| City of license | Cheltenham |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Online & Temporary RSL |
| Slogan | From Here To Ear |
| First air date | 2006 |
| Format | Contemporary music |
| Owner | Robbie Pert |
| Website | Tone Radio |
Tone Radio is a student radio station based at the University of Gloucestershire,[1] currently broadcasting on the internet and providing the surround area with specialist programming via RSL during some of Cheltenham's many festivals. The station provides broadcast opportunities to over 60 student volunteers.
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Tone Radio was set up in 2006 by Richard Wiltshire and Martin Finney at the University of Gloucestershire, falling under the remit of the Students' Union. After Robbie Pert was appointed station manager in 2008 Tone Radio began to develop its relationship between both the SU and the University to create a media platform that would not only benefit the students, but the town and community as a whole. With assistance from the University's broadcast and audio engineer/author Andrew Lansley the station was able to develop its ability to act as a community broadcaster.
Station Manager: Robbie Pert
Head of Production: Andrew Lansley
Tech Manager: Kris Surtees
Audio Producer: Ian Pinnell
OB Audio Producer: Marcus Jenkins
Artist Liaison: Phi Elliott
Programming is commissioned by current station manager Robbie Pert, with live broadcasts running from 9am to midnight. Scheduling is based around student availability, and so the auto-DJ (dubbed Toni) will often broadcast over Easter and Christmas breaks. The music played is presenter-driven and the station has a number of specialist music shows including ska, country & western and a progressive rock show.[2]
In 2009 Tone Radio began to expand its programming to cover some of Cheltenham's cultural and musical events. On 28th February, programming was suspended for the afternoon to make way for a broadcast of Glos-Tone-Beret, a Tone Radio mini-festival raising money for the station. Coverage was provided of all the bands' sets live from the event, interspersed with interviews and commentary from a small team of dedicated presenters. The broadcast ran from 3pm and finished at midnight. A video documentation titled 'Glos-Tone-Beret: The Best Bits' was directed by Ross Silcocks and filmed by University of Gloucestershire digital film students. It can currently be seen on the Tone Radio website.
In May 2009, Tone Radio was commissioned to provide FM coverage on an RSL of Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse hosting acts such as Super Furry Animals, Little Boots and Supergrass, which broadcast for a four-day period. Many of the artists appeared live on Wychwood 87.7FM playing acoustic sets. The station was asked to reprise its role for Wychwood 2010.
In 2010 Tone Radio was approached to provide a five-day FM station for the Barclays Cheltenham Jazz Festival following on from the success of previous broadcasts. The students worked alongside national broadcasters such as Sky Arts and BBC Radio 2 providing comprehensive coverage, live sets, news and reviews as well as extended coverage of the Jazz Fringe festival.
The next scheduled RSL for Tone Radio will be to cover Wychwood Festival 2010 and will begin at midday on the 4th of June.
Interviewees who have appeared on the station include Radio 1's Greg James, 6 Music's Tom Robinson, Radio 3's Fiona Talkington, Craig Charles, Dave Benson Philips, Imelda May, UK skiffle group Thrill Collins, Eric Bibb, Curtis Stigers, British indie band White Lies, and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree.[3]
In October 2009 volunteers from Tone Radio and Radio Productions students began weekly contributions to the local BBC Gloucestershire Introducing program, presented by Rob Champion. Weekly submissions of between three and six minutes are provided by the students and recent features and interviews have included Boy George, The Automatic, Sham 69 amongst others.
The music and arts scene around the town has helped to provide a platform for the counterpart fanzine "AD Music" which is written and distributed by students around the county.