Similarities At BBC Radio

I don’t often talk about radio. It’s been one of my passions since I was a child, but there is not a great deal to say on a day-to-day basis. Yet, last week Lesley Douglas, the new controller of Radio 2, announced a few schedule changes that included Dermot O’Leary joining the network for a new music show.

I find this odd. For the last few years, I have been a Terry Wogan listener because I couldn’t stand most of the rest of the frantic morning shows, and he’s the best in the business. Last month, I switched back to Radio 1 where Chris Moyles surprised me and has been very, very entertaining. I do miss Wogan and I find it hard to make that choice in the morning.

Over the last few years, Radio 2 has been re-positioning itself to attract new younger listeners. This is good because it allows Radio 1 to be squarely aimed at the youth market. But where do the Radio 2 listeners go? The BBC doesn’t seem to be providing them with a choice – and isn’t that the BBC’s public service job? Radio 2 is becoming a thirtysomething station. The BBC introduced 6music which seems – to me – to be a thirtysomething station. Where do the fiftysomethings – who don’t want speech – go? The BBC is missing something here and while I, personally, like the changes to Radio 2 (and the imminent arrival of Mark Radcliffe to late nights – his true home – is to be celebrated by street parties in my opinion) where will I go when I start complaining about the loud music of today’s youngsters?

On this day…

One thought on “Similarities At BBC Radio

  1. Tom

    Quite. Where can you go on BBC Radio for music from 50s/60s, or even before? There’s still a considerable elderly population who like war-time music and the like, and beyond Saga FM there’s almost nothing for them.

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