No plans for year-round Chaine FM

The popular station, which was on air throughout the Larne area from November 30 until Christmas Eve, once again went down a storm with the public.

But, as not-for profit group Chaine Music reflects on a second successful run for the station, it seems unlikely that it will go full-time.

Chaine Music’s Gary Andrews said everyone involved with Chaine FM was delighted with the response from the public - but they want to hear how to make it even better.

“We have never had so much audience reaction and everywhere you went in the town the station was being played – be it shops, offices, taxis or fast food restaurants. We set up Chaine FM to try to put a bit of a spark into Christmas in Larne and we really seem to achieved this”.

Station management are inviting feedback from listeners.

“The station has proved very popular but we are not so arrogant as to believe we are perfect and we want good, honest feedback as to how we can improve the station for when we return.

“Many have been asking when the station will be back and it has been revealed that all going to plan the station will be back on-air in 11 months time at the end of November,” said Gary.

However, he explained why it wasn’t practical for Chaine FM to broadcast right through the year.

“We have often been asked why we can’t go full-time. Well, aside from the regulatory framework in which we operate Chaine FM is run entirely by a team who volunteer their time free of charge. Aside from the long hours when we are on-air, months of preparation go into making the station work so it’s not really possible to do more than we currently do.”

Chaine Music’s management team would like to thank the following for their support with Chaine FM; the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and Radio Moyle for the use of the Radio Moyle studio facilities, all businesses that supported the station, the local press for their ongoing support, all members and non-members who helped in any way on or off air, the community groups who kindly contributed news and guests to the station and finally the people of Larne for being such great listeners.

Chaine Music will be back with various events across 2010, in particular they will again be hosting a live music event during the summer period. More details will be posted to www.chainemusic.com in due course.

The organisation has also appealed to anyone interested in helping with the organisations’ work.

“Chaine Music is a fun organisation committed to promoting music through broadcast, participation and performance and we are very much trying to put something really positive into Larne,” said Gary.

“We very much welcome anybody that thinks they can add to our work. We can be contacted via our website www.chainemusic.com emailed [email protected] or contacted by phone on 07740 433590. With more members we may be able to expand our activities further.”

Meanwhile, Chaine FM also announced the main prize winners in their competitions.

The winner of the Inspired AV Television competition was Janine Maguire, the winners of the P&O Irish Sea trips to Scotland were Peter Gillespie, Beverly Gingles and Lyndsay Lynch and the winner of the Basement DVD rental a day for a year was Colin Mansfield.