If the charts change that much, surely Capital can take advantage of their so-called "Smart networking" and run two different music logs? One for the hit music format stations, like London, South Coast or Wales, and one for the Dance/RnB stations like Yorkshire.

Even if they only differ by a few songs an hour, to keep them within format?

Because it is shit?

Kiss sound very good - really tightly-formatted rhythmic CHR radio - and they seem to have differentiated themselves a bit from Capital with their 'mix blocks' during the day with their biggest hits mixed together, really good imaging hitting the vocals on loads of tracks, and just fast-paced radio really.

The thing about Galaxy was that it was different from the standard local stations - more upbeat music, younger/cooler presenters and slicker imaging (up until last autumn anyway). Hirsty's daily dose for example is typical of the type of great sound Galaxy had rather than the typical two-headed breakfast shows heard on the standard Bauer stations, etc.

Now Capital sound like a new heritage station that doesn't have any heritage. Johnny Vaughan's audience are all generally slightly older than the old Galaxy breakfast audiences, so I've often wondered how this new urban/pop breed of music appeals so much?

Oh, and by the way, I HATE the 'Capital breakfast shooooow' jingle - so cheesy and awful!

I agree - the top of hours on Capital, "Capital Breakfast" sung jingle (with "live from leicester square" removed) and Capital News intros are all crap!

The News one gets right on my nerves. I ASSUME, when written down it's: "Now: Capital Reports. More of the <areas> biggest hits, in moments" but the pause between 'reports' and 'more' isn't long enough, so it sounds the bloke is saying Capital will report more of the <areas> biggest hits in a minute!

The thing for me is I don't "live" Capital. Galaxy was a lifestyle choice, more than just a station. It managed to do what other stations didn't do for me. I can't imagine feeling for Capital how I buzzed about Galaxy if I was a 20 year old now.

The tinny sound for me is something that killed it. I don't mind repetition and I could listen to Galaxy for hours, as I can with Kiss. The sound that Kiss produces is what I think is good quality CHR as most have pointed out here. Capital sounds like it has the right music, but my dad has put the production package together and will not be swayed into anything other than his Alfasound package that has been resung 214 different times.

What is nice to see is that Bauer have come back to more recent hits and even their production sounds better than Capital's - and when Hallam FM boasts a bassier sound than the alleged "number one hit music station" it is a little embarrassing.

For CHR, see Kiss.

Kiss sounds shit hot. Their voiceovers (Neev and Justin Wilkes) fit the station perfectly. I think the processing is alright but it's a whole lot better than Capitals. I like Jez Whelham on drive. He seems to have loads of personality and isn't restricted by the format as some of the Capital presenters seem to be, though i understand that it must be hard to do personality when recording local links for other sites.

I agree, I often have trouble picking up Kiss on DAB here but when I do, it sounds really fast-paced and slick as compared with Capital. Like My Galaxy says, the music on Capital is mostly good, it's just the production and (some of the) cheesy DJ's that let it down. It sounds like a radio station from 20 years ago that have somehow got hold of all of today's hits

This is exactly it! I'm 22 and although some of the music is OK on Capital, the station just sounds a bit flat. Galaxy and Power FM sounded like they were put together by people who went out drinking, clubbing and having a laugh. Capital doesn't sound like it reflects what I do when I'm not working. When Galaxy used to say "Welcome to your 48 hours off from the world - this is the Galaxy Weekend" on a Friday night driving home from work, that was how I felt! I liked Power and Galaxy while I was getting ready to go out, or at a mates pre drinking.

I feel sorry for James Barr - he was good on Galaxy when he had some freedom. I'm fed up of hearing his pre-recorded voice saying "what's the crack on the south coast tonight? It's hair straightners o-clock"

And now I've switched to Kiss on DAB, because they don't sound flat and lifeless. Despite now being a network and covering more than one area - even the news on Kiss (a station that's not really known for news lol) is better than Capital!


Yeah! the Capital Reports thing does sound on air like "Next: Capital reports more of the south coast's biggest hits in moments"

One of the problems with Capital I find is that they seem to think we're all really interested in the lives of celebrities. Nearly every link is about what Beyonce or Rihanna's been up to. Does anybody care that much? Galaxy had a showbiz news bulletin three times a day and I think that was about the right amount of showbiz gossip, not prattling on about celebs in nearly every link plus their website is full of it too. Sure, they can talk about the odd funny celeb story during links but there are other things to talk about as well! This seems to happen more during network than local hours I might point out.


It actually says 'And now, Capital Reports, more of <local area's> biggest hits in moments' which is annoying as it doesn't say it before the news but before the advert before the news!

That really puzzles me as well and doesn't sit very well for me.

The TOTH cut is so lacklustre as well, whereas Galaxy that didn't do news each hour (I never refer to Galaxy in the transition months) still had a fantastic TOTH bed, even from the "30 minutes non-stop" days and it always had that feeling of hitting the ground running as a good TOTH would. Now it's a washed out jingle which has all the impact of a junior disprin.

For me, a number of things should have happened with Capital:

1. Dropping the FM and being called Capital at all times, even at local times as '105 Capital FM' being said highlights more that it isn't local all of the time.
2. Galaxy ID styles adopted for Capital as well as the VO. In my opinion the Galaxy IDs were some of the best in the business and I believe they were all in-house?
3. No attempt should have ever been made to introduce jingles. Although some packages are good, Galaxy managed to prove that high quality packages do not have to be sung.
4. The processing should have stayed as it was, or at least replicated that of Galaxy. I can only speak for 105 but the sound was absolutely huge. Now Hallam's processing sounds massive against Capital. Not what should be happening.
5. Personality on the radio. Yes Galaxy managed a good amount of music in an hour but always managed to have some personality led jock in between. Roberto sounds like a boring brother while Bassman sounds like my dad.

I'd love for Capital to do well but to do that it has to get the basics right which for me they aren't.

About the processing, Ashley changed that himself. I agree though that Galaxy sounded very good.

I imagine that doing personality while recording links for other sites must be hard.

Completely agree with the above. Particularly that last point. I remember Galaxy regularly squeezing 14 tracks an hour in during daytime and more in the evenings yet still had tons of personality. Matt Spokes on afternoons was the absolute ideal dj in my opinion, still had your showbizz goss but only a few times a show and was just a good laugh and original whilst never feeling like he was talking too much. Excellent presenter. Same with sacha, james barr and adele roberts. All different in their own way and tons of music in their shows but all oozing personality. Even tom ferguson/duncan wallace/greg hughes were good on overnights. And when dan OC was on drive, i thought he was really cool sounding and just fitted the target audience perfectly. Capital need these people in regular slots before they lose them to other stations, some of which have already gone. Very random shout, but I would like to see Carl Hughes more than just Sunday mornings on Capital Birmingham (although I know he produces for Heart too), thought he was great on the galaxy network. Ant Payne is another who is underused. There are plenty Capital have got but have forgotten about, time for a big change hopefully!

I'd bring back Back To The Hits Faster. That was such a great TOTH jingle!

I agree the Galaxy lot were much better. At least they spoke about stuff that I can relate to. Instead we now get pre recorded prattle about what Rhianna was wearing blah blah blah. Trying too hard to be cool but sounding like a boring brother, like 'My Galaxy' said.

Just like these then? http://www.freewaymusic.com/sound/IN...manchester.mp3

Galaxy presenters often spoke about lifestyle stuff, and what listeners were up to which I think people find even more interesting than what Rihanna is wearing or what perfume Lady Gaga uses. people like something they can relate to, and radio can be a nice companion - as has been said, Galaxy were able to pack in plenty of music yet still have personality. Showbiz stuff is easily available online in many places, good relatable local/national radio not-so-much.

I agree with most of the points above. Capital need to get rid of the showbiz prattle and return to the more 'down-to-earth' feel that Galaxy had. The DJ's on Galaxy actually had character and sounded different from each other. On Capital it's sometimes hard to tell who's who until they say their names!

Ant Payne is one of the best DJ's Galaxy had and definitely the best on Capital yet for the past few years he's only been used as a swing jock which is a travesty really. When he recently covered the breakfast show on Capital Manchester he was a much better listen than Rob Ellis, who now just sounds fed-up. He should definitely get a better slot on the station.

Capital Birmingham opted out of JK and Joel's cover on early breakfast this morning. Rob Howard (of Rock FM, ex-Mansfield 103.2) was covering instead. Looks like JK & Joel are back on 102.2 tomorrow though.

Probably done to give him a trial run on the station.

I really don't understand why they've swap everyone about so much, when someone is off. I mean, swapping Bassman with Rich, putting Will in for Rich, then JK & Joel in for Will.

It seems Capital like to avoid personality-led presenting outside of Breakfast. I haven't listened to them much, either on Capital or previous stations, but i'm guessing that's how JK&J roll, so you'd think they'd leave Will on early breakfast and put JK&J on the 7-11, which seems to be the only networked show that's not just "that was ___, here's ___"

http://www.capitalfm.com/southcoast/...ate=2011-08-30
Maybe James has left?
(or just holiday ofcause)

Just a 2 week holiday, according to Rich's Twitter.

Appreciate what you say about Galaxy, however although it's a long way from being perfect, Capital does sound better than it has done for years. Some of the jocks in the past Neil Bentley, Richard Bacon, Chris Brooks , Schooly all encouraged to do some kind of personality radio, and it was a disaster ratings wise. Play the hits and shut up.

It wasn't the jocks. It was the music.