Trent FM Arena confirmed to be changing name to the Capital FM arena. You can see the new logo on the facebook page. The words don't really fit onto it well though...
Matty J, that post you have just made has explained brilliantly the argument I was trying to put across about the format earlier in the thread, but couldn't quite explain my thoughts clearly.
Great post and well summarised
Yes, excellent post. I couldn't agree more.
I'm glad I'm not the only one to find Capital excrutiatingly dull.
Seconded, that was an excellent summary of the situation. A CHR network which is also trying to meet the special requirements of an urban station. Galaxy Birmingham is always going to be a problem and affect the rest of the network unless they can get the format changed.
Global were warned a few years ago that the output was very close to being unacceptable.
There's no reason why Capital wouldn't hold gigs there, but it depends if you mean stand alone events like the Jingle Bell Ball or just having their name associated with whichever big name is appearing there. Trent FM have done the latter for years.
Capital sounds dire at the moment because the playlist is a dull mix of 'pseudo urban pop' and little else.
It may sound dire to you, but more people are listening to it than at any time in the past 5 years. So I wouldn't have thought Global are too worried about your opinion.
The fact is, 'pseudo urban pop' is exactly what Capital's target audience of 15-29 year-old women in London want. Men prefer more guitar-based stuff, but on the whole women don't.
Capital's got its music spot on for its target audience. I presume you're not in it.
Capital sounds dire at the moment because the playlist is a dull mix of 'pseudo urban pop' and little else.
Excellent post, Matty.
I had a listen to Capital earlier and it struck me how far this once dominant local radio station has been compromised in the name of national networking.
I can only presume that the various benefits of one national station with local optouts outweighs the individual stations' needs. In other words it won't really matter if certain local ratings dip due to the size of the national offering.
That said, what happens if Capital.....currently with a reach of about 2 million........starts to slip badly?
There ARE ways round the issues you raise. Capital could, say, drop more pop tunes into the local hours. Or they could even run sepearate playlists with the Capital jock doing a show live to the CHRs and VTing output on what was once the Galaxy network.
It may sound dire to you, but more people are listening to it than at any time in the past 5 years. So I wouldn't have thought Global are too worried about your opinion.
The fact is, 'pseudo urban pop' is exactly what Capital's target audience of 15-29 year-old women in London want. Men prefer more guitar-based stuff, but on the whole women don't.
Capital's got its music spot on for its target audience. I presume you're not in it.
I love how you think everything can be put in neat little boxes, if only life was that simple
And it may be the target audience but the actual audience is a lot more diverse.
It may sound dire to you, but more people are listening to it than at any time in the past 5 years. So I wouldn't have thought Global are too worried about your opinion.
The fact is, 'pseudo urban pop' is exactly what Capital's target audience of 15-29 year-old women in London want. Men prefer more guitar-based stuff, but on the whole women don't.
Capital's got its music spot on for its target audience. I presume you're not in it.
Well I don't think your statistics are entirely credible given that the stations have only been sharing exact music logs for....maybe 2 or 3 months? It's not had a chance to impact on the listening figures yet. Let's see how the RAJARS are in 6 months or a years time when we can see the full effects of this tight playlist.
P.S I have no doubt that Global aren't worried about my opinion. I am in the target audience age-group although I'm not female. And this time last year I was listening religiously to Capital because it sounded brilliant. The presenters and styles are all the same it's the music that's changed and I'm finding it a big switch off. Tune in yourself and tell me what you think of how the music is being programmed. Do you think it's being helped, hampered or having no effect being tied in with an urban heavy license in Birmingham? I'm interested to know what you think of the station compared to say this time last year?
I wasn't swiping at Capital because I hate Global - I actually think LBC and Heart are very good at what they do. I was simply offering my own critique on what realistically may happen in the future both musically and with listening figures, not for anoraks but amongst regular listeners. For everyone who hates Heart you have to admit the music is brilliantly programmed. The music on Capital now isn't. It will show in time.
But that's just my opinion and that's what these boards are here for!
Let's see how the RAJARS are in 6 months or a years time when we can see the full effects of this tight playlist.
Its a small point but the tight playlist is not the issue. Every station thats becomming Capital and Capital itself have always or at least have for the last 10 years had a tight playlist. I think at one point Galaxy were running an even tighter playlist than they do now.
Is it just me that thinks 96-106 Capital FM is a bit lame? I can understand 88-91 FM for Radio 2 as it occupies most of this space whereas there is quite a lot else other than Capital between 96-106!!
P.S I have no doubt that Global aren't worried about my opinion. I am in the target audience age-group although I'm not female. And this time last year I was listening religiously to Capital because it sounded brilliant. The presenters and styles are all the same it's the music that's changed and I'm finding it a big switch off. Tune in yourself and tell me what you think of how the music is being programmed. Do you think it's being helped, hampered or having no effect being tied in with an urban heavy license in Birmingham? I'm interested to know what you think of the station compared to say this time last year?
I wasn't swiping at Capital because I hate Global - I actually think LBC and Heart are very good at what they do. I was simply offering my own critique on what realistically may happen in the future both musically and with listening figures, not for anoraks but amongst regular listeners. For everyone who hates Heart you have to admit the music is brilliantly programmed. The music on Capital now isn't. It will show in time.
Again, took the words out of my mouth. Capital did sound great last year - good all-round CHR. However, by sharing music logs with the Galaxy stations who were licensed to serve a rhythmic format and worse, in Birmingham where an urban format similar to Choice FM in London, is supposed to be adhered to, the music output is starting to sound a bit odd. It's like Kiss 100 lite...it sounds a bit confused.
Last year Ofcom investigated complaints about Galaxy North East playing non-rhythmic tracks (basically when Galaxy started to hint that it might want to become a truly CHR station):
In that report, whilst Ofcom said the presence of Kings of Leon/Scouting for Girls, etc on Galaxy North East were not tracks of a 'rhythmic' nature, they only made up a small proportion of the overall output (4% approx they said) and so they were operating within their format. However they also said:
"we are concerned that any further move on the part of Galaxy 105-106’s to increase the number of tracks that do not sit happily with its “rhythmic-based music” remit risks blurring the boundaries between the station’s specific rhythmic Format and the wider Contemporary Hit Radio format assigned to other stations in the North East.
Such a development would have the effect of reducing choice for listeners within the North East area, and would also conflict with Ofcom’s specific duty to secure a range and diversity of radio services."
Basically, for the sake of simplicity to advertisers who don't 'get' the Galaxy brand, and to cut costs, they are re-branding everything to Capital and to do so, they are going to spend the next few years playing music that is acceptable once the restrictions of all of the Galaxy licences are worked-around and so they do not get a yellow card.
Everything seems to be 'see how much we can get away with', in Global Radio's eyes at least. Heart for example, plays out 'Club Classics' in the middle of the night - is this just to make up a specialist music quota? Surely this new Capital network is going to be a music programmer's nightmare?
I agree with Matty J in that I think Global are giving themselves a real headache. Heart are good at what they do, LBC are, Capital are generally, but I think there will reach a point where they will have pushed people to hard. I could be very wrong; I mean people got used to the Heart network fairly quickly and it was a success in Global's eyes (and mine), but I think this one might be a step too far perhaps. I hope it isn't, for the sake of the radio industry, but we shall see.
Not true. I remember Capital playing many Christmas songs last year. The reason I would imagine is this.
The whole network, Capital, Galaxy, Red Dragon et all are now running off the same playlist and forever will be. The CHR stations have the broadest range of music they CAN play whilst Galaxy Birmingham probably has the smallest range of commercially acceptable music they can play. The trouble with all the 'Yellow Cards' Ofcom hands out is they're reactive. If Galaxy Birmingham starts playing ALL pop/rock music they'll get a 'Yellow Card'. If Capital decides it only wants to play one genre of top 40 music it won't get a 'Yellow Card'. This is a loophole and a flaw that Ofcom (won't) but should have considered.
Because the music logs MUST be the same across the network 24/7 (according to Global) Capital is effectively being held hostage to Galaxy Birmingham's 'Urban' format. So that's why you won't hear any Christmas tunes. Because The Pogues, Slade etc. can't be incorporated into an Urban format.
Or it could just be that Christmas songs are a bit cheesy and naff and they don't want to play any.
Is it just me that thinks 96-106 Capital FM is a bit lame? I can understand 88-91 FM for Radio 2 as it occupies most of this space whereas there is quite a lot else other than Capital between 96-106!!
I very much doubt the frequencies will be mentioned on air. It's simply a visual brand for online and printed material. 96-106 certainly makes it look big to the agencies!
And from Janauary, there'll be 2 concerts per month at the Capital FM arena, with all other concerts relayed on big screens from The 02 in London. A Capital spokeman said this morning "This is great news for the people in the East Midlands, they will have some great live concerts from artists performing in the East Midlands mixed with great concert performances from London." The artists booked to perform in Nottingham in 2011 are being consulted about the changes. A small number expected to maintain their shows in Nottingham and some will be offered gigs in London.
Damn and i like the fact it was christmas cheese free.All the bloody same songs every year does my head in please capital stay xmas songs free if you want xmas songs tune into another station.Must admit i had BFBS radio on last night and they were playing xmas songs i have never heard of and they were great and some of them were rock xmas songs.
I've just read chipman's response above and the reference to a Nov 2008 OFCOM ruling on the Birmingham licence which quotes the format requirements as "A RHYTHMIC-BASED MUSIC AND INFORMATION STATION PRIMARILY FOR LISTENERS OF AFRICAN OR AFRO-CARIBBEAN ORIGIN, BUT WITH CROSS-OVER APPEAL TO YOUNG WHITE FANS OF URBAN CONTEMPORARY BLACK MUSIC AND AT LEAST 26 HOURS A WEEK OF IDENTIFIABLE SPECIALIST MUSIC PROGRAMMES (TO INCLUDE REGGAE, RnB AND HIP HOP)".
Does this format requirement still stand for Birmingham? It seems far removed what what capitaliscoming is currently serving up.
If you click on Public File for Galaxy Birmingham the format stikll exists (not sure if its still 26 hours specialist per week though). So yep, depends how it is interpreted I guess but does at first look to appear completely out of the format specified!!
Comments
I'm thinking it would look better if the Capital logo was left as it is, with "THE" replacing the frequency, then having "Arena" under neath it?
Yes, excellent post. I couldn't agree more.
I'm glad I'm not the only one to find Capital excrutiatingly dull.
Seconded, that was an excellent summary of the situation. A CHR network which is also trying to meet the special requirements of an urban station. Galaxy Birmingham is always going to be a problem and affect the rest of the network unless they can get the format changed.
Global were warned a few years ago that the output was very close to being unacceptable.
http://www.capitalfmarenanottingham.com/members/news_article/trent_fm_arena_nottingham_is_changing
It may sound dire to you, but more people are listening to it than at any time in the past 5 years. So I wouldn't have thought Global are too worried about your opinion.
The fact is, 'pseudo urban pop' is exactly what Capital's target audience of 15-29 year-old women in London want. Men prefer more guitar-based stuff, but on the whole women don't.
Capital's got its music spot on for its target audience. I presume you're not in it.
Excellent post, Matty.
I had a listen to Capital earlier and it struck me how far this once dominant local radio station has been compromised in the name of national networking.
I can only presume that the various benefits of one national station with local optouts outweighs the individual stations' needs. In other words it won't really matter if certain local ratings dip due to the size of the national offering.
That said, what happens if Capital.....currently with a reach of about 2 million........starts to slip badly?
There ARE ways round the issues you raise. Capital could, say, drop more pop tunes into the local hours. Or they could even run sepearate playlists with the Capital jock doing a show live to the CHRs and VTing output on what was once the Galaxy network.
I just wonder if they have a plan B?
I love how you think everything can be put in neat little boxes, if only life was that simple
And it may be the target audience but the actual audience is a lot more diverse.
LOL
More like The Bassless Man
What about The Tin Man?
Well I don't think your statistics are entirely credible given that the stations have only been sharing exact music logs for....maybe 2 or 3 months? It's not had a chance to impact on the listening figures yet. Let's see how the RAJARS are in 6 months or a years time when we can see the full effects of this tight playlist.
P.S I have no doubt that Global aren't worried about my opinion. I am in the target audience age-group although I'm not female. And this time last year I was listening religiously to Capital because it sounded brilliant. The presenters and styles are all the same it's the music that's changed and I'm finding it a big switch off. Tune in yourself and tell me what you think of how the music is being programmed. Do you think it's being helped, hampered or having no effect being tied in with an urban heavy license in Birmingham? I'm interested to know what you think of the station compared to say this time last year?
I wasn't swiping at Capital because I hate Global - I actually think LBC and Heart are very good at what they do. I was simply offering my own critique on what realistically may happen in the future both musically and with listening figures, not for anoraks but amongst regular listeners. For everyone who hates Heart you have to admit the music is brilliantly programmed. The music on Capital now isn't. It will show in time.
But that's just my opinion and that's what these boards are here for!
Its a small point but the tight playlist is not the issue. Every station thats becomming Capital and Capital itself have always or at least have for the last 10 years had a tight playlist. I think at one point Galaxy were running an even tighter playlist than they do now.
Again, took the words out of my mouth. Capital did sound great last year - good all-round CHR. However, by sharing music logs with the Galaxy stations who were licensed to serve a rhythmic format and worse, in Birmingham where an urban format similar to Choice FM in London, is supposed to be adhered to, the music output is starting to sound a bit odd. It's like Kiss 100 lite...it sounds a bit confused.
Last year Ofcom investigated complaints about Galaxy North East playing non-rhythmic tracks (basically when Galaxy started to hint that it might want to become a truly CHR station):
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/sampling/galaxy.pdf
In that report, whilst Ofcom said the presence of Kings of Leon/Scouting for Girls, etc on Galaxy North East were not tracks of a 'rhythmic' nature, they only made up a small proportion of the overall output (4% approx they said) and so they were operating within their format. However they also said:
"we are concerned that any further move on the part of Galaxy 105-106’s to increase the number of tracks that do not sit happily with its “rhythmic-based music” remit risks blurring the boundaries between the station’s specific rhythmic Format and the wider Contemporary Hit Radio format assigned to other stations in the North East.
Such a development would have the effect of reducing choice for listeners within the North East area, and would also conflict with Ofcom’s specific duty to secure a range and diversity of radio services."
Basically, for the sake of simplicity to advertisers who don't 'get' the Galaxy brand, and to cut costs, they are re-branding everything to Capital and to do so, they are going to spend the next few years playing music that is acceptable once the restrictions of all of the Galaxy licences are worked-around and so they do not get a yellow card.
Everything seems to be 'see how much we can get away with', in Global Radio's eyes at least. Heart for example, plays out 'Club Classics' in the middle of the night - is this just to make up a specialist music quota? Surely this new Capital network is going to be a music programmer's nightmare?
I agree with Matty J in that I think Global are giving themselves a real headache. Heart are good at what they do, LBC are, Capital are generally, but I think there will reach a point where they will have pushed people to hard. I could be very wrong; I mean people got used to the Heart network fairly quickly and it was a success in Global's eyes (and mine), but I think this one might be a step too far perhaps. I hope it isn't, for the sake of the radio industry, but we shall see.
I wish them all the best anyway
P.S. Galaxy Birmingham appear to have run into troubles for similar stuff in the past too - http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/sampling/galaxy1022.pdf
Good luck Global!
Or it could just be that Christmas songs are a bit cheesy and naff and they don't want to play any.
I very much doubt the frequencies will be mentioned on air. It's simply a visual brand for online and printed material. 96-106 certainly makes it look big to the agencies!
And from Janauary, there'll be 2 concerts per month at the Capital FM arena, with all other concerts relayed on big screens from The 02 in London. A Capital spokeman said this morning "This is great news for the people in the East Midlands, they will have some great live concerts from artists performing in the East Midlands mixed with great concert performances from London." The artists booked to perform in Nottingham in 2011 are being consulted about the changes. A small number expected to maintain their shows in Nottingham and some will be offered gigs in London.
Does this format requirement still stand for Birmingham? It seems far removed what what capitaliscoming is currently serving up.
Anyone know who is doing drive in East Midlands?