‘It feels harder than ever’: independent radio stations under threat from rising bills

theguardian.com:

Gilles Peterson got his first broadcast gig aged 16 at Radio Invicta, the pirate station that boasted it put “soul over London”. He got his own slot a year later, and has spent the ensuing four decades channelling his inquisitive musical spirit into shows with Kiss FM and the BBC, as well as his Brownswood record label, and festivals in the UK, France and Italy. But for the past six years, a freeform online radio station, Worldwide FM (WWFM), has been at the forefront of his efforts, providing shape and sound to a global community of music enthusiasts.

This week, WWFM announced it would be ceasing new broadcasts from the end of October while it seeks new funding options.

The news followed similar announcements from other indie stations, including Threads, which was evicted from its Tottenham, London, headquarters at the end of August, and Bristol’s SWU FM, which, crippled by rising costs, ceased broadcasting entirely at the beginning of September, seven years after its inception. At the start of the year, south London outlet Balamii stripped back its output to a five-day operation run solely by founder James Browning.

Autumn has arrived with stark warnings from industry bodies, including UK Music and the Music Venue Trust (MVT), that live venues, studios and other music businesses will face insurmountable costs this winter. MVT members have reported energy bill increases of as much as 740%. One recording space in the capital has annual bills set to rise from £132,000 to £288,000 come October.

Details on how the government intends to keep the country afloat remain scant. Some plans have been proffered to support households but businesses are yet to receive any clarity. This includes those in the music, leisure and hospitality