Radio 2 in the Park 2024

[Ad]

According to Aled Haydn Jones, he seems to think "that Radio 1 & Radio 2 should be distinctive and have some acts unique to them. Westlife is firmly R2"

This caused an interesting return of comments on his facebook. Someone wisely mentioned Take That are played on Radio 1.

Do you agree with him?

[Viv]

I don't agree with him. R1 need to STOP this ageism bullshit crap. I don't actually like Westlife, but there's no accounting for tastes across the age groups.

Once again, R1 return to the period where they think they are too cool for school (same thing happened in the 90s). Hence, the topics where listeners are unhappy keep coming up.

I was so angry with Aled yesterday morning. So angry.

Once again, Aled Jones, it is perfectly possible for a listener to go out to a shop, or shop on-line, and buy things from the past & stuff from right now. Narrowing people down to certain age groups, or suggesting music should go to specific radio stations (R1 vs R2) is quite incredibly narrow-minded.

Radio 2 are already distinctive, in the fact that they play out a number of 60s / 70s / 80s choons, yet they will randomly pick up current stuff as well.

Shame on you!!

I've looked up Westlife's wikipedia : ages of Band from 29 - 31, band formed 03 July, 1998. So, if we are, indeed looking at ages, they would appear to be within R1's target range, and perfectly suited to an R1 playlist.

Madonna, aged 50+, gets picked up, but Westlife are off the circuit. Logic in this, anybody??

[Hammer]

Viv, you'll have to accept that Radio 1 have a public service obligation to cater to a specific age audience. It's not an editorial choice to exclude people.

[Hammer]

I've looked up Westlife's wikipedia : ages of Band from 29 - 31, band formed 03 July, 1998. So, if we are, indeed looking at ages, they would appear to be within R1's target range.

Madonna, aged 50+, gets picked up, but Westlife are off the circuit. Logic in this, anybody??

You're missing the point entirely. The age of an artist or a presenter does not relate to the age of the people who are fans of them. I think it's perfectly fair to say that Madonna's music is more 'Radio 1' than Westlife's based purely on the style of it compared to other playlist music.

You're making age the issue here Viv. In reality I expect it's an absolute irrelevance.

[Viv]

I do appreciate the BBC Trust are responsible for the fact that this age range is lowering. OK. Point accepted into small brain.

However, you get listeners texting in yesterday - R1 received, what, 4000+ texts in the one session - a number of people were very young, yet were enjoying Westlife. Why?! Because, er... Westlife are a relatively young Band. Eminem is, in fact, older, yet is worshiped by Radio 1.

Here's radio 2's current playlist: www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/music/playlist/ - Westlife sit on the same list as Shirley Bassey :-/

The logic in compiling some of this stuff is just remarkable!! :-/

[Viv]

You're making age the issue here Viv. In reality I expect it's an absolute irrelevance.

But this is, after all, the point to the topic. Specific ages having to like specific music. It's just a pile of rubbish. A big, fat pile of actual rubbish.

What did Aled say yesterday: Westlife are for housewifes (something like that). A pile of rubbish as high as the ceiling. 4000+ texts would indicate they are v. popular with a number of listeners!!

[Viv]

it's perfectly fair to say that Madonna's music is more 'Radio 1' than Westlife's based purely on the style of it compared to other playlist music..

Funny that. Quite recently it wasn't considered that way. :-/ In fact, she nearly got thrown off the playlist recently.

Also, to repeat what Adam has typed out: Take That are played on Radio 1, and many people would consider them more suitable for an R2 playlist.

Gary Barlow - 38; Howard (41); Jason (39); Mark (37)

Fascinating to see, btw, that Robbie Williams is listed as one of the members, if you look up Take That's wikipedia. :-)

[matt_32510]

Take That should be on Radio 2 as all their fans are 30+ and are just trying to re-live their youth by listening to them. I can't see to many 15 year olds liking them.

Although if I had my way they wouldn't be played on any station, there stuff sounds the same.

[Viv]

Someone over at aled.info thinks that Take That and Westlife sound the same, which I wouldn't actually agree with at all.

Such a difficult thing: a playlist and pleasing people.

incidentally, I've just had a listen to the current Westlife song on You Tube, and it sounds v. fresh, I think. Like the video. It's no worse than Mumford & Sons.

Also: One last point - I've mentioned this elsewhere - Radio 1 don't even keep the playlist up-to-date on the BBC Website. I had to look for Scott's Record of The Week, just as an example, and the Record of the Week was listed as last week's.

[Lee.]

im 18 and i liked when they did the maida vale thing and played loads of great tunes from legendry bands like def leaperd and nirvana and joy division if radio 1 kept that up and played a mix of new bands and old great tunes they would easily beat r2 in listening figures.

radio 1 are too poppy now i like guitar bands like indie rock music that radio1 used to play loads but its turned into x factor style music that is just a bag of shit and gets in the way of talented bands that have worked there way up but only get a play on late night specialist shows.

[Viv]

Best post of the actual day!! :-)

[Hammer]

I had to look for Scott's Record of The Week, just as an example, and the Record of the Week was listed as last week's.

They update the playlist every Wednesday evening and they only change the record of the week at the same time.

[DC]

get billie piper back on the playlist, she isn't getting played on either.

[The Stig]

Viv stop talking rubbish. Aled said what he said as their music style he feels is more suited to Radio 2. As one of the best radio producers in the buissness and a senior figure in terms of producers at Radio 1 he's entitled to this opinion. I'd be very surpirised if it had anything to do with their age. I sort of agree with him, but would still like to hear them on the show.

[E*F*4L]

who cares West Life are crap & shouldn't be played on any station let alone R1, screw them better they be on R2 where i cannot hear them than being on R1 so i have to listen to their crap.

they should fook off back to that crap-factor show, why don't Cowell set up his own radio station so all his shit can be played on there, & everyone else can go back to listening to proper music on the radio & have in our charts, its not illegal downloading thats killing UK music it's all this X-Factor SHIT !

rant over

[Viv]

Aled said what he said as their music style he feels is more suited to Radio 2. .

I disagree. And as a major figure, he should be used to that.

And, unlike many, I'm not afraid to speak up and say so. As a listener, I too am entitled to an opinion.

Radio 1 are, and remain, out of sync with their listeners. I only hope things improve.

Buisness has one less 'S' in the centre.

[Hammer]

There's a difference between disagreeing with Radio 1 and accusing them of ageism.

[Viv]

The BBC Trust are responsible for the way Radio 1 are at present. Stated this earlier (post no. 5 of this topic) - it has to change. I'm considering writing to the Trust in fact. I've got the address. I'm not kidding either.

[DarkAngelMJH]

Westlife do appeal to an older audience now though, I didn't mind flying without wings but haven't really thought much of their latest covers since that's all the are now.

Maybe if they actually had more original songs wrote for them that appeal to younger people they would be played on radio one. But that will never happen.

[Viv]

Who do the X-factor brigade actually appeal to? Always wondered this.

[DarkAngelMJH]

X factor? Annoying teeny boppers who follow like sheep and can't actually decide on new music themselves.

Can you tell I don't like crap factor?

Vernon and Dave made me laugh this morning when they were counting down the chart and saying if they'd been on the xfactor or not. Most of them had apart from kei$ha and one other I think.

[Viv]

Brilliant... and what do R1 spend a lot of time chatting about?? Yep, X-factor.... and who's on the playlist: Alexandra Burke/Leona Lewis.

No wonder Miranda easily finds material to write about.

[KingTutsWWH]

I'm pretty much unaware of Westlife's existence, as I was living in Spain during their popularity. Missed out on quite a few crappy Brit manufactured 'bands' as a result. Lucky me.

Don't think I would've liked them much though, and I'm NOT gonna look them up on You Tube, because they really don't sound like my cup of tea at all, regardless of my age.

[Viv]

Louis Walsh, X-factor, associated with them. The irony would make a cat laugh!!

[E*F*4L]

Who do the X-factor brigade actually appeal to? Always wondered this.

nobs thats who !

& people with no sense of musical taste, Simon is only giving the idiots what they want, he don't give a toss as long as the cash keeps rolling in, Simon knows nothing about the music industry all he is is a marketing man.