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Smooth National Radio Thread |
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#251 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,649
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2. Anyone could say that!
The Magic format is very hard to present, I tried several times to mock up a demo to send to them and couldn't get it quite right. I also know someone who regularly does speech radio as well as music radio and can also so very tight crunch and roll links, infact this person is probably the most adaptable broadcasters I know. Even he said how hard it was to get their format right. The reason Magic is so good is that everything just works, The imaging complements the music, so do the presenters and everything just sounds right. The presenters are not fighting against the format, the news isn't scripted and delivered in a way that sounds like either radio 4 or kiss, Even when all the pressenter says is the station name, it sounds right, when they have a caller on they get some personality out of them, do whatever they need to and get back to the music. It's the attention to detail and this can be applied to every station, they work best when everyone knows, believes in the brand and executes it perfectly. I agree with Joey that Smooth at times doesn't seem to sound very focussed but perhaps that'll change now it's national. |
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#252 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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At least smooth saw sense to keep Graham at the station for weekend breakfast from November. Hopefully this is full time. So will this mean he will cover other shows?
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#253 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,570
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I heard Magic London has listeners as fair as the North of England etc of Freeview and Sky etc so why do they need to go National? Smooth should have gone national at the start, when they hired all the big names, and maybe have a a big impact now.
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The reason Magic is so good is that everything just works, The imaging complements the music, so do the presenters and everything just sounds right. The presenters are not fighting against the format, the news isn't scripted and delivered in a way that sounds like either radio 4 or kiss, Even when all the pressenter says is the station name, it sounds right, when they have a caller on they get some personality out of them, do whatever they need to and get back to the music.
It's the attention to detail and this can be applied to every station, they work best when everyone knows, believes in the brand and executes it perfectly. Now has 2,046,000 listeners now compared to 1.2 million in 2000. Smooth has 2.8 million listeners, will be interesting to see if Bauer extend the format to the the Magic AM and Scottish AM stations which are more of a Gold format, and then they can say they will have more listeners than Smooth to the ad agencies! But it would be good if they could become more distinctive and both companies have not been to good on supporting Jazz and country music as they should have been (Jazz FM and 3C/Continuous Cool Country). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...h-2096078.html Interesting item Quote:
Tomorrow, the first of several potential threats to Radio 2's supremacy will emerge: the newly national Smooth Radio, the middle-brow station that, until now, has served six disparate regions. If BBC executives are nervous, that's because they're supposed to be.
"There should be competition, and we're going to make sure the BBC gets some," says a bullish Mark Goodier, one of several former BBC DJs signed up to Smooth. "It might take several years but I think the landscape is going to look very different." Goodier, 49, will host the 10am to 1pm weekday slot and in many ways is the embodiment of Smooth: polished and safe, he is the least likely source of controversy. For anyone who listened to Radio 1 in the 1990s, his voice will forever be synonymous with the Sunday night charts. But despite forging a reputation as a safe pop DJ, Goodier does not want to be too closely associated with "easy listening". "I want Smooth to be enjoyable to listen to, and not stressful. It should be a station you want to have on all day without having to change. That's not to say it should be bland and boring." A typical playlist will include a mix of old favourites from Stevie Wonder and Elton John to newer artists such as Paloma Faith and Nell Bryden. ----- Goodier was inspired to go into radio aged 11 after listening to John Peel and Johnny Walker, and speaks with palpable pride that his company now produces Walker's show. On every subject we discuss, Goodier gives a perfectly neutral answer: it's a smooth performance. But does he not ever feel trapped in the middle of the road? "When I was on the Evening Session it was good to be the first to play a new record by the Happy Mondays or Nirvana. But I can still get excited about stuff Smooth doesn't play. We're not for kids. But you get to my age and there are other ways to define yourself as a broadcaster." |
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#254 |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,501
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Quote:
I agree with Joey that Smooth at times doesn't seem to sound very focussed but perhaps that'll change now it's national.
Smaller playlist? Focus on a certain genre? What is appealing to me about Smooth is that it has a wide playlist. As someone who likes a bit more, rock (Queen, Bon Jovi etc, I know they do creep up on Radio 2). However through Smooth I have heard of a band I have never heard before Train. because the song Soul Sister fits the format. Not sure if it has ever been on Magic, but not been on Heart. So if focus means that they should not play that track then I wish then success and hope they don't become to focussed, because this listener has been educated and introduced to something different. |
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#255 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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Melody started the format, then Emap (now Bauer) brought it out, reduced the age of music, brought in Richard Parks to tweak the detail. Bauer made it quasi national in Southern England on DAB and UK on Freeview, online and Sky!
Now has 2,046,000 listeners now compared to 1.2 million in 2000. Smooth has 2.8 million listeners, will be interesting to see if Bauer extend the format to the the Magic AM and Scottish AM stations which are more of a Gold format, and then they can say they will have more listeners than Smooth to the ad agencies! But it would be good if they could become more distinctive and both companies have not been to good on supporting Jazz and country music as they should have been (Jazz FM and 3C/Continuous Cool Country). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...h-2096078.html Interesting item |
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#256 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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Smooth will continue to play music like Magic & Heart do. If they are going to be like Radio 2 - the schedules should reflect on this. People tune to Radio 2 because of the variety in the evening and at the weekends It will be different, but will not be Radio 2
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#257 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
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It is silly that magic say they are a music station, but with some of the best voices to do this links - apparently Richard Parks was driving up a motorway one day years ago, and heard gary vincent on a station - and then thought what a fabulous voice and listened to him for an hour , and then poached him from that station to be on magic, but what does it matter what the dj sounds like if they only speak 3/4 in an hour doing short links!
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#258 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,876
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Quote:
What is focussed?
Smaller playlist? Focus on a certain genre? What is appealing to me about Smooth is that it has a wide playlist. As someone who likes a bit more, rock (Queen, Bon Jovi etc, I know they do creep up on Radio 2). However through Smooth I have heard of a band I have never heard before Train. because the song Soul Sister fits the format. Not sure if it has ever been on Magic, but not been on Heart. So if focus means that they should not play that track then I wish then success and hope they don't become to focussed, because this listener has been educated and introduced to something different. What I personally don't like is the erratic nature of the playlist. Last weekend I was listening for a while and heard some nice 'smooth' tracks (Bill Withers - Lean on Me etc) then it suddenly started playing some lively classic disco tunes and a terrible new track from Michael Buble and I had to switch off. It's 'Big L' syndrome; a lack of direction/focus in the music programming. I believe that's the primary reason that Smooth has been a disaster in London. |
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#259 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,570
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Why would the bosses at the station be worried. Mark has distant himself from Radio 2 for many years
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#260 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
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Quote:
Train - Hey Soul Sister fits the Smooth format fine.
What I personally don't like is the erratic nature of the playlist. Last weekend I was listening for a while and heard some nice 'smooth' tracks (Bill Withers - Lean on Me etc) then it suddenly started playing some lively classic disco tunes and a terrible new track from Michael Buble and I had to switch off. It's 'Big L' syndrome; a lack of direction/focus in the music programming. I believe that's the primary reason that Smooth has been a disaster in London. Like all oldies stations it reflects the music we bought in the past. Pick any year you like & the music that was hits will take in soul, dance/disco, rock & ballads. Smooth just reflects this, but it has got more repetitve lately. |
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#261 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 162
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just listening to Smooth Radio Glasgow which is local on a Sunday morning from 9am.....they just played a trail advertising 105.2 Smooth Radio saying more people listen because of the local voices / programmes etc....seriously you couldn't make this stuff up !
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#262 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,227
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Quote:
Train - Hey Soul Sister fits the Smooth format fine.
What I personally don't like is the erratic nature of the playlist. Last weekend I was listening for a while and heard some nice 'smooth' tracks (Bill Withers - Lean on Me etc) then it suddenly started playing some lively classic disco tunes and a terrible new track from Michael Buble and I had to switch off. It's 'Big L' syndrome; a lack of direction/focus in the music programming. I believe that's the primary reason that Smooth has been a disaster in London. Give me Smooth any day of the week. Its good to sound different.
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#263 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 369
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...Its that diversification that makes me want to listen to Smooth....
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#264 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 20,280
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Quote:
It's 'Big L' syndrome; a lack of direction/focus in the music programming. I believe that's the primary reason that Smooth has been a disaster in London. You then have Tony Blackburn leaving as he's off to Radio 2 and in any case, too personality driven to present on the new generic sound of Smooth, so who do they bring in, if you believe Astrop? Graham Dene! At least Eamonn Kelly would bring some personality to weekend breakfast. Smooth Radio really should rebrand as Snooze Radio as it can be as exciting as that from now on. |
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#265 |
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 460
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Along with some limp programming decisions. Instead of launching with Simon Bates in January, we now have two months of Lynn Parsons who'll keep up the Graham Dene style of dull presentation, while this time not only boring the remaining Londoners who listen, but the rest of the country who until Friday had regional breakfast shows which they were satisfied with.
You then have Tony Blackburn leaving as he's off to Radio 2 and in any case, too personality driven to present on the new generic sound of Smooth, so who do they bring in, if you believe Astrop? Graham Dene! At least Eamonn Kelly would bring some personality to weekend breakfast. Smooth Radio really should rebrand as Snooze Radio as it can be as exciting as that from now on. Lynn is a warm, bubbly and witty preseneter, who communicates well. Kelly is just another ILR 'jock'. I'm sure Lynn will have a place on the station when her breakfast stint comes to an end. Graham Dene has only got w/e breakfast, because of Tony's departure. Must say the whole weekend line-up at present gives 'damp squib' a bad name. Very poor quality DAB sound too. They'll challenge Radio 2 the day after the apocalypse. |
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#266 |
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 20,280
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Are you really saying that Eamonn Kelly would make a better breakfast host than the lovely Lynn. Sorry to lapse in to Meldrew speak, but "I don't believe it"!
Lynn is a warm, bubbly and witty preseneter, who communicates well. Kelly is just another ILR 'jock'. At least Eamonn Kelly was a breakfast presenter on the leading Smooth station and listeners in the North West appreciated his style of presentation. It's not like Mr Kelly isn't known in London with his previous work on Capital Gold which was another networked station. |
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#267 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Down South
Posts: 24,610
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Lynn is hardly breakfast material, great if you stick her on a daytime shift where the generic listener mentions and 'that was' & 'coming up' links that Smooth put out, but this is a national breakfast show where you're the shop window of the brand.
At least Eamonn Kelly was a breakfast presenter on the leading Smooth station and listeners in the North West appreciated his style of presentation. It's not like Mr Kelly isn't known in London with his previous work on Capital Gold which was another networked station. If Gold have any sense they will get Eamonn back on air there, I know they have been using Tony Dibbin recently for cover work but with him starting at Coast tomorrow I am guessing his cover work at Gold will cease. |
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#268 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,867
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Quote:
Lynn is hardly breakfast material, great if you stick her on a daytime shift where the generic listener mentions and 'that was' & 'coming up' links that Smooth put out, but this is a national breakfast show where you're the shop window of the brand.
At least Eamonn Kelly was a breakfast presenter on the leading Smooth station and listeners in the North West appreciated his style of presentation. It's not like Mr Kelly isn't known in London with his previous work on Capital Gold which was another networked station. |
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#269 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,876
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At least Eamonn Kelly was a breakfast presenter on the leading Smooth station and listeners in the North West appreciated his style of presentation. It's not like Mr Kelly isn't known in London with his previous work on Capital Gold which was another networked station.
Smooth NW had the same weekday schedule of Chris Best, Dave Lincoln, Steve Collins, Derek Webster and Andy Peebles from launch in March 2004 right up until last month when they added the Mark Goodier show. Sadly Chris Best seems to have left but the others are all on the national station. |
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#270 |
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 20,280
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Eamonn Kelly hosted the breakfast show in the East Midlands - Chris Best was on in the North West.
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#271 |
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 20,280
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Smooth NW had the same weekday schedule of Chris Best, Dave Lincoln, Steve Collins, Derek Webster and Andy Peebles from launch in March 2004 right up until last month when they added the Mark Goodier show. The NW though does seem to be the least affected by the changes with Lincoln and Peebles still on at a reasonable time, however Derek Webster's move to overnights is a demotion. |
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#272 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 814
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Bates doing the Golden Hour from 1976 on Gold now. I think I'll text in a guess of 1978 but say its for for 9 till 10 on January 4th!
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#273 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Lynn is hardly breakfast material, great if you stick her on a daytime shift where the generic listener mentions and 'that was' & 'coming up' links that Smooth put out, but this is a national breakfast show where you're the shop window of the brand.
At least Eamonn Kelly was a breakfast presenter on the leading Smooth station and listeners in the North West appreciated his style of presentation. It's not like Mr Kelly isn't known in London with his previous work on Capital Gold which was another networked station. Sorry, I didn't see that someone had previously pointed this out.. |
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#274 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,540
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Are you really saying that Eamonn Kelly would make a better breakfast host than the lovely Lynn. Sorry to lapse in to Meldrew speak, but "I don't believe it"!
Lynn is a warm, bubbly and witty preseneter, who communicates well. Kelly is just another ILR 'jock'. I'm sure Lynn will have a place on the station when her breakfast stint comes to an end. Graham Dene has only got w/e breakfast, because of Tony's departure. Must say the whole weekend line-up at present gives 'damp squib' a bad name. Very poor quality DAB sound too. They'll challenge Radio 2 the day after the apocalypse. If you're in the East Midlands, that would surely include Eamonm Kelly, who is far from "just another ILR jock". The point about many of the Smooth presenters - like those on Magic - is that they make the format sound easy to do, when in fact it isn't. Talking a little less than your competitors, maintaining the flow of music, and coming up with the right link at the right time is actually quite tricky. There's a skill, and in my opinion Eamonn has that. What's more, he didn't just land on Smooth from nowhere. As others have pointed out he worked on Capital Gold and was one of the pioneers of legal commercial radio in Ireland. All you've proved is that radio presenters are a very subjective thing for the listeners. You like Lynne, I like Eamonn. It doesn't mean the new Smooth is going to be a diasaster, as you've hinted at before. |
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#275 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 20,280
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The point about many of the Smooth presenters - like those on Magic - is that they make the format sound easy to do, when in fact it isn't. Talking a little less than your competitors, maintaining the flow of music, and coming up with the right link at the right time is actually quite tricky. There's a skill, and in my opinion Eamonn has that. It's the little oddities which make Smooth a not so smooth listen. |
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