CONSIDERABLE disappointment has greeted the almost total lack of progress where independent productions for Irish radio are concerned.
When legal independent radio was introduced to Ireland in the late eighties it was generally reckoned that it would provide myriad opportunities for independent programmes which could be targeted at one particular station or networked on any combination of stations throughout the country.
There were some successes in this regard, including a country music series put together and syndicated by Scott Williams and Mark Cagney, and a special programme on the Feile festivals originated by Dave McGrath and Dave Pratt, but other examples of the genre are difficult to come by. Obviously part of the problem lies in the perceived lack of any need for stations to buy in programmes when they can either produce them more cheaply in-house, not to mention the basic financial unfeasibility of committing to extra outlay at all in the present economic situation.
Fortunately, economic recessions do not last forever and one man already geared up to take advantage of any developments on that front is Joe Conway of Disc Finder Recording Studio in Killiney in South County Dublin. Many music fans will already be familiar with the genial Conway, either through the twenty years he spent running the specialist Disc Finder record shop in Dublin's Baggot Street and his won radio show currently broadcast on Anna Livia Radio every Thursday from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Conway, who exhibits a fervent missionary zeal for the eclectic mix of records he loves - from the comedy of The Goons and Lenny Bruce through popular tunes to the classical works of Bartok and Vivaldi - has amassed over thirty years experience in the music industry and his Killiney studio has all the necessary equipment for voice-overs, editing, radio commercials, post production for pictures, showcase tapes and so on. A special attraction for Conway's facilities include access to a comprehensive range of library which includes sound effects, jingles, comedy records, music for drama, dance, classical, jazz and popular recordings. (Such a library is a major attraction to, for example, any sponsor, producer or presenter wishing to put together a showcase programme for demo purposes, or for commercials.)
In fact Conway himself has already built up a fine catalogue of his own radio programme ideas which he hopes, in time, to sell to interested sponsors or stations around the country. However, these showcase programmes on subjects such as guitarists, singers, the movies and such else - also act as ideal samples of Conway's own talents and the suitability of his studio for this kind of production work.
From the point of view of a potential sponsor it should be noted that Disc Finder's existing range of programmes are, although suitable for immediate broadcast, merely indicative of what he and his experienced researchers can devise. In fact they are more than happy to produce sample programmes to the specifications of any radio stations or commercial sponsor.
Asked if he supplies any particular philosophy to the way he operates Disc Finder studios, Conway told Hot Press, "The intention is to be adventurous while at the same time entertaining, professional and commercially effective. We are motivated by a genuine love of and knowledge about, the kind of work we do and the music we use. My own experience of dealing with the public confirms to me that they want an antidote to the endless pop, prattle and computerised hits that seem to dominate the FM band. I also think there is a big untapped radio audience for comedy."
Joe Conway can be contacted at Disc Finder Studios (01-2856392).
* Jackie Hayden