Music (and Radio) Minds Matter

by Alex
•
14 Jan, 2019

Last week ‘Music Minds Matter’, a 24/7 ‘mental health support line and service for the music industry’ was launched with the help of Sir Paul McCartney.This service should be lauded in all corners of the industry, especially after a year that has seen the tragic passing of Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington; talented musicians who, from the outside appear to have it all, were in fact fighting demons they ultimately lost their battles with.

My time as a broadcaster has brought me very close to the workings of the music industry, a literal rollercoaster where artists can be riding high in the charts one week then thrown out with the disappointing midweek figures the next. I have met many artists where the pressure of what is expected of them is weighing heavy on their talented shoulders. One artist, who fortunately is still experiencing chart success, once signed off an interview with me by saying “Thank You” and then declaring: “You never know, we may never speak again!”

This throw away remark was openly a reference to whether or not she was about to have her record contract renewed. She had made it blatantly clear during our chat she was anxious about what was about to happen to her, and her career, despite having achieved great critical and chart success. It was a moment that has stuck with me for many years and, with the launch of ‘Music Minds Matter’, we must always be mindful to keep the idea (and the ideal) of a pop star quite separate from the individual who is singing our favourite songs. The two entities are very different.

The record industry isn’t the only creative sector that should be extending responsibility to its workers. Sitting, like a musical bedfellow, next to the music bods, are the radio workers. Often marred with the stain of self-obsession, beneath the surface most radio presenters are in fact often anxious and tense.

The idea that musicians need be constantly ‘on’ extends to the world of the wireless. There is an age-old adage in the industry that ‘you’re only as good as your last show’, which inevitably breeds a sense of constant doubt and severe fear. If you’re not surrounded by producers and assistants telling you you’re doing a great job; then there’s a high chance you’re alone in a small studio for up to four hours a day, talking to yourself and feeling like a goldfish.

The internal cries of ‘am I good enough?’ or ‘what if the Big Boss is listening’ can often be turned up so loud you’d be amazed any presenter actually ever heard the Clean Bandit song they’d just finished playing.

Recent changes in the industry have led to tightening of opportunities, like a metaphorical noose around the radio world all presenters love and want to protect with all their hearts. It’s no secret that most presenters are self-employed and the anxiety and insecurity that freelance life brings can easily lead to a cyclical fear of failure and this inevitably brings other levels of doubt and nervousness.

I have many friends and colleagues, in all levels of radio, whose mental health has been affected by the jobs that they love; medication and counsellors have become just as common in conversation as the latest jingle packages.

While the passion for radio can feed healthy determination and a desire to succeed, I applaud the music industry for beginning what I hope will be a turning point in creative industries being mindful of the mind. Music, Radio, TV, Fashion…. whatever it may be, keep looking out for each other, because the thick skin sometimes wears thin.

The Importance of Student Radio

by Alex Atkinson • 24 September 2019

With the new university term officially underway I wanted to reflect on the importance of student radio and the vital part it continues to play in preparing students for the big, bad, world of work that awaits beyond graduation.

My time with Fuse FM at The University of Manchester during its early years helped determine the kind of work I dreamed of pursuing and gave me vital experience in how a small station, operating on an RSL (you might need to Google that), needed to function in a professional, but still fun, manner.

Every student radio station is different: there are some that have bigger teams than others; there are those whose budget is rolled by the student union or university and those who will fundraise and rely on their members to provide vital cash. Differences aside, they will, of course, have many other things in common. All stations will need scheduling, they will need music, talk and news content, and they will need bright minds to operate the tech and ensure smooth running of the daily operation.

All things combined, student radio has the power to bring together many different types of people, from all walks of life, working together to deliver a common goal, and this is where it matters most. It is a microcosm of any bigger business and workplace - whether radio or not.

Many of the people I met and worked with (cos it was work) at Fuse FM went on to pursue countless different types of careers. Barrister, International Charity Manager, Stand Up Comedian and Teacher are just some of the eventual jobs that spring to mind.

Then there were those who knew that being part of the station would provide those all-important skills and CV boosters that would be essential when attempting to make first steps on the media career ladder. Myself, wanting to be a presenter, meant that being able to host my own shows was a crucial part in the process of finding my ‘voice’, whilst running the station helped me earn a lifelong respect for the many different pieces of the jigsaw that collectively create a professional radio station.

Throughout my career I have met countless people who all maximised their time at uni, joined their fellow student radio brethren, and honed their skills, began making professional connections and discovered what it might be that they would be passionate enough about to build a long term career from. To name but a few, the ranks include: national breakfast show producer, production and imaging manager, political correspondent and national drive time presenter – and there’s that rather talented bloke from Radio 1 of course.

Vital in helping develop and discover new talent for all parts of the industry, for those attending university, student radio remains one of the most fundamental experiences for anyone building the early blocks of their career (whether radio or otherwise).

Adventures in Radio...

by Alex • 16 January 2019

It's ten years ago!

In Praise of Father Simon & Sister Cox

by Alex • 14 January 2019

Everyone has people in their line of work that they admire, look up to and continue to be inspired by. Most radio presenters and broadcasters will willingly reel off a list of their broadcasting idols whose style, success and delivery are a source of admiration. Two of mine have been making headlines more than ever of late – and through all the sound and fury they have continued to be the most brilliant of broadcasters.

My young love for commercial radio would often fight the natural teenage desire to seem cool – and that’s where Radio One played its part. This is where I would find two people on the radio who I continue to admire from afar and can only dream of being as good as. They sit on a radio pedestal next to my commercial faves.

Simon Mayo and Sara Cox could not be further apart in their style, but something about the pair of these broadcasters has always stood them apart from their peers. I don’t hesitate to say, for me, they are both genius.

Mayo’s just short of sarcastic patter and wink-of-the-eye delivery demonstrates his remarkable humour; a humour that brings the audience in on the joke despite no obvious joke or punch line being made. Listen to any of his ‘Confessions’ series and you’ll hear this style in action. How many broadcasters have been able to take a concept like ‘Confessions’ on such a journey through so many iterations?

He is often the calm in the radio storm. Seemingly laid back in his approach, his programmes are never loud, over the top or unnecessarily frenetic. This calm was proven quickly after a transfer from music radio to BBC 5 Live and having to provide a devastating commentary on the 9/11 attacks. I can still remember his description of the towers coming down – a feat that proved his incredible radio prowess.

And Coxy? She was the voice of every morning at university (I like to think she was just as hungover as I often was) and an actual break from all radio norms. She seemed messy, the content appeared ad hoc and it was all quite brilliant. Her charm and realness have never changed. Coxy is simply the only presenter who can reduce me to fits of laughter when describing the most normal and mundane parts of life – whether these are her own stories or when she is regaling the life of the listener.

She is the mistress of storytelling, a whizz with language and every programmer’s dream: she is the presenter you absolutely want to go to the pub with, although in the late 90s she may drink you under the table. Her innuendo is never played for cheap laughs - that tongue is consistently wedged firmly in cheek.

I remember during my university summer break in 2000, whilst working at my local commercial station, I would look forward to the daily handover from Coxy on breakfast to Mayo on mids. Their daily interaction was effortless comedy – both coming at the world from different angles but their individual styles integrating to create a brief moment of magic every morning. Mostly it was classic Coxy innuendo forcing Mayo into a deliberate dry and eyebrow raising response. I was obviously overjoyed when they were brought back together to present as part of last year’s Radio 1 Vintage – the ultimate indulgence for any radio geek, the chemistry between the two of them still sparky and unique.