Glastonbury Radio
Circa 2007 - 2009

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Glastonbury Radio was a local radio station based in Glastonbury, England with a worldwide audience.
Content is from the site's 2007 -2009 archived pages with brief glimpses from various posts, aswell as outside sources.

 

 

Welcome to Glastonbury Radio!

Coming to you live from Glastonbury,the Ancient Isle of Avalon, in SW England

Glastonbury Radio is a local radio station with a worldwide audience. Whether you're a Glastonbury-lover, or you find this station interesting and different, then tune in now to hear what's happening on the mystical Isle of Avalon.

Glastonbury Radio was started in early 2007 by Ross Hemsworth, who has assembled an illustrious team from Glastonbury, bringing you live streaming radio throughout the day.

Listen to our music and talk programmes that bring you closer to the magic that is Glastonbury. Bookmark this station and come back often!

 

LATEST NEWS
Saturday 9 am - Midday (with repeats)
This is the Light Programme.

On the programme Palden Jenkins will be welcoming two Gemini guests!  Collette Barnard is an astrologer and counsellor, and we shall be talking about counselling and the time when she lived in Tehran at the time of the Ayatollah's revolution. Tom Clark will follow, and we shall be discussing the state of things in Palestine and Lebanon at present, and about a funding scheme he is involved with, supporting Middle Eastern women in empowering other women.

WE NEED SPONSORS!
Sponsors now sought (£150-300 each event) for:

The WOOKEY HOLE Outside Broadcast
The CLARKS SHOE MUSEUM Outside Broadcast
Also - Sponsor a GENERATOR for our OB unit!!

Glastonbury is known the world over as a pilgrimage place and a centre for new and progressive ideas. Loads of interesting people live here, and thousands visit from far and wide seeking a certain special something.

It's home to the famous Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury Abbey and Chalice Well.

It's rich with history and legend but it's also a place of the future - with a plan to become a 'transitional town'.

Glastonbury is a different and rather lively small town. It has rich traditions, a cosmopolitan community and a taste of tomorrow. It sits on the ancient Isle of Avalon in the Somerset Levels, with a backdrop of soft, green, rolling hills.

It has been a pilgrimage place for thousands of years. In the Middle Ages a great abbey was here - it was England's 'holyest earthe'.

It now hosts the famous Glastonbury Festival, pilgrimages, music, a carnival, several conferences and other events. People visit from the world over, seeking a certain special something....
Overlooking it all is Glastonbury Tor, a fascinating holy hill.

Tradition has it that Jesus visited and Joseph of Arimathaea built a church here, King Arthur and Guinevere were buried here and it was an ancient place of the Goddess. It was home to the medieval saints Patrick, Dunstan, Benedict, David and Bridget.

Today it is a unique, atmospheric town of nearly 10,000 people with a mixture of locals, incomers and spiritual seekers. For a hundred years it has been a mecca for 'cultural creatives' and an interfaith town.

This site tells you all you need to know about Glastonbury - and if it doesn't, it leads you to other Glastonbury sites that will.

Welcome to the Isle of Avalon!

 

What's on today

If Glastonbury Radio tickled your furry bits, you can now show your appreciation and help support us by making a donation! No matter how big or small, every penny or pound helps us.

PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online.

Today at 3 p.m. on Glastonbury Radio
The Machiavelli Sessions with Gregory Alexander from Ireland on how the world needs to change NOW.

Then at 7 p.m. tonight join Mark Ellis
For another ROOTS & BRANCHESOn the latest show, the second part of a profile, looking at the life and music of "Bob Marley". The featured unsigned artists are "The Duelling Wino's". Along with the usual eclectic mix of music, including some Classic Rock from "Robin Trower".

12 People can change the world.....
Glastonbury Radio MD Ross Hemsworth is behind a worldwide campaign for "12 people to change the world". Leading author Phyllis Schlemmer is already on board this exciting venture, and details will be published soon at www.12canchangetheworld.com . Find out more - e-mail Ross Hemsworth

Join Ross Hemsworth in the USA Feb/March 2009......
Megalithic Tours present the UFO's 2009 USA Tour Your chance to visit Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Area 51, The Little Ale'E'Inn and 8 nights at the USA's biggest UFO Conference "International UFO Congress" in Laughlin Nevada. CLICK HERE to see the full tour itinerary and prices- E-mail Ross for further details

Advertise with Glastonbury Radio
Did you know you could take out a YEAR'S worth of advertisingfor less than the cost other stations would charge you for a MONTH? With over 5 million hits a month to our website, 80% of which is OUTSIDE of our area, this truly is a GLOBAL marketplace. Find out more now - request our new rate-card... E-mail The Boss!

Support GARY McKinnon - he is due to be extradited any day now....
Join the Gary McKinnon protest outside the American Embassy at 4 p.m. on Sunday Oct 28th. Let's help STOP a Brit from being extradited and thrown to the lions!! See more at www.freegary.org.uk. E-mail your support to the Boss

Bid for one of John Warren Oakes's paintings and help Glastonbury Radio!
John is a brilliant artist from Kentucky USA and he has donated a number of his paintings, including a great one of Glastonbury Tor done on his recent trip here, for an AUCTION to raise money for Glastonbury Radio. We will shortly have the pictures up on the site to display (when I learn how to do it lol!), but bidding has already started at £50 for the Tor painting. BID NOW - E-mail the THE STUDIO

See our press-pit pictures from the Glastonbury Festival
JUST CLICK HERE and then go to "pics"

ADVERTISE WITH US - CLICK HERE to see our great rates!
OFFICIAL LISTENER T-Shirts now available at just £9.99
White T-shirts with "OFFICIAL glastonburyradio.net LISTENER" in black on the front available now from the Now THAT'S Weird shop in The Gauntlet. Just send a cheque for £9.99 made payable to "Now THAT'S Weird" to Unit 19,The Gauntlet, Glastonbury.BA6 9DP with a large A4 addressed envelope enclosed and we'll send you one! (Part of the proceeds go to Glastonbury Radio) Two sizes L or XL only at this stage.

What's on today 2007

Join Nick Cottle today at Midday
Former mayor Nick Cottle takes the reins of our lunchtime talk show today with a mixture of guests and music. In the first hour Nick chats to Lindsey Reed from YinYang who also sits on the executive committee of the Glastonbury Chamber of Commerce. In the second hour his guest is Graham Lucas who many will know from postings on the Gwells forum (Repeated 6 - 8 p.m.) E-mail the show

Get a free Tarot reading with Sue Clarke at 3 p.m
Join psychic Sue at 3 p.m. and get a free tarot reading! Just e-mail the show E-mail HERE

BECOME A GLASTONBURY HERO.....
We are looking for five more local or International businesses to become Glastonbury Radio Heroes - sponsoring our top six rated shows and helping support the station and it's volunteer team. Heroes are so much more than advertisers and will be heralded on and off air! Become a HERO today just like BURNS THE BREAD - e-mail ross@glastonburyradio.net or call us on 0871 871 3666

Could YOU do a show on Glastonbury Radio?
We are always on the lookout for vibrant new shows here on Glastonbury Radio - do you think YOU have what it takes to entertain a worldwide audience as a volunteer presenter? E-mail you show ideas and resume to our MD ROSS HEMSWORTHVisit Ross's show's official website

Announcing our official travel partner...
Glastonbury Radio and Glastonbury Television have joined forces with Expedia.comto bring you some excellent travel packages on your next trip to Glastonbury or the South West of England. Watch this space for details! Expedia - the official travel partner of Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd.

The vigil at The White Spring on GTV!
It's up and running! Glastonbury TV launched on Oct 31st with a paranormal investigation of The White Spring! You can see some of the very strange things that occurred overnight last Saturday, when Ross Hemsworth took the team from The Phantom or Fraud Project into the Spring overnight. Visit the site where you will also see some trailers for forthcoming programmes at www.glastonburytelevision.com E-mail us for ad rates now ross@glastonburyradio.net It's not like any TV channel you will have seen before!! And it's "ON DEMAND VIEWING!"

Check out Sedona Talk Radio HERE
Sedona now has its own talk radio station online in Arizona USA, check them out and find out why Sedona is so much like Glastonbury.

What's on today 2008

What's on today
Tuesday 13th of May on Glastonbury radio @ 12:00 GMT+1

Glastonbury Today with Heidi Couture
Join Heidi & Sue Clarke LIVE at 12:00!
Heidi and Sue team up to have a 'girls just want to have fun' show. Playing lots of 80's music that will take you back to the days of slumber parties and big hair! This show is repeated 6-8pm GMT. Have a request or dedication? EMAIL Heidi and Sue with your questions or comments. Glastonbury Radio The show is repeated 6-8pm GMT.

Buy airtime on Glastonbury Radio
Did you know you can buy your own programme here on Glastonbury Radio for just £250 a month?.
As well as volunteer presenters, we also sell airtime to people looking to make their own shows, promote their own businesses and sell their own advertising and sponsorship, so if you fancy promoting yourself and your products to a worldwide listening audience, whilst having great fun presenting your own show, drop us a line to ross@glastonburyradio.net. Who knows you may even end up a star!

ADVERTISERS....
Some very special deals on offer right now - e-mail Ross and "haggle" for a cheap deal to promote your company or product to a worldwide audience. Advertising starts at just £100 a month and you can even sponsor individual shows! We are also now seeking a sponsor for the new LIVE TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS which start next Tuesday with the Mayor-Making ceremony. Your chance to get to a BIG anticipated audience! E-mail ross@glastonburyradio.net for more details.
Get interactive E-mail us NOW OR try our new 'Shout Box' out on the website and SHOUT your LOVE to the world!

We need MORE Glastonbury Radio HEROES!
LOOKATMYCRAZYSHOES.COM have become the latest Glastonbury Radio Hero. Please visit their website and support our sponsors and advertisers as it is their support that keeps us on air. If YOU would like to stand out from the crowd and become the next Glastonbury Radio Hero e-mail the gaffer! E-mail us at Glastonbury Radio

CONGRATULATIONS to The Gauntlet in Glastonbury!!
Glastonbury Radio sends congratulations to Doug Hill and The Gauntlet Shopping thoroughfare who on Friday won the regional LABC Award for the design and building of The Gauntlet! It now truly IS Glastonbury's PREMIER Shopping thoroughfare! Well done guys! See the pics HERE

GET INTERACTIVE and email the station with your questions or comments. HERE

Join the MEMBERS section
Simply hit the "members" button and sign up for a free account, and keep in touch with all that's going on! Chat in the forums, check out the features and reports from various shows, and interact with the presenters.

SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT on Glastonburyradio.Net.
We are proud to announce the Shoutbox. Become a member now and you can add shouts to the frontpage of the website. Shouts are show specific and display as the show goes out on Air. Join now it's a NET thing! Also check out our newheroes page where you can find our ad card and rates. mail us atstudio2@glastonburyradio.net.

Match It for Pratchett and help find a cure for Alzheimers
Best selling author Terry Pratchett has donated $1 Million to help Alzheimers research and we are backing another author's campaign called Match It For Pratchett to raise matching funding pound for pound, and you can help. Donate anything from £1 upwards and help DOUBLE Terry's kind donation. Click HERE to make a donation

Glastonbury Radio - something a little different from the norm!
Here at Glastonbury Radio you won't find the same old music being played on many other radio stations, nor will you find the same sounding clone-voice presenters. We believe we offer something different, something new and something REAL. Take a listen and then tell all your friends about us!

The Now THAT'S Weird Conference 2008
Tickets are now on sale for the Now THAT'S Weird Conference in Glastonbury on Summer Solstice weekend June 20th/21st. Guests include Prof's JJ & Desiree Hurtak (The Keys of Enoch) in their only UK appearance this year! Find out the full line up of this amazing conference HERE at the official WEBSITE

The Glastonbury PERSON OF THE YEAR Award
Who would you nominate as your choice of the person who has done the most for Glastonbury over the past 12 months? Already getting a lot of votes are Doug Hill (owner of the Gauntlet), Arabella Churchill, Hazel Pegg, Glastonbury Radio's own Ross Hemsworth and the local street cleaner! (Ross has however, ruled himself out of the vote!) E-mail your nominations to Glastonbury Radio

SIGN UP for the online newsletter
Keep up with the latest news from Glastonbury Radio - just e-mail Glastonbury Radio with the words "e-mail list opt-in" in the subject line!Let's have your views on the new website

The new website is nearing completion, but we would like to make the front page more "Glastonbury" and would welcome your suggestions for what you would like to see when you open up glastonburyradio.net. We would also like to hear your ideas and suggestions for other improvements we could make, and would like to hear of anything that you don't like about the new site or that doesn't work properly as yet. REMEMBER the website is a work in progress and is not yet completed! E-mail Ross Hemsworth

Get Ross Hemsworth's great new book

The Dead Are Talking

Also - sponsor Ross's worldwide syndicated Friday night talk show Now THAT'S Weird just £400 a month!
Could YOU do a show on Glastonbury Radio?
We are always on the lookout for vibrant new shows here on Glastonbury Radio - do you think YOU have what it takes to entertain a worldwide audience as a volunteer presenter? E-mail you show ideas and resume to The Gaffer!

Announcing our official travel partner...
Glastonbury Radio and Glastonbury Television have joined forces with Expedia.com to bring you some excellent travel packages on your next trip to Glastonbury or the South West of England. Watch this space for details! Expedia - the official travel partner of Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd.

What's on today

 

A repeat Feel Good Friday Show today

Ross has caught the dreaded lurgy that's going around so it's a repeat of an older Feel Good Friday Show today at Midday (Repeated at 6 p.m.) We hope Ross will be OK to present Now THAT'S Weird later this evening. E-mail Glastonbury Radio

Geoff Ward's Mysterious West at 8 p.m.

On Mysterious West at 8pm GMT tonight, Geoff Ward talks to orgone energy specialist Matt Todd about his crusade against electromagnetic pollution in the environment, Max Goodwin about the Conference of Angels at Glastonbury on December 13-14, and Simon Brighton about his book, In Search of the Knights Templar, a comprehensive guide to Templar sites in Britain. E-mail Glastonbury Radio

Please sign the petition about the unfair extradition treaty between the UK and the USA

CLICK HERE to see go to the No. 10 Downing Street e-petition site / E-mail The Managing Director

Want to earn some extra money for Christmas?

We need people to sell advertising on a generous commission basis! As we get more advertising interest from outside the area, we need to take on more sales people to help us expand national and international advertising. Can you sell something that almost sells itself? E-mail The Managing Director

Ever thought about owning a bit of a radio station?

A few shares in Glastonbury Radio are now available. We have a few shares available for sale in Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd to help us finance current planned expansion of the station and the launch of Glastonbury Television next year. If you are interested in owning shares in a company where the share price continues to increase - e-mail The Managing Director

Quo and Philharmonic for Extravaganza 2009

Support The ROCK AGAINST INJUSTICE CONCERT

We need EVERYONE'S help to make this happen within just a few weeks time! We already have MARILLION wanting to play at the gig, we now need a big venue, some financial support and more big names to play on the bill to call for a review to the unfair and unjust extradition treaty with the USA. Help in any way you can - copy my blog of today (http://blog.myspace.com/rosshemsworth) and send it to everyone you know (no spamming though please!). This is going to be massive and I may well give free VIP tickets to people who deliver backers, sponsors or big names to us!! Contact ross@nowthatsweird.co.uk for more details and please SPREAD THE WORD!. E-mail your support to the Boss

12 People can change the world.....

Glastonbury Radio MD Ross Hemsworth is behind a worldwide campaign for "12 people to change the world". Leading author Phyllis Schlemmer is already on board this exciting venture, and details will be published soon at www.12canchangetheworld.com . Find out more - e-mail Ross Hemsworth

Join Ross Hemsworth in the USA Feb/March 2009......

Megalithic Tours present the UFO's 2009 USA Tour Your chance to visit Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Area 51, The Little Ale'E'Inn and 8 nights at the USA's biggest UFO Conference "International UFO Congress" in Laughlin Nevada. CLICK HERE to see the full tour itinerary and prices- E-mail Ross for further details

Advertise with Glastonbury Radio

Did you know you could take out a YEAR'S worth of advertisingfor less than the cost other stations would charge you for a MONTH? With over 5 million hits a month to our website, 80% of which is OUTSIDE of our area, this truly is a GLOBAL marketplace. Find out more now - request our new rate-card... E-mail The Boss!

Bid for one of John Warren Oakes's paintings and help Glastonbury Radio!

John is a brilliant artist from Kentucky USA and he has donated a number of his paintings, including a great one of Glastonbury Tor done on his recent trip here, for an AUCTION to raise money for Glastonbury Radio. We will shortly have the pictures up on the site to display (when I learn how to do it lol!), but bidding has already started at £50 for the Tor painting. BID NOW - E-mail the THE STUDIO

 

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In The News

 

 

Posts by Ross Hemsworth from:
blogger1ross.wordpress.com

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Ross Hemsworth

Ross Hemsworth is a business entrepreneur and Managing Director of Glastonbury Radio, but is also a well known paranormal radio and TV presenter, scientific investigator of anomalous phenomena and an intriguing and entertaining speaker at events worldwide. His TV appearances include the hit series Ghost Detectives, the BBC's Ghostwatch Live - Tower of London and ITV's Haunted Halloween Live and of course the Now THAT'S Weird TV series on Saturday nights. He has also been a guest on Lorraine Kelly's morning breakfast show on GMTV.

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More Background On GlastonburyRadio.net

 

GlastonburyRadio.net was the online home of Glastonbury Radio, an independent internet radio station established in March 2007 in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. Founded by broadcaster and entrepreneur Ross Hemsworth, the station combined music, local news, interviews, alternative spirituality, paranormal investigations, cultural commentary, and community programming. Although based in a relatively small English town, Glastonbury Radio pursued an international audience, using internet streaming technology to connect listeners interested in the history, mythology, music, and distinctive cultural identity of Glastonbury.

Operating under Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd., the station developed a varied schedule of live and recorded programming, recruited volunteer presenters, attracted commercial sponsors, and established relationships with local businesses and international personalities. Its activities extended beyond traditional radio broadcasting into television, festival coverage, live events, and interactive online communities. By 2009, Glastonbury Radio had received industry recognition as a finalist in the Streaming Media European Readers' Choice Awards, competing in the Music and Audio Delivery Platform category alongside Spotify and I2i Online.

The history preserved through GlastonburyRadio.net primarily documents the station's formative years between 2007 and 2009. These records offer an unusually detailed account of an independent internet broadcaster experimenting with digital media before online streaming became an everyday method of consuming radio. They also reveal how the station's identity was closely tied to Glastonbury itself, a town whose international reputation for music, ancient traditions, spirituality, and unconventional thinking gave the broadcaster opportunities to reach audiences far beyond Somerset.

The Founding of Glastonbury Radio in 2007

Glastonbury Radio began broadcasting in March 2007 under the leadership of Ross Hemsworth, who assembled a team of local personalities, presenters, and contributors. Hemsworth brought experience in broadcasting, paranormal investigations, public speaking, and business development. His media background included appearances associated with Ghost Detectives, BBC's Ghostwatch Live – Tower of London, ITV's Haunted Halloween Live, and the television series Now THAT'S Weird. His interests in unexplained phenomena and alternative subjects would strongly influence the station's programming and public identity.

The station was established during a period when internet radio was becoming increasingly accessible but had not yet achieved the mainstream popularity it would enjoy in subsequent years. Conventional FM broadcasters still dominated local listening, while digital streaming offered independent operators the possibility of reaching audiences without the geographic restrictions of terrestrial radio transmission. Glastonbury Radio embraced this opportunity by combining the familiarity of a community radio station with the worldwide distribution capabilities of the internet.

From the beginning, its philosophy emphasized originality and personality rather than conventional commercial radio formulas. Programming was designed to reflect the interests of people living in Glastonbury, including musicians, artists, spiritual practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and alternative thinkers. Instead of building a schedule exclusively around familiar popular music, the station developed a combination of specialist music shows, conversation-based programs, cultural discussions, and coverage of local events. Its promotional material emphasized that listeners would encounter presenters and subjects not commonly featured on mainstream stations.

The ambition was particularly notable because Glastonbury Radio was a relatively small independent operation. Volunteers contributed to its programming, and the station actively encouraged prospective presenters to submit ideas for new shows. This participatory approach allowed it to develop a diverse schedule without relying entirely on salaried broadcasters. By 2009, company publicity described the service as operating 24 hours a day throughout the year, although individual live programs were frequently repeated at different times.

Glastonbury, Somerset: The Town Behind the Radio Station

Understanding Glastonbury Radio requires understanding its geographical and cultural setting. Glastonbury is situated in Somerset in southwest England, near the Somerset Levels, approximately 25 miles south of Bristol. The town is internationally associated with religious pilgrimage, Arthurian legend, alternative spirituality, music, and historical landmarks. Its most recognizable attraction, Glastonbury Tor, rises above the surrounding landscape and is crowned by the remains of St Michael's Tower.

The town's other significant landmarks include Glastonbury Abbey, Chalice Well, and the White Spring. Glastonbury Abbey was one of medieval England's most important religious institutions and became closely associated with legends involving Joseph of Arimathea, King Arthur, and Queen Guinevere. The abbey's monks announced the supposed discovery of Arthur and Guinevere's remains in 1191, although historians distinguish this medieval tradition from independently verified historical evidence. Such legends have nevertheless remained important to Glastonbury's cultural identity and international reputation.

Glastonbury Radio incorporated this atmosphere into its broadcasting. Discussions of archaeology, sacred places, astrology, spiritual experiences, mythology, and unusual historical interpretations reflected subjects that attracted many visitors to the area. The station presented itself as broadcasting from the ancient Isle of Avalon, a reference to the Arthurian traditions associated with Glastonbury. Its programming appealed not only to residents but also to people who had visited the town, attended its events, or developed an interest in its spiritual and historical traditions.

Glastonbury is also associated with the internationally famous Glastonbury Festival, although the festival itself takes place at Worthy Farm near Pilton, several miles east of the town. This distinction matters because Glastonbury Radio was not simply a festival broadcaster. It was a year-round radio station serving a wider community and a worldwide audience interested in the area's culture. The festival nevertheless provided important opportunities for publicity, interviews, and international recognition.

Programming, Presenters, and the Station's Distinctive Identity

The range of programs offered by Glastonbury Radio demonstrated the station's willingness to combine entertainment with serious discussion and unusual subjects. Its schedule included conventional music programming, interviews with community figures, political commentary, historical investigations, and programs exploring spiritual and paranormal subjects. Listeners could encounter classic rock, reggae, 1980s music, unsigned performers, astrology, international affairs, and conversations about religious or philosophical ideas within the same broadcasting service.

One notable program was This Is the Light Programme, presented by Palden Jenkins. Running during 2007 and 2008, the weekly three-hour show explored ideas associated with Glastonbury's community of writers, teachers, healers, activists, and independent thinkers. Interviews addressed subjects ranging from international politics and social development to the history of sacred places and alternative interpretations of unexplained phenomena. Jenkins subsequently preserved selected material from approximately 25 broadcasts in a project called Recycled Light, making portions of these historical interviews available again.

Jenkins's surviving account provides particularly valuable independent evidence about Glastonbury Radio's early operations. He describes the station as having makeshift facilities and limited technical resources, but he also emphasizes the unusual quality and variety of its conversations. Some recordings were later edited to remove music and station jingles for rights reasons. These surviving interviews offer an opportunity to hear examples of the broadcaster's original programming rather than relying exclusively on promotional descriptions.

Another recognizable program was Now THAT'S Weird, associated with Ross Hemsworth and his interest in paranormal investigation. The show addressed supernatural claims, unusual experiences, mysteries, and related subjects, attracting listeners interested in material outside mainstream entertainment. Hemsworth's involvement in conferences and television productions helped connect radio broadcasting with a broader network of alternative-media events.

Other programs included Roots & Branches, presented by Mark Ellis, which mixed music with profiles of influential performers and exposure for unsigned artists. One documented edition explored the life and music of Bob Marley while including material by Robin Trower and lesser-known performers. Mysterious West, presented by Geoff Ward, featured conversations about the Knights Templar, environmental concerns, unusual energy theories, and alternative historical subjects. A separate program, The Machiavelli Sessions, offered discussions of politics and social change.

More conventional community programming included Glastonbury Today, presented on one occasion by Heidi Couture and Sue Clarke, who combined listener interaction with popular music from the 1980s. Former Glastonbury mayor Nick Cottle also hosted a lunchtime talk program featuring local guests, including people involved in the town's business community. Such programs demonstrated that the station was not exclusively devoted to spiritual or paranormal material. It also provided a forum for local personalities, business interests, and everyday community conversation.

Glastonbury Radio's International Audience and Online Popularity

One of the station's most ambitious characteristics was its determination to attract listeners outside Somerset and the United Kingdom. Its promotional materials repeatedly described Glastonbury Radio as a local broadcaster with worldwide reach. This was an important distinction at a time when most small community radio services were still defined by the geographic limits of their transmission areas.

In its advertising promotions, Glastonbury Radio claimed that its website attracted more than five million hits per month, with approximately 80 percent coming from outside its immediate locality. These figures were presented by the station itself and should not be interpreted as independently audited measurements of unique listeners. Website hits can include multiple requests generated during a single visit, so they are not equivalent to audience size. Nevertheless, the figures illustrate how management marketed the station's ability to reach international visitors, particularly people interested in Glastonbury's culture and its famous music festival.

The station's appeal also benefited from the international networks of its presenters and contributors. Programs addressed subjects relating to the Middle East, the United States, and other regions, while Hemsworth maintained relationships with personalities involved in paranormal research and alternative conferences. Promotional material referenced events and activities in Sedona, Arizona, a location sometimes compared with Glastonbury because of its spiritual tourism and alternative cultural communities.

Glastonbury Radio's recognition in a public-voting industry awards competition provides stronger evidence that it developed a meaningful audience beyond its immediate community. While precise listener totals are not independently established, its selection as a finalist alongside much larger digital services demonstrated that its audience and supporters were sufficiently engaged to attract attention within the streaming-media industry.

The 2009 Glastonbury Festival and Russell Grant Broadcasts

One of Glastonbury Radio's most publicized projects took place during the 2009 Glastonbury Festival, when it collaborated with British astrologer and television personality Russell Grant. A June 25, 2009 publicity announcement promoted Grant's involvement in festival coverage designed for the station's international internet audience.

The planned programming included interviews with major entertainment personalities appearing at the festival. Names publicized in advance included Tom Jones, Fairport Convention, Tony Christie, Francis Rossi, Lily Allen, Spinal Tap, and Will Young. Grant was expected to incorporate astrology into his conversations with performers and to respond to questions submitted by followers through Twitter, which was becoming an increasingly important communication platform for public figures.

The announcement described a VIP Winnebago positioned close to the backstage area, providing a working base for the station's festival reporting. Grant was also scheduled to produce a special astrological forecast for the event and host two exclusive programs. The arrangements illustrated Glastonbury Radio's efforts to combine entertainment journalism, audience interaction, and its established interest in astrology.

This collaboration was significant for a small independent internet broadcaster. Access to a major international music festival offered opportunities to attract new listeners who might not otherwise have encountered a station based in Glastonbury. The involvement of a widely recognized television personality provided additional publicity, while the internet distribution model allowed audiences outside Britain to follow the planned coverage without needing a conventional radio receiver.

The surviving publicity documents the announced interviews and broadcasting arrangements, rather than independently establishing that every scheduled interview took place. Nevertheless, the project remains an important example of the station's ambitions and its efforts to compete for attention in a rapidly developing digital-media environment.

Ownership, Management, and Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd.

Glastonbury Radio operated through Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd., a company supported by shareholders rather than structured solely as an informal volunteer organization. Ross Hemsworth served as founder and managing director during its early development, while other investors and management personnel contributed to the operation.

Doug Hill, a local businessman associated with The Gauntlet shopping thoroughfare in Glastonbury, was an important shareholder. The station also identified Siobhan Peal as Production Director, responsible for programming and scheduling. This arrangement separated some of the practical responsibilities of broadcasting from the company's broader commercial direction.

The ownership structure was reflected in the station's fundraising efforts. At different times, advertisements invited potential investors to purchase shares in Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd., presenting investment as a means of financing expansion and new media projects. The station also sought a managing director who would acquire a financial stake in the company, suggesting that its leadership regarded investment and management commitment as closely connected.

Management changes became a prominent issue during 2009. In May, Hemsworth announced his intention to step down as managing director after approximately two years leading the operation. By October, further announcements explained that he intended to pursue law studies and other opportunities. On October 24, 2009, the station announced that he had left the company and that major shareholder Doug Hill had assumed day-to-day management as managing director on a temporary basis.

The announcement also stated that Hemsworth would support the transition and that Siobhan Peal would continue overseeing programming. These changes provide evidence of the challenges associated with running a small independent media business dependent on its founder's involvement. Although management expressed confidence in the station's continued development, the available records do not establish its complete subsequent operating history or a definitive date on which original broadcasting ceased.

Advertising, Sponsorships, and the Business Model

Glastonbury Radio experimented with several revenue sources, reflecting the financial realities of running an independent online broadcaster. Advertising, show sponsorship, donations, paid airtime, merchandise, and investment were all used or promoted as ways to support the station's activities.

In 2008, advertised rates included commercial advertising starting at approximately £100 per month. Businesses could also purchase airtime for their own programs, with one promotional offer quoting £250 per month. This arrangement allowed advertisers and entrepreneurs to create broadcasts while promoting their products or services, giving the station an additional source of programming and income.

The station operated a sponsorship initiative known as Glastonbury Radio Heroes. Participating businesses received promotional recognition while helping support the broadcaster and its volunteer team. Burns the Bread, a local bakery, was among the sponsors identified in historical station material. Another advertised participant was LOOKATMYCRAZYSHOES.COM. These sponsorship arrangements connected local commerce with the station's broader community activities.

Other opportunities involved supporting individual outside broadcasts. The station sought sponsors for proposed coverage at Wookey Hole and the Clarks Shoe Museum, with sponsorship amounts advertised in the £150–£300 range. It also appealed for funding to purchase equipment, including a generator for its outside-broadcast unit. Such details provide a practical view of an organization attempting to produce ambitious programming while managing limited financial and technical resources.

Merchandise was another fundraising avenue. Official listener T-shirts were advertised at £9.99 and could be obtained through the Now THAT'S Weird shop in The Gauntlet. The broadcaster also promoted an auction of paintings donated by Kentucky artist John Warren Oakes, including a depiction of Glastonbury Tor. These activities illustrate how the station relied on community enthusiasm, personal relationships, and modest commercial initiatives rather than a single large funding source.

Glastonbury Television and Multimedia Expansion

Glastonbury Radio's ambitions extended into online television through an associated project called Glastonbury Television. Historical announcements describe the launch of an on-demand video service featuring paranormal investigations and other programming aligned with the station's identity.

One promoted production involved an overnight investigation at the White Spring in Glastonbury, conducted by Ross Hemsworth and a team associated with the Phantom or Fraud Project. The White Spring, located near Glastonbury Tor, has long been associated with the town's spiritual landscape. Its use as a setting for an investigation was consistent with Hemsworth's broadcasting interests and the themes that attracted many Glastonbury Radio listeners.

The company also publicized plans for further television productions, along with opportunities for advertisers interested in the new service. There were announcements of a potential sister station called Glastonbury Gold, reportedly connected with a proposed beer of the same name, and longer-term plans for franchised internet radio stations and Shoutcast streaming services.

These projects indicate that the management viewed internet broadcasting as an expandable media business rather than simply a local radio service. However, announcements of future projects should be distinguished from completed operations. The surviving records document the company's intentions and some early multimedia activity, but they do not establish that every proposed franchise, station, or commercial streaming service ultimately launched.

Interactive Website Features and the Listener Community

GlastonburyRadio.net was more than a streaming-audio destination. During its active broadcasting period, the website offered interactive features intended to encourage listeners to participate in the station's community and communicate with presenters.

Registered members could use discussion forums, access show-related features, and interact with broadcasting personalities. The site also introduced a Shoutbox, allowing members to post short messages that could appear on the homepage in association with programs being transmitted. Listeners were encouraged to submit music requests, dedications, questions, comments, and ideas for future broadcasts.

The station maintained an email newsletter and regularly asked visitors for feedback about website improvements. This approach reflected an early understanding of the importance of audience participation in internet media. Rather than treating broadcasting as a one-way process, Glastonbury Radio attempted to create a community in which listeners could influence conversations, contact presenters, and contribute to the development of the service.

The site's historical navigation and promotional material also revealed its commercial and community priorities. Sections devoted to programming schedules, membership, presenters, advertising rates, sponsors, station news, and special events supported the broadcasting operation. The website did not have a restaurant-style menu, and no dining services were associated with the station itself. Its menu was a digital navigation system designed to help visitors listen, participate, and learn about its programs.

Awards and Recognition in the Streaming Media Industry

Glastonbury Radio achieved one of its most notable milestones in October 2009 when it became a finalist in the Streaming Media European Readers' Choice Awards. The competition recognized developments in streaming technology, online video, digital audio delivery, and related media services.

The station was nominated in the Music and Audio Delivery Platform category alongside Spotify and I2i Online. The nomination was particularly significant because Spotify was already emerging as an important name in digital music distribution, while Glastonbury Radio remained a comparatively small independent operation.

The official published results provide precise confirmation of the outcome. I2i Online's Show Me How to Play won the category with 59 percent of the vote. Glastonbury Broadcasting Ltd.'s Glastonbury Radio placed second with 17 percent, ahead of Spotify, which received 13 percent. This was a substantial distinction for an independent broadcaster whose identity and programming were rooted in a small Somerset community.

The ceremony took place in London in October 2009, with Ross Hemsworth and Doug Hill attending. Hemsworth publicly acknowledged that the station had not won but described its place among the finalists as a major achievement. The recognition remains an independently documented accomplishment and provides a valuable point of reference when evaluating the station's historical significance.

The result should not be confused with an overall award for the best radio station or a claim that Glastonbury Radio surpassed Spotify commercially. It was a specific reader-voted category within a streaming-media awards program. Even with that qualification, achieving second place ahead of a prominent digital music platform was an unusual and noteworthy accomplishment.

Community Involvement, Campaigns, and Charitable Causes

Community involvement formed an important part of Glastonbury Radio's public activities. The station supported local events, encouraged nominations for community recognition, and promoted charitable campaigns and political causes. Its programming and website announcements reflected the personal interests of presenters as well as broader concerns within its listening community.

One initiative was the proposed Glastonbury Person of the Year award, inviting listeners to nominate individuals who had contributed significantly to the town. Names mentioned in station publicity included Doug Hill, Arabella Churchill, Hazel Pegg, and other community figures. The initiative demonstrated an attempt to recognize contributions beyond conventional celebrity or political status.

The station also promoted the Match It for Pratchett campaign, which sought to encourage additional donations for Alzheimer's research following a substantial contribution by author Terry Pratchett. Other publicity involved campaigns connected to British-American extradition arrangements, including support for Gary McKinnon and calls for a review of extradition policies.

These activities reflected the broadcaster's willingness to engage with campaigning and advocacy rather than limiting its role to neutral entertainment announcements. The degree of editorial independence or formal station endorsement varied across the material, and many initiatives were closely associated with Hemsworth's own interests. Nevertheless, the diversity of subjects illustrates the station's broad conception of what community broadcasting could encompass.

Public Reception, Reviews, and Press Coverage

The surviving evidence of Glastonbury Radio's reputation comes from several different sources, including industry recognition, presenter recollections, historical publicity, and its own audience-related statements. Independent consumer reviews and comprehensive listener surveys are not readily available, making it difficult to establish a representative picture of audience satisfaction.

Palden Jenkins's retrospective account is particularly informative because it comes from someone directly involved in producing broadcasts. He describes the early facilities as technically modest while emphasizing the originality of the conversations and the importance of preserving material that might otherwise disappear. His subsequent restoration of selected broadcasts suggests that the programming retained cultural and documentary value long after its original transmission.

The station also received publicity connected with the 2009 Glastonbury Festival and Russell Grant's planned programs. Such coverage positioned Glastonbury Radio as an internet broadcaster capable of participating in internationally recognized entertainment events. The Streaming Media award nomination provides further independent confirmation that the station attracted attention beyond the local broadcasting community.

At the same time, the available information does not justify presenting every promotional claim as an established fact. Statements about worldwide popularity, rapid audience growth, and projected expansion originated primarily from the company. They are useful evidence of how the organization presented itself but are not substitutes for independently audited financial records, listener statistics, or long-term market research.

Cultural and Social Significance of Glastonbury Radio

Glastonbury Radio occupies an interesting position in the history of independent online media because it brought together several developments that would later become increasingly common: internet-first broadcasting, interactive audiences, volunteer-created content, specialist programming, multimedia expansion, and global distribution.

Its most distinctive contribution was the use of internet technology to represent a place with an unusually strong cultural identity. Glastonbury's international reputation meant that the station could appeal to audiences who felt connected to the town despite living elsewhere. Listeners interested in its legends, spirituality, festivals, alternative music, and intellectual communities could encounter those subjects through the voices of residents and contributors.

The station also demonstrated the possibilities and difficulties of small-scale digital media entrepreneurship. Although online distribution removed some geographic limitations, it did not eliminate expenses associated with equipment, production, promotion, staffing, and business administration. The frequent appeals for sponsors, advertisers, volunteers, and investors show how challenging it could be to sustain an independent service during the early development of internet radio.

The preservation of some Glastonbury Radio interviews gives its legacy an additional dimension. Recorded conversations with local thinkers and cultural figures can become historical resources, documenting subjects and personalities that may receive little attention from mainstream broadcasters. Such recordings are particularly valuable when the people involved, the events discussed, or the original cultural circumstances can no longer be recreated.

What Happened to Glastonbury Radio and GlastonburyRadio.net?

The best-documented period of Glastonbury Radio's history extends from its launch in March 2007 through the management changes of October 2009. By that point, the station had developed continuous programming, an international promotional identity, commercial sponsorship arrangements, and a recognized presence within the online streaming industry.

The departure of founder Ross Hemsworth marked an important transition. Doug Hill assumed temporary responsibility for the business, and the company announced its intention to recruit a new managing director. Management expressed the expectation that the station would continue broadcasting and expanding, but a complete independently verified account of its later operations has not been established from the available historical sources.

GlastonburyRadio.net remains accessible as a historical website presenting material from the station's 2007–2009 period. Its current content is retrospective rather than evidence of a continuously operating live radio service. Visitors can find descriptions of former programs, announcements, business developments, press material, and records of the station's achievements.

For those interested in hearing surviving original material, Palden Jenkins's Recycled Light project provides a separate resource featuring selected interviews recorded for Glastonbury Radio. These recordings offer a more immediate impression of the station's intellectual interests and broadcasting style than text alone can provide.

The Legacy of an Independent Internet Radio Pioneer

Glastonbury Radio was an ambitious experiment in combining community broadcasting with the expanding possibilities of digital distribution. From 2007 onward, it attempted to translate Glastonbury's distinctive character into a worldwide listening experience, offering programs that reflected the town's mixture of local affairs, international interests, music, ancient traditions, spirituality, and independent thinking.

Its achievements included a varied schedule of volunteer-led and specialist programs, international festival coverage, audience interaction through an evolving website, commercial partnerships, and recognition in a major streaming-media readers' choice competition. The station also pursued multimedia ventures at a time when independent broadcasters were still learning how to use online video, live streaming, and interactive communication effectively.

The most revealing aspect of its history may be the contrast between its limited resources and its considerable ambitions. A small broadcaster based in Somerset succeeded in earning second place in a European streaming-media award category that included Spotify, while also creating recordings of local conversations and cultural subjects that have retained their value.

Today, GlastonburyRadio.net provides a record of that early digital-broadcasting period. Although the station's complete later history remains unclear, its documented activities illustrate how independent media organizations could use the internet to connect a strongly defined local community with audiences around the world. Glastonbury Radio's story is consequently relevant not only to the history of Glastonbury, but also to the broader development of online radio, alternative broadcasting, and community-created digital media.