Summer on Radio 1

[Jono]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/why-5-live-thinks-colin-murray-is-the-man-for-the-new-season-1766424.html

He talks about his new book, working at 5Live, the future at possibly Radio 2 and the playlist at Radio 1.

Murray's departure from Radio 1, where he hosted a specialist evening show, was unusual in that he quit the station. He left partly because of his age. "I never wanted to be greying or balding or out of touch when I left Radio 1, and I felt I left when I was more relevant and more in touch with my listeners than ever, and that was important because it is meant to be a youth station – that's its remit."

Though he has "the deepest respect" for the network which gave him his break, he also had issues with Radio 1's music policy. "I wasn't necessarily overwhelmed at the connection between what I was doing at night-time with new music and it translating into the daytime," he says.

"It was frustrating. For example, we campaigned to get Malcolm Middleton's 'We're All Going to Die' to the Christmas No 1, and that didn't get on the playlist. That was a big thing for me. It was no sacrifice, but because it didn't really fit the sound that they wanted, it didn't go on. If GMTV are happy to play it and have me on as a guest, I think it can go on a playlist at Radio 1."

His frustrations "come from having a love of the station", but he complains that Radio 1 does not use its influence more imaginatively. "It would have been nice to see records come through on the playlist when we were playing them and not when they were on adverts later on. Like Born Ruffians, 10 months after I played it, it goes on the playlist. Bat for Lashes, who we had in for a session and played for months, only went on the playlist after a Mercury [Prize] nomination. That's other people telling Radio 1 what they should be playing."

[DarkAngelMJH]

Awww lovely Colin, I miss him

[MissCorsham]

Thats very true though, they have the means to be a lot more cutting edge with music, they have so much come through introducing and specialist shows that they would have no problem championing a few new bands.

[Jono]

Yes I agree with his comments. Radio 1 is supposed to be about new music and yet we hardly ever see the music translating from the new music shows to the playlist without something else dictating what goes on there. There's some great stuff on evenings that would easily fit on to the playlist and make Radio 1 stand out compared to other stations but it doesn't happen. Instead we hear the same bands day in and day out that you can hear on Heart or Kiss.

I really liked that Marina and the Diamonds track but if it's going to end up on the playlist (despite Huw playing it months ago) it would have to either appear in an advert, she would have to be hounded by a big record producer or a DJ would have to take the risk of making it their Record of the Week.

Yet Radio 1 is a new music station but 90% of the playlist is bands that aren't new music. Colin is right there should be more risk taken with playing out INMWT material during the day and it shouldn't be just because it's in a car advert.

[MissCorsham]

The daytime DJs still have to pick their track of the week off the playlist, then again I'm sure Whiley would have a little word if she found something she really wanted to play.

"Music is the lowest common denominator of radio stations" the way of diffiretiating Radio 1 from commercial radio shouldn't only be that the BBC dont play adverts, its got to be about having the right "talent" and "personalities" and push the boundaries a little with music. One song completely new every five wont hurt anyone.

[Electrobix]

I completely agree with Colin- that's one of my main gripes about R1, that it really doesn't play enough new music on daytime. It's far too safe and will stick with artists whose previous singles/albums they've played. On the other hand it also seems to purposely ignore some releases- when a band has a new single out, you'll often hear them start to play a previous 'hit' instead of the current one, for example they did this with Franz Ferdinand's last one. It's too safe- shake it up and stop playing so much cheesy dance-lite!

I still haven't forgiven them for not playing any of the singles from Roisin Murphy's Overpowered album- she would've fitted in fine on daytime but they completely blanked her. Tsk.

[Computer]

I'd like to echo other posters' agreement with Colin

Also if you read on in the link, his idea for a radio2 show is amazing!

I will be listening to his 5live show on Friday next week and might try catch his Sunday show too, maybe I'll tune in early for 606.

[Jono]

How long have they been doing an 'In New Music We Trust' feature just before the end of Jo's show. Haven't heard them do it before but they've got a jingle especially for it and are playing out tracks from the evening show. It might be an old feature but just seemed coincidental after these reports they're doing this.

[me_54m]

There should be at least 3 new music slots on the playlist...

1 for Zane to fill with something from his show.

1 for Nick (which would have been Colin's) for something from his show.

And then 1 for the Specialists who have a week each on a rota.

If the daytime listeners like it it can then stay on the playlist in one of the other slots, as 3 more new songs are added in. It doesn't need to be like the weekend anthem or a record of the week or anything with all the jingles and garnishes - they don't even need to say anything about it.

[Hammer]

There should be at least 3 new music slots on the playlist...

1 for Zane to fill with something from his show.

1 for Nick (which would have been Colin's) for something from his show.

And then 1 for the Specialists who have a week each on a rota.

If the daytime listeners like it it can then stay on the playlist in one of the other slots, as 3 more new songs are added in. It doesn't need to be like the weekend anthem or a record of the week or anything with all the jingles and garnishes - they don't even need to say anything about it.

It needn't be that formal. There just needs to be a general change of attitude where songs are put on the playlist on merit rather than on the name of the artist whose track it is.

[Jono]

It's like Black Eyed Peas. Their new song was in the charts before Radio 1 picked it up. It started to chart highly so they started playing it and now it's one of the most played songs!

[Electrobix]

It really does seem like they're a bit clueless sometimes-as if they're 3 weeks behind the times. They should be trend setters, not followers. I heard Madonna's new song on RADIO 2 today- where is it on Radio 1?!

[MissCorsham]

I heard a new Athlete song being played on Radio 2 today.

They are so busy trying to appeal to younguns playing the same crude that they heard on top 40 three weeks ago that they forget to play new music people will enjoy. Losing the focus on the point.

[Hammer]

I heard Madonna's new song on RADIO 2 today- where is it on Radio 1?!

That's hardly the exciting new brand of music to which this thread is referring.

[Electrobix]

That's hardly the exciting new brand of music to which this thread is referring.

Yes but it is indicative of them being behind the times, no matter what genre.