Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.04.2007, Blaðsíða 21

4_REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 04_007_INTERVIEW/MEDIA
Andri Freyr Viðarsson and Búi Bendtsen host
one of the most popular morning radio shows
in the country on the newly established classic
rock station Reykjavík FM. The pair of them
have been on the air together since January
2004, but they have already gone through
establishing two separate radio stations to
stay on the air, after 365 Media closed down
their previous stations. A Grapevine reporter
sat down with the two of them and had a
critical discussion about the current condition
of the Icelandic media and the benefits of
working in radio. As our reporter stepped
into a meeting with the twosome, the Mayor
of Reykjavík was stepping out.
So, the Mayor, huh?
Andri: Yes, he is in my pocket, our new best
friend.
Búi: I have him on speed dial.
Is it difficult to get distinguished figures
like the Mayor to appear on a morning
radio show on a rock station?
Andri: We had actually been chasing him for
some time, but he always believed we were
some idiots, which of course is not true.
Yesterday I called his secretary and told her
that we had had all sorts of distinguished
guests on our show, Members of Congress,
former president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, so
if the Mayor was not going to talk to us, it
would just reflect badly on him. He called
me an hour later and said he would come
tomorrow.
This is at least the second time you guys
establish a radio station for your show,
what is it like having to go through this
repeatedly?
Búi: It sucks.
Andri: Mmm, it sucks.
Búi: It is disgusting really, being forced
to deal with all the technical aspects and
getting things off the ground. It takes a lot
of time and energy. When you finally make
it to broadcast, you are drained. But there is
fun involved in the struggle as well.
You never thought of giving it up?
Búi: Yes, so many times.
Andri: I mean, to do what? We do not know
how to do anything else. If we are fired, we
just have to establish a new station.
Búi: We believe we still have something left.
Why did 365 Media close the previous
station?
Búi: Obviously because the station was
getting too big and strong and it was
interfering them in the market. We had very
high ratings, and as soon as our old station
was closed, sales at some of 365’s stations
jumped. This is not the first time they did
this. I am just tired of talking about this.
They simply cannot stand the competition.
Instead of taking the fight and trying to build
something off the ground and show some
originality, they just smother everyone else
with their checkbook. It is just so cowardly.
But I guess there is nothing to stop them from
doing this. It just reflects badly on them…
Andri: No… That is just the point; nobody
cares about stuff like this in Iceland.
Búi: Their reputation suffers.
Andri: I doubt that many people canceled
their subscription with 365 over this affair.
Búi: No, you are right, Icelanders never take
any action. But like I said, there is no law
against this, they have the money to do it, so
if they want to, they do it. They do not give a
shit about dirt bags like us. It is fact; you can
do anything with money.
Would you work for 365 if the offer
came?
Andri: Yes.
B. Definitely.
Andri: For the right amount, no problem.
Everyone is a whore in this business.
Búi: I would go work for them anytime.
If the call came just now, offering you
the same slot would you just up and
leave?
Búi: Yes, I would accept it on the spot.
Andri: Yeas… For the right amount. I will do
anything for the right amount.
Búi: Anything is available for the right
amount. And seriously, you should never say
never.
Andri: That is why you should not be shitting
all over them the way you have been doing
Bendtsen. It reflects badly on you. What if
you have to go work for them tomorrow?
You should be more careful.
Búi: Well, okay… Could you keep that part
off the record then?
No, this is the fat of the story right
here.
Andri: The Grapevine is never off the record
Bendtsen.
Búi: No, you are right. Well, I am just stating
an opinion; it does not mean I cannot work
for them. I am just telling it like it is.
Andri: Oh, so now you want to back out of
it?
Búi: I am just saying something everybody
knows anyway.
This is a tough business isn’t it?
Andri: Yes it is, but it is fun. Well, no, it is not
really. It sucks.
Búi: Obviously this business sucks, although
the job can still be fun and demanding and
all that. But, as you can see, it is not the
people involved; it is the environment that is
poisonous. It is very difficult to maintain any
sort of competition under these conditions.
You are always up in the air, until one day you
are fired. That is the only really bad part.
Andri: But it is still not so bad, per se. We
have gained from being fired repeatedly. We
have twice received three months severance
pay for doing nothing. The last two years,
we have spend six months doing nothing…
On full salaries no less. And then we get a
summer vacation on top of that; so basically,
we have spent eight months doing nothing.
That is pretty sweet.
Búi: Yes, it’s easy money.
Let us turn to something else. You
have said that you want to give more
attention to Icelandic rock music. As
experts in the field, how is Icelandic
rock music doing?
Búi: It is doing good, and has been doing
well for several years.
Andri: I agree, it is doing good, but I
wouldn’t say that it is doing any better than
English rock music or you know, I don’t know
about the Faeroe Islands…
Búi: We usually use a per capita
comparison.
Andri: That is a useless statistic. But there
are many good bands operating. It is a new
development to be able to go out on almost
any given night a see a show someplace. It
was not like that ten years ago.
Búi: Yes, but it is sad to see how this sector
is constantly being shunned. Just see the
difference between how musicians are
treated here or in Sweden for example.
Andri: Is it? Isn’t it just the musicians that
are whining?
Búi: No, not really.
Andri: How is it being shunned?
Búi: Take TÞM for example, it is being closed
down and nobody gives a shit!
Andri: But shouldn’t musicians just be able
to pay for their own practice space? They
choose to pursue this.
Búi: Well, maybe. But it is not like there are
practice facilities everywhere.
Andri: No, but they get paid to visit other
countries.
Búi: Andri, you have to look at this compared
to what is the norm in the countries around
us.
Andri: Like where?
Búi: Sweden for example
Andri: Sweden? Pfff…
That is true; I think I am correct in saying
that Sweden has the third highest export
revenue from music of all countries.
Búi: Exactly! I am just talking about taking
better care of the musicians, there are so
many people involved with in music and
it means so much to so many people. Just
look at what we are spending money on.
How much money is just being spent on
some bullshit like some embassies in foreign
countries while this is left unattended? It is
not like this radio station intends to save the
world or anything, but at least we intend to
do more for the Icelandic bands.
Tune in to Capone every weekday morning
between 07:00 – 10:00 on Reykjavík FM
101.5.
Fight for Your Right to Stay on the Air
Text by Sveinn Birkir Björnsson Photo by Skari
The last two years, we have spend six months
doing nothing… On full salaries no less. And
then we get a summer vacation on top of that;
so basically, we have spent eight months doing
nothing. That is pretty sweet.
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