Capital Summertime Ball 2024

[BBCAaron]

I find most of the current list of the say last 3 years and top chart hits do get dominated by key figures whether George Ezra, Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Joel Corry etc. Radio 1 prides itself on playing new music but has leant to playing more often stuff from 90’s and 00’s than recent songs or future and current songs. When the Essential Albums is on in evenings will have that show, Anthems, Classic Dance Anthems, Radio 00’s and overnight playlists occupying the station. 

Do think maybe theres more room for new music and verity of future sounds. Where Radio should be the place of more older hits and song

[radio1fan]

Interesting question, I’ve also noticed Capital deviating from their usual playlist of exclusively Top 40 tracks to include a few “throwbacks” from the last 15 years or so, usually at least one an hour (still a low number of unique tracks in high rotation mind you), which suggests that the target audience, particularly those that they survey for music testing purposes, want to hear older songs. It also makes the station presumably more attractive to advertisers.  
 

Radio 1 must have access to BBC Sounds data that tells them what young people are choosing to listen to, especially on the “Back To Back Sounds” section, includes a decent amount of older songs, and are reflecting it in the station’s output. 

[ryanmclfc]

Nonsense. I gave up on R1 long ago and moved to R2. Because the music isn't anything I'm interested in too current and new genres.

 

There's a reason R1 has a key demo and it's aim isn't to reach people like me and that's fine. 

I dip in and out occasionally but end up turning off for the same reasons, there's not a chance they play "too much" older music. 

Everyone mid 30s and older just needs to grow up and not pretend they enjoy R1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BBCAaron]

25 minutes ago, ryanmclfc said:

Nonsense. I gave up on R1 long ago and moved to R2. Because the music isn't anything I'm interested in too current and new genres.

 

There's a reason R1 has a key demo and it's aim isn't to reach people like me and that's fine. 

I dip in and out occasionally but end up turning off for the same reasons, there's not a chance they play "too much" older music. 

Everyone mid 30s and older just needs to grow up and not pretend they enjoy R1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wasn’t trying to make to much of a generational comparison.

[BBCAaron]

37 minutes ago, radio1fan said:

Interesting question, I’ve also noticed Capital deviating from their usual playlist of exclusively Top 40 tracks to include a few “throwbacks” from the last 15 years or so, usually at least one an hour (still a low number of unique tracks in high rotation mind you), which suggests that the target audience, particularly those that they survey for music testing purposes, want to hear older songs. It also makes the station presumably more attractive to advertisers.  
 

Radio 1 must have access to BBC Sounds data that tells them what young people are choosing to listen to, especially on the “Back To Back Sounds” section, includes a decent amount of older songs, and are reflecting it in the station’s output. 

I just thinking sometimes in daytime as to before Dance Anthems became more weighted into more classic selections and very heavy playlisted tracks and with show like Radio 1 00’s theres more in the scheduled to give you a song that you would’ve heard on the tops of the streaming service playlist or just heard before and little of what a new track you might not have heard before. I think the whole increase in anthems playlists has made things bit predictable and safe and less in between a playlisted songs would you have much shoe horning of a different new track and artist. 

[radio1fan]

2 hours ago, BBCAaron said:

I just thinking sometimes in daytime as to before Dance Anthems became more weighted into more classic selections and very heavy playlisted tracks and with show like Radio 1 00’s theres more in the scheduled to give you a song that you would’ve heard on the tops of the streaming service playlist or just heard before and little of what a new track you might not have heard before. I think the whole increase in anthems playlists has made things bit predictable and safe and less in between a playlisted songs would you have much shoe horning of a different new track and artist. 

On weekday daytime at least, I feel like new tracks from up and coming artists still filter through from the specialist shows, especially Future Sounds, which in turn filters through tracks from Future Artists, but on weekends, I can see your point that a lot of the music played is “anthems” type stuff. I think that could be down to the fact that a lot of families listen to R1 at the weekends, perhaps in the car on the way to days out or sports practice or whatever, going by some of the shoutouts on those shows, and the older family members enjoy hearing those tracks. 
 

There’s also the “excited for the weekend” feeling from a lot of the audience, and those anthems cater to that mood, especially on Dance Anthems, when people are getting ready for a night out.

[AndyK77]

Overall Radio 1 daytime is still largely focussed on what it's target audience is buying and listening to.

There was a period when Radio 1 went very new music and it probably didn't work.  Even the younger audiences listening to Radio 1 are mostly those who like mainstream music.  The sad thing is that Radio 1 no longer has a John Peel type show and Introducing has been really cut down.  The best it gets is Jack Saunders' Future Sounds which is great but does it go far enough?

That said - I do find it surreal that Radio 1 regularly plays tracks from the late 90s on 10-minute takeover, Something Songs, Anthems, Dance Anthems.

Back in 1995 there is absolutely no way Radio 1 would have been playing tracks from 1967/68 ever.

However, a lot of this is down to the fact that the music trends of the 90s are still around to some extent - especially dance music which hasn't evolved that radically.  Which I guess is why people like Pete Tong have maintained their relevance.

[BBCAaron]

9 hours ago, radio1fan said:

On weekday daytime at least, I feel like new tracks from up and coming artists still filter through from the specialist shows, especially Future Sounds, which in turn filters through tracks from Future Artists, but on weekends, I can see your point that a lot of the music played is “anthems” type stuff. I think that could be down to the fact that a lot of families listen to R1 at the weekends, perhaps in the car on the way to days out or sports practice or whatever, going by some of the shoutouts on those shows, and the older family members enjoy hearing those tracks. 
 

There’s also the “excited for the weekend” feeling from a lot of the audience, and those anthems cater to that mood, especially on Dance Anthems, when people are getting ready for a night out.

I think atleast with Dance Anthems or Anthems and sunday morning.if you are going to be playing throwbacks dont make it wall to wall two-three hour blocks. I always preferred way Danny Howard did Dance Anthems think at least within an hour of daytime on weekends should her few new tracks as to all throwbacks

[BBCAaron]

44 minutes ago, AndyK77 said:

Overall Radio 1 daytime is still largely focussed on what it's target audience is buying and listening to.

There was a period when Radio 1 went very new music and it probably didn't work.  Even the younger audiences listening to Radio 1 are mostly those who like mainstream music.  The sad thing is that Radio 1 no longer has a John Peel type show and Introducing has been really cut down.  The best it gets is Jack Saunders' Future Sounds which is great but does it go far enough?

That said - I do find it surreal that Radio 1 regularly plays tracks from the late 90s on 10-minute takeover, Something Songs, Anthems, Dance Anthems.

Back in 1995 there is absolutely no way Radio 1 would have been playing tracks from 1967/68 ever.

However, a lot of this is down to the fact that the music trends of the 90s are still around to some extent - especially dance music which hasn't evolved that radically.  Which I guess is why people like Pete Tong have maintained their relevance.

Think unlike in the 1990’s theres so many more places that you can get music which would be like greatest hits or throwbacks. With DAB more decades stations through Absolute and Heart and even Kisstory. Radio 2 has the 90’s shows where they play a lot of dance and alternative music and 6 Music has Rave Forever. Think with music trends still around there needs to be the thought can people just listen to this in some other places.

As with Pete Tong & Annie Nightingale they keep on diversify. They constantly championing new talent 

[BBCAaron]

51 minutes ago, AndyK77 said:

Overall Radio 1 daytime is still largely focussed on what it's target audience is buying and listening to.

There was a period when Radio 1 went very new music and it probably didn't work.  Even the younger audiences listening to Radio 1 are mostly those who like mainstream music.  The sad thing is that Radio 1 no longer has a John Peel type show and Introducing has been really cut down.  The best it gets is Jack Saunders' Future Sounds which is great but does it go far enough?

That said - I do find it surreal that Radio 1 regularly plays tracks from the late 90s on 10-minute takeover, Something Songs, Anthems, Dance Anthems.

Back in 1995 there is absolutely no way Radio 1 would have been playing tracks from 1967/68 ever.

However, a lot of this is down to the fact that the music trends of the 90s are still around to some extent - especially dance music which hasn't evolved that radically.  Which I guess is why people like Pete Tong have maintained their relevance.

I kind of think with a feature like something song or ten minute takeover as say that they try to keep older songs to more rarity. But think it’s better one feature in a programme than just a playlisted programme thats just 1 hour +

[Jono]

I don't mind whether it's old or new music, I'd just love to hear more during the day. There's some great stuff in the evening that doesn't make it to the daytime because the playlist feels small. 

[GeekTalk51]

I think there’s a little bit of hedging going on (has been for a few years) of not shedding all of the older audience, as the very young end of the target audience isn’t listening as much.  I suspect this is why it’s happened to an extent at Capital.  Tie this in with the fact that younger people now have access to streaming and the rest and this anecdotally I think gives them a wider range of eras of music to you listen to (going off what I see people my age listen to; extremely eclectic and quirky mix of stuff). 

[BBCAaron]

1 hour ago, GeekTalk51 said:

I think there’s a little bit of hedging going on (has been for a few years) of not shedding all of the older audience, as the very young end of the target audience isn’t listening as much.  I suspect this is why it’s happened to an extent at Capital.  Tie this in with the fact that younger people now have access to streaming and the rest and this anecdotally I think gives them a wider range of eras of music to you listen to (going off what I see people my age listen to; extremely eclectic and quirky mix of stuff). 

Think I personally have a quirky eclectic taste in music. I think where Radio 1 differs from Capital as often feels like wall paper and background passive role to play where Radio 1 has been more pro-active in youth culture. Think we know that Radio 1 wont have the figures of listeners it once had. I think the value of the station is when there is that curation that feels unlike what you get on a streaming platform the power of for introducing artists and new artists and songs being played across different times of the schedule holds so much value.

Think with streaming services and other rival stations it’s so easy to give the hits and throwbacks of the past. But Radio’s future and the station will be in quality not quantity. Think the station needs to take risks in making the station not directly catering for those at the latter of its audience. But, ensure if you like a conversations on youth culture, news and life with presented by mostly new and fresh names who would be stars of the future and latest in new artists and music and for that to be reflected throughout the schedule.

Think music wise for Radio 1 to thrive in the future needs to be better at getting ahead of the game of streaming services on curation. 

[DC]

It's difficult in some instances for Radio 2 to play 90s and 00s because the tracks may be too harsh for their style of sound. That is until the older guard like Ken Bruce and Vine retire. You are OK with stuff like Sophie Ellis Bextor and light dance like Supermen Lovers Starlight etc. Or easier rock like Muse or Evanescence.

 

But still something like Foo Fighters All My Life, or Linkin Park, or Darude Sandstorm still sound more suited to Radio 1. I mean would something like the Prodigy Breathe sound out of place on Radio 1? Not really, stick some recent Sub Focus next to it and it's not all that different. 

[BBCAaron]

5 hours ago, DC said:

It's difficult in some instances for Radio 2 to play 90s and 00s because the tracks may be too harsh for their style of sound. That is until the older guard like Ken Bruce and Vine retire. You are OK with stuff like Sophie Ellis Bextor and light dance like Supermen Lovers Starlight etc. Or easier rock like Muse or Evanescence.

 

But still something like Foo Fighters All My Life, or Linkin Park, or Darude Sandstorm still sound more suited to Radio 1. I mean would something like the Prodigy Breathe sound out of place on Radio 1? Not really, stick some recent Sub Focus next to it and it's not all that different. 

That’s good point. As you say Radio 2 its the case got to be particular as eventhough have some evening shows where some of the older dance tracks that may bit harsher (normally 6 Music for the deeper cuts and classics) But, daytime on Radio 2 playlist is more light, fluffy and safe.

I think with Dance Anthems, Anthems or any show that features throwbacks prefer. When a throwback song is wedged and sandwiched with a current playlist or future hit. With classic anthems for 2 hours on saturday. Hearing a blend of a playlist and that spontaneity and surprise is lacking. Think most listeners would like it to feel bit blended than pilled and clubbed together. Think in a good way throwbacks and older music need to feel like the soar thumb in the playlist

[Old Codger Fan]

Is there even an official policy on this, in terms of the percentage split?

I'd have thought that something like this would be reasonable, in R1's case:

50% = Records made within the last 12 months

30% = Records older than above, but made within last 3 years

15% = Records older than above, but made within last 15 years

5% =  Records older than above.

[BBCAaron]

1 hour ago, Old Codger Fan said:

Is there even an official policy on this, in terms of the percentage split?

I'd have thought that something like this would be reasonable, in R1's case:

50% = Records made within the last 12 months

30% = Records older than above, but made within last 3 years

15% = Records older than above, but made within last 15 years

5% =  Records older than above.

I would maybe try about 65-70% from that year with 20% of that percent being artists that are new seen as new or up and coming artists, independent artists not signed with record label or small labels or introducing supported names have been or currently.

30% past 7 years with priority for last three year and to artists from independent labels certain priorities 

5% to any thing older. Ideally rarity to anything beyond 2002. E.g seasonal bank-holidays, Christmas season, certain cultural events and moments e.g death certain pop star or act or trending in the charts. To choices made in segment of artists selections and DJ mixes for Mini-Mix, Chill Mix, Essential Mix would class as exempt. 

But, however sometimes e.g on Rock Show or Chillest. Ideally making it about the new artists and new music. For most of the time and rejig the play list rules to ensure that 5 weeks on the playlist is pretty much maximum.

But, when comes to some of the artists and genres playing think for example certain listeners wanted to have a BTS songs that is out on the playlist. Think the station should be able to get ahead of the game and play it fresh as it drops and for certain songs that begining to gain popularity to being able to play it before it blows up. Think the future of the station’s music policy is move to look ahead the pace of TikTok’s music trends or that with other popular online platforms.

Think whether some of the TikTok Takeover idea might not have played. It’s not the content makers the station needs to reach out but the curation and taste-making side of social media/ streaming music end of the business. The actual entertainment side of content creators wouldn’t exactly translate. 

I could see how teaming up with TikToker’s to produce promotional big weekend stuff. But when comes to the playlist looking at the genres and trends thats looking at that data should help more. Only way any of TikTokers would work is through podcast content like if those educational informative Tik-Tokers for bits on Newsbeat/Lifehacks channeling podcast and on air contribution would work. There.

Back to playlist I rather hear something I’m not that familiar with and have to search it out or such a rare play and nothing that I’m far too familiar with as. With how repetitive playlists can be thats why tend to prefer to listen to my own choice of music or catch up with stuff on sounds

[Old Codger Fan]

We can haggle over the percentage splits, for sure.

Point is - Is there an official policy on this?

If not, there will be a 'De Facto' policy on it, according to what actually gets played, over the course of a year.

Whether anybody can be arsed to collate that is another question - But it would be interesting to see.