You know Smooth is Global owned now, right?

And FYI it's far outstripping the performance of old Big playlist Smooth

Who knows what might have happened if Big L had been on a level playground? A weak AM signal from Holland can hardly be compared with almost nationwide FM and DAB coverage.

I might be missing something - but what about Manchester?

But we DO know the difference between old and new Smooth, and if you were running it, I know which model you would opt for, assuming you were interested in success

So you agree that Big L cannot be used as a comparison under the circumstances?

No not at all ... It was a financial disaster and a poor rater compared to Gold, which had a fair sized list but nowhere near 16,000 tracks.

i work within walking distance of the headquarters, in SALFORD (seperate city) and yes i know its owned by global, they are the exception as all other stations are performing in the opposite way

Posters here talk about large playlists like it's a novel idea when in fact it's the original notion. It's been refined through competition between stations over the decades. In other words, we are where we are because of good old Darwinism, evolving the sound through natural selection.

I hardly think my suggestions are equal to radio 2 I don't know where you get that from ? Where do I say that ?

A few less plays over time of the longest running current tracks. Still play them just less once they've been around for a period of time.

More new tracks I'm talking comtempory stuff like maybe years and years, lunchmoney lewis, carly rae jepson for example (if they test well of course before its mentioned)
(Not easy listening tracks/artists like seasick steve or dolly Parton that radio 2 play)

And more rotation of hits from the 80s onwards again tracks that Heart have played in the past that have been tested are familiar and popular. I'm not talking obscure tracks no one knows or likes.

I know you aren't talking about R2 and I did say 'as stated above' - not by you though

Have a closer read of Smart Programmers posts as he appears to be actively involved with this...I'm just an interested onlooker.

Hearts audience does rise and fall despite their scientific approach however in broad terms small list equals big reach and lower hours - you do get longer hours with a bigger list but with a lower reach.

So every time a listener tunes in, if they don't get a song they know, they move on... basically the wider the list the less chance of having that big welcome song playing when the listener arrives.

In addition, the new songs take ages to be familiar with regular listeners. (Much longer than you think)
On top of that the old 80s songs ebb and flow in popularity too, that's why some songs get tested over and over again.

Sorry I thought you were referring to my post. ☺

Big L rated badly as so few people could get good reception of its AM signal. It was on a hiding to nowhere it just couldn't compete. Who's to say that with the FM/DAB coverage of Heart that Big L wouldn't have been successful with its well known presenters and large playlist? Sadly we will never know.

The 'big names' ie old names, large unwieldy playlists and as good as no marketing meant Big L never stood a chance. It's strange how stations once considered buccaneering and innovative (but only compared to the Beeb) didn't move with the times.

Presumably not a Heart listener then.

That's the funny thing - there's no guessing which 'classics' are good for contemporary listeners. That really is where the research is invaluable

Big playlist Smooth had a completely different playlist at night to during the day. You can't say that about the new Smooth

And that may have contributed to it's poor performance. To be fair it was much bigger in the North West, but even that has been well eclipsed by new Smooth

I've worked out the heart formula

Loads of the same adverts + (Taylor swift x Ellie goulding) + a core playlist of 30ish 80s hits + annoying dj's trying too hard = heart radio

I think Phil Oakey has heard that song less than most heart listeners

If it's that awful and bad, how come even the tinpots can't beat them?

Because they bought them all

Not yet - but the ones left do so badly it's just a matter of time

Surely with thousands of tracks and endless Forever FM 'content' AND the local angle they'd be trouncing Heart ..... But ......

Again to my example of Manchester, who is left? Its global, Bauer or nothing