Radio 1 Anthems Scheduling

[coffeeandgin]

While it maybe doesn't the power it once has (where being on the A-List was a big deal), It's a big part of the station and I felt probably deserves it's own thread.

Have to be honest I haven't been hugely enamored with the playlist in recent times.

Radio 1 seem quite heavily wedded to it in weekdays (at least Monday-Thursday) which can lead to the station being repetitive if you listen throughout the day. Even a station like Capital who are known for their limited playlist seem to throw in some older tracks and artists ever so often whereas if it's not Something Songs, 10 Minute Takeover or Anthems you often struggle to hear a song from before 2018.

The repetitive nature has been a thing for a while though to be fair - I recall early 2021 in particular it felt like Tiesto's 'The Business' and Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers Licence' were played every other hour.

Also certain Radio 1 favourites seem almost guaranteed a slot on the playlist even if they don't actually appear to be wildly popular with the target audience to justify it. I get it with your Dua Lipas, Calvin Harrises, Fred Agains  and Olivia Rodrigos as they're all very popular but less so if it's say Cat Burns, Aitch, Royal Blood or Mabel. Which is fine to an extent as Radio 1 has often focussed on promoting new music but then you have great music by other new artists that just never makes it to the playlist as a result.

[Intercity_225]

46 minutes ago, coffeeandgin said:

While it maybe doesn't the power it once has (where being on the A-List was a big deal), It's a big part of the station and I felt probably deserves it's own thread.

Have to be honest I haven't been hugely enamored with the playlist in recent times.

Radio 1 seem quite heavily wedded to it in weekdays (at least Monday-Thursday) which can lead to the station being repetitive if you listen throughout the day. Even a station like Capital who are known for their limited playlist seem to throw in some older tracks and artists ever so often whereas if it's not Something Songs, 10 Minute Takeover or Anthems you often struggle to hear a song from before 2018.

The repetitive nature has been a thing for a while though to be fair - I recall early 2021 in particular it felt like Tiesto's 'The Business' and Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers Licence' were played every other hour.

Also certain Radio 1 favourites seem almost guaranteed a slot on the playlist even if they don't actually appear to be wildly popular with the target audience to justify it. I get it with your Dua Lipas, Calvin Harrises, Fred Agains  and Olivia Rodrigos as they're all very popular but less so if it's say Cat Burns, Aitch, Royal Blood or Mabel. Which is fine to an extent as Radio 1 has often focussed on promoting new music but then you have great music by other new artists that just never makes it to the playlist as a result.

Some shows do play some songs from pre-2018 regularly. Mainly Matt & Mollie and Radio 1 Breakfast. Also don't forget the shortened Anne-Marie - Ciao Adios which gets played every 26 seconds. 😂

[BBCAaron]

44 minutes ago, coffeeandgin said:

While it maybe doesn't the power it once has (where being on the A-List was a big deal), It's a big part of the station and I felt probably deserves it's own thread.

Have to be honest I haven't been hugely enamored with the playlist in recent times.

Radio 1 seem quite heavily wedded to it in weekdays (at least Monday-Thursday) which can lead to the station being repetitive if you listen throughout the day. Even a station like Capital who are known for their limited playlist seem to throw in some older tracks and artists ever so often whereas if it's not Something Songs, 10 Minute Takeover or Anthems you often struggle to hear a song from before 2018.

The repetitive nature has been a thing for a while though to be fair - I recall early 2021 in particular it felt like Tiesto's 'The Business' and Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers Licence' were played every other hour.

Also certain Radio 1 favourites seem almost guaranteed a slot on the playlist even if they don't actually appear to be wildly popular with the target audience to justify it. I get it with your Dua Lipas, Calvin Harrises, Fred Agains  and Olivia Rodrigos as they're all very popular but less so if it's say Cat Burns, Aitch, Royal Blood or Mabel. Which is fine to an extent as Radio 1 has often focussed on promoting new music but then you have great music by other new artists that just never makes it to the playlist as a result.

I do like Cat Burns but it’s a good point about the many artists on future artists and other specialist shows. If they manage to launch the ‘Anthems’ like sister station hope they make changes to the stations playlist.

[AndyK77]

It's a bizarre thing though....it would be nice to hear a few more tracks from the past 10 years mixed into daytime.

However, at the other extreme, I find it odd how often really old tracks come up on Anthems and even the likes of Soundsystem Party and Dance Anthems.   The odd throwback is great but sometimes it feels too much.

[coffeeandgin]

4 hours ago, AndyK77 said:

It's a bizarre thing though....it would be nice to hear a few more tracks from the past 10 years mixed into daytime.

However, at the other extreme, I find it odd how often really old tracks come up on Anthems and even the likes of Soundsystem Party and Dance Anthems.   The odd throwback is great but sometimes it feels too much.

To give Dance Anthems some credit the 'Classic Anthems' do these days seem to have some fairly recent tracks from the last 2-3 years thrown in.

I do think dance they can get away with a bit more as tracks from 10-25 years ago seem to be pretty timeless and as popular as ever. Though having more 'Classic' Anthems than current anthems on Dance Anthems does seem a bit for a supposed new music station.

4 hours ago, BBCAaron said:

I do like Cat Burns but it’s a good point about the many artists on future artists and other specialist shows. If they manage to launch the ‘Anthems’ like sister station hope they make changes to the stations playlist.

It wasn't a criticism of any of those specific artists to be clear. More just that it's as if Radio 1 just pick particular artists as their chosen ones whose new songs will always make the playlist come what may (which often includes those mentioned) while others while they get 'off peak' play never come close to the playlist even if the music absolutely fits Radio 1 and has an organic popularity.

Absolutely get them wanting to champion new music but often they only really do it to a certain point and with certain artists.

 

 

[BBCAaron]

On 3/29/2024 at 3:37 PM, coffeeandgin said:

To give Dance Anthems some credit the 'Classic Anthems' do these days seem to have some fairly recent tracks from the last 2-3 years thrown in.

I do think dance they can get away with a bit more as tracks from 10-25 years ago seem to be pretty timeless and as popular as ever. Though having more 'Classic' Anthems than current anthems on Dance Anthems does seem a bit for a supposed new music station.

It wasn't a criticism of any of those specific artists to be clear. More just that it's as if Radio 1 just pick particular artists as their chosen ones whose new songs will always make the playlist come what may (which often includes those mentioned) while others while they get 'off peak' play never come close to the playlist even if the music absolutely fits Radio 1 and has an organic popularity.

Absolutely get them wanting to champion new music but often they only really do it to a certain point and with certain artists.

 

 

I think you made the point I can only but agree with you. I knew you weren’t trying to personally highlighting certain artists in a negative tone but using them to make a greater point that needed to be made in regards to biases in the selection of new artists or not as chart dominant. But it’s something that when comes to artists and tracks supported on ‘Future’ and specialist programmes it doesn’t really trickle and feed down to the A-C daytime schedule which is where big impact is made. I think if they do complete the consultation phase and it proves a success to go through with being able to launch an ‘Anthems’ station focusing on music of the 00’s and the 10’s. At that point it should be time to consider extending the amount of songs in its playlist. Hopefully then the flagship to the ‘1’ brand can reflect more of new music featuring new artists in it’s playlist when have a station under the brand that plays music preceding the last five years.

[coffeeandgin]

I think tracks like the NewEra Birds in the Sky one sort of highlight my issue with the Radio 1 playlist perfectly.

Surely as a new music station it's the sort of song Radio 1 should be championing - a new Irish DJ duo with a song that is exploding in popularity and is right on brand with Radio 1 and has now reached the Top 20. Ticks all the boxes and has got a fair bit of play on shows Dance Party or Party Anthems.

Yet months after its release it's only now reaching the C-List and making its way to daytime and with it being on the C-List will only probably be played a handful of times across the week. Whereas artists like Royal Blood say seem to get an open pass to the playlist.

[R1Fan1]

The playlist has definitely got a bit narrower this year, it feels like. Artists like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Drake and  Doja Cat seem to be played in every show, even when they’re not on the playlist. Other artists who get a few plays a week, such as Niall Horan, always seem to have the same song played, in his case, Heaven. Whenever they dive into Calvin Harris’ backlog it always seems to be Slide and Promises pulled out, even though they’re two of his least upbeat songs. Most songs they play seem to have been from the 2020s, instead of throwing in a few older hits like Capital does, which is something I think they could do.

[DC]

Jesus christ, Olivia Rodrigo was around 3 years ago!?! I thought she was only born in 2019. Anyway. They are doing it to rival commercial networks, on the main 2 lists anyway with rotating them more. Which all in all is a pit of misery. I'm sick to bloody death of Stick Season, it's an utter bag of mediocre wank that makes me even prefer James Blunt circa 2005.

Radio 1 still is more expansive however, loved stuff they play and make their own early days, like Jungle Back on 74 like last year.  They can't lose doing stuff that, or else they become bland like everyone else.

They have done that for many years though. I heard a song on a March 2001 aircheck from Chris Moyles recently and rediscovered a song by Kings Of Convenience, called Toxic Girl. Totally lost over 25 years but totally love it like it's new.

Radio 1 has always played the big time pop stuff since your nan was 3. But they always have and still do throw something on the playlists that isn't what everyone else has. I hope they continue to do that as it sets them apart. 

[Fran]

Similar to SZA’s Kill Bill, the word “kill” had been initially cut out of Taylor Swift’s Fortnight.

But it seems like they are now playing an unedited version.

[BBCAaron]

On 4/18/2024 at 1:12 AM, DC said:

Jesus christ, Olivia Rodrigo was around 3 years ago!?! I thought she was only born in 2019. Anyway. They are doing it to rival commercial networks, on the main 2 lists anyway with rotating them more. Which all in all is a pit of misery. I'm sick to bloody death of Stick Season, it's an utter bag of mediocre wank that makes me even prefer James Blunt circa 2005.

Radio 1 still is more expansive however, loved stuff they play and make their own early days, like Jungle Back on 74 like last year.  They can't lose doing stuff that, or else they become bland like everyone else.

They have done that for many years though. I heard a song on a March 2001 aircheck from Chris Moyles recently and rediscovered a song by Kings Of Convenience, called Toxic Girl. Totally lost over 25 years but totally love it like it's new.

Radio 1 has always played the big time pop stuff since your nan was 3. But they always have and still do throw something on the playlists that isn't what everyone else has. I hope they continue to do that as it sets them apart. 

Find Noah Kahan is just busker music. I mean I was pleasantly surprised that Ezra collective were in session for Jack Saunders on his new shoes and he is playing their latest track wouldn’t have thought few years back that at 6pm in the evening jazz music would be played. I hope if can get the green light and launch the 00s/10s station that the focus is on more new music be it pop mainstream and alternative genres on the main 1