MOTIVATED by wanting to make great radio, Ted Seymour and Tony Edwards are slowly steering community radio station Bay FM in a new direction.
After months of disputes around the election of a new management committee, Mr Seymour and Mr Edwards were appointed as consultants to revive the station.
“The current committee was elected on a platform of change and they have been fully supportive of the changes we have made or are in the process of making,” Mr Seymour said.
Mr Edwards said their licence was to broadcast across the bayside, from Wynnum and Manly to Redland Bay.
“We want to create a product that is broadly appealing to as many people as possible,” he said.
Programming changes that have already taken place include playing mainly popular music from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with some recent songs and classics from the 1960s, during the week.
Mr Seymour said the most controversial change had been the dropping of the John Laws show.
“Some people have called the station to say they’re disappointed, but in the main the response has been positive.
“It’s given us the opportunity to play 15 hours more of music each week.”
Another change has been the introduction of classic comedy segments.
“We believe we all need to laugh more,” Mr Seymour said.
During the weekend the station has specialist programs, including Sunday afternoon jazz.
“Some of these will change or move over the next few months and some will stay,” Mr Seymour said.
The pair would like to introduce feature programs about topics like renovating, council affairs, travel, gardening and boating, camping and fishing.
As a community station, Bay FM relies almost solely on volunteers; only the station manager gets paid.
Nearly 50 volunteers run the station, with support from about 110 members of the not-for-profit organisation.
Mr Seymour started in radio in 1963 and said he saw Bay FM as an opportunity to give something back.
“In the United States there is a swing back to local radio. People want to hear what’s going on in their neighbourhood.”
He encouraged anyone who is enthusiastic about radio or has aspirations of being on air to become involved.
“It’s time to move on from what happened before. We are just here to make a better radio station for the people of the bayside.”
