Radio bosses club together for South Wales business

Good news from Town and Country Broadcasting, whose portfolio includes Bay Radio, Scarlet FM, Radio Carmarthenshire and Nation Radio.
As part of their evolving commercial scene they're about to launch a business club.
Its membership features will include on-air and online promotional offerings with this young company whose reach stretches across South Wales with around 330,000 listeners every month. They have an interesting mix of demographic markets, including the young rock lovers who enjoy Nation to the West Walian audience of Radio Ceredigion.
Its Swansea Bay presence is a strong alternative to the more established Wave and Swansea Sound and offers a greater listenership than community stations such as Radio Tircoed and Afan FM.
The South Wales Radio 2010 Business Club is due to tee off in November, with a golfing-themed event.
I'm due to meet Town and Country account manager Matthew Anderson this week so will report fully on his proposals after that coffee.

Carmarthenshire Life shines new light on media

The new-look Carmarthenshire Life is a fine addition to the Swansea Bay media scene.
It fills a gap between the internet hurly-burly, the grassroots nature of the Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal and the arm's length feel of BBC Wales.
An elegantly presented A4 magazine with a satin finish, it's now in the hands of the Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust and is being run as a not-for-profit  publication.
In celebrating the county, it follows on from its previous - less classy - incarnation and looks like it means business. Cover price is £2.20, its layout is neat and tidy and its content is well thought through.
Its spring edition featured editorial pieces on a colourful spectrum of topics ranging from the Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services to the county's teacher of the year as judged by the Radio Carmarthenshire/Scarlet FM Local Hero Awards.
There was poetry, heritage, music, arts, local history and a lot more.
In the latest edition (April/May), editor Jenna Fulford has harnessed the skills of the contributors' team which includes Fairtrade campaigner Phil Broadhurst, storyteller Idris Davies and local history fan Alan Owen.
Carole Ann Smith is given the centre spread to highlight 20 years of Llanelli Writers' Circle. The group began as a collection of novices on a creative writing course and launched with 13 members. Much has happened since and the circle remains an important active ingredient of the Llanelli cultural mix. Well done to all concerned.
Publicity-wise, there are good things happening in Carmarthenshire Life. Llanelli's Coffee House - in the home of the Elim Pentecostal Church - offers 10% off, the WI offers a fine recipe for honey sponge pudding and The Laugharne Weekend festival gets a good plug.
There's an informative diary of events and advertisers include business consultant Ross Carbery and virtual office operator Alpha Business Works.
The latest ad rates I have for the bi-monthly mag include: Full Page - 1 edition £450, 3 editions £1,215, 6 editions £2,165.
Good luck to everybody involved with the publication.

Lake aims to make a splash on Swansea Bay media circuit

Ben Evans, of hugely popular young Swansea Bay-based rock broadcaster Nation Radio, tells me that April sees the return of a colourful key presenter.
The station has signed up 26-year-old Allan Lake who's done the rounds of terrestrial radio services with his own unique style.
For the past year he has been busy establishing an online talk station based in Cardiff.
Ben, the station programmer for Nation, said: "We're pleased we didn't have to look far to find our new breakfast show.
"Allan's made South Wales his home and has built a great relationship with his audience during stints at Red Dragon FM and here at Nation previously."
Allan told Media Master: "Whatever we do, we hope to give people a bit of a smile in the morning. The South Wales sense of humour is amazing so we'll definitely be having a laugh on the phones."
Lake's return follows Nation celebrations as it recorded its highest ever listening figures. It's part of the expanding Town and Country Broadcasting empire which also features the likes of Bay Radio, Scarlet FM and Radio Carmarthenshire.
Ben said: "Allan's appointment is the latest in a number of developments through 2010, which began with Nation expanding its coverage on DAB Radio.
"Nation is becoming a proper Made-in-Wales success story. Our listeners are as passionate about the station as we are, spreading the word to more and more new listeners every day. Our new breakfast show gives them even more opportunities to get involved."
Lake's Wikipedia entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Lake - proclaims hims as being "Britain's most outspoken and fired radio DJ."
Listen in, folks ... could be interesting times ahead.