Big thanks to Amazing Radio listener Sarah Southern, who was on the plinth in Trafalgar Square this morning at 0600 as one of Anthony Gormley’s ‘One and Other’ statues … and dedicated her spot to Amazing Radio.  You can see what she got up to here.

Thanks also to Pure for loaning one of their very tasty Evo radios for this impromptu open-air concert.  It looks very cool in the video.  And, of course, since Amazing only plays new music, there was no need for a PRS licence for this rather unusual public performance.

I’m grateful to Amazing listener Wayne Senior for his suggestion that we should put Audition on at 1200 on even days and 1700 on odd days.  We’d reduced the original frequency because it was getting too repetitive and dominating the schedule,  but the alternative we came up with was impossible to remember.  Then he came to our rescue.

So from Monday, you can hear Audition at 1200 (it’s an even day), and from 1700 on Tuesday (it’s an odd day).  And forever afterwards on that pattern … until he, or someone else, has an even better idea.  Thanks.

ps you may also like to read Wayne’s thoughtful posting about Amazing Radio here.

It’s 2 months today since we launched Amazing Radio. Here’s some observations so far.

WHAT’S BEEN GOOD

1.  The feedback has been astonishing.  I’ve worked in media for 30 years, and never known the like of it.  Seems there’s a lot of people who get what we’re doing, like it, are telling their friends, and want it to succeed.  It’s been mind-blowing and humbling to read it. I’m so grateful.

2.  The press coverage has been staggering too. In the UK and the States, experienced and expert journalists are raving about this, saying it’s a revolution. If I’d been asked to write my own reviews (ha ha), I’d never have dreamed of being as positive as the real reviews have actually been.

3. From the first day, people started going to amazingtunes.com to register, listen, rate, recommend, tag, purchase and upload tunes.  It’s the most important assumption behind this, that people will get the concept and be willing to move from radio to PC.  It’s working.  It worked from Day One.

4. The team has worked brilliantly, doing something probably impossible in a very short time.  Ian, Bill & Kev deserve particular mention for the long hours and constant cheerfulness with which they kept on going.  And still do.

5. The viral traffic has been brilliant.  I keep a close watch on Twitteer, Facebook and other stuff like Digital Spy and try to respond personally to all comments.  There’s sustained viral growth in the traffic, with some really moving comments from people excited that they’re going to get on national radio, even though they’re unsigned.  This is the most important single factor which will make sure Amazing Radio grows and can be sustained for the long term.  That’s why I keep saying ‘tell all your friends’. It’s been great to see it happening already.

WHAT’S BEEN LESS GOOD

1. We’ve struggled technically, in particular with the playout system, which keeps doing annoying things (like playing the same song too often), or falling over.  I think this is teething troubles, we’re getting there, and we are trying to do things differently from most stations – no Ads, no news, nothing yet live (although watch this space), so we’re using it in an unconventional way, but it’s been frustrating and has lowered the quality of what we’re doing.

2.  The schedule is not as good, or as comprehensive, as I’d like.  And it’s too repetitive. The volume and quality of new presenters has been disappointing, with a lot of people who just want to sound like every other DJ on commercial radio.  We don’t want time checks and babble about the weather, we want sparky people passionate about new music, ewho have something to say.  We are starting to get there (and hurrah in particular for the wonderful Xan Phillips!), but we need to put more effort into this.

3. We’ve tried to reach an accommodation with the PRS which will help new artists grow via Amazing to become PRS members, and so get the financial benefits from conventional radio & TV airplay, whilst still being able to get airplay on Amazing Radio. My proposal for a partnership was somewhat hampered when its CEO lost his job the day before our scheduled meetimg.  So far, they’re merely offering us what everyone else gets, which rather misses the point (nobody else plays only new artists).  We’ll keep trying, with the aim of finding a solution that helps all Amazing musicians, now and in the future.

4.  We need more download sales. They’ve grown significantly, but there’s still not enough people buying tracks.  This doesn’t just reduce the income for Amazing artists, it also makes it harder for us to keep going, without having to take advertising (or maybe even at all).  Radio licences are expensive things. You can’t pay for them on fresh air.   It’s very early days still, and the momentum is great, but I really hope we see sustained increases in the nex tfew months so we can keep this going after the pilot, and keep it innovative.  I hate the idea of Ad breaks every 20 minutes;  I rerfuse to contemplate stopping  altogether after 6 months.  Hence the title of this post. We’ve done 2 months.  We’d like the next 4 to be just the beginning of the rest of the revolution – not all there ever is.

Anyway: enough worry.  In the past 2 months I’ve been more excited, more astonished, and heard more great new music, than at any time in my life. Thank you so much, for making it possible.
Paul Campbell, amazing founder