Do you want to work in radio?

[Jono]

If you didn't know already, local radio at the moment are taking part in something called 'the big listen' - to ensure they can survive the future.

Scott also expressed his view on what the future of commercial radio should be. His response was for local stations to be more local, and have less networking. (Funnily enough on a networked show).

But what do you think?

[Ad]

If you didn't know already, local radio at the moment are taking part in something called 'the big listen' - to ensure they can survive the future.

Scott thinks what the future of commercial radio should be. His response was for local stations to be more local, and have less networking.

But what do you think?

I live in a city center, so as you can imagine i'm pretty spoilt for choice on the wide range of stations on offer.

I think local radio will survive, there is no doubt about it. Okay, so its a rapid changing sector due to new internet radio stations and them coming up with new ways of trying to make cash etc.

Local radio has changed, infact Radio has changed over the last 10 years or so.

Just one thing, there are a lot of people here that want to work in Radio, so I sincerely hope their views show local radio in a good light. If you don't believe in local radio, then you shouldn't be looking into working in it either.

Try sending a day listening to local BBC radio and trust me, I love Radio, but really unable to send all day listening to it. That's not to say thats a bad thing, its just not aimed at my age range at the moment.

There is a still alot of change to be had, but with this big listen, it brings in more people that previously only listened to the likes of Radio 1 etc.

[DC]

it's all well and good taking the p*ss out of local radio and saying how crap it is, but not everyone walks straight into radio 1. they have to gain experience first and they work their way up the ladder. secondly, they are not as lucky as radio 1. they have to advertise for funding where the bbc get their money from the licence payers.

it's quite hard to start up a radio station on legitimate terms. it took 20 years for us to get going to where we are today, and still there are terms in the licence that we have to follow. so we still dont have it that easy.

as for networking does he mean stuff like the number of galaxys around the country and all the stations music radio look after and capitol? i dont think there is anything wrong in that, and if they want to cross network one show then thats ok i think. but as far as i have heard the likes of brmb and galaxy birmingham do focus on the west midlands and the local area a lot.

[Kelly]

I love local radio, obviously mainly Cool FM, since that's what I listen to. They play a fantastic range of music, which appeals to me, and the DJs are really good. There's one that's on every Friday and Saturday night, Stephen Clements, who really reminds me of Colin Murray. He's very funny, and isn't afraid to say what he really thinks of the music he has to play. I'd love for him to go far.

All in all, local radio gets the :tup: from me.

[Jono]

I think Scott is right. I can't listen to my local radio stations, as it's always Shelia from Birmingham on the phone when I listen. It's never someone I know from my county on the area the station is broadcasting to. I tune into local radio to hear something closer to home, not a mystery sound that the whole of Britain have a chance of winning.

[Ad]

They network to keep the cost down. I don't know what the company in Norfolk is, but I hear its a good station. Maybe i'm wrong?

If you're unhappy with the station, find out the email address of the person that's in charge of the programmes. The number of times i've wanted to say to 96.4 The Eagle (www.964eagle.co.uk) that a five year old could do a better job of designing their website but instead been nice and made suggestions about their shows etc.

They'll probably have a good idea of who you are anyway, Jono, what with your successful website and newspaper article. Looks like Jono is going for a career straight in the BBC

[Jono]

I know it keeps the cost down, and I know all the benefits to the station and company behind it. But as a listener, it doesn't entertain me.

Well we've got Radio Broadland which is owned by GCap, some Tindle Radio stations (North Norfolk Radio, Radio Norwich and The Beach) and Kiss 105 - 108. And BBC Radio Norfolk. Some others too, but they don't go out in this bit of Norfolk.

[Ad]

I know it keeps the cost down, and I know all the benefits to the station and company behind it. But as a listener, it doesn't entertain me.

Well we've got Radio Broadland which is owned by GCap, some Tindle Radio stations (North Norfolk Radio, Radio Norwich and The Beach) and Kiss 105 - 108. And BBC Radio Norfolk. Some others too, but they don't go out in this bit of Norfolk.

By the looks of things, that area has got a lot of radio going on. (Which is good)

Oh dear - tindle ?

[Jono]

What does that mean - you've never heard of Tindle?

http://www.tindleradio.com/radio-stations.php

You were in Surrey right? They own Delta Radio.

[Mike]

The station i work at is owned by Tindle. Kick FM.

[jembie]

Are you just talking about independant radio or local BBC radio too?

I hate our local BBC station as it is just aimed at old people. they don't play anything later than the 70s, 80s if you are lucky. EXCEPT on a Saturday night, Derby/Notts/Leics are networked for a show called The Beat which is all about new music and events. They always have the most recent up and coming artists on and they do a great quiz along with the fact that they give away free ringtones each week of chart stuff.

They always have prizes of tickets to gigs and do OBs from festivals.

The Presenter Dean Jackson is based on BBC radio Notts and I met him once and he was lovely...looks a bit like Dom lol

[Mike]

Well surely different radio stations play music to attract a certain audience. Most of the music the station i work at on a saturday plays is older than i am, however they do add in some new songs too, in an attempt to keep the balance. does it work? well that depends on what you want to hear.

Surely if you don't like your local station, listen to something else? It works the same way that a 40 year old man might hate radio 1, because of the music. It's all about Target Audiances see, who the station are trying to attract.

[jembie]

I see what you are saying Mike and that gives the indication that Radio Derby doesn't want the likes of me listening to them. They obviously prefer the older audience.

I would actually like to listen to the local BBC station for the local news and weather but the music just puts me off.

Apparently though there is an uproar at the moment and they have changed all their schedules. They did get Sony station of the year for their listenership though so they must be doing something right. I only listen on Saturdays for the live footie coverage and The Beat.

The local GWR on the other hand is a nightmare. I had to listen to them for the morning a couple of months ago for the school announcements and I was on there for about 20 minutes before I actually heard a presenter or music - It was all ads!

[Ad]

What does that mean - you've never heard of Tindle?

http://www.tindleradio.com/radio-stations.php

You were in Surrey right? They own Delta Radio.

I know who Tindle are.

Delta Radio was down in Alton - in the depths of surrey.

[Ad]

Are you just talking about independant radio or local BBC radio too?

I hate our local BBC station as it is just aimed at old people. they don't play anything later than the 70s, 80s if you are lucky. EXCEPT on a Saturday night, Derby/Notts/Leics are networked for a show called The Beat which is all about new music and events. They always have the most recent up and coming artists on and they do a great quiz along with the fact that they give away free ringtones each week of chart stuff.

They always have prizes of tickets to gigs and do OBs from festivals.

The Presenter Dean Jackson is based on BBC radio Notts and I met him once and he was lovely...looks a bit like Dom lol

But surely, its aimed at your age range Jembie ?

[Timsk]

I used to be an avid Kiss 105 listener when they were purely Leeds-based. When they then combined with the Galaxy network the musical range broadened (not much but enough) for me to eventually abandon them. REALLY annoying ex-rival (!) of Moyles does the breakfast show too now.

[Monitorabbit]

Far too much ageism in this thread! I don't like BBC Berks because of the content, it's to do with what you like though, not how old you are - I know of 18 year olds who listen to Radio 4 for example.

In way I think of BBC stations as local radio, I've never lived more than 30 miles away from Wood Lane

Capitol and 210 (the local Reading station) are a bit hard to tell apart, just the adverts that let you know which one you're listening to really. I think they're ok as an alternative when Radio 1's got a specialist show like Bobby and Nihal which not everyone's going to like. Personally, I always check what's on Radio 2 now. They've had so many good new bands on lately. There's still stuff I don't like on there as well, of course, you just have to look around a bit to find what you want - bit like Primark really, a few pairs of very good white skinny jeans hiding amongst all the chav pants and boring trousers.

[Riz]

Well, our BBC station isnt really that local, as its BBC Scotland, not BBC Glasgow or whatever. I wont really pass comment on it as ive never actually listened.

However, theres a few other local radio stations round here that i listen too. XFM Scoland being one of them, and whilst i wasnt too convinced about them axing their daytime DJs, i think it worked out quite well. I find on this station there are minimal adverts too which is a good thing.

Real Radio is another semi decent one. usually listened to at night with all the smoothies and cheesey pop records if im not up for any Murray action

There are a few id like to bin though, Clyde 1 and Smooth FM amongst them.

[Jamie]

I used to like Essex FM but its a bit crap now, i listen to Invicta but thats it really, cant stand all the adverts.

[Ad]

I used to like Essex FM but its a bit crap now, i listen to Invicta but thats it really, cant stand all the adverts.

But how do you expect local radio to operate? Surely you know its going to have adverts. Essex FM is good, another GCap station.

Its Radio 1 for you young man.

[Jamie]

I know the adverts is how they operate, im not stupid. Just gets really repetetive and boring. Im sure essex FM have had one advert for year...First Galss Windows or summin like that.

[jembie]

But surely, its aimed at your age range Jembie ?

Sorry, what was that? You'll have to speak up, my hearing aid is broken.

[Lucinda]

I know the adverts is how they operate, im not stupid. Just gets really repetetive and boring. Im sure essex FM have had one advert for year...First Galss Windows or summin like that.

I listened to some Essex FM once while on a train to Norwich. I heard some very irritating adverts, the local-radio only type with stupid jingles that are played 100 times a day. I quite like some of the local radio in London but I didn't like it when I was in Brighton. I used to be a Capital FM fan when I was pre-teen. Capital FM have always had the budget to do decent things, compared to Southern FM, who barely had the budget to give away frozen turkeys on their shows.

I like XFM and Virgin radio now, which are more national than local nowadays. I also quite enjoy LBC, which is talk radio, because it's relaxing when I can't sleep and some of the callers are quite funny.

[Jono]

Yes i think in this day and age we can do without such 80s local radio windows adverts. It would alright if the adverts weren't so cheesy.

[Jamie]

0800 226688, buy 8 and get 8 free etc. sung along to a crappy jingle.