You are right Dave, the commercial radio companies have all but killed local radio in the UK.....sad times.
What do you think you are missing out on? I'd be interested know how you think commercial radio has killed local radio.
I should have worded it that I think the big radio groups have all but killed local commercial radio....
And by that I mean how can Capital, Heart and Kiss.....arguably Londons 3 biggest stations now offer so little London-centric output.
Capital WAS London but now with its shared programming across the country you are more likely to hear about Rihanna's new haircut rather than a free concert on the South bank or whatever.
Personally I think a city like London with 7 million people deserves better.
This is repeated across the country.....great former local stations such as Invicta in Kent are now just a franchise output for the Heart brand with the least local content possible.
Specialist programming and overnight DJ's have all but vanished everywhere.
Although I'm pushing the 'upper age' limit I love Radio 1, mainly because they are not sounding like every other 'hits' station in the UK....managing to bring personality and new music together.
Please give me your thoughts Popicon, I love radio so always interested to hear others opinion.
I think I pretty much covered it in the above post, commercial radio in London doesn't have the same local content as other regions across the UK. Its simple, how do you cater for 7 million people? There are very few regional commercial stations, the real radio network and couple of others that encompass so many people and none really have that 'local-local' feeling.
Without getting too technical and political, radio has been though a big change over the past decade or so. Radio is always changing, new groups springing up, groups buying out one and others stations and licences.
Unfortunately the whole world is a lot more financially driven/fixated than it was in 1990, you just need to look around to see that, football being a great example of this.
Are you aware of the KMFM Group in Kent? Its an example of how to destroy local radio. Originally it was about six or seven "local" stations across the county, until KM brought the stations and operated them under one hub KMFM, for a while they retained shows, with some programming and news shared (this was seen as saving local radio that was already on its knees) Over time, shows were cut and simulcast cast across the group, the last shows to go were axed in March (the breakfast shows) Regional studios were closed and lots of people lost their jobs. essentially Kent has become like London, little choice and what choice there is limited as programming across all stations is now shared. However this isn't the story across the whole country, amongst others Bristol & Oxford have excellent choice of local radio radio, off the top of my head Bristol has at least four 'local' stations and an award winning community station and Oxford the same.
I've digressed somewhat here, what do people want from 'local radio' in London?
I saw Chris Moyles at London Bridge station before a Leeds game. It was the last train that would get to Charlton for kick-off and the train was completely rammed.
Moyles was knocking on the window asking people to move down so he could get his fat arse on the train. He was literally the only person that couldn't get on the train. He then started pleading with the driver if he could sit with him in the cab and to everyone's pleasure he was told where to go and the slowly train pulled off with every one giving Moyles stick and him standing on the platform knowing he'd miss kick-off.
He saw the funny side and took it well so fair play to him.
@popicon we did have proper local radio in SE London but a group of marketing men with no connection to the area killed it. Totally agree when you talk about KMFM and what they have done.
Yes there are good community stations (and bad ones controlled by people who have absolutely no idea what they are doing) but as Dan said they are never going to be able to replace or replicate what the old ILR stations did.
Darren Gough, an utter utter arse! Some time ago he was comparing standing around 'fielding' with boxing training, saying that they are equally hard! Sad really!
On the local redio debate, and playing devils advocate a bit, but surely the reason local radio is in such a bad way is because it is commercially unviable, doesn't attract enough listeners and is in some instances, very amateurish compared to the other offerings ?
@popicon we did have proper local radio in SE London but a group of marketing men with no connection to the area killed it. Totally agree when you talk about KMFM and what they have done.
Yes there are good community stations (and bad ones controlled by people who have absolutely no idea what they are doing) but as Dan said they are never going to be able to replace or replicate what the old ILR stations did.
On the local redio debate, and playing devils advocate a bit, but surely the reason local radio is in such a bad way is because it is commercially unviable, doesn't attract enough listeners and is in some instances, very amateurish compared to the other offerings ?
There's only one day of the year that local radio is worth listening to and that is when it snows.
Anyone on Radio 1 to be honest but especially Fearne Cotton. I'm out of the loop with "new music" because I can't stand any presenter.
LBC also makes my blood boil, might as well rename that the "One view accepted only Daily Mail FM".
Stick to Absolute in the mornings, makes me laugh.
You've clearly not listened to James O'Brien on LBC, one of the most liberal and left thinking wishy washy presenters (not a DJ) there is, although I do like Mystery hour on Thursdays at noon, some good questions and answers on that part of his show.
2 presenters talking at the same time, Talksport are really bad for that. Also hearing that Charlton have let a last minute goal in (or any goal come to that).
On the local redio debate, and playing devils advocate a bit, but surely the reason local radio is in such a bad way is because it is commercially unviable, doesn't attract enough listeners and is in some instances, very amateurish compared to the other offerings ?
Its a valid point AFKA, I think being local for local sake and not being very professional sounding works against these stations too. If you got Heart giving away a holiday to Barbados and Local FM giving away £25 voucher for the local Farmers market I know what the majority of people would listen too.
Thing is a station such as what was Invicta should absolutely be a commercially viable business and one that does well as a stand alone station.....sounding 'big' as well as being local and in touch with its listeners.
Stations such as Time FM never stood a chance against the London big boys with terrible management etc but that story is for another day!
Comments
Without getting too technical and political, radio has been though a big change over the past decade or so. Radio is always changing, new groups springing up, groups buying out one and others stations and licences.
Unfortunately the whole world is a lot more financially driven/fixated than it was in 1990, you just need to look around to see that, football being a great example of this.
Are you aware of the KMFM Group in Kent? Its an example of how to destroy local radio. Originally it was about six or seven "local" stations across the county, until KM brought the stations and operated them under one hub KMFM, for a while they retained shows, with some programming and news shared (this was seen as saving local radio that was already on its knees) Over time, shows were cut and simulcast cast across the group, the last shows to go were axed in March (the breakfast shows) Regional studios were closed and lots of people lost their jobs. essentially Kent has become like London, little choice and what choice there is limited as programming across all stations is now shared.
However this isn't the story across the whole country, amongst others Bristol & Oxford have excellent choice of local radio radio, off the top of my head Bristol has at least four 'local' stations and an award winning community station and Oxford the same.
I've digressed somewhat here, what do people want from 'local radio' in London?
I saw Chris Moyles at London Bridge station before a Leeds game. It was the last train that would get to Charlton for kick-off and the train was completely rammed.
Moyles was knocking on the window asking people to move down so he could get his fat arse on the train. He was literally the only person that couldn't get on the train. He then started pleading with the driver if he could sit with him in the cab and to everyone's pleasure he was told where to go and the slowly train pulled off with every one giving Moyles stick and him standing on the platform knowing he'd miss kick-off.
He saw the funny side and took it well so fair play to him.
Yes there are good community stations (and bad ones controlled by people who have absolutely no idea what they are doing) but as Dan said they are never going to be able to replace or replicate what the old ILR stations did.
Sad really!
Thing is a station such as what was Invicta should absolutely be a commercially viable business and one that does well as a stand alone station.....sounding 'big' as well as being local and in touch with its listeners.
Stations such as Time FM never stood a chance against the London big boys with terrible management etc but that story is for another day!