Regular Top of the Pops revival ruled out in favour of new format
The BBC is looking to develop a new flagship TV music programme as it seeks to move beyond calls for the return of Top of the Pops.
Andy Parfitt, the BBC Radio 1 controller who is also the BBC's head of popular music, today once again ruled out a relaunch of the weekly chart rundown show which ran on BBC1 and – briefly – on BBC2 for 42 years until 2006.
Let's hope they produce a show
about
music and the music industry and not just videos/performances that can already be seen elsewhere.
But there aren't that many outlets for videos/performances on mainstream TV these days. There's no prime time chat shows (except Paul O Grady, but does that have bands on?), variety programmes, no Saturday morning kids shows, no Tops of The Pops or any ITV equivalent. All there really is are a load of bland music channels and Later.
Hopefully this will be an opportunity for a mainstream outlet for new music that isn't just what's in the charts
Positive steps, but Mr Parfitt's view of the Top of the Pops brand generating prejudice is itself prejudice. If a new popular music programme is introduced with elements of old-style TOTP, it may lead to outcries of "Well, why didn't they call it Top of the Pops in the first place?" etc.
All I have to say on the matter is, I'm all for a mainstream pop music series on the BBC. If they decide to call it Top of the Pops and it's regarded as canon to the old series, it'll be a real bonus for me, but whatever the BBC decide to do, please make a programme that reflects the current popular music scene in an inclusive and non-patronising light with partisan, professional and passionate presenters and production crew.
What on earth is their problem with Top of the Pops? Would bringing it back just admit that they made a mistake?
As has been said many times before, they cancelled it in 2006 blaiming lack of viewers and low music sales, which was certainly true then, but one it was on a Sunday afternoon and hadn't been in a proper timeslot for years, and two, single sales have skyrocketed in recent years.
In a way, it would actually help break the current Simon Cowell-dominated charts as we'd get other acts with TV exposure rather than JLS/Leona/Alexandra hitting number 1 with every single release.
I see the main problem being that TotP had essentially bolted onto new Radio 1 'talent' using these 'young things' devalued the programme as they attempted to use it to boost their own egos at the expense of content. If it's a new approach I hope for one that it's more divorced from Radio 1 and that the music remains first priority. If anything directing it to the Chris Evans / Simon Mayo Radio Two audience might be better for longevity.
:-(
A former member
Why could it not go out on a Sunday evening? actually make it lined up with radio 1,
I see the main problem being that TotP had essentially bolted onto new Radio 1 'talent' using these 'young things' devalued the programme as they attempted to use it to boost their own egos at the expense of content. If it's a new approach I hope for one that it's more divorced from Radio 1 and that the music remains first priority. If anything directing it to the Chris Evans / Simon Mayo Radio Two audience might be better for longevity.
Completely agree. Although having on mainstream bands might sound a bit bland, it worked and that's what viewers wanted. The Chris Cowey era of 1998-2003 was probably my favourite out of the years I watched the show.
What on earth is their problem with Top of the Pops? Would bringing it back just admit that they made a mistake?
But they kept trying to 'revive' it with different ideas etc. - and of course you can say 'if only they'd...' but they won't really know that. Far better, I think, to leave that name and format and come up with something new. If it flops, it flops like any other show, but if it does well then great. To use the TOTP name and risk it failing again would be e bit embarrassing for the BBC and not reflect well on the Top of the Pops brand.
Surely the problem with 'Top of The Pops' is that it was a programme about the charts, it's name even refers to the charts... but no-one really cares about the charts any more!