Scandal at Radio Emme over dispute about folk music
The future of folk music is a hot topic not only at Swiss Radio DRS but also at Radio Emme, a local station in the Emmental region. Plans to remove folk music from the station’s lineup have led to a row on the station’s board of directors.
The future of folk music is causing a stir not only at Swiss Radio DRS, but also at the local Emmental radio station Radio Emme. Plans to remove folk music from the program have led to a scandal in the station's board of directors. The Board of Directors decided on Wednesday to ban folk music from Radio Emme from spring 2008, according to a statement from Board member and Radio Emme co-founder Niklaus Blaser. As Blaser does not agree with this step, he has decided to resign from the Board of Directors.
Instead of folk music, "generally English, often annoying and melancholy catcalls and whining" are to be broadcast around the clock in future and "repeated for the umpteenth time", Blaser continues according to SDA.
A program is planned that thousands of stations are already producing. Radio Emme is thus saying goodbye even more to its audience in its broadcasting area around the Napf. In view of the CHF 800,000 in licence fee money that the station is to receive annually in future, the decision is tantamount to "irresponsibility" and "taking the piss" out of listeners, according to Blaser's letter.
The decision to abandon folk music was neither confirmed nor denied by Karen Wiedmer, President of the Board of Directors, when asked by SDA. The Board of Directors and the management have been reviewing and adapting the broadcaster's strategy for a year and a half, the Board of Directors stated in a press release. Blaser's resignation is deeply regretted. The supervisory body did not comment further.
Instead of folk music, "generally English, often annoying and melancholy catcalls and whining" are to be broadcast around the clock in future and "repeated for the umpteenth time", Blaser continues according to SDA.
A program is planned that thousands of stations are already producing. Radio Emme is thus saying goodbye even more to its audience in its broadcasting area around the Napf. In view of the CHF 800,000 in licence fee money that the station is to receive annually in future, the decision is tantamount to "irresponsibility" and "taking the piss" out of listeners, according to Blaser's letter.
The decision to abandon folk music was neither confirmed nor denied by Karen Wiedmer, President of the Board of Directors, when asked by SDA. The Board of Directors and the management have been reviewing and adapting the broadcaster's strategy for a year and a half, the Board of Directors stated in a press release. Blaser's resignation is deeply regretted. The supervisory body did not comment further.
