R2OK! Forum Index R2OK!
Contact R2OK! admin

Click here for R2OK! Website


 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Was the BBC Trust review in vain?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    R2OK! Forum Index -> Gripes about Shows and Music on Radio 2
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
gazmando



Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 560
Location: Huntingdon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:27 pm    Post subject: Was the BBC Trust review in vain? Reply with quote

Doe anyone remember the BBC Trust's review of Radio 2 a while back (can't remember when it was to be honest)?
I took part in it myself and I think the verdict was that Radio 2 were ignoring the older listeners.
I honestly was hoping that Radio 2 would take a step back and stop just catering for the younger end of the market but if anything the situation has got worse musically during the daytime.
I have just checked and in the last 30 days they have played JUST 10 SONGS a total of 572 times, which I frankly find amazing and just can't see the reasoning behind why they have gone down this route.
These songs mostly would have been played between 7am and 6pm which makes the situation even worse.
I can't believe that Radio 2 which used to play such a fantastic variety of music has sunk this low.
Will writing to the trust and complaining do anything at all I'm wondering?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ruddlescat



Joined: 16 Sep 2010
Posts: 18010
Location: Near Chester

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would imagine not Gaz though there's nothing wrong with trying it

I think basically Bob Shennan does whatever he likes and pays only lip service to the views of the Trust which he probably sees as an interfering busybody

As you say the biggest problem is the very limited extent of the daytime playlist - I sometimes listen to Smooth and even their playlist at certain times of day is wider than that of Radio 2

I also think there are now too many trailers and it seems that often they get used as a crutch by presenters who have nothing intelligent to say Sad
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
gazmando



Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 560
Location: Huntingdon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 6:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply Ruddles, surely the Trust should be listened to though shouldn't they, otherwise they would just be a meaningless organisation wouldn't they?
I know we could just switch over stations at work but having listened to R2 from the age of 16 to 43 I feel an affinity to it and hate to see how it has gone musically.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ruddlescat



Joined: 16 Sep 2010
Posts: 18010
Location: Near Chester

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Absolutely Gaz, I can entirely see where you're coming from

The trouble is that I think Shennan does probably see the Trust as meaningless and simply thinks that just as long as he increases the R2 overall audience share that's his job done and he deserves a big bonus - which unfortunately he'll probably get

For months I and others have been banging on about the quality of the network being sacrificed in the pursuit of the apparent holy grail of audience share

It's exactly like how the Sun is the biggest selling daily newspaper but would anyone with even half a brain want to buy it?

Sometimes quality has to be preserved rather than radio stations simply pandering to the lowest common denominator
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
gazmando



Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 560
Location: Huntingdon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've never understood why the BBC is obsessed with audience share either, but I really think they'll start losing audiences if they constantly keep playing the same tracks.
Re newspapers, I haven't bought papers in years but when I did it was the Sun (haha).
I actually did think I had half a brain, but when I only get 1 question right on University Challenge I've come to the conclusion that you may just be right!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ruddlescat



Joined: 16 Sep 2010
Posts: 18010
Location: Near Chester

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh I think you shouldn't worry about the likes of University Challenge Gaz

When I was at Uni in the seventies I knew three of the four members of the University of Leicester team which lost in the second round

They all ended up with First Class Honours Degrees but I have never met such a boring group of people in my life - and they might have been experts in their individual chosen areas but when it came to ordinary common sense and experience of ordinary daily life they were all total duffers Rolling Eyes
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19372
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree with you both about the situation at Radio 2 these days.

Like you Gasmando, I've listened for a long time and honestly thought it would last me far longer than it has! I based that on a lot of what they played then was way before my time (nothing wrong with that as I learned from it) so they would get round to what I grew up and liked in years to come. It's now stuck in a rut constantly playing stuff that IMHO is not what the older listeners want to hear more than once in a while. Don't get me started on presenters either!

It also seems that there are to be more repeats especially of comedy shows on the station. I rarely hear them anyway so not a problem for me, but documentaries which have only recently been aired isn't really acceptable.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MadeinSurrey



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3130
Location: The Beautiful South

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As a famous headline once read: Sad, Mad, Bad!

I just despair of radio 2. What worries me most is that future generations will never get to hear the likes of Sinatra, Ella, Nat etc because there is no longer a radio station that plays them with any regularity. Many more wonderful artists fit into the same category, instead we get the same old drivel and that's just the presenters! (Ken excepted).

It's all so depressing Crying or Very sad
_________________
MiS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19372
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Couldn't agree more MiS

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Mark Mayhew



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 2897

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Imho Messrs Bruce and Bones are very part of the problem-every day a selection of gay disco records feature in the mid morning show.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19372
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mark you seem to have a 'thing' about gay disco records.................

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MadeinSurrey



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3130
Location: The Beautiful South

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laughing

Helen, we forgot to say "Richard Allinson is the finest broadcaster in the history of er, broadcasting!"
_________________
MiS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ruddlescat



Joined: 16 Sep 2010
Posts: 18010
Location: Near Chester

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We all know that the dreaded Gary Bones has a lot to answer for on occasions in terms of musical selections but that doesn't make Ken a bad presenter - quite the contrary he's one of the best

I very much doubt whether he likes some of the stuff he is expected to play but at his age and looking towards retirement would it really be sensible for him to rock the boat?

I think not Smile
_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19372
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MadeinSurrey wrote:
Laughing

Helen, we forgot to say "Richard Allinson is the finest broadcaster in the history of er, broadcasting!"


The strange thing is that for many years Gary was Richard's producer and many of the same tracks were played on his show. Strange how if someone else plays them they are okay ............... Wink

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ian Robinson
Site Admin


Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3608
Location: Chorley, Lancashire

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helen May wrote:
MadeinSurrey wrote:
Laughing

Helen, we forgot to say "Richard Allinson is the finest broadcaster in the history of er, broadcasting!"


The strange thing is that for many years Gary was Richard's producer and many of the same tracks were played on his show. Strange how if someone else plays them they are okay ............... Wink

H

Heh. Exactly. Gary Bones was brought onto Ken's show with a brief to make the music more bland and harmless - and that, to the detriment of the show and the station, is just what he's done. But he'd been practicing on Richard's show!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
gazmando



Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 560
Location: Huntingdon

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have to agree that the music on Ken's show is by far the most repetitive on Radio 2.
As a presenterI think he's good but you only have to go on the R2 site and check the songs played over a week to see how many times he plays the same songs.
It should be only the single of the week that get's played every day but sadly that's not the case.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Lord Evan Elpuss



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 3417
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian Robinson wrote:
Heh. Exactly. Gary Bones was brought onto Ken's show with a brief to make the music more bland and harmless - and that, to the detriment of the show and the station, is just what he's done. But he'd been practicing on Richard's show!

So it's true then, Radio 2 is being dumbed down!
_________________
Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ian Robinson
Site Admin


Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3608
Location: Chorley, Lancashire

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gazmando wrote:
you only have to go on the R2 site and check the songs played over a week to see how many times he plays the same songs.

That's true, although I've noticed some of the more interesting songs for some reason mysteriously fail to turn up on the "Music Played" section of the website. A few times I've had to listen again to find out what a song was because it's not been listed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Helen May



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19372
Location: Cheshire

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I noticed that a couple of weeks ago Ian, can't remember which show it was though.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Lord Evan Elpuss



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 3417
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Take a look at the Drivetime playlist, I think that quite a few tracks are omitted. Perhaps as much as half of them!
_________________
Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    R2OK! Forum Index -> Gripes about Shows and Music on Radio 2 All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com