In a digital world that moves faster than our dips on the dance floor, the announcement that Gaydar’s owners QSoft Consulting are quitting the radio business after 11 years, blaming the high cost of DAB technology, has come as a significant shock, this decision sure to have a rippling effect, not just for D.J.’s & music producers, but for the scene as a whole. So we couldn’t let this sad moment pass without looking into the whys are wherefores of Gaydar Radio’s demise and what remains for its 750,000 plus listeners.
With a sense of real optimism that the New Year we have just entered would have the promise of better times to come for us and many around us, we were determined right from day one, just four ago actually, to accentuate the positives & negate the negatives, we having been terribly guilty of doing far too much of the latter in 2012, even though there were times when we were faced with considerable challenges in our lives across a twelve months that had huge & heavenly highs along with lacklustre & lousy lows. Yet as we find ourselves approaching the first weekend of 2013, one which will see those positives take us to Paris and a liaison with our pal, D.J. & music producer, Guy Scheiman, his industry, like is, is in a state of shock over the announcement that and eleven old institution closes its doors, ending an enthralling & entertaining era which saw the award winning Gaydar Radio broadcast to over 750,000 listeners, many of who tuned in religiously to hear the latest sounds from some of their favourite a-list pop stars and a mass of music producers from the global gay scene. And while we pick ourselves up off the ground, this news very much having floored us , we simply had to look into the why’s & the wherefores that such a brilliant brand will be no more and what is left for its fervent fans, while sharing some extracts from articles that have already gone to publication in papers such at The Guardian & The Metro, as well as a stack on online websites.
So, what has caused owners QSoft Consulting, the founders of the massive global online dating service Gaydar, decided to pull the rug from beneath its radio sister? Well, when we say the simple word, money, it will probably come as little surprise, the economic evil that has seen the downfall of 1000’s of businesses in the UK alone in this period of austerity we find ourselves in. And it is simply about money, as reading between the lines, it seems the financial burden of a radio station within the commonly known loss making DAB sector, was too much for Gaydar Radio’s owners to bear. QSoft chief director Trevor being quoted as saying “…the challenges of the DAB radio sector have been well documented….” while other DAB stations that are also making losses, such as Planet Rock, are documented as also looking to either exit the sector, or sell their stations, this despite a gradual increase in listening numbers as the digital radio world moves forward. But in truth the reality for QSoft is that it has seen its radio station hold back its plans for investment in its dating business, Mr Martin adding of Gaydar Radio that it was “…increasingly holding QSoft Consulting back from investing in its core dating business, which continues to expand in the UK and internationally.” bringing us back full circle to that word money. However, with a flourishing dating business & recorded operating profit of £753,987 in 2011, a doubling on the previous year, plus with owner Henry Badenhorst able to draw a dividend of £532,920, we are left head scratching that Gaydar Radio, a business that employed less than 10 full time staff, would have such a huge financial drain on both its dating sister & its owners, that QSoft have been forced to take this drastic step.
However, it is clear that the decision has been made and while we are still not sure that the sums add up, we have to admit that loss making concerns are not good for business, this decision that will see Gaydar Radio close its door today, possibly having a knock on effect for QSoft’s bar & restaurant arm, Bar Profile Limited, which has been reported to be carrying a pre-tax loss of £2,195,581 in 2011 and so, purely in financial terms, could also be in danger of a rug pull closure. However, we guess that announcement is for another day, while as for Gaydar Radio, while the Twickenham HQ will be no more, the one small positive we can draw from this shocking news, is that the brilliance of this radio station will live on through the ears of those who tune into Manchester based Gadio, a not for profit DAB radio station, who will take over QSoft’s two DAB radio licences this coming Monday, Gaydar Radio’s owners saying that “…broadcasts will switch from QSoft’s Twickenham HQ in west London to Gaydio’s Manchester base…” adding that “…as part of the agreement between Gaydio and QSoft, Gaydar’s dating brand will feature heavily in on-air editorial programming and advertising support…”, However, this will come as little comfort for the 750,000 plus Gaydar Radio listeners in London & the south east, who will not only see their favourite presenters off air, but may have extreme difficulty in tuning into Gadio, while QSoft, naturally, remain quite bullish about the transfer of operations, saying that “…the transfer of the DAB licences to Gaydio will ensure that the time and money invested in GaydarRadio will continue to live on and be supported in an appropriate way, with the support of the Gaydio FM licence…” continuing “…Gaydio and GaydarRadio have shared many similarities in terms of the programming mix and our dedication to promoting LGBT causes. We are really excited to be the forging the biggest LGBT media outlet in the UK…”
So, those are the facts, but what about the feelings?, Well with national newspaper The Guardian, London’s Metro & online news sites ATV Today, Music Week, Pink News & Gay Star News just a handful that have already gone to press, Gaydar Radio’s closure will have far reaching effects across the industry and one individuals, The Metro reporting that popular breakfast show presenters Neil Sexton & Debbie Ryan, aka N-Debz led the farewells live on air yesterday, reflecting on their biggest guests that have included gay icons Lady Gaga, George Michael & Elton John, while they said of Pink, “…she was an experience in GaydarRadio’s history we’ll never forget!…” adding that she was so honest, funny and warm, she treated us like one of her family and is a big supporter of the LGBT community too. Stars like her come along once in a lifetime…”. And fans of Gaydar Radio have been left in grief, many heading to Facebook to pay their respects to the station, status quotes such as “… I feel like my best friend has literally died in my arms…” and “…gutted about the Gaydar radio news! which station am I going to tune in now? you always helped me through the day…” commonplace, while we are sure, as the news circulates around the globe, many tributes will come flying in, this one from our great friend & music producer Danny Verde very fitting amidst this sombre occasion, he say’s “…I want to thank all the Gaydar Radio D.J.’s presenters & speakers who supported all my productions for years and gave me the chance to spread my music with hundrend of thousands of people all around the world. This is the end of something great but I wish it will be a start of an even better brand new experience…”.
So, it really is the end of an enthralling era, Gaydar Radio having touched thousands of people during its entertaining eleven years of broadcasting, we personally getting through an awful hospital five day confinement by being able to tune in on our mobile, while we know that the world will be a sadder place without it for, the marvellous medium that allowed music producers such as Danny Verde and many more to share their superb sounds now no more Yet, Gaydar Radio and everyone involved can, in looking back across its heavenly history, can be so very proud that they made a real difference and brought so much joy into people’s lives and while this small anecdote will come as little comfort to some, we really do hope that Gadio, in taking over on Monday, will continue the wonderful work of its already missed maker. However, much more than that, we hope Gadio will honour the important legacy left by Gaydar Radio & its presenters & key players, such as Quentin Neild, Phil Marriott, Tony English, Simon Le Vans, Alex Baker, Scott Roberts, Robin Crowley, Neil & Debz, some of whom we can count as fabulous friends and to whom this special report is dedicated, by following their lead and promoting the best that the gay music scene has to offer, along wth promoting all those prolific producers such as Mr Verde & co. Gaydar Radio we salute you and wish you a fond farewell. (DISCO MATT)
