The Future of Team-FM
Blog Post from Lulu Hartgen, Station Manager.
Introduction.
When Team-FM first began, it was a very tiny niche radio station. Over the past eight years, we have worked hard to build it into what it now is. We've tried hard to give you the best mix of both oldies and new music, the best quality shows we can, more ways to listen, a top quality sound and the ten-in-one Team Machine which keeps the station sounding fresh. We are now entering another phase of the station's life. We are going to need to make changes which will ensure that Team-FM goes on running smoothly for a long time to come with as little diminution in quality as is possible. It would be easy to introduce these changes without explaining them, butI feel I owe you more than that. So for you who've listened to Team-FM and spread the word about it, for you who tune in to your favorite shows every week, for you who have written such kind things to us, letting us know what Team-FM means to you, I want to tell you honestly why changes are necessary, exactly what will change, and more importantly, what will stay the same.
Why Are Changes Necessary?
At the end of last year I was diagnosed with a serious illness which we knew would get progressively worse. I hoped, with help and treatment, to keep Team-FM running as it had been doing for as long as I could, but Brian and I both knew that there would come a time when I would have to step back. We also knew that caring for me, as well as taking care of Team-FM and holding down a full time job, would mean that Brian wouldn't have the time available to do as much for the station as the two of us have been able to accomplish together. We wanted to make sure that, when the time came, we could implement changes smoothly that would enable the station to keep running and to stay strong for a long time to come. It is now time for me to step back, and for us to put these changes into effect. In the main, we hope you won't notice a lot of difference, but I want to make it clear what has to change and what will stay the same.
What Will Change?
1. I will be stepping down as manager of Team-FM, effective immediately. I am handing over to Brian Hartgen, who I know will make an excellent job of managing the station. I am doing this now, while I am still able to give him any help he needs as he takes on this new role.
2. One of the things I am most proud of is our new music, which at this time is updated weekly. This has given us our Top Tune and Hot Picks features. Unfortunately, though the music will continue to be regularly updated, Brian doesn't feel able to commit to doing this on a weekly basis. Therefore, though you will still hear new music in the Hits machine, the Top Tune and Hot Picks features will be phased out. This is unfortunate, but it will mean the Hits machine can run smoothly in its new format with no diminution in the music quality.
3. Christmas has always been a favorite time of year and we have loved putting together the very best Christmas entertainment we can for you over the past eight years. Unfortunately, for this year at least, our Christmas programming will have to be reduced as I find myself unable to record new shows. Sadly this year we will not be able to produce such Christmas standards as the Disney special, Music for a Merry Christmas, The Music Trail and the Junior Choice special. We have loved producing these shows for you and I'm incredibly sad not to be able to do them. It goes without saying that there will be entertainment over Christmas which we hope you'll enjoy, but our hours of Christmas programming will have to be significantly reduced.
4. The two shows I currently present, Saturday Night Smooth and It Must Be Retro Love, will eventually be phased out. I will leave it to Brian to decide exactly when this happens. I've loved presenting these shows, I will miss them, and I'd like to thank you for listening and for your nice comments about them.
What Will Stay The Same?
You will still be able to tune into the Ten in One Team Machine during the week. you will still be able to access the station in all the ways you now canand it is hoped that more ways to listen can be introduced in the future. Shows hosted by the other presenters will continue as normal. Retro day, which so many of you have told us you love, is not going to be affected except for the eventual removal of the show I do on that day, which we hope to be able to replace with something of equal quality. The Team-FM staff will go on looking for ways to improve, to grow, to make things better. Most important of all, we will neither now nor in the future be introducing any advertisements, sponsors or any commercial element into Team-FM.
In conclusion I'd like to personally thank the Team-FM staff for all the unstinting help they've given me over the past eight years, I'd particularly like to thank Brian Hartgen for taking over the Team-FM management, and most importantly, I'd like to thank you. I've always said a radio station is nothing without its loyal listeners. The changes we are putting in effect now mean that we can promise Team-FM stays on the air 24 hours a day for a long time to come and that you can go on enjoying the station where great music matters.
Thank you very much for reading.
Lulu Hartgen.
