Distracting DJs

[Old Codger Fan]

How are people getting on with the regular evening content on R1?  - I'm thinking especially of Clara Amfo and Jack Saunders.  

I don't mind Clara's presenting style at all - although I do wonder why there has to be a continuous stream of music underneath everything she says ('beds', I think they're called - the geeks on here will confirm).   Ultimately, there's too much rap in the selections for me to stay engaged - but, who I am to say? - Maybe that's a true reflection of the new music being put out there ...

The musical selections in Jack's show are markedly more, well, musical, and I commend his energy & enthusiasm, but sadly, there's just something about the way he phrases things that rubs me up the wrong way (what's all this stuff about 'being locked in' to a 'club'??? - cut it out, man!) ...

.. Just some random thoughts - I expect others hear things in a very different way ...

[BBCAaron]

On 3/23/2022 at 10:55 AM, Old Codger Fan said:

How are people getting on with the regular evening content on R1?  - I'm thinking especially of Clara Amfo and Jack Saunders.  

I don't mind Clara's presenting style at all - although I do wonder why there has to be a continuous stream of music underneath everything she says ('beds', I think they're called - the geeks on here will confirm).   Ultimately, there's too much rap in the selections for me to stay engaged - but, who I am to say? - Maybe that's a true reflection of the new music being put out there ...

The musical selections in Jack's show are markedly more, well, musical, and I commend his energy & enthusiasm, but sadly, there's just something about the way he phrases things that rubs me up the wrong way (what's all this stuff about 'being locked in' to a 'club'??? - cut it out, man!) ...

.. Just some random thoughts - I expect others hear things in a very different way ...

I mean we all find some bug bares with phrases or ways some things are said by broadcasters even some of our favourite. I do find sometimes empathising the fact that there’s fusion of genres and over ramping E some ways of the fresh exciting new music there isn’t a bad thing too much. I mean given how much rap is being released and popular is understanding how that gets played a lot think some of the new shows may fix the off set of genres. Think difficult to balance out.

Sometimes I find Clara still lacks the confidence and the natural fit of that time slot. Think for the new music flagship time slot needs the authority to present new music and interview things in a way that lacks something that Zane Lowe and Annie Macmanus had. Think Jack Saunders would’ve fit that timeslot. Think Clara Amfo didn’t have the background of presenting a new music show. I find sometimes she’s a broadcaster looking for words than having them to deliver still feels like a cover show.

Think having Charlie Hedges and Vick and Katie doing a hottest record feels too much like track of the day than what it was about premiering exclusive content 

[Old Codger Fan]

15 hours ago, BBCAaron said:

I mean we all find some bug bares with phrases or ways some things are said by broadcasters even some of our favourite....

Granted. Would be good to know what the rationale for this particular approach is, though ... Here's a random example: 16th March show, 11 minutes in -     

a) Nice description of a nice dance track, but -

b) Why he is still hyping the show (via a 'Katie' - who is apparently 'locked in for the buzz') at this point? -

c) 'A 'Gem' is then 'locked in' to the 'future fan club' (I've now forgotten what the previous record was) -

d) Why is it so important for us to leave our names for a 'shout out' past 8pm? - This ain't Steve Wright In The Afternoon; we're supposed to be intrigued enough by the music selections -

e) All I'm told about the next record is 'This is Self Esteem' - I've now got a nasty feeling that this is all I'm going to be told ...

f) Sure enough, at 14:21, we're informed that 'Tash' is bopping around the kitchen to it - and he's still bloody 'welcoming' us to the 'club' -

g) It's not until 15:20 that he's varied the dynamics in his voice (proof that it can be done!) and starting talking in one stream of consciousness about the actual merits of a record! - Keep this up, please! -

h) 18:08 - Still sounding good - But then notice how the new dynamic goes straight out of the window again at 18:16 - Again, he's WAY more excited about a 'Ben' being 'locked in' all the way from Australia ..

SWITCH OFF TIME. THIS ISN'T ADDING ANYTHING TO SOME (PRETTY GOOD) MUSIC - IT'S DETRACTING FROM IT.

 

[BBCAaron]

3 hours ago, Old Codger Fan said:

Granted. Would be good to know what the rationale for this particular approach is, though ... Here's a random example: 16th March show, 11 minutes in -     

a) Nice description of a nice dance track, but -

b) Why he is still hyping the show (via a 'Katie' - who is apparently 'locked in for the buzz') at this point? -

c) 'A 'Gem' is then 'locked in' to the 'future fan club' (I've now forgotten what the previous record was) -

d) Why is it so important for us to leave our names for a 'shout out' past 8pm? - This ain't Steve Wright In The Afternoon; we're supposed to be intrigued enough by the music selections -

e) All I'm told about the next record is 'This is Self Esteem' - I've now got a nasty feeling that this is all I'm going to be told ...

f) Sure enough, at 14:21, we're informed that 'Tash' is bopping around the kitchen to it - and he's still bloody 'welcoming' us to the 'club' -

g) It's not until 15:20 that he's varied the dynamics in his voice (proof that it can be done!) and starting talking in one stream of consciousness about the actual merits of a record! - Keep this up, please! -

h) 18:08 - Still sounding good - But then notice how the new dynamic goes straight out of the window again at 18:16 - Again, he's WAY more excited about a 'Ben' being 'locked in' all the way from Australia ..

SWITCH OFF TIME. THIS ISN'T ADDING ANYTHING TO SOME (PRETTY GOOD) MUSIC - IT'S DETRACTING FROM IT.

 

I get the understanding of the frustration with the phrase ‘locked in’ as phrase whereby used over decades by presenters like Lowe and Westwood but even then was online listening when they were on the station and with the BBC Sounds locked in isn’t something that quite works. I remember when Lowe started on Apple Music with Beats 1 he initially on his new music and music artist interview show had a shout your town feature highlighting could be listening in New Zealand, Wales, Los Angeles but now has been quietly rested over time I feel its no bad thing to shout our listeners who are tuning in on an evening show but as the show has been on air in that time slot for sometime maybe to evolve that text and tweets would be read out in terms of thoughts related to tracks and artists being played. Noticed he does a NFT listener star feature which kind of feels out of place do feel good energy but agree that tone of introducing tracks needs changing as some evolution in show presentation 

[Joe]

Sorry, OP, but I think your username is appropriate in this case.

I do get why you find it grating but – high energy can be that way. I'm a fan!

[BBCAaron]

Yes think one reservation do find that Jack Saunders should be on as the first presenter of the evening when future sounds programming kicks in the right energy that would work when people are getting home from work or making tea to. Sort of energy that would build up rest of evenings programming.

[Old Codger Fan]

@BBCAaron Well observed .

[vorti]

About Jack's 'Future Fan Club' obsession, yeah, you're right. Personally it never really annoyed me, but i can totally understand if it did someone else. Now that I really think of it, Zane also used to do something similar ('WHO'S ON BOARD 81199!?!?!?!'), but i was only maybe the first 20 minutes (and played songs that needed less introduction anyway) and after that the show became calmer and he talked much more in depth about songs. My theory: Jack is a bit of a social media addict and tries to grab the attention of other social media addicts... certainly a strategy to gain listeners... If he manages to get kids off t*kt*k and into radio, I'm not even mad.

About Clara and rap: Like it or not, rap seems to be the most popular genre for years now, and it would be out of touch from R1 to ignore that. I'm kinda sick of it by now but that doesn't mean much because I'm not even close to being in the target audience (language barrier, vastly different culture). But every time I hear a song on daytime radio that has...

1. a dull, monotone beat that puts you to sleep, so there's nothing musically interesting in it
2. every second word muted out, so it's close to impossible to understand anything, even if i tried to
3. a catchy hook which is either obviously stolen or tailored to t*kt*k or both

...I ask myself is this really the best they've got? No melody, no lyrics, a lazy sample at best. These probably sound fine on funny meme videos or just simply uncensored, but are god awful on radio. At least corporate mediahacks like ABCDEFU had an acceptable radio edit. (Sadly, the answer to this is also my theory from earlier...)

[BBCAaron]

1 hour ago, vorti said:

About Jack's 'Future Fan Club' obsession, yeah, you're right. Personally it never really annoyed me, but i can totally understand if it did someone else. Now that I really think of it, Zane also used to do something similar ('WHO'S ON BOARD 81199!?!?!?!'), but i was only maybe the first 20 minutes (and played songs that needed less introduction anyway) and after that the show became calmer and he talked much more in depth about songs. My theory: Jack is a bit of a social media addict and tries to grab the attention of other social media addicts... certainly a strategy to gain listeners... If he manages to get kids off t*kt*k and into radio, I'm not even mad.

About Clara and rap: Like it or not, rap seems to be the most popular genre for years now, and it would be out of touch from R1 to ignore that. I'm kinda sick of it by now but that doesn't mean much because I'm not even close to being in the target audience (language barrier, vastly different culture). But every time I hear a song on daytime radio that has...

1. a dull, monotone beat that puts you to sleep, so there's nothing musically interesting in it
2. every second word muted out, so it's close to impossible to understand anything, even if i tried to
3. a catchy hook which is either obviously stolen or tailored to t*kt*k or both

...I ask myself is this really the best they've got? No melody, no lyrics, a lazy sample at best. These probably sound fine on funny meme videos or just simply uncensored, but are god awful on radio. At least corporate mediahacks like ABCDEFU had an acceptable radio edit. (Sadly, the answer to this is also my theory from earlier...)

Interms of the latest commission of music specialist programming yet to come into place the answer to the rap saturation has been answered and probably what will be played in the new rock and alternative programming may drip down to Clara’s show in her summaries and playing of the songs that are being played across specialist that get picked up for the main programme that fits a more mainstream curation.

Think in terms of what Radio 1’s specialist programming on covering beyond daytime on scocial media. As made clear before needs bit of reflecting and fixing as think ‘Future Fan Club’ is one idea from Jack Saunders to solve the matter.

I think Radio 1 got Jack Saunders, Katie Thistleton, Chris Stark etc attune with social media and maybe that the presenters should have more control over the social media and doing varying interactive features. I think if it was to be more of on-air wise reading out comments reviewing and reflecting on the songs playing and how they excited by the new track playing and if seen artist live any questions for the artists 

[Old Codger Fan]

Quote

But every time I hear a song on daytime radio that has...

1. a dull, monotone beat that puts you to sleep, so there's nothing musically interesting in it
2. every second word muted out, so it's close to impossible to understand anything, even if i tried to
3. a catchy hook which is either obviously stolen or tailored to t*kt*k or both

...I ask myself is this really the best they've got? No melody, no lyrics, a lazy sample at best. 

@vorti- Again, brilliantly put ...

Although, in fairness, good mixture being played tonight, certainly from 7pm ...

[vorti]

On 3/30/2022 at 8:49 PM, Old Codger Fan said:

Although, in fairness, good mixture being played tonight, certainly from 7pm ...

Jack mentiones every now and then that the show's goal is to let everyone tuning in hear at least one new song they really like or becomes their new favourite. What I like the most in these shows that for me this has been actually true. That's my main reason for being forgiving about  his shoutout addiction.

 

[BBCAaron]

7 minutes ago, vorti said:

Jack mentiones every now and then that the show's goal is to let everyone tuning in hear at least one new song they really like or becomes their new favourite. What I like the most in these shows that for me this has been actually true. That's my main reason for being forgiving about  his shoutout addiction.

 

Think its good to aspire to find new favourites but looking at the playlist some replenishing track selections more frequently and maybe trying to featuring more artists. Think it should be maybe a few first time plays and maybe getting bit more niche at times. It’s like recently notice the track selections on future sounds are sometimes tracks that are established on the playlist on daytime. Think there maybe a broader range of genres covered in specialist shows and maybe some of BBC Introducing stuff in there. 

[BBCAaron]

With autumn BBC Rock Introducing launches and Radio 1’s Rock Show moves to a Monday evening. I wonder if autumn this year that they like Radio 1 Happy or Radio 1 Relax do a day to promote the new shows and schedule changes and plug the Amplified Back to Back stream

[Old Codger Fan]

Jack Saunders when sitting-in for Clara = Not remotely irritating. Go figure ...

[anothernerd]

I do think R1 needs a better night time output.

I like the variety in the evenings. But post evening feels a bit neglected.

A show like ‘The 8TH’ was perfect for the young audience. Surely they can bring in a comedian or somebody quite young. The lad who did breakfast on Union Jack springs to mind.

 

[Darren m]

Or maybe rmc move back to 8 and jack saunders gets mornings 

 

[BBCAaron]

On 5/19/2022 at 8:04 PM, Old Codger Fan said:

Jack Saunders when sitting-in for Clara = Not remotely irritating. Go figure ...

I find Jack Saunders better at future sounds and music shows than Clara Amfo. She has some passion but not strong enough as a music curating presenter breathing new and exciting sounds to platform the next generation of music talent. 

[BBCAaron]

12 hours ago, Darren m said:

Or maybe rmc move back to 8 and jack saunders gets mornings 

 

I think that it would be wrong to move Rickie, Melvin and Charlie back to evenings as think it would be a demotion and indicative of an unclear future career at the station. I think Radio 1 could do with maybe having a mid morning flagship show with more longterm feature driven content and something that could build a growing audience. Think theres room to play around as that is turning into for few stations one of the most listened time slots and listeners then like a show well branded, packaged with content. 

As thought before either bring something like future sounds to mid-morning or something like a rebranded lifehacks to that time or the evening that could reflect topical stories, listener conversations  (interactive stuff) and looking at the best culture highlight and releases in more of a review style format. 

[BBCAaron]

13 hours ago, anothernerd said:

I do think R1 needs a better night time output.

I like the variety in the evenings. But post evening feels a bit neglected.

A show like ‘The 8TH’ was perfect for the young audience. Surely they can bring in a comedian or somebody quite young. The lad who did breakfast on Union Jack springs to mind.

 

I think if there was ever to be a return of the evening entertainment show may do it in something like ‘the 8th’ but would tend to go maybe with one permanent presenter and different co-host for each week with different regular and reoccurring talent going for new and emerging comedic talent and some established names maybe people who may produce content for BBC’s comedy social media channels. Comedians with experiences doing podcasting or more guesting if more digital comedy talent. Maybe a show with purpose of some rest breaks within the year to trial different pilot ideas or seasonal music shows maybe if say round post big weekend if wanted to reflect festival highlights in such a slot or do some dance shows around Ibiza weekend and some summer weeks

[anothernerd]

12 hours ago, BBCAaron said:

I think if there was ever to be a return of the evening entertainment show may do it in something like ‘the 8th’ but would tend to go maybe with one permanent presenter and different co-host for each week with different regular and reoccurring talent going for new and emerging comedic talent and some established names maybe people who may produce content for BBC’s comedy social media channels. Comedians with experiences doing podcasting or more guesting if more digital comedy talent. Maybe a show with purpose of some rest breaks within the year to trial different pilot ideas or seasonal music shows maybe if say round post big weekend if wanted to reflect festival highlights in such a slot or do some dance shows around Ibiza weekend and some summer weeks

I like your thinking. A co host each week could be quite fun.

As well as using to test new hosts out.