Radio 1 relaunch

So how does that fit in with your reasoning about Radio 1 being the flagship, mainstream thing? You're implying that Radio 1 should become more "accessible" by becoming a version of Radio 2. I'm suggesting that Radio 1 covers the specialist, younger music in the way Radio 3 covers the specialist, classical music. You seem to suggest this specialist stuff should be removed to make Radio 1 wider in its music - something that Radio 2 already is. Sorry if I'm wrong in my interpretation, but that's the vibe I'm feelin' baby.

As for the argument that the BBC has to aim for a wide audience because we pay for it, of course. But the stations have to specialise in specific areas, otherwise it would be one hell of an ugly mess. Radio 1 specialises in playing new music for young people. That's what it does.



I reckon they are frisbees. The only way I can describe them is as plastic round things (which is no better than the official description!). I'll see if I can hunt down a picture of one on the net.

I'm sorry but if a publicly-funded radio station cannot appeal to a mass audience then it is not doing it's job properly. The massive drop in their ratings suggests to me that this is the case.

That is all I have to say on this matter.

Well bugger me sideways, the BBC Asian Network and Radio 3 should be taken off the air straight away.



If the ratings are dropping, something needs to be done. Yes. But does that mean Radio 1 should become a Radio 2. No.

Da daaaaa (that's a fanfare, not a baby talking):

http://getyourshirts.com/images/products/s835.gif

Imagine that with the Radio 2 logo and that's what I reckon a Radio 2 Round Thing is.

Probably tragically wrong, but never mind.

The 'massive' drop in ratings is probalby due to the vast amount of new stations availible through things such as digital radio and the internet. Don't forget, the listener figures are only the listeners who tune in through the conventional way (ie. with a normal radio), they don't count the ones listening through Sky or on the net.

So explain Radio 2's massive gain then.

Radio 2 is aimed at the over 20s, surely?
So if Radio 1 appears to be losing listeners it's because younger people have access to the net and to Sky. Older people probably don't know how (or have no interest in) accessing radio through these ways and use normal radios.

Any news on how stations such as 1 Xtra, 5 Live Sports Extra and 6 Music are doing?

A poor argument - I'd like to take you back to the mid to late 90s when the BBC didn't stream over the net and SkyDigital didn't exist - to listen to Radio 1 you had to listen on the audio channel of UK Gold.

Radio 1 lost listeners - and has continued to for many years...commercial radio stations picked them up when they became a lot more desirable than Radio 1 and more recently Radio 2 has poached many ex Radio 1 listeners in the 90s back to the Beeb.

I am 18 - I know how to listen to Radio 1 on my FM stereo, my DAB set, SkyDigital and on the net - but I have no desire to. This may come as a shock but Radio 1 isn't actually that good.

I would hazard a guess that 6music is doing tremendously well, especially on it's drivetime and dream ticket shows. I listen to it a lot, along with Planet Rock on dcab.

I'm 16 and I use my radio because it sounds strange through a TV.

I like Radio 1 at the moment however I think the daytime playlist should be loosened up. I agree that the mainstream daytime / alt latenight style is a good one but the mainstream playlists are a bit repetative. Have more variety in them and maybe a few of the old tunes.

I don't have a problem with any of the DJs except for Wes. Get rid of him and get Scott Mills back on the chart show. Plus I hate the way they now cut down the songs during that show to make way for Wes' drivvel and pointless "Blah blah I only care about the Radio 1 chart" things from the celebs who also have the same playing on the Pepsi (or whatever it is now) and Smash Hits charts. it's cheap and naff.

I don't really think that Radio 1 is 'up itself' in terms of music policy. I'd absolutely hate it if it started playing the same sort of music as GWR, for example, where there's absolutely no sense of discovery. I don't think I've heard a single song for the first time on GWR. I have, on the other hand, heard 3 different Westlife songs in as many hours on it...!

Radio 1 provides an important service to music lovers. It's DJs are actually knowledgeable about the music they're playing - if the same is true of local radio DJs, they don't often show it. If anything, Radio 1's problem is that it's appeal is TOO broad - only someone with really eclectic taste in music will enjoy listening to it all the time. But that's no reason for it to change what it does. Surely a public service radio station should be about seeking out new talent and bringing it to a wider audience, not just playing it safe with established artists. If Radio 1 stopped doing this, the UK music industry would be much worse off as a result.