Mark Lamarr to leave Radio 2 (Merged)
MikeBr
Posts: 7,889 Forum Member
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From Media Guardian:
BBC Radio 2 spokesman:
"Mark Lamarr has decided to leave Radio 2 in December. We are sorry to see him go and wish him well for the future.
"We have a greater commitment than ever before to specialist music genres and feature an extraordinarily broad range of music going back over seven decades throughout the Radio 2 schedule. We plan to replace his shows with equally distinctive content in 2011."
Gods Jukebox to finish early Christmas day. Shake, Rattle and Roll ends December 14.
Full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-to-leave-radio-2
I also really enjoyed Alternative 60's and the live Christmas Day programmes Mark did on Radio 2. He will be very difficult to replace.
BBC Radio 2 spokesman:
"Mark Lamarr has decided to leave Radio 2 in December. We are sorry to see him go and wish him well for the future.
"We have a greater commitment than ever before to specialist music genres and feature an extraordinarily broad range of music going back over seven decades throughout the Radio 2 schedule. We plan to replace his shows with equally distinctive content in 2011."
Gods Jukebox to finish early Christmas day. Shake, Rattle and Roll ends December 14.
Full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-to-leave-radio-2
I also really enjoyed Alternative 60's and the live Christmas Day programmes Mark did on Radio 2. He will be very difficult to replace.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/03/mark-lamarr-to-leave-radio-2?&
"It’s become obvious over the last year the station has become much less interested in non mainstream music, and my position there has been extremely uncomfortable."
Full article:
http://philljupitus.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/radio-off/
I thought it was going the other way in off peak hours - improving the range of specialist music after years on neglect and apathy from Lesley Douglas
Non-mainstream and specialist aren't necessarily the same thing. Shake Rattle and Roll played lots of records that you don't hear on most rock n roll programmes, same argument applies to Alternative 60's.
God's Jukebox had sessions from what Phil describes as fringe artists, musicians working now in non mainstream genres that get very little exposure.
GeorgeS's idea of "specialist music" is music that is completely acceptable to the pettiest Little Englander Tory, and nothing else.
you are a presumptious bumpkin who knows nothing about what my ideas or musical tastes are.
FYI I'm not even English:p
According to today's Guardian he asked Bob Shennan for an earlier time and when the Boss said no Mr. Lamarr decided to take his ball home with him.
Shennan may be many things but there is probably more specialist variety on Radio 2 than ever before.
Bear in mind also Shennan is under fairly constant attack for the lack of shows for older listeners.
Yes the playlist during the weekday day time is probably predictable but I would be more than a little amazed if Mark got a daytime show on any other station that would allow him the freedom he had on Radio 2.
I must admit i disagree with you when you say that "There is probably more specialist variety on Radio 2 than before". Weekends have gone downhill since Shennan took over. He brought Alan Carr to Saturday nights playing the sort of predictable crap that you hear on Heart. He has replaced Jonathan Ross with the dreadful Graham Norton who also plays wall to wall predictable crap. Unlike Ross who always played some interesting stuff and had some interesting guests. He replaced the excellent Pete Mitchell with the dull Richard Allinson and if that all wern't enough he moves the excellent Bob Harris to an even later slot. It seems if you show real enthusiasm for music Shennan is likely to move your show to a later slot or axe you completely.
As for Mark leaving, I'm gutted. I've been a fan of his shows since the very start.
I bet Radcliffe and Maconie will go next year and wouldn't be surprised if we see the demise of Janice Long and maybe Alex Lester.
Anyway I've listened to Radio2 day and night for the past decade but will be moving on in the coming weeks. Quite honestly it's become cr*p - middle of the road nonsense music and cheesy broadcasters. The arrival of Vanessa Feltz to replace Sarah Kennedy just shows the mess being made at R2. Sarah was awful but I can't see Vanessa will be any better.
It's a great shame - but Bob Shenanigans is clueless and has ruined a great radio station. Let's hope we see his demise in 2011 too - although as we all know the talentless seem to keep their jobs while the talented fall by the way side.
Due to the time it's broadcast I wasn't an avid listener of Mark Lamarr, but I caught in the car the other week at 1.30am, and thought to myself how lucky we were to have a national station with a dj as well-informed and enthusiastic as ML playing and interviewing the makers of that type of music. A similar feeling to the one I get listening to Radcliffe & Maconie, and some of the 6music shows. It will be very revealing just how 'mainstream' his successor proves to be.
Yes, he really ruined 5 Live with it's record audiences of almost 7 million listeners, and he must be on his way out with Radio 2 having maintained a healthy 13 million + listenerssince he took over.
You've got to remember the environment at the time he got appointed to the position - post Sachsgate. After that musical knowledge was not forefront in the qualities the new Controller required - there are other management and producers at the station who have that and can advise.
In fact with the amount of music genres Radio 2 has to cover maybe an alleged indifference by the Controller is the best way forward - avoids any bias towards one particular genre.