The output of British radio stations has never been as dire as it is today, both nationally and locally. I know it, over 500,000 people that have stopped listening to radio in the past 12 months know it, and you probably know it, too.
This Blog post (along with those that choose to comment at the end of it) will attempt to uncover what has happened to the radio we loved, and who is responsible for destroying it.
This Blog post (along with those that choose to comment at the end of it) will attempt to uncover what has happened to the radio we loved, and who is responsible for destroying it.
Is there any hope for radio in Britain?
Actually, there might just be, but it may not come from where you think ...
This article will take a brief look at five areas: Journalists - Presenters - Stations - RAJAR and Declining Listenership.
Journalists:
If I was currently employed as a radio journalist in this country I think I'd ask myself some serious questions about the work I'm doing. Questions like these...
Have I chased any fire engines lately? What about gone out with the police on an early morning drugs raid? Have I reported LIVE from any murder scenes? Visited any schools and interviewed not only happy children, but disillusioned teachers? Got out amongst the listeners and asked them what they think of the seemingly endless stream of immigrants and foreigners settling into our towns and villages at an alarming rate? (ask the elderly members of our communities that question and see what they have to say about it!) When was the last time I got a scoop for my station that had rival stations kicking themselves? I doubt I would need to 'phone a friend' for help with the answers!
Is any of this a crime, it's still news, after all?
Well what's unique about it? It's the identical materiel everyone else has access to and is using! Where is the ownership of that news by the radio station? Where are the opportunities for scoops? It's a portion of the news and that's all. A run-through of what's happening internationally, nationally and then a handful of 'feel good' stories from the station's Total Survey Area (TSA). How can any radio station claim to serve its listeners when it doesn't get out there and talk with them; listen to them, REALLY listen? Today's radio journalists seem to be nothing more than data entry clerks with pens, and radio news having less to do with journalism and more to do with airing 'Greatest Hits' compilations every hour.
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| Our news, courtesy of Bing |
And as for a story on immigration... lol! British radio stations do not run stories or content or permit comments on immigration unless it is to parrot the Government's brainwashing baloney... "Britain's current immigration levels are normal and immigration is good for Britain"! Anyone who thinks differently and seeks a forum to air their views will need to look elsewhere. Unlike Britain's borders, Britain's airwaves, are firmly SHUT on the subject!
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| Controls? LOL! |
Presenters:
And then we have all the jolly radio presenters that are the glue between the quality songs, the ads, the sponsorships, the generic news bulletins, and in the case of BBC local radio... the fluffy "largest marrow grown in the county" segments. How are we supposed to relate to these presenters, think of them as our "friends", when everything that comes out of their mouths is of a hyper, hap-hap-happy nature? When did real life ever get this perfect? Tell me a sad story and make me cry, I'll love you for it! Where is the substance of these people? When is one of them going to grow some genitals and for just once, voice an opinion on something that isn't to do with the 'X Factor', a football match or the 'Oscars'?!
On many stations up and down the country we have the dreaded 'double header' breakfast shows (two presenters, usually a male and female). An opposing view on air between these two usually consists of... he thinks Simon Cowell's engagement to some model is back on - she thinks it isn't. Now you and I have just 20 minutes while the lines open especially for us to text, email or phone through OUR views on this burning issue of the day! Come lunchtime, these "Voices of the community" are in the wine bar patting themselves on the back for a job well done; another great show in the can. Who knows what they think about same sex marriage, immigration, euthanasia and the war on terror, or put another way... the REAL burning issues of the day? The topics that WE are talking about. We, their listeners, are never going to know what they think, because they're too afraid to tell us for fear of upsetting somebody. Their bosses too... afraid of alienating a single listener, and afraid of stirring Ofcom from its slumber.
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| Listening! |
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| "That was Lady Gaga on Yawn FM, your bestest music mix - So, will Pete & Kate get back together? I hope they do, they were so GREAT together. Text in your thoughts on xxxx - Coming up next, a GREAT CLASSIC from the Spice Girls and details of our GREAT competition... Yawn til Dawn - That's all coming up, here on Yawn FM." |
Stations:
And what about all this...
The 200 song playlists. According to radio, throughout the history of recorded music there have only ever been a couple of hundred really good songs worth listening to, EVER! And they were all recorded in the last 2 years, apparently!
The 7 commercials 2 songs - 7 commercials 2 songs - 7 commercials 2 songs - 7 commercials 2 songs. It's repetitive just writing it out.
The rushed 30 second travel bulletins sandwiched between 240 seconds of advertising. Same with the weather.
The nasally presenters that sound like robots with sinus troubles.
The complete discouragement of presenter personality. "That was, this is and coming up will be".
The mass syndication (same output over several stations). Travel across a couple of counties in the same journey and you won't even need to retune. Continuity is assured!
The generic branding. The crazy re-branding... Virgin Radio, now Absolute Radio - Northants 96, now Heart - there are lots of others.
And so it goes, on and on. This is radio today across the United Kingdom. Painfully safe - Generic - Twee - Patronising - Out of touch - Meaningless - POINTLESS!
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| So how do you think WE feel, mate? |
Okay, but stations have lots of listeners don't they?
This bit's a little 'insiderish' but worth sticking with if you can.
RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) is the name under which the habits of you and me as radio listeners are gathered and processed. But controversy has always surrounded the system used to gather the data (Radio Diaries) which includes a lawsuit brought against RAJAR by former TalkSport owner Kelvin MacKenzie. Kelvin's argument was that RAJAR doesn't work; it's "antiquated" and "fatally flawed". He believed TalkSport had far more listeners than RAJAR was reporting. The judge dismissed the case, but is MacKenzie wrong? He isn't the only person within the radio industry that has no confidence in RAJAR!
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| Kelvin MacKenzie - RAJAR is "fatally flawed" |
Every quarter, RAJAR unleash their findings of who's listening to what, listening to who, and for how long. It's a big deal within the radio industry; eagerly awaited by everyone concerned. This month's figures are just out (May 2012) and here are the headlines...
Radio listening in the UK has fallen right across the board, again.
There are now over 500,000 less people listening to radio than there were this time last year.
Half a million people switching off their radios? Oops! Perhaps the random 100,000 or so people that receive a Radio Diary each year - who's ticks in boxes are used to represent the entire nation's listening habits - go figure! - were all on holiday when the diaries arrived. How inconsiderate of them.
Personally, my confidence in RAJAR is best described as shaky. How can I possibly KNOW whether it works or doesn't? I go along with its findings every quarter like most everyone else. Until something better comes along it's what we have, and well defended it is, too, so I'll go along with it, shakily!
But, for a moment, if we think about Kelvin MacKenzie's belief that RAJAR is "fatally flawed", and that it constantly under reported TalkSport's listenership, the under reporting, IF it were true, could surely work the other way... RAJAR could OVERREPORT?
I'll crudely summarise how RAJAR gathers its data...
RAJAR say that around 46 million of us listen to the radio every day in the UK. Included in this number are the countless people who are around a radio but aren't listening to it. You might question that nobody is going to put the radio on, only to not listen to it. But, think about it! Ever worked a shift in a factory? The radio blares out constantly. It's not the workforce that chooses the station but a single person who switches it on, usually the gaffer. Depending on the type of work, nothing can be made-out with any clarity, just some distorted mess. The workforce know it's Radio 1, for example. And they're aware it's that fat bloke in the mornings. But they've no idea what he's banging on about or what songs he's playing. It's a similar thing at the dentist, in the supermarket and in taxis, etc; background noise we haven't chosen. We're not really listening. "Yeah, Moyles, that's the one." And that is exactly what you will write in your Radio Diary when one drops through your letter box. You'll input into that diary what your mind tells you you've heard, but that is NOT what you have chosen to listen to. I'm convinced there is a difference. Actually, I know there is. RAJAR and its masters care nothing about all that. They just want their 'ticks'. The Radio Diary expects you to remember what you've heard and tick the boxes. RAJAR will then work some hocus pocus magicry, and the ticks you supplied now represent several thousand other radio listeners in your area. You have stated that you listen to Chris Moyles on Radio 1 every morning five days a week. So, thanks to you, Moyles, and Radio 1, just gained a mountain of listeners in your area, even though they were never asked what radio station they listen to. It's fair to think a good proportion of them do not listen to radio at all. Well, they do now, according to RAJAR!
But, for a moment, if we think about Kelvin MacKenzie's belief that RAJAR is "fatally flawed", and that it constantly under reported TalkSport's listenership, the under reporting, IF it were true, could surely work the other way... RAJAR could OVERREPORT?
I'll crudely summarise how RAJAR gathers its data...
RAJAR say that around 46 million of us listen to the radio every day in the UK. Included in this number are the countless people who are around a radio but aren't listening to it. You might question that nobody is going to put the radio on, only to not listen to it. But, think about it! Ever worked a shift in a factory? The radio blares out constantly. It's not the workforce that chooses the station but a single person who switches it on, usually the gaffer. Depending on the type of work, nothing can be made-out with any clarity, just some distorted mess. The workforce know it's Radio 1, for example. And they're aware it's that fat bloke in the mornings. But they've no idea what he's banging on about or what songs he's playing. It's a similar thing at the dentist, in the supermarket and in taxis, etc; background noise we haven't chosen. We're not really listening. "Yeah, Moyles, that's the one." And that is exactly what you will write in your Radio Diary when one drops through your letter box. You'll input into that diary what your mind tells you you've heard, but that is NOT what you have chosen to listen to. I'm convinced there is a difference. Actually, I know there is. RAJAR and its masters care nothing about all that. They just want their 'ticks'. The Radio Diary expects you to remember what you've heard and tick the boxes. RAJAR will then work some hocus pocus magicry, and the ticks you supplied now represent several thousand other radio listeners in your area. You have stated that you listen to Chris Moyles on Radio 1 every morning five days a week. So, thanks to you, Moyles, and Radio 1, just gained a mountain of listeners in your area, even though they were never asked what radio station they listen to. It's fair to think a good proportion of them do not listen to radio at all. Well, they do now, according to RAJAR!
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| Tick me Tick ME |
Radio's declining listenership:
As far as less people listening to the radio goes, there are those that have a vested interest in defending the radio industry, naturally, and they will try to spin us a variety of yarns concerning falling listenership numbers... uprising of alternative mediums (Internet) - a change in the way we socialise - we're taking more holidays - we're sitting on the toilet longer than we used to, etc etc. These loyal defenders will utter any nonsense to explain away why you, and me, no longer listen to the radio as much as we used to.
Of course technology changes. We've got more toys to play with now, but many of those toys have radios built into them. I don't think I've owned a mobile phone yet that didn't have a radio. There are sunglasses with radios in now, and even motorcycle crash helmets.
Personally, I'm not falling for it. All these excuses from radio defenders about declining listener numbers. Probably it goes some way to explain dwindling television viewers, but radio isn't television. It's more versatile; flexible; more 'on-the-go'; more mobile. We got radio while we work, shop, travel and relax. We'll have sex with the radio on in the background, but with the TV on? Radio can be a friend to us in a way that television never can. It can keep us company. Serenade us with sweet music. Keep us up-to-date with what's happening in our area. It can guide us around traffic jams and advise us to take an umbrella when we leave the house. Radio is the best friend we ever had, at least, it should be. It used to be, and then, someone went and f*ucked it all up.
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| Friends? |
Yes, we still get all that stuff - the music - the travel reports, etc. We still got 'Dallas' into the early 1990's but no one was watching it. How could that be? Throughout much of the 80's, 'Dallas' was the most watched television show on the planet. It wasn't so much that viewers had changed come the 90's, but more that the show had become boring, predictable and crap.
It hasn't always been this way. There was a time when working in radio was a magical career to embark upon. A time when radio actually respected us, the listener. It cared about what we wanted and worked at giving it to us. And as a result, we listened to radio back then, really listened. A time when radio stations sourced only TALENTED broadcasters, and nurtured that talent. There was a time in this country where it seemed you couldn't fail to have been entertained, educated and informed after having switched on a radio, wherever you lived. The radio we loved didn't just naturally die out, why should it have done? No, it was executed! Terminated!
In part two, we'll try to uncover who is to blame for murdering our best friend and replacing it with the mostly twee, safe, patronising and boring nonsense we endure today. That, and the alternative in its extreme... the 'yoot' 'geezer' 'yob' 'big up' variant that screams its boorish bollocks from underneath the banner of the once mightiest UK radio station of them all... Radio 1. We'll also look at the fast emerging 'Community' stations that might just turn out to be what Chris Moyles assured us he was, and quickly proved he's anything but... THE SAVIOUR OF BRITISH RADIO!
Until then, thanks for reading, and whether you're a radio listener or employee, feel free to leave your views, below.
It hasn't always been this way. There was a time when working in radio was a magical career to embark upon. A time when radio actually respected us, the listener. It cared about what we wanted and worked at giving it to us. And as a result, we listened to radio back then, really listened. A time when radio stations sourced only TALENTED broadcasters, and nurtured that talent. There was a time in this country where it seemed you couldn't fail to have been entertained, educated and informed after having switched on a radio, wherever you lived. The radio we loved didn't just naturally die out, why should it have done? No, it was executed! Terminated!
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| Remember me? |
In part two, we'll try to uncover who is to blame for murdering our best friend and replacing it with the mostly twee, safe, patronising and boring nonsense we endure today. That, and the alternative in its extreme... the 'yoot' 'geezer' 'yob' 'big up' variant that screams its boorish bollocks from underneath the banner of the once mightiest UK radio station of them all... Radio 1. We'll also look at the fast emerging 'Community' stations that might just turn out to be what Chris Moyles assured us he was, and quickly proved he's anything but... THE SAVIOUR OF BRITISH RADIO!
Until then, thanks for reading, and whether you're a radio listener or employee, feel free to leave your views, below.
Tosser!
ReplyDeleteHi.
DeleteCan you be a little more specific?
Thanks for reading.
An interesting article. I will not agree with you that all radio in Britain is rubbish. There are some good stations around. And they are probably fighting these testing economic times just as everyone else!
ReplyDeleteI have subscribed to this blog and look forward to more articles from the author. The 'Ukraine anyone?' article was particularly facination and enjoyable!
Charles, thank you for commenting.
DeleteIf you know of a particular station that isn't guilty of many, if not all of the crimes I've listed then please feel free to return and post here a link for it. Also I'd be keen to hear what is it about that station that you like.
And thanks for subscribing, too.
Very amusingly written. I assume you have worked in the industry? Disgruntled ex employee, by any chance? Career didn't quite reach the dizzy heights you'd always hoped for and believed should have? And what is it you do now to entertain people, Mr Gibson, write this blog?
ReplyDeleteI am one of those radio journos you're slagging off! I work every single hour my station - which I am not going to name here - will give me. Sometimes 60 hours a week. It's true that much of my time is spent in the station gathering news and not, as you so elequently put it, with my arse seperated from my chair and outside, but I still believe that the news I put together (I don't read it on air) is of interest to our listeners and is the best in our TSA.
By the way, our breakfast team do, quite often express oposing views on air that are not always "safe"!
Good luck to you.
Hello.
DeleteThanks for your input.
I'm disgruntled about nothing. I probably went as far in radio as my 'talent' could carry me. It probably carried me further than I deserved.
So why NOT name the station you work for? And why not share a link to its website so that readers can have a listen and make up their own minds!
You say your news is the best in your total survey area and that your breakfast team are not safe... let's have a listen then. IF it's half decent you could gain some new listeners! If it's the same ole same ole then nothing's going to happen if you share that link with us.
What's to lose?
I'm with Mr. G.
ReplyDeleteIf you're proud of your work and your station name it!
Here here.
DeleteThanks for commenting.
So, there is a Daily Visitor Map to the right and up a bit. Click that and see from where people are coming to read this Blog. (I'm humbled by each and every one of them)
Let's have links to UK radio stations posted so that the readers can go to your station's website, have a listen then make up their own minds whether I'm just sprouting a load of tripe or not. Think of the new listeners you could gain!
Posting comments here anonymously is all very well and I appreciate it, but come on, why anon if you're station's output is great?!
i think your going to get alot of flack writting something like this weather all true or not mate but good luck. i am just a listener, but not of any station based here, i listen to radio seagull. try it because you will not find on there all these things this guy has written about here.
ReplyDeleteRadio Seagull? Broadcasts from a ship off the coast of the Netherlands? How interesting.
DeleteThank you for reading and commenting.
"in the case of BBC local radio... the fluffy "largest marrow grown in the county" segments" Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteBut not here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster/
Hello BBC Ulster.
DeleteNo marrows in Northern Ireland, then?
Thank you for reading.
Well how contradictory of you Mr Gibson. In your 'Roseanne Barr Thinks I'm An Areshole" blog - which I think is well written & highly entertaining - you state, "If we've learnt anything in this life, it's that we should never tar everybody with the same brush!" is that not what you have done here, tar every radio journo, presenter and station with the same brush?
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope for your sake that you never intend to work in radio again, because I think you will struggle to gain a presenting gig on any station of note after this!
Hi.
DeleteWhen I wrote that statement I was talking about everybody else not me... I AM allowed to tar everyone (in the case radio) with the same brush.
Naaa, no plans to work in the industry any more.
I thank you for reading and commenting.
Really enjoyed reading this. I am not going to comment further, however.
ReplyDeleteYou mention that you will write about Community Stations in part2. How about taking a look at ours in Bristol. Appreciate if this link is approved and visible as you do say for people to plug their station. Cheers. Keep up the writing because you are very good with words.
http://bcfm.org.uk/
Hello Bristol Community Radio.
DeleteSo, your link's visible!
Thanks for commenting.
Radio 2 is now nothing more than a station where one is very kindly allowed to listen in on a group of overpaid and fairly talentless people having a good time. Evans and his posse in the morning, the dismal old dinosaur Steve Wright in the afternoon and now the bland Simon Mayo and his tea time crew all do more talking and larking about among themselves than attempting to entertain or inform their audience. The range of music on Radio 2 is generally poor and the standard of the speech based areas of the station defy description. Jeremy Vine's show is no more than a contrived slanging match between 'experts' and well chosen callers. In short the whole of Radio 2 is now just Radio 1 for the 30 somethings who have defected. I do have to thank Evans though, without him and his inane rantings in a morning I would not have moved on to Radio 4 for a better standard of discussion, Radio 4extra for decent comedy and drama and the sainted Radio 6 music for decent, (largely) music and presenters with a true interest in their subject. Ratings mean little and are no measure of quality.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that and thanks for reading.
DeleteAn excellent, well-argued Blog that reveals a few sides of radio the consultants, researchers and statisticians don't want the advertisers to hear or see!? WELL DONE!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that we fall for what passes as 'good' radio now. I was 'in' it for 25 years but the consultants and kids seme to think they cannot learn anything from 'old tricks'.
The endlessly growing list of award shows is going in the opposite direction to the shrinking choice (*or variety) radio offers.. While the people in black suits or dresses are patting themselves on the back, the industry cRuMbLEs...
May a few lessons from 'pastologist' might help today's feeble, mono-syllabic breakfast 'crews'....
Hi, Len.
DeleteYou're a 25 year radio veteran? Now THAT'S impressive! Interested to hear what station's you've been involved with? Still in the biz?
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I do feel your frustration, but I fear you are using a language that only some are truly capable of understanding. The rest hear that static that just sits inbetween FM radio stations.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right!
DeleteThanks for your comment.
Hi Danny
ReplyDeleteNot sure I understand the basis for your argument. You state 500,000 people have stopped listening and then go on to explain what you think is wrong. You then question the validity of the very RAJAR stats you yourself are using as a basis to write the article. Apologies if I'm missing something.
Dave, appreciate your input, but I don't think you've paid attention, friend!
Delete1) RAJAR is included (how could I write this without including it?) but it's not the "basis" of this article. I have listed a billion and one things that are wrong with radio in this country. Together, they are the basis, the middle, the whole, and everything.
2) I have written this with the premise that RAJAR is kinda ACCURATE, not that it isn't. I just felt firstly, that readers unfamiliar with how RAJAR sort of works should have it summarised for them and, secondly, that I would mention RAJAR's detractors, and throw a devilish question mark into the mix while I was at it. Here is what I said...
"Thinking about Kelvin MacKenzie's belief that RAJAR is "fatally flawed", and that it constantly under reported TalkSport's listenership, the under reporting, IF IT WERE TRUE, COULD surely work the other way... RAJAR could OVERREPORT."
My confidence in RAJAR is best described as 'shaky', but who am I to categorically state that RAJAR doesn't work? And I don't!
I thank you for taking the trouble to come here, read and comment today.
Poor Len, he's like your grandad who can't stand all that "thump, thump, thump" music. He doesn't understand the lyrics anymore and wonders where all the nice melodies have gone.
ReplyDeleteLen, in all honesty we've much to be thankful to you and the many others who were pioneers of UK commercial radio. That was a time when it was amateur and finding its feet. These days it's more about being a professional business than buying jingle packages. You may not like that fact, but it's true.
But it's always good to hear someone commenting on UK radio who doesn't even live here or listen to stations like Capital or Radio 1. I guess it's all that thump, thump, thump music.
James, I absolutely discourage readers to my Blog attacking other readers. But this did make me smile, actually I chuckled.
DeleteDo NOT engage in such practises again, please.
Thank you for reading.
And apologies to you, Len, but it was funny.
Sorry, but youve achieved WHAT, in radio exactly because ive never heard of you!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteChris Moyles has a big bank account and a top notch career, and you?
No Bull Ere, hey, me too!
DeleteI love the shed load of exclamation marks; you really hammered your point home, huh?
So, only high achievers can state facts and voice opinions? There is probably a job going for you in the North Korean Government if you're up for it!
I bunged some stuff up on Youtube last month, mostly for a laugh. Excerpts from various shows, some speech radio and a few radio comedy skits I've written and used on radio. So, just for you Mr No Bull Ere, I'll give you the link. May I recommend "The Dole Money Rap", I think it might be just your cup of tea!
Thanks for commenting.
Here's your link...
http://www.youtube.com/user/SirDannyBoy1
Thanks for a humorous and well-written post.
ReplyDeleteI agree with much of what you say, especially regarding the state of commercial radio, to which I am going to confine my comments (as by and large I do not have any major complaints about BBC output, either locally or nationally).
There is little doubt that UK licenced commercial radio has massively changed since its inception in 1973. Indeed, when the first tranche of nineteen stations were opened in the mid-1970s it wasn't called commercial radio at all, but 'Independent Local Radio' (ILR). The massive changes to the sector over the last four decades, I believe are a fairly accurate reflection of the wider socio-economic changes in the UK, particularly since 1979, and particularly in respect of the liberalisation of the economy and the breakdown of the post war social democratic and economic consensus.
This state consensus revealed itself in ILR as the Independent Broadcasting Authority. It's regulations were far-reaching, some would say necessary, some would say stifling. They involved a public service obligation remit (basically a variety of output designed to accommodate the entire local community) for ILR that had to be balanced against the need for stations to make a profit. Regarding the structure of the sector, mergers, acquisitions and syndication were largely disallowed, and station ownership was mainly local. In line with IBA regulations, each station had an advisory board consisting of individuals from the local community who could reflect listener opinion.
As we have seen in so many sectors from energy, water, and telecoms to supermarkets, loose laissez-faire 'light touch' regulation has not in radio led to the desired outcome envisaged by so many of the early pioneers, many of whom were much in favour of "freeing private enterprise". Instead history has shown, certainly from the listener's point of view that the baby was thrown out with the bath water.
The abolition of the IBA by the Broadcasting Act 1990 has not in radio (and indeed in television) led to increased choice or quality for the 'consumer'. Rather, the exact opposite has happened: the deregulated market has led to the licensing of too many stations all competing for a share of finite advertising revenue.
In terms of output, such a fragmented market has conspired to produce a situation where few if any commercial stations are in a position to invest in speech, news or creative specialist programming. In short, the lack of regulation has been a charter for blandness, mediocrity and for music policy targeted at the demograph with high disposable income i.e. mainly the youth market.
In terms of the sector's structure the decline of regulation since the mid-1980s has inevitably produced not a variety of local ownership but instead a history of mergers, acquisitions, and monopolies, where some individuals have become very rich, at the expense of variety for the listener.
It’s one of life’s little ironies that those espousing “choice” through the removal of regulation in the commercial radio sector may, however well-intentioned, have inadvertently contributed to its present malaise. It is of no surprise that some of the early ILR pioneers are coming to the conclusion that they may have been incorrect vis-a-vis the issue of regulation. Fallible, and perhaps over-bearing at times it may have been, but it could well be that far from constraining commercial radio and detracting from it, it was the IBA that actually contributed in no small way to its early success and what many listeners miss –a hugely popular, distinctive commercial radio station reflecting the character of, and broadcasting from your local area that was yours.
To quote the strapline for Radio Tees 257 in the 1970s and early 1980s, ILR was indeed “A friend who was always near”. Sadly it isn’t anymore.
Andy, a good chunk of important information there and I thank you for taking the time and effort to write it.
DeleteAnd what a sweet strapline from yesteryear "A friend who is always near".
I think I have come up with a modern day equivalent, particularly fitting for all the poor bastards who are forced to listen to radio at their workplaces... !The enemy within".
Thank you once again, Andy.
Hi from Darlington!
ReplyDeleteYou should be writing comedy for television! We are laughing so hard at some of this but best is your portrayal of today's "yoots"..................."Yeah, we change a little with each passing decade. We've only to look at Britain's illiterate 'yoots' to know that much; were WE as thick as today's youth when we were their age?! I don't know about you but I can't even understand the language they're speaking these days... “diss iz vexing me man, ya get me? Y we ent got sum1 gud repreztin us in euro choon championship? who diss ingleburt dink? he older dan ma dad, even older dan ma babee muvers dad. i'm shame man, serious, ya get me?" Is this lingo being taught in schools?!".........SO SO FUNNY!
Any one and everyone welcome over at Darlingtons No1 station Alpha 103.2 http://www.alpha1032.com
Keep up the good work.
Hello Alpha 103.2 in Darlington.
DeleteI am thanking you.
I'll agree with pretty much all of this except that if you are going to suggest or even clearly state in your part 2 that the community stations alone might just be The Saviour of British Radio, and it looks very much like you are then I don't agree with you. What about good quality internet stations? Why aren't you mentioning them?
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy reading this this afternoon and I look forward to part 2, but please don't forget about Internet radio!
Many thanks.
www.morethan40.co.uk
Hello More Than 40 Radio.
DeleteEverything's gonna be all right, don't worry! And it doesn't really matter what I write; I'm not some big mover and shaker in the industry that can influence or change anything.
Listening now! First song I hear... "Here Comes The Sun" Beatles. Love your staps... "And NOW, another hour of GREAT music from REAL musicians" - "More than 40, the station you've been waiting for, with GROWN UP presenters" Very good.
I'm more a Soul - R n B - man myself so I doubt I will listen for too long but who cares, do keep up the good work.
And thank you for reading and commenting.
Sir Danny Boy: I'm not 'slow to come forward' when it comes to radio debates; my 'radio credentials' are on Facebook and Twitter
ReplyDelete:-)
'James' : "we've much to be thankful to you and the many others who were pioneers of UK commercial radio. That was a time when it was amateur and finding its feet"
Thanks for the compliment, but as regards 'finding its feet' YOU are WRONG. 300 people outside a local radio station back in 1985 to see a star visit, IN THE AREA IT BROADCAST TO, beats an invented 'boy band' going anonymously into a London building that houses endless stations that all sound the same as they gullibly follow mis-leading and poorly based 'research'.
In the 1970s/80s ILR stations had much larger audiences than now by a factor of 4, and everyone KNEW THEIR STATION NAMES.
Nowadays with the syndicated stations taking over everywhere all they know is a 'brand'. and they know it's not local, so it has NO listener allegiance or loyalty.
"It's more about being a professional business than buying jingle packages"
Yes, and doesn't it show and SOUND like it!
Jingles with NO lyrics, poorly sung by non-professional singers in London rather than by proper jingle companies.
"It's always good to hear someone commenting on UK radio who doesn't even live here".
I feel perfectly able to bring my decades of experience to any radio discussion my friend. My geographical location hardly diminshes that, particularly as a lot of UK radio is now owned by GERMANS, or run by Australians or millionaire's sons. In my day the 'board' of every ILR was LOCAL, and we got 25-38% reach with 'our' FM and AM radio...
Eat your (over-researched) syndicated heart out !
"all that thump, thump, thump music"
... Must have driven YOU deaf; you clearly have NO idea about what makes 'good' radio...... it's not Media Studies or research...
Len Groat
Len, thanks for returning.
DeleteYou're a wealth of information you are. Did you read what Andy added to the discussion?
Howard Stern kicks the ass of any Brit radio or TV presenter!
ReplyDeleteAn OK blog.
Thanks.
Maybe, but my dad's bigger than yours!
ReplyDeleteI'll work harder at the Blog.
Thank you for commenting.
A VERY good read there. A very interesting view on UK radio. I agree with many of the points raised. I was very involved in local radio between the ages of 15 - 22, it was a career I wanted, but it never worked out, I had a great mentor who taught me everything I know and pushed me in the right direction, but I just didn’t have 'it'. I have gone on and have a successful career in my chosen path and wouldn’t change it for anything, well, maybe a lottery win. I feel I offer a different view on Radio because I know how it works without being directly involved and a little bit of experience; from them days to now I can't listen to the radio as a 'pure' listener.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this doesn’t stop me having my view. Firstly, RAJAR, I think is a big load of shit, since day one when I learnt about it to now, I do not think it is accurate, I have never had a 'Radio Dairy' nor do I know anyone that has ever had one, in the points raised in this blog, it is a fair portrayal as there is no possible way to understand how many people turn on the radio to tune into a radio station THEY have chosen to listen to. I also agree with the journalism and news side of things, not many controversial things are bought up, it makes me want to buy a boat and start broadcasting from the seas that separate us and the rest of Europe, as it was done years before.
I'll be honest here, I don't think radio has much life these days and I think that life is mainly concealed to the cars that we drive, I think the Internet and music channels have taken away from Radio in the home, with so much choice out there Radio doesn’t fair too high. Even Social Media plays a role in this. I'm not in the loop these days, but it would be interesting to know, how many (if any) local radio stations have closed within the past ten years? (Or even 'Acquired' and added to a Network) It was hard enough for sales back when I knew radio, never mind in these conditions that we live in today.
But fair to say, all of the above would have contributing factor to the demise of UK radio. It’s not all doom and gloom I suppose, I am happy to admit I listen to Radio 1 on my way and way home from work on every week day and I enjoy it, no way would I tune into local radio to have most of that travel time taken up by adverts, I am connected to local community groups and ‘what’s on guides’ through Facebook, so this also takes away my need to tune in. Moyles isn’t the best, granted, but I appreciate the team behind him and the production that goes into that show, it makes me laugh most mornings, but would love to see the boundary pushed a little more, and in comparison to local radio he pushes it much further!
Well I hope you understand what I am trying to get across and get down in words :-) Si
Simon, your input very appreciated.
DeleteYou know, there are many people on radio up and down the country earning good livings who also don't have "it". It doesn't seem to be a factor in today's radio industry whether someone has 'talent' or not, just whether they can read a liner card with a degree of clarity or print off news stories from the Internet.
Why don't you try again in radio? You spoke of buying a boat as a throwaway comment. Well, one of the commenters above you kindly left a link for Radio Seagull. I've gone over and had a look around their site and also had a listen. Do you have the facility, or can get it up and running to record a couple of hours radio show at home? They are looking for presenters! I think all you will need is a PC (obviously) a decent mic, some music the station will allow or wants and an editing prog, maybe the free open source 'Audacity' (as good as Cool Edit)
Why not scroll back up for the link and have a nose around their site as a first step?
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Oh what joy it has been reading this I can tell you. I gave up listening to the so-called professional stations long ago. I live in North west Leicestershire and we have a great local community radio station - Hermitage FM on 99.2 if anyone's interested. All the presenters are volunteers, they get kids involved and offer them training, they get 100,000 plus listeners each week and generally speaking their ethos - to inform, educate and entertain is closely met.
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying what so many people are thinking!
Listener, thanks for commenting.
DeleteA question... You say that Hermitage FM is a community station, and gets 100,000 plus listeners a week, how do you know? RAJAR doesn't measure community stations!
A Very interesting read Sir Danny! My opinion about UK radio - for what it's worth - is probably a little tainted, having worked in the industry for over 13 years, then being made redundant! However, this aside, here is my view..... A lot of what you say does make sense - I agree that, certainly the majority of commercial radio, is bland and pointless, which is the reason i stopped listening a long time ago. I 'dip in' now and then just to see if anything has changed.....it hasn't! For me, the problem started in the 90's, when we saw the ILR's absorbed by bigger companies! This is when they started to lose their identities. I fully understand that commercial radio is also a business, and that it has to make money, but somewhere along the line, the FUN was taken out and the BUSINESS part of it took over. Fast forward a few years - and it seems one of the main problems being faced - not only by radio stations, but other sectors too - is money. Or lack of it? Whether stations really struggle with money or whether they want bigger profits...I DON'T KNOW. We've seen over the years fewer staff taking on more work - and i beleive this is one of the problems. Going over your previous points, I think there are lots of journalists who genuinly would like to do a lot more - but can't, or aren't allowed. I mean, if the station can't afford more than 1 journo, how is he or she going to have the time to do any fire engine chasing? The realty is, there are less journo's covering more stations As for presenters? There are certainly talented ones out there - some more than others. Again though, is it money which is at the forefront of this argument? Imagine 2 presenters - slightly more talented Presenter A - but it is Presenter B demanding a much lower salary? Who is the station going to hire? Stations don't exactly help themselves do they? Even now...look how many presenters and voice overs are wanted...for FREE! Look at the vacancies on Media UK! Another issue is 'celebrity' presenters - obviouisly costing a bit more, but if you've got a network of stations, and you can hire one celeb, then it's money well spent? Would we REALLY prefer listening to 3 hours of Jemima Jellylegs from 'The Only Way Is Eastbourne' than Dale Doubledecks down the road? Which one would be more LOCAL? You mention presenters being safe. I was once called 'a safe pair of hands!' Given the fines that Ofcom can dish out thesedays - safe is all i could ever afford to be! It only takes one complaint for managers to get a bit twitchy...I guess this is maybe why some DJ's sound bored - they have they're wings clipped so to speak. I agree with the 200 songs argument - one thing which used to frustrate me as a presenter - and a listener. How many hits did Shania Twain have? JUST Man, i feel like a woman? Really? Of course, the argument is - listeners only hear a small percentage of the songs during a listening period anyway? So, those 200 songs could theoretically last for weeks! 7 commercials - 2 songs - 7 commercials - 2 songs...agree or not, again this comes down to money surely? They have to pay their bills? No-one LIKES listening to adverts....do they?
ReplyDeleteFor me - commercial radio is just background radio now - designed to be easy on the ear, and relevant to the 'target' listener. In my case, my former station - a 38 year old family woman called Louise! And i'm guessing that debate about who was booted off X Factor at the weekend WAS actually relevant? Am I disgruntled? A lttle, perhaps. More dis-illusioned really. My career of choice finished as quick as it started, due to no fault of my own, but that said, I went into an industry which i knew could be volatile. I was suprised to last as long as i did! I wouldn't want to be starting out in radio as a 'newbee' right now, neither would i want to go back into it - but respect and good luck to all who continue to 'ride those airwaves'! Yee-har! :-)
An interesting post, Ian, thanks for it.
DeleteInsightful comments like this, from a former 'insider' help to maintain a balanced debate on radio as it is today, and as it once was, in my opinion.
You hardly mention music,However the word immigration pops up a surprising amount of times in a blog apparently bemoaning the decline of radio. Then you put a pic of f***ing DLT up to illustrate its "Golden Age"? FFS.
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