ahead, and get your requests and dedications in now to ross@glastonburyradio.net
Tune in ONLINE at www.glastonburyradio.net
Ross
- Interviews from Glastonbury Festival
-
- nomadrush
- July 2nd, 9:24
- chipper
A lot of people have been writing to me and asking when our interviews from Glastonbury Festival will be airing on the radio.
The BBC have a seven day embargo and as such we have to wait a clear 7 days after the festivals ends before we can broadcast these interviews and for this reason they will air next week.
We were restricted by a course of events that took place on site, which means some of the interviews didn't take place. This was through a mixture of artists not turning up for planned interviews and tighter press restrictions on site meaning that we could not access some artists which was a great shame.
We do however, have some great interviews to play to you including some very special celebrity guests who WEREN'T performing at the festival, they had just turned up to watch!
Keep an eye on the Glastonbury Radio website for details of when these will be aired. www.glastonbury.fm
Ross
- Glastonbury Festival - the aftermath lol!
-
- nomadrush
- June 30th, 11:21
- groggy
Now we are back from Glastonbury we have to deal with the aftermath - catching up with all the e-mails and jobs missed whilst we were away since last Wednesday!
My team at Glastonbury were Henry Bacon, Laura J Zaky, Russell Grant, Penny Dando and myself and they all did a fantastic job. I would like to personally thank them all for their hard work and effort put into getting some great interviews and pictures.
I was personally very disappointed with Lily Allen who had a Winnebago just a few yards away from ours but snubbed us throughout the event. She obviously believes her own PR lol! But having been in the music biz for many years, I am pretty confident that Glastonbury Radio will still be aorund when she is a distant memory! All I can say is that there was a lot of drinking, noise and late night parties outside her Winnebago!
Harry Enfield popped over for a chat with Henry Bacon, and photos of the two together were captured by Laura and are now up on the website at www.glastonburyradio.co.uk/festival2009
I also managed to chat to Robert Llewellyn who plays Kryten in the hit TV series Red Dwarf - he seems a lovely man and he even recorded a new jingle for Glastonbury Radio!
I would again like to thank IZZY & STU the managers of the Acoustic Stage who are just delightful to work with, they always go the extra mile and in my opinion run the best stage on site!
Tonight I am off to Bristol for a networking event on a ship which should be fun, just wish it wasn't so close to the festival as I shall be totally knackered!
Ross
- News from Glastonbury Radio!
-
- nomadrush
- June 17th, 9:54
- jubilant
Glastonbury Radio is gaining pace, seeing a weekly rise in listeners and some great new shows doing very well in the ratings!
Today I am LIVE at Midday (UK time) hosting the Moaning Old Gits Show which is always great fun and has a real cult following now. It's NOT politically correct, it's edgy and controversial and certainly wouldn't get on an FM station that have to work inside of Ofcom rules lol! Tune in at www.glastonburyradio.net and see why so many people love this show!
On Friday I have ROLF HARRIS and FRANCIS ROSSI (Status Quo) on The Feel Good Friday Show and possibly one of the HEADLINERS from Glastonbury Festival - watch the website for news!
We still have a few shares in Glastonbury Radio up for sale if you ae interested, even if you want just one share, talk to us! Online digital radio is growing and our share values will rocket in the coming months/years!
Spread the word - copy and paste this to everyone you know (but no spamming please :)
Hope you can listen in at lunchtime today!
Ross
- I'm on George Noory's Coast to Coast show tonight!
-
- nomadrush
- June 15th, 9:34
Tonight I am the guest of Geoge Noory on Coast to Coast AM, which reputedly has over 17 million listeners across the USA. It will be the third time I have guested on the show.
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/upcoming
I always enjoy chatting to George who like myself, presents a radio show about strange phenomena and has a passion for the subject matter.
I will be chatting about crop circles, orbs, inter-dimensional realities, the paranormal and of course UFO flaps!
Apparently, the show airs from around 11 p.m. in the USA but here it will be 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, so I have to be up at an ungodly hour for the interview lol!
I hope at least some of you will be able to tune in!
Ross
