THE RADIO station behind a prominent ad campaign promoting the Kingdom has defended the campaign and expressed disappointment at an online group mocking it.
Kevin Brady, managing director of Kingdom FM, said the 'We're For Fife' adverts - which have been shown on STV over the last fortnight and features images of traditional dancers, the Red Arrows and Deep Sea World, set to a cheery musical number - wer
e designed to raise civic pride in the area.
However, a Facebook group 'We're for Fife Video is an Embarrassment to Fifers', which has over 2000 members, has been set up with comments describing the advert as "stupid", "cringeworthy" and "honking" among others.
Labour Councillor Alex Rowley even waded into the discussion last week, suggesting the £5000 of funding for the campaign provided by the Council may have been better spent on gritting and filling potholes.
But Mr Brady, who wrote the lyrics to the song, said: "We've had overwhelmingly good feedback, except from a small and vocal minority.
"We didn't create the campaign to target teenagers, it's aimed at the 25 to 54 age bracket.
"I think it's disappointing that a small minority have attempted to derail what has been overall a successful campaign. It's just the power of Facebook among young people, and we accept that, but the overriding fact is the campaign wasn't created for them."
The video was put together by Kirkcaldy-based Glass Bullet Productions with the song being recorded in Dallas, Texas. The advert has also come under fire for not using Fife musicians.
Mr Brady said: "The song was recorded in Texas. We made the decision because we were trying to make a song with a certain American style. We couldn't get the quality of singers and recording in Fife.
"We did have some local singers identified, but we thought it would be more hassle. It was a case of coordinating the thing. There was just short of a full orchestra in the song."
Peter Grant, leader of Fife Council, also defended the advert, and said the Council's £5000 donation was well within accepted boundaries.
He added: "When Kingdom FM approached us and asked us to become one of the partners in the campaign we were very keen to get involved.
"It is unusual, possibly even unique, for a promotional campaign like this to be initiated and led by the private sector and I commend Kingdom FM and their partners for taking the initiative and seeing it through to the end product.
"I have no doubt that Kingdom FM will have their own targets by which they will judge the success of the campaign but my understanding is that they have already had a large number of messages of encouragement from Fife businesses who are pleased to see Fife being promoted in such a positive way."
