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Radio Two Thinking ... Or Lack Of It.
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I read today that Paul O'Grady has left his Radio Two show in protest at being doubled up with Rob Beckett as part of Radio Two's bizarre notion that it needs to provide 'younger' presenters.
I am honestly mystified as to the rationale behind their current policy which is seeing the replacement of Steve Wright.
I am not interested in debating the popularity of any presenter, each has their own fans and detractors, which is how art works.
I am seriously curious to know why Radio Two bosses feel that their station will benefit from taking out established popular presenters, and replacing them with new people who's suitability for the role appears to based first and foremost o being younger than the person they are replacing.
I am at a loss to understand the reasoning behind this approach, because the age of the presenter has nothing whatsoever to do with their popularity, aside from the simple fact of building a large, loyal, and longstanding audience over decades, a majority of which will turn elsewhere when the change is made.
I am not suggesting that anyone has an automatic job for life, but this appears to be change for the sake of some bizarre notion that 'younger' presenters will in turn bring in younger audiences, which flies in the face of the huge listening figures of the outgoing presenters.
Audiences don't choose radio presenters on the basis of their age, they choose them because they like them, or not.
I am at an age when some radio presenters are younger than my children, some are years older than me, but none are listened to on that basis, why would they?
I have been a party DJ for more than forty-five years. and not once has any prospective client asked how old I am - why would they? Why would it matter?
Radio Two got its bottom kicked when it tried to use 'equality' as a reason to lump the highly successful Simon Mayo with the lumpen bore Jo Whiley. The show was a flop, Mayo left, Whiley was returned to her evening slot.
It appears they don't learn lessons, but why should they? They are not accountable, and they get paid whether their weird ideas work or not.
We will sit back and watch as Scott Mills loses Steve Wright's audience, and fails to replace it with his own, same for Rob Beckett if he gets the Paul O'Grady slot full time.
Any thoughts as to why this is happening?
I am honestly mystified as to the rationale behind their current policy which is seeing the replacement of Steve Wright.
I am not interested in debating the popularity of any presenter, each has their own fans and detractors, which is how art works.
I am seriously curious to know why Radio Two bosses feel that their station will benefit from taking out established popular presenters, and replacing them with new people who's suitability for the role appears to based first and foremost o being younger than the person they are replacing.
I am at a loss to understand the reasoning behind this approach, because the age of the presenter has nothing whatsoever to do with their popularity, aside from the simple fact of building a large, loyal, and longstanding audience over decades, a majority of which will turn elsewhere when the change is made.
I am not suggesting that anyone has an automatic job for life, but this appears to be change for the sake of some bizarre notion that 'younger' presenters will in turn bring in younger audiences, which flies in the face of the huge listening figures of the outgoing presenters.
Audiences don't choose radio presenters on the basis of their age, they choose them because they like them, or not.
I am at an age when some radio presenters are younger than my children, some are years older than me, but none are listened to on that basis, why would they?
I have been a party DJ for more than forty-five years. and not once has any prospective client asked how old I am - why would they? Why would it matter?
Radio Two got its bottom kicked when it tried to use 'equality' as a reason to lump the highly successful Simon Mayo with the lumpen bore Jo Whiley. The show was a flop, Mayo left, Whiley was returned to her evening slot.
It appears they don't learn lessons, but why should they? They are not accountable, and they get paid whether their weird ideas work or not.
We will sit back and watch as Scott Mills loses Steve Wright's audience, and fails to replace it with his own, same for Rob Beckett if he gets the Paul O'Grady slot full time.
Any thoughts as to why this is happening?
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I'm as bemused as you, Andy. I listen to R2 quite a lot - up to 12 every weekday - don't even give JK time to utter a single word - then from about 2pm - 7pm most weekdays.
I tune in less at the weekends, particularly on a Sunday when Steve Wright's prog is the only one i listen to before switching to local radio.
I haven't read anywhere that these presenters are losing their audiences, or that the 'replacements are on much lower salaries. It therefore remains a bit of a mystery as to why the changes apparently need to be made?
I tune in less at the weekends, particularly on a Sunday when Steve Wright's prog is the only one i listen to before switching to local radio.
I haven't read anywhere that these presenters are losing their audiences, or that the 'replacements are on much lower salaries. It therefore remains a bit of a mystery as to why the changes apparently need to be made?
Radio 2 does need a damn good shake up and I'm pleased to hear that things are being done (especially the ousting of Steve Wright who, IMHO, is a good 15 years past his 'best by' date). But you're right, DJ's take their audiences with them. I listen to Chris Evans on Virgin in a morning and Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio on the way home.
I have no data to show whether younger DJs bring younger audiences (do you, AH?) so can't really comment on this save to say it would seem to make sense, superficially.
I used to be a R2 devotee but it probably accounts for less than 5% of my radio listening time now and I think I probably represent the feelings of a lot of people my age.
Trying to listen to Zoe 'ooooooh luvvleee, telebox' Ball on a morning is painful. And I believe she's one of the highest paid BBC presenters! Maybe therein lies the issue?
I have no data to show whether younger DJs bring younger audiences (do you, AH?) so can't really comment on this save to say it would seem to make sense, superficially.
I used to be a R2 devotee but it probably accounts for less than 5% of my radio listening time now and I think I probably represent the feelings of a lot of people my age.
Trying to listen to Zoe 'ooooooh luvvleee, telebox' Ball on a morning is painful. And I believe she's one of the highest paid BBC presenters! Maybe therein lies the issue?
Zacs - // I have no data to show whether younger DJs bring younger audiences (do you, AH?) so can't really comment on this save to say it would seem to make sense, superficially. //
I have no data, but the perceived wisdom is that young people listen far less to radio, and those that do listen to radio that is tailor-made for their tastes, and that is never ever going to be Radio Two.
As to the notion that it ' would seem to make sense, superficially' - when people are being paid six-figure salaries out of public funding to make these decisions, I think that 'seeming to make sense superficially' is simply not good enough.
I have no data, but the perceived wisdom is that young people listen far less to radio, and those that do listen to radio that is tailor-made for their tastes, and that is never ever going to be Radio Two.
As to the notion that it ' would seem to make sense, superficially' - when people are being paid six-figure salaries out of public funding to make these decisions, I think that 'seeming to make sense superficially' is simply not good enough.
Zacs - // Radio 2 does need a damn good shake up and I'm pleased to hear that things are being done (especially the ousting of Steve Wright who, IMHO, is a good 15 years past his 'best by' date). //
I am intrigued - in what way is Mr Wright 'past his "best by" date' and indeed, is there such a thing?
Actually, in terms of Terry Wogan and Jimmy Young, there was indeed!
Both had evolved into caricatures of themselves, using speech patterns not familiar to anyone with English as a first language.
But I see no discernible change in Mr Wright's presenting style, which clearly appeals to millions of people.
I am intrigued - in what way is Mr Wright 'past his "best by" date' and indeed, is there such a thing?
Actually, in terms of Terry Wogan and Jimmy Young, there was indeed!
Both had evolved into caricatures of themselves, using speech patterns not familiar to anyone with English as a first language.
But I see no discernible change in Mr Wright's presenting style, which clearly appeals to millions of people.
'the perceived wisdom is that young people listen far less to radio, and those that do listen to radio that is tailor-made for their tastes, and that is never ever going to be Radio Two.'
I agree that this seems to be the case, which would seem to suggest any changes are flogging a dead horse. My own experience (of listining to former R2 DJs elsewhere) would also seem to support this theory.
''seeming to make sense superficially' is simply not good enough.'
I agree. It's the comedy W1A come to life. There's many a true word spoken in jest.
I agree that this seems to be the case, which would seem to suggest any changes are flogging a dead horse. My own experience (of listining to former R2 DJs elsewhere) would also seem to support this theory.
''seeming to make sense superficially' is simply not good enough.'
I agree. It's the comedy W1A come to life. There's many a true word spoken in jest.
Zacs - // 'in what way is Mr Wright 'past his "best by" date'
We're drifting into personal opinions again here, AH which you wanted to avoid, but I think he's the most un-funny, cliché ridden, tired example of a DJ I can think of. His 'Serious Jockin' thing was the final straw for me. //
I entirely appreciate that you dislike Mr Wright's presenting style, especially his 'SJ' section, but as i am sure we both understand, that does not negate his popularity, or the bafflement at the perceived need to get rid of him for someone else.
We're drifting into personal opinions again here, AH which you wanted to avoid, but I think he's the most un-funny, cliché ridden, tired example of a DJ I can think of. His 'Serious Jockin' thing was the final straw for me. //
I entirely appreciate that you dislike Mr Wright's presenting style, especially his 'SJ' section, but as i am sure we both understand, that does not negate his popularity, or the bafflement at the perceived need to get rid of him for someone else.
This makes interesting reading:
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