This weekend, members of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland should dig out the MC5's Kick Out the Jams and listen to the advice of Brother JC Crawford, write Jim Carroll.

Next Tuesday, when we find out just who has bought a ticket for the raffle for the new Dublin indie radio licence, the time will have come to see if the BCI is still part of the problem which plagues capital city airwaves, or if it will finally be part of the solution.

Optimism usually rules at the Discotheque desk, but not when the issue of radio licences rears its head. Whether it's a country music radio station changing its name to play non-country music, or the fast-buck sale of licences to people who didn't get them in the first place, Irish radio is a mess of badly drawn regulation, half-arsed enforcement and very little choice.

This is why the raffle for a licence to provide an alternative rock music service in Dublin is so important. Here's a chance for the BCI to make amends for all those past cock-ups. Here is an opportunity for commission members to show they actually listen to and are enthused by radio. Here is an occasion when we might actually applaud the BCI.

They've started well, stating that the service should have "a strong emphasis on new, non-mainstream Irish and international music and/or artists (including unsigned artists) of relevance to this genre". How- ever, given what has occurred following previous license raffles (not just name changes and lucrative sell-offs, but also significant, unchecked shifts in stated music policy), such good intentions may not last long when the station goes on air.

Blame Century Radio for the BCI's conservatism. The country's first independent commercial radio station was a dud and, since then, those charged with giving out radio licences have become ultra- cautious about who gets the nod for fear of creating another dead duck.

Instead of seeking innovative ideas and programming, the commission looks more for business acumen. Its desire for solid commitment from share- holders, experienced investors and financial wherewithal is why you'll find some strange bed- fellows on many of the consortiums jostling for the

indie radio licence.

People who wouldn't be able to tell an indie outfit from an Irish showband regard this as simply another investment. They could be putting their money into kebabs or property but, seeing the profits earned by other radio licence holders over the years who sold out to UTV or Scottish Radio Holdings, this radio craic seemed like a better idea.

Some of you may baulk at the idea, but indie radio is just another commodity to many. Even our good friends at Clear Channel have taken a bite of the indie radio market, turning failing Los Angeles station KDLD into Indie Radio 103.2, where it's indie classic hits around the clock. From Polyphonic Spree and Jeff Buckley to The B52s and The Specials, it's the tunes twenty and thirtysomethings know and love. The problem is there's little room here for new music or breaking new bands. Such has been the success of this indie-radio-for- oldies format that Clear Channel is now applying it to other markets.

You can bet that some of the applicants for the Dublin indie raffle will have Indie Radio 103.2 in mind when they sit down for the BCI beauty parade later this year. They'll mouth platitudes about new bands and promoting new music, but many will have simply dusted off their last licence application, cut out all references to "dance" or "clubs" and replaced them with "indie" and "bands". They just want that licence, no matter what it's called.

There are already some declared runners in the frame. Phantom is now in partnership with Principle Management and MCD's Denis Desmond (both of whom already own or have owned shares in Irish radio licences), while UTV and Capitol Radio want to import London's XFM station. There also talk of a bid involving ex-2FM jock Tony Fenton. Dublin radio's latest version of the Galway Races is about to begin, so stay tuned.