Danny Beard on weekend afternoons

[Jono]

The Enemy have launched an astonishing attack on BBC Radio 1, saying it has given up on trying to break new guitar bands.

The Coventry band, who won Best New Band at last year's NME Awards, say that believe the playlist is largely ignoring upcoming acts of a more indie or alternative bent.

Frontman Tom Clarke told us: "I think 2009 has been an awful year for music because in England, Radio 1 for some reason have stopped playing anything with a guitar in it.what’s happened, their balls seem to have retracted into their lower abdomen, and they’re playing what can only be described as shi*te. But there’s always Kerrang! and XFM isn’t there?"

Radio 1 has recently rejigged its playlist criteria and schedule in a bid to attract younger listeners.

The move comes after commercial radio executives called for an overhaul of the station, arguing that it had breached its remit by having an average listener age of 33.

In a report made to the BBC Trust, the commercial radio sector's trade body, the RadioCentre, said the station was eating into their audience instead of targeting the 15- to 29-year-old target age range.

The overhaul started last month.

But Tom stormed: "In trying to alienate all the older listeners in playing sh*t, then yes, they’re going about in completely the right way. They’re just presuming that younger listeners want to listen to sh*t. I don’t understand it. I do think that it’s diabolical at the moment. I can’t listen to it.

"It’s a really hard time for new bands. We’re alright ‘cos we’ve been going for years, so it doesn’t affect you that much, you’re just not on Radio1, but for new bands coming through it must make it absolutely impossible.

"It’s such a shame. It’s so hard for a band to break through anyway and with radio not helping, you know, there’s great bands out there with real talent going completely unnoticed because someone at Radio 1 has decided that he doesn’t like guitars. For god’s sake people get a grip, and get good guitars bands back on the radio."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/10/05/the-enemy-accuse-radio-1-of-snubbing-new-guitar-bands-plus-their-shock-at-oasis-split-watch-the-video-115875-21724820/

A storm in a tea cup. It's easy to accuse Radio 1 of putting down a certain type of music just because their song isn't being played but I've not noticed a change in the playlist since they were last on it.

As the singer says, there's always XFM and Kerrang, so why would Radio 1 want to be identical?

[DarkAngelMJH]

It's true they don't have a lot of guitar stuff on the playlist but then they have more of it from Zane and onwards.

But then that is the way they've always been, isn't it?

[Jono]

Just a quick look at the Last FM account (which isn't always too accurate) - The Enemy's airplay is on par with N Dubz's airplay.

[Electrobix]

I think he has a point. Your name needs to be Deadmau5 to get played at the moment. Every five minutes.

[Tom.]

I think the playlist has featured a lot of Rock on it.

And deadmau5 are not played every 5 minutes not even every hour, at least 3 hours between each play... . the hyperbole is killing me.

[Nik B.]

I think he has a point. Your name needs to be Deadmau5 to get played at the moment. Every five minutes.

Don't diss Deadmau5.

But yeah, 1 FM is definately lacking Rock at the moment. Although the same could be said for most genres of music I listen to.

[Jono]

If rock is lacking playing The Enemy isn't the answer as I find the song quite weak. I dare say even if rock was being overplayed The Enemy wouldn't get a play.

Unfortunately I find Radio 1's playlist department quite fickle. As with Madonna, they seemed to start playing her when the newspapers kicked up a fuss.