A world without Planet Rock - no way!

6:06pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

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AS THE media focuses on the credit crunch and a slowdown in the global economy, there's a minor crisis going on in the world of rock music.

And its serious - Planet Rock faces the axe.

The GCap Media owned DAB radio (Digital Audio Broadcasting) station will be unplugged if a buyer isn't found, and its legions of loyal listeners - including yours truly - are mortified.

Deemed economically unviable by GCap Media chief executive Fru Hazlitt, Planet Rock was given a last minute reprieve on March 28, for a month, while talks with potential purchasers go on.

Another of GCap's station's, the increasingly popular TheJazz, which had 364,000 listeners, has already been switched off, after only being on air for nigh on 12 months.

As I said, talks are going on to save Planet Rock.

Charles Allen's Global Radio being a possible buyer.

And there is a suggestion that a consortium to buy it is being put together led by a rock musician of rather eminent standing.

Now, I like that idea, some of the legends of rock having their own station!

The decision to pull the plug on Planet Rock is a bitter blow to rock fans, although 563,000 people are tuning in weekly.

And that audience figure is up by a third on last year.

So, how about joining the many fans who are logging on to the PR website, to lend their support so Planet presenters such as Nicky Horne, Nick Abbot, Mark Jeeves, Murray J, Alice Cooper, and Rick Wakeman can continue playing those stellar sounds.

Log on to www.planetrock.co.uk and have your say.