I expect we may not see any immediate/ short term changes, although it could be a missed opportunity not to freshen things up to coincide with the relocation.

But there have been changes already. Smooth UK used to play quite a few new tracks. Nowadays it almost all oldies and has become extremely repetitive. To my mind they are making it sound as similar to Gold as the licence allows leading up to the Smooth brand being replaced by Gold.

Gold is by the way less repetitive than Smooth these days to my ears anyway.

The reference to potential changes was more specific to the potential introduction of new/ additional presenters to the regular line up, which could make things interesting.

I can't say that I listen to Gold, so cannot draw any comparisons. The changes on Smooth must be fairly subtle, as I've not noticed anything. I'm listening to Emma B now and she's just played Daft Punk, which is new enough.

Both stations are now in comparemyradio.com

So there is still quite a difference between the stations

Almost every station is still playing Daft Punk its complete overkill for a song that must be out of the chart now. I can't say I have ever heard it on Smooth although most of my listening is restricted to breakfast as I am in a DAB only area.

I fill in there weekly music survey which is new music and find myself clicking on unfamiliar to almost every track which I never used to as they used to be played on air. The survey now seems a waste of time. I have emailed them twice to query this but no one has afforded me a response.

Don't think those stats really prove anything they might not be playing exactly the same tracks but Smooth is definitely becoming an oldies station with less & less new music being featured.

Makes you wonder where Bauer's Pete Simmons will end up next.....

Smooth seems to play the same tracks every day at present. Maybe they are just winding down until the move.

I only dip and out of Smooth but had noticed fewer songs from this century the last couple of months - although listening this week I've heard a few more (Daft Punk, CeeLo Green/Forget You) - although it could be the times I tune in.

C'elo Green "Forget You" is another Smooth overkill guaranteed to be played along with that Lady Antebellan, ELO's Mr Blue Sky, Billy Joel's Uptown Girl and Abba;s Dancing Queen. Not to mention Daydream Believer and the daily mix of the best of 60's motown nearly always the same tracks sadly even though the artists may have had many other hits. Its such a shame as Smooth used to play a nice variety of both new & old tracks.

Yes sad to say i Knew this would happen but smooth is getting the global grip and is becoming boring to listen too. It has great presenters but sadly the playlist is getting slimmer by the week. Thanks Global looks like you are going to screw up what was another great station

Can't be that great, have you seen the figures lately for London ?

Yes I have and that is globals homeland. Elsewhere Smooth was doing really well why worry about just London when its a national brand.

Galaxy was in a similar situation, look what happened with that...

The national ad agencies are based in central London. If a national station is struggling in the capital it's a problem even if it's doing OK in the North West, because it affects the station's profile with the national agencies.

Smooth London is loss-making (according to Companies House) and the station has been squeezed out in the London radio market so changes are necessary to address the problem.

Ok thank you.I never knew that.

Agree with you there its so annoying that Global shrink playlists to the point that they become boring. I am getting fed up with it now and like you tuning in less. It's a shame as it was a good station pre Global.

Global don't officially own/control it yet. It's still Real & Smooth Ltd. Any changes from next week can be blamed on Global.

I read somewhere on this thread about different holiday covers. I'm guessing most had to use there annual leave on there old contracts working around cover jocis?

Global haven't officially shrinked their playlist yet. The changes will happen once the first show goes live from Global HQ. I think they'll make smooth more of a female alternative to Gold (possibly shorten the playlist to around Gold's size)

My concern is the tribunal and when Global officially starts the Heart FM rollout. I do hope that (in my opinion) a few good stations would be sacrificed (not franchised) in favour of keeping Both Real/Heart & Smooth under Global's official ownership.

Officially maybe not but you don't have to listen long just regularly at around the same time each day to notice the same songs coming up much more frequently than before. Really can't understand why Global find it so hard to treat an adult audience to a decent sized playlist. I can understand repetition to the young audiences for Capital but not for Smooth or Gold which are aimed at a mature audience.

I will give Smooth a chance under the Global grip but if it stays like this I will be listening elsewhere. Its such a shame as I really used to enjoy Smooth.

I heard Simon Bates say that "our tune" and "the £1000 quiz" are finishing................is he leaving the station?

Hope not>

It seems Our Tune is being rested. Everyone is staying.

Apparently several regular features have come to end today including Lynn Parson's daily quiz. More music, less talk from next week?

Another personality less station with a boring 4 songs in a row that's all we need, Basically another Heart or Gold I can't wait.