Radio station behind Brit stars faces axe
AS INDIE-ROCKERS Blossoms celebrate their nomination for a Brit Award, the radio station that helped launch them to stardom is fighting for survival.
Stockport’s Pure Radio has announced it is ‘desperately seeking a cash lifeline’ as its parent charity can no longer afford to finance it. The award-winning station has been funded by Pure Innovations, but the charity has been hit hard by government austerity cuts and has to prioritise ‘front line’ services.
Pure’s licence will be handed back to Ofcom – and it will close in April unless a new financial backer can be found.
The station was set up to have a community focus and Tom Ogden, lead singer of Blossoms, got his first radio play on it aged 16 in 2010.
Pure has since given strong support to the band, who were nominated in the Breakthrough Act category at Wednesday night’s Brits.
Louise Parrott-Bates, Pure Innovations chief executive, said: “I am absolutely devastated to have reached this position.
“But it is the only way to protect front line services and concentrate on our core business to ensure we have a sustainable future.
“It feels fundamentally wrong for Stockport to face losing such a valuable community asset but there’s nothing more financially we can do.”
Pure Innovations offers employment, training and social opportunities to disabled people to help them lead independent lives.
The station’s work reflects this and it won a National Community Radio Award last year for its One Voice project, a magazine show by and for people with disabilities.
Volunteer rock presenter, Rory Auskerry, also scooped an award. It first came to air in 2003 and is now run by three full-time staff members and 50 volunteers. Pure also has programmes for older people and the LGBT community as well as providing match commentary of Stockport County. It is hoped the One Voice show can at least continue through podcasts. Louise added: “Many don’t just tune in for the music entertainment but also for information and events taking place. “It has taken over ten years to build the reputation and it would be a great loss.” Anyone who can help can call Louise on 07595 001998.