Give money, get a t-shirt – and moral superiority

It only took an hour. That was the gap after I announced we were coming off DAB before someone tweeted ‘I’d gladly give money to get you back on the air‘. Huge numbers of people have said the same ever since. It’s fabulous, and pretty surprising.

So we all sat down in Amazing Towers and had a think. It was incredibly kind of you to offer, but we’re a business, not a charity. We didn’t actually come off DAB because of money alone, there were other factors. It doesn’t feel in the vibe of what we’re trying to do to ask you to pay for it. We have shareholders, revenues and stuff. You shouldn’t have to pay for us to broadcast.

But there is obviously an appetite to help our mission by giving money, which is fantastic; and to be honest it would be great if you would continue promoting what we do, since that way everyone benefits: us, you, and the bands we support.

Then someone sent us the ‘Keep the Faith’ logo, all very Che Guevara. We thought the logo was really strong, and that the message ‘Keep the Faith’ applies to our mission to change the music industry for the better, as well as the belief that we’ll get back on the radio.

And then we had an idea.

So today we’re doing two new things: -

1. We’re selling Keep the Faith t-shirts online, in pristine white or fashionable (and very slimming) black.

2. We’ve set up a Keep the Faith prize fund. We’ll put all the profits from selling the shirts into that fund, then give them to musicians.

Next week, we’ll announce a new competition for bands. All the money in the fund will go to the winners. We’ll probably pay it over in chunks of a grand, so as many artists as possible can benefit.

- If you’re in a band, it could end up paying for a tour, or to record, or for a new PA system.

- If you’re not, it will show your solidarity for new music.

If it works, we’ll keep going, and look for new ways to add to the fund.

We’ll be totally transparent about the costs involved and the money raised throughout the process. Here’s the story now: the shirts cost us £5 plus £2.50 postage. We’d like to sell them for a tenner. Every penny of that £2.50 profit will go into the fund. If we can find cheaper shirts, we shall, and more will go into the fund. If you like this idea, and feel like showing your faith, there’s a box to give an extra donation on top of the cost of the shirt (I just did, an extra tenner).

We’re just being selfish really to be honest. I remember when the streets of the UK were filled with people wearing ‘Frankie Says’ t-shirts. It would be so cool if that happens here, if bands wear them onstage, or on Jools, or whatever, and everyone promotes what we’re doing for musicians as a result. (We already know some will be worn in Ibiza next week). That would promote us, and our mission to help new bands. You’d be marketing us, and helping bands at the same time. That would be better than just giving money to us.

It might catch fire … or we may only sell ten and look like idiots.

Let’s see.

Keep the Faith.

Grab yourself a T-Shirt here.

—

Paul Campbell

amazing founder