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Old 03-10-2010, 12:37
Amara
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And that is where the problem lies at Smooth, 'many' of the presenters can do the seamless links between songs without it sounding off brand, (Lynn Parsons is one of those jocks), then you have those who don't present in that style like Tony Blackburn who actually bring the numbers up!

It's the little oddities which make Smooth a not so smooth listen.
Why do you want it to all sound the "Global bland" way Martin. There is nothing wrong with personality radio its more fun. This thing about jocks sounding off brand is ridiculous its boring when they all sound the same.

Lynn & Tony are very much individual personalities long may there type be heard. If you want it bland tune over to Heart or Magic but lets keep Smooth different please.
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Old 03-10-2010, 12:38
Martin Phillp
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Mark Goodier in the Independent on Sunday: "In five years, we'll all be going Smooth"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...h-2096078.html
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Old 03-10-2010, 12:45
Martin Phillp
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Why do you want it to all sound the "Global bland" way Martin. There is nothing wrong with personality radio its more fun. This thing about jocks sounding off brand is ridiculous its boring when they all sound the same.

Lynn & Tony are very much individual personalities long may there type be heard. If you want it bland tune over to Heart or Magic but lets keep Smooth different please.
I don't want it to be Global-esque, I want it to sound tight, but personality driven.

I look to WCBS-FM in New York as an example of tight, entertaining oldies radio which should be emulated in the UK where presenters do short but fun links and pump out a majority soul and motown playlist with rockier recurrents.

This would distiguish itself from Gold, Magic and Heart more clearly than it does now.

The problem with the current Smooth is it's too busy emulating parts of Magic 105.4 and Heart's output without the slickness of both stations where it should be building it's own unique brand.
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Old 03-10-2010, 14:20
beacon
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I don't want it to be Global-esque, I want it to sound tight, but personality driven.

I look to WCBS-FM in New York as an example of tight, entertaining oldies radio which should be emulated in the UK where presenters do short but fun links and pump out a majority soul and motown playlist with rockier recurrents.

This would distiguish itself from Gold, Magic and Heart more clearly than it does now.

The problem with the current Smooth is it's too busy emulating parts of Magic 105.4 and Heart's output without the slickness of both stations where it should be building it's own unique brand.

It's boring full stop. I'm 45 and should be in that bracket of people they want to get to via advertising. I have disposable income, have a professional job, own my own home, blah, blah, blah. But I'm not interested until they jazz up the presentation and widen the playlist. I don't want to listen to a diet of Simply Red, etc all day. Why can't these people understand this.

On my previous post about this topic someone said that there is plenty of choice, but there isn't really, except for the BBC. That's why I am turning to the internet and streaming radio via iTunes to my hi fi. Glam FM may sound cheesy by name but an average half hour they might play:

U2 - Unforgettable fire
Shania Twain - That don't impress me much
Gerry Rafferty -City to city
Four Seasons - Down the hall
BTO - Roll on down the highway
T Rex - Get it on
Meatloaf - I'd do anything

I can't imagine any FM station playing these kind of tracks all mixed up together. Indeed due to focus groups (and god knows who they are , they never ask me) we are fed the same old thing. Add these tracks to contemporary music and I would listen. And the closest to it IS Radio 2. They have nothing to worry about from Smooth, which is musical wall paper.
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Old 03-10-2010, 20:19
occy
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Looks like Mark is boasting, but still gets income from the BBC through his Wise Buddah company producing the Johnnie Walker show!
I remember hearing Johnnie saying Mark used to sit in the studio with him producing the show. I can't see the BBC will want him too do this for much longer, if Tony was falsed to leave Smooth. You can't ask someone too do one thing and let the other do something else. Whether Mark isn't presenting on Radio 2 he still works for the so called rival station.
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Old 03-10-2010, 20:44
freerj
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I remember hearing Johnnie saying Mark used to sit in the studio with him producing the show. I can't see the BBC will want him too do this for much longer, if Tony was falsed to leave Smooth. You can't ask someone too do one thing and let the other do something else. Whether Mark isn't presenting on Radio 2 he still works for the so called rival station.
er...not quite...Mark's company produces the show for the BBC so not quite the same issue.
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Old 03-10-2010, 23:57
airwaves
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New front page now with the logo's looking more, well, Smooth.

http://www.smoothradio.co.uk/
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Old 04-10-2010, 00:01
MattMckay
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Anyone else notice Smooth 'cutting out' today?

You get about 2 minutes of silence and then another song kicks in.. happened last weekend too come to think of it.

And the web player is showing the wrong songs.

http://www.smoothradiolondon.co.uk/p...live/f98sdy80/

Shows:

Michael Buble
Hollywood

And the actual playing song is Hot Chocolate, It Started with a kiss.
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Old 04-10-2010, 00:16
Martin Phillp
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And a new website for DAB only areas:

http://www.smoothradiouk.co.uk/
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Old 04-10-2010, 00:18
philengland
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And the web player is showing the wrong songs.


Shows:

Michael Buble
Hollywood
the above was aso there when Rumer was playing just now - same with The Toys track ..... someone give the streaming pc a hit with a hammer!
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Old 04-10-2010, 00:23
Martin Phillp
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The now playing feature works on the North West website.
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Old 04-10-2010, 08:01
suffolkblue
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Lynn sounds fresh and good in the morning liking it so far and still a broad playlist which is also good and i have noticed the travel is from across the country mainly the south and east at the moment but it is the first day.
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Old 04-10-2010, 08:32
richie wild
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Listened in the 7-8 hour and Lynn was pleasant and the music was good and varied. Travel here was local. If i wanted music in the morning this would do me.

As Steve Allen is away, and Cristo isn't filling, i'll check out Magic 105.4's one morning.
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Old 04-10-2010, 09:06
Tazman1966
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Not bad so far. Not quite as "inimate" as it was with Graham but then again it's a bit of a special programme today.

Nice new jingles too.

Need to sort out the news reader's sound quality though (well certainly on 102.2FM) as he sounds quite quiet and muffled...
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Old 04-10-2010, 09:27
MattMckay
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Dreadfull.

God she can talk, and it sounds like it is voicetracked, she doesnt sound very live to me anyway.

I havent heard any listener interaction....unless I blinked and missed it.

Why can they not play an entire song? They dont play more then a minute, or just over this.

The new jingles are weak and the male voice over guy isnt smooth, bring back the other jingles.

Adverts going over jingles.

I noticed the news headlines on the half hour is read by the presenter...as they cant network it as each region has its own news reader...
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Old 04-10-2010, 09:52
Tazman1966
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Looking at the new weekend schedule, it looks like Terry Underhill is going to have a very long day on Sunday. Midnight til 0600 then again from 1400 to 1600. Loooooong day!
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Old 04-10-2010, 09:53
CraigC
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Yes, I agree, this is rather poor. Songs played half way through only... what is that all about? The presenter has no personality and the programme just doesn't connect with the listener.

There's also quite a few editing problems - adverts and songs clashing, half 8 news where the presenter says there will be "more on that in the news at 8" Obviously a lot of pre-recording going on with the news and the traffic. Personally I wouldn't want to rely on the traffic reports as they only give generic information about the roads locally.
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Old 04-10-2010, 09:58
Tazman1966
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I think the shortening of songs is just cos they've tried to jam the guests in as well. Hopefully not the case from tomorrow. As for the travel news, yes NOT so good...

Haven't noticed any songs and ads clashing (on 102.2 at least)
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:07
Bundyman
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Dreadfull.

God she can talk, and it sounds like it is voicetracked, she doesnt sound very live to me anyway.

I havent heard any listener interaction....unless I blinked and missed it.

Why can they not play an entire song? They dont play more then a minute, or just over this.

The new jingles are weak and the male voice over guy isnt smooth, bring back the other jingles.

Adverts going over jingles.

I noticed the news headlines on the half hour is read by the presenter...as they cant network it as each region has its own news reader...
And they seriously think this will beat R2
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:08
MattMckay
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And they seriously think this will beat R2
Radio 2 have no worries.
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:12
omnidirectional
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The new jingles are weak and the male voice over guy isnt smooth, bring back the other jingles.
He was fine for Real/Century a few years ago, but sounds totally wrong for Smooth - not really a warm, laid back voice. They should have just kept the female voiceover who was perfect for the station.

It's very early days, but based on this morning's breakfast show it seems that Smooth has taken one step forward and two steps back.
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:28
Bingethink
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And they seriously think this will beat R2
I don't think anyone at Smooth imagines the station will beat Radio 2, no. (For a start, it's only available on FM to half the country...)

When they talk in the media about the station being a national competitor to Radio 2, it's just a shorthand for journalists, potential advertisers and the public as to the style of the station - Radio 2 not Radio 1. Mature, not poppy.

Smooth doesn't have to beat Radio 2 to be a success for GMG.
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:35
Ian_22
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Not too good I'm afraid and was enjoying Smooth to be honest until all this mess started. They should sort out the travel news thing for a start. Sound levels are still poor and generally I think the whole thing is worse than it was last week. The variety of music is good though, just sharpen up and take a look how slick Heart is by comparison.
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:38
TX-UK
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The new logo looks good.
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Old 04-10-2010, 10:50
dpb
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Dreadfull.

God she can talk, and it sounds like it is voicetracked, she doesnt sound very live to me anyway.

I havent heard any listener interaction....unless I blinked and missed it.

Why can they not play an entire song? They dont play more then a minute, or just over this.

The new jingles are weak and the male voice over guy isnt smooth, bring back the other jingles.

Adverts going over jingles.

I noticed the news headlines on the half hour is read by the presenter...as they cant network it as each region has its own news reader...
And they seriously think this will beat R2
It's a problem with technology I suppose - remember the problems MNA had when Telford FM became the Severn
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