Country Music In The UK

I've always loved listening to radio stations around the world on the internet.  Some of my favorites are Capital FM in London, ABC network in Australia, GBC radio in Gibraltar, and the BBC in the UK.  After watching the movie from my last post and being a big country music fan, I went on the search for a country music radio station to listen to online in London.  Nothing.  I expanded my search for Country music radio stations in all of the U.K.  I thought, surely, in a country of 62 million people that country music would have a spot on British airwaves somewhere! Maybe in some little British podunk town?  ... None, zero, zilch!  There is not one country music programmed station in all of the United Kingdom!

Many American pop artists, new and old, get lots airplay, so it can't because it's 'American music.'  I was now on a mission.  I contacted a European radio consultant in London and a Group Program Director for a company in Manchester to ask why.   I already knew part of the answer and my radio friends reading this probably already know too.  But I wanted confirmation, and in the process found out a much more in-depth reason of why there is still no country radio 'across the pond.'

The European radio consultant told me the main reason is that country music doesn't research well.  That means, when surveyed, British listeners said they didn't like most country music songs.  I'm not sure how long ago that research was done, but it makes sense.... radio stations here in the states do the same thing.  If it doesn't research, it won't get played.

The last time at a terrestrial country station was on the air in Great Britain was 10 years ago, Country 1035am in London... right in the middle of the Garth and Shania years.  (an audio recording of Garth Brooks actually introduced and launch of the station) 1035am didn't do well for a variety of reasons, but mostly for lack of a large audience, which means lack of advertisers and money to operate.  I imagine being on AM didn't help along with the image of those loud, flaming Brooks and Dunn shirts from the 90's burned into the minds of the British.

Fast forward to today's country music.  The flaming shirts are gone, and you can actually hear some of the country newbies like Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum on the top 40 stations in London!  Hey, why not give country radio another shot?  Well, today it comes down to $$$.  The group program director from Manchester says that Ofcom, (which is Britain's verision of the FCC) has to issue a license to broadcast country music, and FM licenses are no longer being issued due to the digital radio transition going on in the UK.  He says the only option right now is to pony up about seven figures in British pounds (not dollars) to broadcast on the national DAB digital radio network; the British equivalent to HD Radio in the U.S.

Given the previous country radio failures, a British broadcaster is probably not going to take that risk right now, especially with advertising dollars spent on radio down lately.  Basically, it still comes down to music.  If country was popular like pop is in the UK, no doubt, somebody would find a way.  I can't help but think that this is the most mainstream country has ever sounded and somebody should give country music another shot on British airwaves!

Not to say Country music is completely absent in the UK.  Country can still be heard on a short country music program on BBC 2 radio on Thursday evenings and via internet radio.

Hmmm... now that I think about it, there's not Country radio station (non-HD channel) in New York City either... but I'll save that for another rant...

Of course, I hear they have a great country music station here.

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