The Music Well is dedicated to the music and traditions from the UK and Ireland and we try to feature a good mix of artists from all folk styles and geographical locations. We aim to be something of an on-line folk festival - with 'Main Stage'-type shows (similar to those you might hear on other stations) showcase spots for newer artists, workshops for learning, as well as interviews and documentaries across a range of specialist subjects.
The web pages also offer background information, pictures, chat, archives and links, for those who want to carry out research, or contribute in some other way.
top of page
Anyone can make a show for the Music Well and we will help you turn your idea into a successful programme.
Many of the current broadcasters are professional touring musicians or broadcasters, but if you have the enthusiasm to make a show and a particular style of music you'd like to explore then please do get in touch.
top of page
The site is paid for by donations, sponsorship and taking commission from CD sales
top of page
1) You can pay to have your album tracks played on The Billboard. (See below)
2) You can become a Member, and add listings and other things like that.
3) You can become a Main Sponsor and have your logo on the front page (see below).
4) You can arrange a reciprocal link in the Shop Window (for free, providing your own site generates sufficient traffic), or you can add a normal link for a small charge (unless you're a Full Member, in which case you get one for free).
5) You can advertise items for sale (including albums), sell your act or business, promote your club, festival or event etc.
6) You can make shows - but you will be restricted by the Production Guide and will not be able to promote your business or your music unless there is a sound editorial reason.
If you have any other ideas please get in touch.
top of page
The Billboard playlist is randomised, meaning that every time you drop in you'll see a different running order. This is so that no track can hog the playlist.
All Billboard tracks are sponsored; The Music Well does not operate any quality control, but does police the list to make sure the music fits our policies.
To add your tracks go to the Add to Billboard page
We have the broadest possible definition of 'folk' at RadioBritfolk, but if we feel your music is too far away from our remit (or unsuitable for some other reason) we may decide not to include it. No track may stay on the Billboard for more than 4 weeks, though it can be returned after being ‘rested’ for 4 weeks. This is to give everyone a fair chance.
Tracks must be submitted as an mp3 file, so you can crop it to 8 minutes yourself if you want to. We do not have the resources to offer a cropping service.
When you Add your track it goes to webmaster Phil Snell, who will upload it next time there is a free slot in the playlist (usually next Monday). If you'd like confirmation of when your track will go live, please email Phil from the Contact page.
Cost is £3 per week or £10 for a 4-week booking, payment by PayPal. and prices may change as the project develops.
top of page
There are 3 varied shows per week that change every Monday.
Friends and Members can access last weeks shows, so its worth joining if you missed something good! And as a member you can also access the archived programmes. We are only allowed to have 10 hours of licensed music on the site at a time, so the archived shows are rotated, but you can email Phil Snell to request a specific show you would like repeating or archiving.
The Billboard changes all the time as tracks time out and people add new ones.
top of page
Firstly contact The Music Well via the conatct page with your suggestion and with our help develop your show idea. We will provide guidelines for technical and playlist content.
The only restriction is that you as a presenter cannot feature your own music, unless there is an editorial reason for doing so that we have given the OK on! The finished show must be sent in on CD and then we will give you a link to a part of this website that guides you through entering your show information, such as your biography and photo and details of the artists you have featured.
top of page
It's essential that all copyrighted material is acknowledged and due royalties paid.
For other legal issues, over to BSB broadcaster and folk artist Tim Moon:
“The laws for netcast are not set in stone as yet, but we can take the on air rules as a basis. They are simple and common sense really. You can't use the broadcast to insult people.
“Of course the likes of Chris Moyles will have a pop at celebs but it's such a minefield it's best not to go there, unless repeating a factual news story or the like. Equally you can't defame a business without risking action. You couldn't say, for example,' Bob Goblin instruments are all made of plywood and built by exploited 3rd world labour...' unless your damn sure of your facts and can quote the whole thing. Likewise, shameless plugging of a product is inadvisable.
“You might play a new album and enthuse about it, but you can't say, again for e.g., that 'Popic Records' are the only label worth buying. Language wise; broadcast like yer mums listening is the best advise. And don't attack religions, races, sexes etc etc. I hope I don't have to say this, and I expect I don't, but racist words are the new swearing and anything, anything, which might gain that tag is worth avoiding.
“The problem of being specific is difficult because the broadcast law says you can really broadcast anything in context and the listeners can complain about anything they find offensive, and it will be investigated. This may be very mild stuff, like mentioning a religious icon in passing.
“Of course, this will often be found to be not upheld by the radio authority, as it may be within a context. For example a programme playing rap etc may have large amounts of the f word, but the RA assumes that listeners to this type of programme have no problem with this. But if you say it during a breakfast show on BBC local you'd be in the doo doo. There are in fact only two specified words which cannot be broadcast, c**t and ni**er, although the latter may change as words of racial abuse change.
“Essentially, context is an important factor as a netcast has a title page and leaves certain expectations in the listeners path, rather that just a twiddled dial bringing up the unexpected. The most famous complaint was by an old lady who tuned into radio 4 to hear the phrase, 'tits like coconuts', turned off immediately and rang the BBC to complain. After investigation she was told that had she continued to listen she would have heard the full sentence of 'tits like coconuts in the garden during the winter as it gives then a ready source of nourishment...' I'm not even sure if it's not apocryphal (spelling, but my spell check can't find it) but it does illustrate the care you have to take. I've only ever had one complaint in the last ten years or so and that was from somebody who complained to the radio authority that I played too much folk music. I suspect he was barmy, but best not say that on air!" (Tim Moon)
If in doubt please talk with Phil Snell via the Contact page.
top of page
The Music Well only offers music to your computer.
To actually listen to it you need to use media player software such as Windows Media Player, Realplayer, iTunes etc. If you don't have this, contact us and we'll advise where to get it from. If you do, when you click on the red or blue loudspeaker icon it should fire up your player, and play you the show. But there are many types of player and many types of computer (and types of operating system, and browsers etc), so compatibility can be a problem. (The audio files are stored on a very large server, so traffic should not be an issue).
For legal reasons, you will not see controls on any shows that contain licenced music (having controls defines a file as a download, not a stream). This is also why we can't tell you which track is playing on the Billboard. The workshops, however, are normally licence-free so will usually have controls to let you go back over any tricky peices.
If you clicked on the red speaker and it didn't work, try the blue one, and vice verse.
The Help button may even help, but if you're still getting no joy, start any one of the programmes and click on the 'can't listen' link at the top.
A screen will appear that has some information about your system and a message box to fill in (if you want to) - please send that, so we can get an understanding of your system.
top of page
You can make a Club or Festival Special, featuring the artists you have booked, and promoting your facilities etc. As a member you can also promote your events via the listings, shop window, links, news and reviews pages.
top of page
Go to the Help page and fill in the request. We'll let you know.
top of page
Log in with your existing name and password, then click Edit Profile at the very bottom of the main menu. You can make changes there.
top of page
There are different legal restrictions placed on us when we use music on this internet site from PRS - the agency that collects royalties for writers- and PPL - the agency that collects payments for record labels. We are unable to provide a download service without large royalty payments and we would never exploit musicians' hard work and provide this service illegally. We like to showcase music that may be new to you, and ask that you buy from the sales page if you like what you hear.
top of page
AIRPLAY POLICY
It's our main intention is to devote most of our airplay to the music of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England. We actively encourage musicians to send music of this kind to the CD library. Any music produced outside the UK and Ireland but in keeping with these traditions will also be considered. Foreign artists touring in the UK are most welcome to contact us at least two months before their tour as we may have show or advertising space that can feature your music, but this will be supplementary to our main features.
top of page
Nothing. But it helps us tremendously if you make a donation (on the right of the main page)
Your donation helps to cover the cost of the licences we need to keep our station legal. No-one makes a profit.
top of page
Limbo Creatives is the limited company that holds the Music Well
It makes NO profit from the site
top of page