Capital FM Network (Part 2)

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  • p_c_u_kp_c_u_k Posts: 8,806
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    There's a very fine line here.

    Magic has been criticised on this forum a lot for allowing a bit more talk and more deviation on its playlist. I don't have the figures to hand but I'll guess they're down a bit, if not dramatically.

    It's not easy to make slight changes to a very rigid format these days. People like what they like, and if you piss about with it they'll go elsewhere for it. It's like trying to take a good picture when you're hugely zoomed in - one wee move and you're buggered. (worst analogy ever)

    On Black Label's valid points:
    * The public didn't care about Virgin losing its franchise. That was a very well orchestrated PR campaign - and fair play to them for doing it. Most punters wouldn't care.
    * Bauer is going to win the mass audience - it has the heritage, the funding and the push to do so (hence the football phone-ins). Presumably the logic is that Capital and Heart sweep in and take a decent proportion of mums aged 25-45 who are valuable to advertisers for relatively little cost. Thus, everyone's a winner.
    * I accept that listeners will not engage as much with Capital's output and are more likely to tune out during the ads. The key is whether they can convince advertisers that is not the case. I suspect they can. I suspect it will have to evolve into something else in the long term, and I suspect that's where Capital's heading with the signings of both JK & Joel, albeit in different timeslots. One big personality presenter - dare I say Chris Moyles or Scott MIlls? - for drivetime - and you'd see a big change in direction. Whether they'd suit the station? Not a clue.
  • Black LabelBlack Label Posts: 4,722
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    p_c_u_k wrote: »
    * I accept that listeners will not engage as much with Capital's output and are more likely to tune out during the ads. The key is whether they can convince advertisers that is not the case. I suspect they can. I suspect it will have to evolve into something else in the long term, and I suspect that's where Capital's heading with the signings of both JK & Joel, albeit in different timeslots. One big personality presenter - dare I say Chris Moyles or Scott MIlls? - for drivetime - and you'd see a big change in direction. Whether they'd suit the station? Not a clue.

    Strict;ly speaking there is no way of knowing the impact of radio advertising, particularly when advertisers on the likes of Capital are all promoting themselves via other platforms.

    I can tell you that radio sales managers' hearts sink when their reps do 'money off if you mention the station' type deals to get the business. The standard 'objection handle' when the client tells you a month later that only 3 people mentioned the station to get the discount is that radio is more of a blunt, subliminal awareness raising tool that you need to build on by other forms of promotion.

    It is actually Heart which has taken on both JK and Joel, the latter for a local West midlands Saturday afternoon show. I heard a bit of JK on breakfast yesterday and it was very much a personality led show with comedy song parodies etc.

    So Global are willing to tweak and try.

    I wonder if the next stage for Capital might indeed be to go for a 'big name networked drive' show, rather as Smooth have done with Kid Jenson, with the other required 3 local hours tucked away before it in the afternoon.

    Whether Mills or Moyles could (or would want to) adapt their acts to fit is another matter but something along those lines, yes.

    I think the station needs a bit of 'talkability' which of itself raises advertiser interest. I rarely make comments like this these days so indulge me this one, as far as Scotland goes I just don't think either Des and Jenny on breakfast or Garry Spence on drive are cutting it. They all sound like they would rather be on Clyde or Real and taken with the network offering as debated above the whole thing needs a kick up the arse if Global are wanting to move the station and the network beyond its present position.
  • jon craigjon craig Posts: 1,391
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    Hitmusic wrote: »
    Capital fm is a hit music station.....therefor plays music that is/was a HIT. simple as.

    Err...thanks for the heads up on that one - appreciate your help and guidance in understanding CHR ;)

    I'm not suggesting some radical overhaul to their music policy, just pointing out that if many of the songs you're playing 10 times a day now are the same songs you were playing 10 times a day six months ago, then your station is going to sound tired to many 'regular' listeners. Tight rotation CHR does work, but if you run it tight you need to keep up the refresh rate - and I think Capital need to be a bit more pro-active in this area.
  • p_c_u_kp_c_u_k Posts: 8,806
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    I rarely make comments like this these days so indulge me this one, as far as Scotland goes I just don't think either Des and Jenny on breakfast or Garry Spence on drive are cutting it. They all sound like they would rather be on Clyde or Real and taken with the network offering as debated above the whole thing needs a kick up the arse if Global are wanting to move the station and the network beyond its present position.

    I think the Scottish output is the weak link. It's certainly the poorest proposition of any station in central Scotland, albeit that it's up against some fairly strong competition.

    Problem is, there's a distinct lack of off-peak, off-network slots to try anyone out in. To put it another way, Chris Moyles wasn't ready to take over Radio 1 breakfast from day one, he had to work on his act out of the limelight.
  • MusicmasterproxMusicmasterprox Posts: 959
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    p_c_u_k wrote: »
    I think the Scottish output is the weak link. It's certainly the poorest proposition of any station in central Scotland, albeit that it's up against some fairly strong competition.

    Problem is, there's a distinct lack of off-peak, off-network slots to try anyone out in. To put it another way, Chris Moyles wasn't ready to take over Radio 1 breakfast from day one, he had to work on his act out of the limelight.
    I know where you're coming from, though Kingdom FM, Central and Clyde (networked across the bauer network) are the only stations that produce local output overnight. Folk like Lynne Hoggan & Grant Thomson who despite being great young presenters, still do overnights.
    If Scotland becomes independent, surely Ofcom would limit the amount of output network coming from England or would they allow global to syndicate an English brand in Scotland?
  • BingethinkBingethink Posts: 4,257
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    smurfs5 wrote: »
    ] Capital should recognise that Andi's show could be an even bigger ratings winner for them.

    Paul Easton handily posts the ratings information for London stations as a graph.

    Have a look: http://pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk/

    You might then want to alter your opinion of how much of a ratings hit this show is.
  • omnidirectionalomnidirectional Posts: 18,785
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    Are there any ratings for Northern England/the ex-Galaxy stations? There's always been a perception that Dance is more popular up north. I can pick up Capital Manchester and Juice Liverpool where I am and would choose Juice every time for specialist Dance output, rather than a token gesture after midnight.
  • smurfs5smurfs5 Posts: 580
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    Bingethink wrote: »
    Paul Easton handily posts the ratings information for London stations as a graph.

    Have a look: http://pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk/

    You might then want to alter your opinion of how much of a ratings hit this show is.

    Andi does have the Saturday graveyard slot though. People who are into the music played on his show are probably out and can't listen to his show so it's hard to tell whether his ratings would increase or decrease if his show moved to an earlier time slot.
  • Peace100Peace100 Posts: 3,155
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    Are there any ratings for Northern England/the ex-Galaxy stations? There's always been a perception that Dance is more popular up north. I can pick up Capital Manchester and Juice Liverpool where I am and would choose Juice every time for specialist Dance output, rather than a token gesture after midnight.

    I may be wrong but I cannot understand why so many stations play so much dance on the weekend nights...surely most folk who want dance will be out and about, earlier in the evening would be better when people are getting ready to go out...more regular programming would be better later at night in my mind.
  • p_c_u_kp_c_u_k Posts: 8,806
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    Peace100 wrote: »
    I may be wrong but I cannot understand why so many stations play so much dance on the weekend nights...surely most folk who want dance will be out and about, earlier in the evening would be better when people are getting ready to go out...more regular programming would be better later at night in my mind.

    Seconded.

    The only logic I could bring in is that a lot of people into that type of music are no longer able to go out - ie if they've got kids - but are still into that sound. In which case it seems to make sense.

    The generational shift we need to get ready for is when people who grew up in the 90s reach their 40s. That's not very far away.
  • MusicmasterproxMusicmasterprox Posts: 959
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    p_c_u_k wrote: »
    Seconded.

    The only logic I could bring in is that a lot of people into that type of music are no longer able to go out - ie if they've got kids - but are still into that sound. In which case it seems to make sense.

    The generational shift we need to get ready for is when people who grew up in the 90s reach their 40s. That's not very far away.

    Or they're too young and this is a way of giving a taste of what clublife is like?
  • BingethinkBingethink Posts: 4,257
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    smurfs5 wrote: »
    Andi does have the Saturday graveyard slot though. People who are into the music played on his show are probably out and can't listen to his show so it's hard to tell whether his ratings would increase or decrease if his show moved to an earlier time slot.

    Oh, ratings would surely rise if his show was played out earlier in the evening.

    The assumption I was questioning, though, was that the show was a "ratings hit". It's the kind of statement people make on Digital Spy when all they really mean it's a show that they and their mates like!
  • Black LabelBlack Label Posts: 4,722
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    p_c_u_k wrote: »
    Seconded.

    The only logic I could bring in is that a lot of people into that type of music are no longer able to go out - ie if they've got kids - but are still into that sound. In which case it seems to make sense.

    .......or people who can't afford to go out.....or who are getting tanked up in the house befire clubbing at midnight......or just come back to the house after the pub with their mates and a carry out.......

    Radio stations have been tying themselves in knots over this since dance music as we know it today started.

    I recall Clyde 1 20 years ago deciding to ditch the Sat 10 pm dance type show that followed Bowie and having the esteemed Ross Macfadyen on doing a 'regular' show which included a feature called the 'fabby old song', based on listener suggestions, and pretty much always featuring something from the early 80s or so.

    To me this debate is a bit like whether or not do something else other than the Top 40 on a late Sunday afterrnoon. Academically interesting but of no wider consequence to the overall performance of the stations in question.
  • NewbieBen12NewbieBen12 Posts: 455
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    According to James Barr, Rob Ellis is on North East drive tommorow, doing this along with North West breakfast earlier on then? :rolleyes:
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 184
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    I can't understand why Capital are having "The Capital Mixtape" at silly o clock in the morning and then on Friday & Saturday night they are in the mix:confused:

    Why not just have the normal Friday and Saturday and forget the mixtape. But then this is global.
  • Eric_BlobEric_Blob Posts: 7,756
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    I was wondering, is Capital FM going to start playing any of the following songs?

    50 Cent- My Life
    Bingo Players - Rattle
    Disclosure - White Noise
    Dizzee Rascal - Bassline Junkie

    I listen to the station a lot, and these songs are massive at the moment, but I hardly ever hear them on Capital (I think some of those I've NEVER heard on the station).

    I'm just a bit confused. Are these songs not testing well with all those 15-30 year-olds listening to the station?

    I checked the playlist, and some of those songs are there, but when I actually listen to Capital I'm not hearing them. Do they only play those songs at night or something? Have I coincidentally not been listening to Capital whenever these songs are played? I listen to Capital enough to hear We Found Love multiple times a day, so I'm surprised I've hardly hear those massive hits. Can we ever expect them to be put into day-time rotation on Capital?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 65
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    Eric_Blob wrote: »
    I was wondering, is Capital FM going to start playing any of the following songs?

    50 Cent- My Life
    Bingo Players - Rattle
    Disclosure - White Noise
    Dizzee Rascal - Bassline Junkie

    I listen to the station a lot, and these songs are massive at the moment, but I hardly ever hear them on Capital (I think some of those I've NEVER heard on the station).

    I'm just a bit confused. Are these songs not testing well with all those 15-30 year-olds listening to the station?

    I checked the playlist, and some of those songs are there, but when I actually listen to Capital I'm not hearing them. Do they only play those songs at night or something? Have I coincidentally not been listening to Capital whenever these songs are played? I listen to Capital enough to hear We Found Love multiple times a day, so I'm surprised I've hardly hear those massive hits. Can we ever expect them to be put into day-time rotation on Capital?

    They're more club songs. They're played a lot more during the evening (and at weekends)
  • jon craigjon craig Posts: 1,391
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    Eric_Blob wrote: »
    I was wondering, is Capital FM going to start playing any of the following songs?

    50 Cent- My Life
    Bingo Players - Rattle
    Disclosure - White Noise
    Dizzee Rascal - Bassline Junkie

    I listen to the station a lot, and these songs are massive at the moment, but I hardly ever hear them on Capital (I think some of those I've NEVER heard on the station).

    I'm just a bit confused. Are these songs not testing well with all those 15-30 year-olds listening to the station?

    I checked the playlist, and some of those songs are there, but when I actually listen to Capital I'm not hearing them. Do they only play those songs at night or something? Have I coincidentally not been listening to Capital whenever these songs are played? I listen to Capital enough to hear We Found Love multiple times a day, so I'm surprised I've hardly hear those massive hits. Can we ever expect them to be put into day-time rotation on Capital?

    In the case of the Dizzee Rascal track, I hope not. Seriously, personal opinion I know, but what a sack of sh**!

    I have actually just seen the first test results for that track and it is massively divisive - people are either loving it or hating it. The haters though are in the majority which I guess supports Capital's decision not to go with it. It would certainly make me switch off. They are though playing Disclosure and The Bingo Players, albeit mainly off peak.
  • -ajm--ajm- Posts: 5,767
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    Bassline Junkie seems like a comedy track.
  • Eric_BlobEric_Blob Posts: 7,756
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    Yeah, Bassline Junkie is obviously made primarily for clubs rather than radio (same with White Noise). It doesn't really appeal to the 30+ audience since it's got too much bass synths I guess, not enough high pitched synths in there. It actually has a very strong melody though imo in the beat, just some people don't have the ear for that kind of music, they can't pick out the melody, but really those people should just go listen to Heart FM imo.
    -ajm- wrote: »
    Bassline Junkie seems like a comedy track.

    Yeah, it's definitely quite a humorous song, but I still think it's a legitimate song, like Thrift Shop or Sexy and I Know, and, let's face it, it's huge with some parts of the population.

    I think Harlem Shake by Baauer is going to get the "appears on Capital FM's playlist but you'll never actually hear it on the station" treatment as well tbh.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 135
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    Jacksite wrote: »
    They're more club songs. They're played a lot more during the evening (and at weekends)

    Switch to Kiss, Justin Wilkes plays all that stuff (and he's on mid-mornings!)
  • occyoccy Posts: 64,319
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    Did Ofcom let Capital play Britney & Will-iam song with her saying "Bitch" after a while without Edited it out? They seem to edited out when it was first aired during daytime!
  • occyoccy Posts: 64,319
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    gavindowd wrote: »
    Switch to Kiss, Justin Wilkes plays all that stuff (and he's on mid-mornings!)
    Ex Capital jock.
  • ComputerComputer Posts: 2,496
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    Just listened to the new Capital South Wales weekend show for the first time, it's pretty good. It's funny, bright and still tight considering there's three of them.
  • jamie smith909jamie smith909 Posts: 193
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    I was in Leeds on Sunday after a very good Saturday night stag do, great place for a party.
    Sunday morning Yorkshire Capital, oh dear. I think her name was Becky, terrible radio voice, breathless and just so predictable. Track ends, bed starts long (seemed like it) no point link about the boy bands on some reunion show were all chavs, really love ? Terrible, at 12 presenter changed, got marginally better
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