Broadcasting ska and Northern soul to Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and... Uruguay since April 2016 24/7.
With the cost of living increasing and the cost of producing the station costs increasing we need a little help. Licensing fees cost at least £800 a year and they are so important to ensure that bands get paid when we play them. The cost of broadcasting is in excess of £350 as well. And the more we get listened to, the more we have to pay for licensing.
As Hazza from The Rough Kutz said - 'you (Button Down Radio) are nothing without us (the bands) and we are nothing without you.'
We could go pirate and not file for licensing but that just seems wrong. 1000s of listeners covering swathes of our planet tune in every day to hear what's fresh in the ska scene and to hear their favourite trad tunes. I know from testimonials from listeners that they do go on to buy music and merch from bands they may never have heard before.
With your help we can continue to support the global ska community. With a little help we can also expand to podcasts so that places we have no license for (France, USA - we miss our stateside listeners!) can access some of what we do.
So if you are a listener and dig what we do - consider a quid or two to help.
If you are in a band, you never know, a listener may have bought your stuff through hearing us on the air.
We know there are many, many more appeals far more deserving than us, but if ska is your passion, we would appreciate some of your support if you are able to.
Many thanks
Mr P