WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED. POPPYLAND RADIO OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY 2022 WITH A THREE-YEAR PLAN. SUCH WAS THE DEMAND, APPETITE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR A NEW RADIO STATION, IT TOOK US JUST THREE MONTHS TO REACH ALL OF OUR YEAR ONE TARGETS.
What a few months it's been! We've pulled together the most team of amazing presenters and volunteers and, as promised at our launch party in February, we now have the best presenters and broadcast the best shows in North Norfolk. Our shows now cover jazz, exercise, storytelling, comedy, rock, sport, kids stories, cookery, classical music, business, marketing, funk, swing, soul, rockabilly, 60s, wellbeing - and dogs! Everything, but local. Not bad for Q1!
More listeners every month
In the last month, our average daily 'live' listeners have increased by 189%. We're available through smart-speakers and we've now reached a pretty high profile on most of the local social media groups too, with almost 10,000 followers and subscribers! Sharing on your own social network will help new listeners find Poppyland Radio so please share all the posts you see.
Over 175 shows have now been downloaded as 'podcasts' too, and played 1,975 times by followers on our MixCloud 'On Demand' facility. Reflecting the trend across all broadcast media these days, we actually get between 200% and 400% uplift in listeners via 'On Demand' as more people tend to listen when it suits them regardless of when we broadcast your shows.
The 'Poppylation' Explosion
We're also delighted to announce that we have now added North Walsham and Sheringham to our 'Poppylation' and already have active presenters and listeners there, and are in discussion with partners and sponsors to really establish a foothold right across Poppyland. As you know, being a digital station, there's no limit to where you can listen to us from.
Decent Folk...
Will Wilson, a Poppyland Radio founder and the inspiration behind the idea in the first place, is particularly pleased to see how many local characters have already got so involved. Take Clare and Dave, presenters of 'Folk Explosion'; two lovely people from Overstrand who embraced this crazy idea right from the start, helped with the steering group, completed their training and started producing their own show. If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s a must-listen. Clare and Dave take us on a really personal and insightful journey into the world of folk music; a subject that is clearly dear to their hearts. Dave also gets involved behind the scenes and supports other presenters who need help in the studio, enabling more local voices to get involved and contribute. Good for them, good for Poppyland Radio and good for our listeners across Poppyland - and beyond. Thank you Dave.
As we grow, even more presenters are now confidently using our studio at the Belfry Centre for Music & Arts to record their shows. Have you listened to 'A Century of Symphonies' presented by Keith Hobday? His encyclopaedic knowledge and passion for classical music is both entertaining and insightful, and his shows are at least as good as anything you could hear on the BBC or anywhere else for that matter. And Lucy Murphy is just one of our talented and natural story-tellers. She delights younger listeners with her captivating character voices in her 'Listen with Lucy' shows, whilst Andrew Brammer entertains the grown-ups with his alter-ego in 'Stumpy Sanderson's' 1970s Show'.
Mike and Claire Goldwater cater for the grown-ups with 'Brandflakes' - a show themed around marketing and promoting Poppyland businesses - from micro-brands to corporate institutions.
Annamarie Sterne proves you're never too old (or young) for one of her gentle 'Longevity' show workouts, whilst Jazzbo Cool gets the toes tapping during his cool 'Blue Notes' show. Dave 'Porky' Coates spins the discs in 'Porky’s Hot Rockin’ - happy days! Back to the chat, and some touching personal 'Home Truths' stories sensitively presented by Catherine Van Battum, and Neil Lawson’s 'Shout Out' show which shines a light on local community services. Never enough time to listen to everything on Poppyland Radio, so it's just as well you can catch up 'On Demand'.
Heard the word on the street?
We're forging ahead with new shows, new volunteers and new opportunities. We've launched our live Mardle shows now which cover local events and local stories, local people, local news and local views. Already broadcasting every Thursday, the shows are produced by Will Wilson and Claire Goldwater for now. We have plans to go daily very soon. Knowing the energy and variety of our presenters, we fully anticipate you getting involved by presenting and/or listening to every Mardle, helping to make Poppyland Radio the place to hear all about the local comings and goings. Stay tuned for more news on this!
Always room for new talent!
We're always on the lookout for new volunteers. Not only presenters, but also those with the skills, experience, time or desire to help out behind the scenes too - admin, production, social media, event planning, accounts, funding bids. Please do get in touch if you know anyone who may be interested in joining the great Poppyland Radio team.
It feels good...
Finally, we'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge 'thank you' to everybody who has put in their own time and effort to get us to where we are today. Collectively we have laid the foundations for something quite special in this unique corner of North Norfolk - something which will grow and become a real highlight of Poppyland life. We're incredibly proud of this station, proud of all the talent that contributes in so many vital ways, and proud to tell the world who we are and what we’re up to.
Thank you for your invaluable and impressive contribution. Keep up the good work!