Ben Wheatley
Audio & Radio Producer and Journalist
Small town boy living in the city. Oh the metaphor, but oh how the phrase translates to me.
I was born in Leicester, raised in the world renowned Pork Pie hub of Melton Mowbray, and moved to Birmingham in September 2014 to undertake a degree in Media & Communications at Birmingham City University.
I have worked in a butchers, a Wetherspoons, I've been a runner for Parkside Mediahouse, and Ambassador for Aspire4U, as well as a writer for Purple Frog Student Properties.
That's what I've been paid for. I have also been Deputy Head of Music, Head of Music, and Station Controller for Birmingham City University's student station Scratch Radio, as well as producing and presenting on the station. I wrote for the student magazine The Scratch, and took on work experience at Virgin Radio from July to December 2016.
BACKGROUND
AIMS & ASPIRATIONS
Aims and aspirations, oh how we are supposed to have any sort of idea about what we want to do for the rest of ours lives, based entirely on an idea that we think up of during the latter phases of adolescence.
For me, I only have a few ideas about what I think I want to do, but these frequently change based on my mood, so what you are reading is simply a reflection of my current mood. So, if you fancy a little game, describe what you think my mood was when I wrote this, and send me a tweet to @ben_wheat, and you may be rewarded with a like, or maybe even a retweet! Such fun...
Anyway, as follows is a description of my mood, and the aims and aspirations I felt at that specific time.
I love being in a city. Birmingham is amazing, and during university, the city was amazing to me. It is responsible for my obsession with small music venues, coffee, my style, and my confidence. I have fallen in love with the place and I am happy to call it my home. I have the naive dream of one day living it large in London, as well as a foray into New York for a year to experience life in the city that never sleeps. But, if I somehow end up somewhere else , whether that be Edinburgh, Timbuktu or Machu Pichu, I am sure I will succeed there.
And I obviously need a reason to be in these places, and my book is pretty open. As long as I enjoy the job and I'm surrounded by the right people, I'm happy. I love music. I love writing, talking, and spreading the word about music. Ultimately a career in music is what I strive for. Promotion and marketing in music for me is what appeals most, and I am willing to wait for such an opportunity, willing to do what it takes to get there.
