Shaun Geraghty is playing the best melodic progressive rock around, from established as well as indie artists on his great “Prog Mill” show, and Music Talks asked him about his show, how it came to be, and what’s going on under the hood of a successful radio show.
Q: Hi Shaun, could you tell our readers about you and what you do?
A: Hi. I present a radio show called The Prog Mill, which is broadcast on Progzilla Radio. An online radio station which can be found at www.progzilla.com, it’s the UK’s only dedicated 24/7 progressive rock station. My show goes out Sundays 10pm – Midnight UK (2200UTC), Tuesdays 0300-0500UK (for North America so that equates to Monday 7pm in LA or 10pm in NYC). Also Tuesdays at 11pm UK (2300 UTC) and Saturdays 6pm UK (1800UTC). There is also a podcast of the show which can be streamed any time or downloaded, with links put on facebook.com/theprogmill progzilla.com/podcasts and twitter @shaunontheair as well as other prog related FB forums.
Q: When did you start The Prog Mill show and what motivated you to do it?
A: The first edition of the Prog Mill was broadcast on 11 December 2011 on Stafford Radio, which broadcast from a 220 year old windmill in Staffordshire in Central England (hence the name The Prog Mill). I’d worked in radio for many years but always wanted to do a progressive rock show and the launch of Stafford Radio gave me that opportunity. Stafford Radio changed its name to Windmill Radio after 2 years and then closed in 2016, when The Prog Mill moved on to Progzilla Radio.
Q: Did you have prior experience in radio before that?
A: Yes, I’ve been involved with radio presenting since 1982, working on local radio in Staffordshire on stations such as Stafford FM, Stone FM, Chase FM, Smart Radio, County Show Radio and Hospital Radio Stafford. I have also been a presenter on many international shortwave stations and still present for FRS Holland from the Netherlands and Shortwave Radio from Germany.
Q: What is your first radio-related memory?
A: Listening to the old BBC Light Service in the mid 60’s on my Dads old radiogram. With shows like Jimmy Clitheroe and Forces Family Favourites. I also remember listening to Radio Caroline in the 60’s which led to a lifelong enthusiasm for alternative radio.
Q: Do you do live shows, or do you pre-record?
A: The Prog Mill is currently a pre-recorded show due to its main time slot of 10pm on a Sunday. My daytime job is a postman and I often have an 04:50 am alarm call on a Monday. Most of my other radio shows mentioned above were live though.
Q: Do you have live acts during your shows?
A: Sadly not, due to space limitations in my studio
Q: Do you do artists interviews?
A: Yes, from time to time although I consider the Prog Mill to be primarily a music-based show.
Q: Your show airs on progzilla.com, do you also air on FM/AM? Where can we find you?
A: progzilla.com/listen, via the tune in radio app (search for Progzilla Radio) and on most internet radio platforms. The Prog Mill is also broadcast daily on Shortwave Radio Germany on 3975 and 6160kHz across Europe (info at www.shortwaveradio.de). The show doesn’t currently have any AM or FM outlets.
Q: Are you alone running the show, or do you have people helping?
A: Its mainly just me although I do have a regular team of people who send in contributions to the show in the form of track suggestions.
Q: Is the show in a special studio or are you running it from home?
A: When the show was broadcast on Stafford/Windmill Radio they had a studio within the old windmill itself. I now live in Devon in the South West of England so record the show in my home-based studio.
Q: How much time do you spend preparing your shows?
A: Many many hours, responding to emails and messages on social media, contacting bands and artists when music is suggested. Downloading and sourcing tracks which have been suggested. Writing notes on the tracks and bands to use in the show. And then promoting the show on social media. It takes up time virtually every day.
Q: Do you play unsigned music only or also commercial music?
A: As long as its melodic or symphonic progressive rock I’ll play it.
Q: What kind of music do you play?
A: The Prog Mill plays progressive rock but leans more towards the more accessible melodic and symphonic side rather than the heavy or metal side of the genre which is covered very well by other shows on Progzilla.
Q: What kind of music do you like?
A: Obviously prog but having worked in radio for 37 years I love all sorts of music. I’ve also done a lot of classic rock radio shows in the past and general music request shows. I also presented a show on a previous station for 21 years concentrating on West End stage musicals which is very different to prog – although sometimes not…
Q: How do you find the music you play?
A: Sometimes I buy CDs or downloads myself but of course cannot afford to buy all the music on the show. A lot of music is sent to me on CD or by download from artists and bands. I also receive promo copies from promotions companies and record labels. And also, being part of Progzilla Radio means I have access to their vast library of progressive music which I can pull tracks from online. If a listener requests a track which I don’t have and cannot find in the Progzilla library I will contact the artist/band direct, and more often than not they are very happy to provide music for the show.
Q: Do you have sponsors? How is the show funded?
A: Not a financial sponsor, just a mutual advertising deal with the Robin 2 in Bilston, a venue in central England popular with progressive rock bands.
Q: Could you tell us about your typical radio day?
A: Through the week I receive many emails and messages on social media suggesting and requesting tracks, and CD’s often arrive in the post and music comes (as mentioned earlier) online from bands/artists and their record companies. I usually spend a few hours sifting through it all, deciding which tracks to include in this week’s show, sourcing the music and uploading it to my playout system. I then compile a playlist for the show. On the day I record the show I do the show “as live”, and save it as a mp3 file, which I can then upload onto the Progzilla Radio system through a computer programme called “Airtime” which enables me to insert the show file into its allocated slots through the week. I also upload (via FTP) a copy to the server which creates the podcast. I then spend time contacting most of the bands and artists to let them know their music is going to be played. The big name bands of course take little notice but most of the lesser known ones are usually pleased to get airplay and promote on their own websites and social media platforms too.
Q: What is your feeling about streaming platforms, like Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, etc.?
A: It must be very difficult for artists to control where their music is heard nowadays, and even more difficult for them to make a living out of it. However, I guess it is the way things are nowadays. The way people listen to music (and indeed radio) has changed and will continue to evolve and we have to go with it or get left behind. I still love holding a vinyl album in my hand though. Nothing can replace the thrill of buying a new album on vinyl in the old days.
Q: How much presence do you have on social media? Do you think it's important to be there and what do you do to promote your radio?
A: Yes I promote the show on Facebook (facebook.com/theprogmill facebook.com/progzilla and my own personal page) and twitter @shaunontheair and facebook forums such as Progressive Rock Community, Progressive Rock Fans, Prog Magazine Readers etc etc. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to get the word out there. Without the promotion, nobody would know about the show.
Q: What advice would you give to unsigned artists who would like to submit to your show?
A: If you’re producing melodic or symphonic progressive music, get in touch. The easiest way is by email: shaun@progzilla.com, and I’ll always let you know when your music is due to be played.
Q: What advice would you give to unsigned artists for their career?
A: I’m not expert but I would say promote it as much as possible, gig as much as possible and use online radio outlets like Progzilla to get as much exposure as possible.
Q: Do you have any issues with the world of unsigned music, or the world of internet radios, things that bugs you and/or you'd like to talk about?
A: Internet radio is definitely the future. It may still be a small player in the world of broadcasting but things are evolving quickly. Its only a matter of time before internet radios in cars become standard (as the 4G/5G networks expand)
Q: Do you think you get enough support from your listeners and the artists you play?
A: We have a fantastic bunch of listeners to the Prog Mill and Progzilla who are very loyal and supportive, but of course we’d like more. Prog artists are the best ever, they are virtually always willing to provide music for the show and are always very friendly.
Q: Any band/artist that has impressed you last year that you would like people to know about?
A: So many its hard to mention just one. The Prog Mill listeners voted Southern Empire’s Civilisation album as their No. 1 for 2018. UK songwriter John Holden’s Capture Light album came in second and he is working on a 2nd album with many big name prog artists so watch out for him!
Q: Any plans for The Prog Mill and Shaun Geraghty in 2019? Or beyond?
A: To keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully to get more listeners. I’m always looking for ways to hone and improve the show. There are quite a few prog shows out there so I have to try and make the Prog Mill as good a quality both in the music, presentation and audio quality as I can in order to stand out.
Q: Anything else you'd want to add?
A: A big thanks to all the listeners, artists and bands producing progressive music today. Prog people are simply the best!
Links to Shaun Geraghty
Facebook: https://facebook.com/theprogmill
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaunontheair