ChatterBank2 mins ago
Radio Two Thinking ... Or Lack Of It.
34 Answers
I read today that Paul O'Grady has left his Radio Two show in protest at being doubled up with Rob Beckett as part of Radio Two's bizarre notion that it needs to provide 'younger' presenters.
I am honestly mystified as to the rationale behind their current policy which is seeing the replacement of Steve Wright.
I am not interested in debating the popularity of any presenter, each has their own fans and detractors, which is how art works.
I am seriously curious to know why Radio Two bosses feel that their station will benefit from taking out established popular presenters, and replacing them with new people who's suitability for the role appears to based first and foremost o being younger than the person they are replacing.
I am at a loss to understand the reasoning behind this approach, because the age of the presenter has nothing whatsoever to do with their popularity, aside from the simple fact of building a large, loyal, and longstanding audience over decades, a majority of which will turn elsewhere when the change is made.
I am not suggesting that anyone has an automatic job for life, but this appears to be change for the sake of some bizarre notion that 'younger' presenters will in turn bring in younger audiences, which flies in the face of the huge listening figures of the outgoing presenters.
Audiences don't choose radio presenters on the basis of their age, they choose them because they like them, or not.
I am at an age when some radio presenters are younger than my children, some are years older than me, but none are listened to on that basis, why would they?
I have been a party DJ for more than forty-five years. and not once has any prospective client asked how old I am - why would they? Why would it matter?
Radio Two got its bottom kicked when it tried to use 'equality' as a reason to lump the highly successful Simon Mayo with the lumpen bore Jo Whiley. The show was a flop, Mayo left, Whiley was returned to her evening slot.
It appears they don't learn lessons, but why should they? They are not accountable, and they get paid whether their weird ideas work or not.
We will sit back and watch as Scott Mills loses Steve Wright's audience, and fails to replace it with his own, same for Rob Beckett if he gets the Paul O'Grady slot full time.
Any thoughts as to why this is happening?
I am honestly mystified as to the rationale behind their current policy which is seeing the replacement of Steve Wright.
I am not interested in debating the popularity of any presenter, each has their own fans and detractors, which is how art works.
I am seriously curious to know why Radio Two bosses feel that their station will benefit from taking out established popular presenters, and replacing them with new people who's suitability for the role appears to based first and foremost o being younger than the person they are replacing.
I am at a loss to understand the reasoning behind this approach, because the age of the presenter has nothing whatsoever to do with their popularity, aside from the simple fact of building a large, loyal, and longstanding audience over decades, a majority of which will turn elsewhere when the change is made.
I am not suggesting that anyone has an automatic job for life, but this appears to be change for the sake of some bizarre notion that 'younger' presenters will in turn bring in younger audiences, which flies in the face of the huge listening figures of the outgoing presenters.
Audiences don't choose radio presenters on the basis of their age, they choose them because they like them, or not.
I am at an age when some radio presenters are younger than my children, some are years older than me, but none are listened to on that basis, why would they?
I have been a party DJ for more than forty-five years. and not once has any prospective client asked how old I am - why would they? Why would it matter?
Radio Two got its bottom kicked when it tried to use 'equality' as a reason to lump the highly successful Simon Mayo with the lumpen bore Jo Whiley. The show was a flop, Mayo left, Whiley was returned to her evening slot.
It appears they don't learn lessons, but why should they? They are not accountable, and they get paid whether their weird ideas work or not.
We will sit back and watch as Scott Mills loses Steve Wright's audience, and fails to replace it with his own, same for Rob Beckett if he gets the Paul O'Grady slot full time.
Any thoughts as to why this is happening?
Answers
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Zacs - Thanks for your second link highlighting the success of the new Boom network.
It's growing audience shows that, for all its focus groups and red-braces-wearing 'executives at the BBC, radio is not rocket science.
You don't need anything beyond a rudimentary grasp of human nature to know that if you provide songs that people like, played by people you like, you will get an audience.
Contrary to what the BBC appear to think, changing presenters based on age runs the risk, not only of losing the audience they have, but failing to gain a new one using un-tested presenters in un-tested time slots, which is a recipe for failure.
The annoying thing is, the BBC have been taught this lesson several times already, and appear to have a vested interest in not learning it.
If they were a commercial organisation, they would absolutely, rightly, succumb to market forces and rapidly cease to exist.
Because they are shored up by public money, they are able to play their silly games without sanction or justification, and that cannot be right.
It's growing audience shows that, for all its focus groups and red-braces-wearing 'executives at the BBC, radio is not rocket science.
You don't need anything beyond a rudimentary grasp of human nature to know that if you provide songs that people like, played by people you like, you will get an audience.
Contrary to what the BBC appear to think, changing presenters based on age runs the risk, not only of losing the audience they have, but failing to gain a new one using un-tested presenters in un-tested time slots, which is a recipe for failure.
The annoying thing is, the BBC have been taught this lesson several times already, and appear to have a vested interest in not learning it.
If they were a commercial organisation, they would absolutely, rightly, succumb to market forces and rapidly cease to exist.
Because they are shored up by public money, they are able to play their silly games without sanction or justification, and that cannot be right.
It's definitely done to appeal to younger listeners, but I think it's a big mistake to mess about with Paul O'Grady. Not only has the man got a natural wit, he is full of charm and has an infectious laugh. I don't listen to BBC radio, but if I did, I'd be really annoyed at him leaving and certainly wouldn't tune in to listen just to Rob Beckett, who I personally don't find funny at all.
I remember Paul O'Grady's eulogy for Cilla Black which was in turn both moving and funny and I bet she would have loved it !
Silly BBC !
I remember Paul O'Grady's eulogy for Cilla Black which was in turn both moving and funny and I bet she would have loved it !
Silly BBC !
Bobbi - // That’s blatant ageism , I really like Paul and his down to earth approach , the BBC are antiquated and should be kicked into history ! //
It appears to be so.
As I have stated, I really can't see why the age of a presenter matters on a station with the demographic of Radio Two.
Radio One, yes, obviously, but Radio Two listeners don't care how old presenters are, only if they like them, and there is no indication judging by listening figures, the only indication that actually matters, that either Mr Wright's or Mr O'Grady's audiences have any issue with their ages, since age is not a factor in their ability to please their audiences.
It appears to be so.
As I have stated, I really can't see why the age of a presenter matters on a station with the demographic of Radio Two.
Radio One, yes, obviously, but Radio Two listeners don't care how old presenters are, only if they like them, and there is no indication judging by listening figures, the only indication that actually matters, that either Mr Wright's or Mr O'Grady's audiences have any issue with their ages, since age is not a factor in their ability to please their audiences.
Ken - // I, too, like Paul O'Grady - but only on the tv. On the radio he is quite boring, imho, and i stopped listening to his Sunday show quite some time back - too many private jokes with his producer which we, the audience, were not in on.
Nowt to do with age. //
I have no real view on Mr O'Grady, although I loved Lilly Savage.
I do dislike the 'vinegary old queen' persona that presents his radio show, and I am not bothered about dogs on television, so don't watch him there.
But my opinion is not for one moment based on his age - why on earth would it be?
Nowt to do with age. //
I have no real view on Mr O'Grady, although I loved Lilly Savage.
I do dislike the 'vinegary old queen' persona that presents his radio show, and I am not bothered about dogs on television, so don't watch him there.
But my opinion is not for one moment based on his age - why on earth would it be?
Zacs - // Paul will probably pop up on Virgin (or Greatest Hits Radio). They've already nicked a few former BBC 'jocks'. //
I doubt it very much.
The presenters that have jumped from the BBC to Greatest Hits are all known music presenters, they have knowledge and they were, and are, 'disc jockeys'.
Paul O'Grady is far more of a 'personality' presenter, not immediately known as a music buff like for instance Paul Gambaccini.
I doubt it very much.
The presenters that have jumped from the BBC to Greatest Hits are all known music presenters, they have knowledge and they were, and are, 'disc jockeys'.
Paul O'Grady is far more of a 'personality' presenter, not immediately known as a music buff like for instance Paul Gambaccini.
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