Radio 1 Anthems Scheduling

[HumphreyAppleby]

The R1 playlist has a new Hot Recurrents category which seems to be recurrents getting more than just spot plays & for older songs making a resurgence e.g. Murder on the Dancefloor.

Curious to hear your thoughts. I think it's a good thing & reflects that under 30s listening tastes aren't limited to what's in the charts. I remember friends loving Running Up That Hill in 2022 for example, as someone in the demographic, one of whom discovered it for the 1st time.

[BBCAaron]

1 minute ago, HumphreyAppleby said:

The R1 playlist has a new Hot Recurrents category which seems to be recurrents getting more than just spot plays & for older songs making a resurgence e.g. Murder on the Dancefloor.

Curious to hear your thoughts. I think it's a good thing & reflects that under 30s listening tastes aren't limited to what's in the charts. I remember friends loving Running Up That Hill in 2022 for example, as someone in the demographic, one of whom discovered it for the 1st time.

I guess it’s marking the viral tiktok reheated hits crawling back to popularity. I’m not a fan of having a specific playlist for it to make it a regular thing in the playlist. I think it should be sparingly and the odd random play but not enough to feel like it’s on a playlist. Playing an older track should be spontaneous. I know we can listen to any throwback tunes when we want but on an station like radio 1 it should feel like a surprise of not expecting to hear this haven’t heard this on the radio in ages. 

[HumphreyAppleby]

I agree which is why I think Anthems, if it has a place, should have more variety. Its not very surprising when you hear the mixes so often that you know which track is coming next.

[ianwilk1999]

I was the same @HumphreyAppleby when Running up that hill came back around and I heard it for the first time. I think they're potentially better left to Anthems shows and then more of a surprise when you hear them again.

I haven't heard an anthems mix just yet where I've thought I know what's coming but I imagine there is a certain amount and ones that have to be refreshed every so often

[R1Fan1]

Suspect that this list has been something they’ve had for a long time even if it’s not been published on the website. Don’t see the problem with adding songs like Murder on the DanceFloor given it’s at number 2 in the chart, and I suspect that it will largely be used for songs that have recently departed the A List for most of the time. 

[HumphreyAppleby]

8 hours ago, ianwilk1999 said:

I was the same @HumphreyAppleby when Running up that hill came back around and I heard it for the first time. I think they're potentially better left to Anthems shows and then more of a surprise when you hear them again.

I haven't heard an anthems mix just yet where I've thought I know what's coming but I imagine there is a certain amount and ones that have to be refreshed every so often

One example I knew was:

Alex Gaudino - What a Feeling

Example - Changed the Way You Kiss Me

Chris Brown - Beautiful People

You're right though; they refresh them every so often so they don't get too stale

[BBCAaron]

28 minutes ago, HumphreyAppleby said:

One example I knew was:

Alex Gaudino - What a Feeling

Example - Changed the Way You Kiss Me

Chris Brown - Beautiful People

You're right though; they refresh them every so often so they don't get too stale

It’s good to refresh often. I think the best way heard throwbacks being aired on the station was bangers and Radio 1’s Greatest Hit’s in 2017-2018 of the stations 50th celebrations. I find its always best when hearing an older track when have presenter or listener picking and choosing older track something that can be given a bit of enthusiasm and excitement than just being pulled out. That said think giving that the station has listed tracks within the last year on the hot recurrent tracks is a decent pragmatic move and which I hope that can give breakout artists first solo tracks to get a spin months or a year after they were released when had one or two tracks out that help them garner support and attention like done before with Wet Leg and last dinner party.

It totally makes sense in May surrounding big weekend.

[Fran]

On 1/17/2024 at 7:32 AM, HumphreyAppleby said:

One example I knew was:

Alex Gaudino - What a Feeling

Example - Changed the Way You Kiss Me

Chris Brown - Beautiful People

You're right though; they refresh them every so often so they don't get too stale

Party Anthems and Workout Anthems (also played on Dean & Vicky after 2 and Breakfast on Fridays) refreshes every so often but regular Anthems don’t. They still keep playing the same blocks from many years ago.

I reckon the recent regular Anthems refresh is replacing some Taylor Swift songs with Taylor’s Version.