There’s usually music around me.
If my iPod isn’t blasting away in my ears, a radio will be tuned in to some music station or other.
I tiptoe around the BBC Radio 2 schedule, trying to avoid The Triple Whammy Of Awfulness that is:
If I can, I’ll listen to Popmaster, because I fancy my chances. I’ve even tried to get through as a contestant four times in the last two weeks.
I will make a huge effort to catch Simon Mayo; he is quite possibly the best example of a professional radio broadcaster, in the UK, today.
If, for reasons of Graham Norton, Steve Wright, or Jo Whiley, I have to leave Radio 2, I’ll take a punt around the Digital spectrum.
I quite like Planet Rock every now and then.
I avoid the ILR offerings like the plague (just a few minutes of Gem106 and I’m ready to poke someone in the eye with a blunt object).
But I’ll dip in to SmooooooooooothEfffffffffffffEmmmm now and then.
Absolute Radio is quite good to experience, now and again, too.
I’ve also tried X (but only tried X for the Chris Moyles Show – which is very good).
But the radio paradox is, no matter what we think of BBC Radio, or its output, or its presenters, the future of British music (and that of future musicians) is in the hands of… BBC Radio.
Why?
Because new music and the BBCs playlists, that’s why.
New music is the lifeblood that keeps the heart and soul of our rock, indie, blues, and even folk futures alive.
Without new music we would have no new discoveries.
Without new music we would be in the hands of TV gameshows.
Without new music there would be no breakout listening experiences
OK, I get why we need new music. But why do we need BBC Radio?
Because new music *and* the BBCs playlists, stoopid.
In the month of June 2015, BBC Radio 1 played 4,000 different tracks.
In the same month – June 2015 – Capital Radio played just 400 different tracks.
And none of the 400 tracks were new music.
That’s why we need BBC Radio.
But for God’s sake, BBC, get rid of Jo Whiley.
Thank you.
I can put up with Graham Norton if i fancy a bit of stupid comedy, I haven’t listened to Jo Whiley so not sure what I think of her, but I am totally in agreement over Steve Wright. Good God how can anybody find him either funny, entertaining or any less irritating than rubbing your eyes after cutting chillies. My favourite is Johnny Walker on a Sunday afternoon. I’ve liked him since listening as a teen in the 70s.
I like Johnnie Walker too. Used to listen to him on Caroline. Seldom get the chance to listen to him on a Saturday, due to domestic duties.
I don’t listen to the radio much nowadays, but I know that I never found Steve Wright funny, even back in the day when he was on Radio 1… and I think I stopped listening to Radio 1 round about the time my balls dropped.
We recently got one of those fancy Sonos systems and it picks up a billion and one stations from around the world via t’internet. What does the wife listen to on it?
Kiss FM
Arghhh!
I see you have your hands full, with the Young Mrs Masher. A billion and one stations, eh? I must expand my listening choices.
Luxury. I listened to radio between September 2003 and October 2004 when I last had a long vehicle commute. Never since then. Well, I have tried on very few occasions, but when a 15 minute drive to the shops and back nets only two songs and I’ve heard them both, I just never feel like it’s a good idea. It’s podcasts on Bluetooth or maybe some of my tunes if I’m in that sort of mood.
In that year where I did listen I learned to hate one Greg Johnson song. To this day I will leave a room when it plays.
I wonder if I can somehow get BBC Radio over t’internet?
You can get some good Podcasts from the BBC, but they tend not to contain music, for copyright reasons. The Kermode & Mayo film podcast is a good listen, but it’s usually over an hour long a week. And yes, you can get BBC Radio over the internet. I’d give Radio 1 and Radio 1 Extra a miss, and try Radio 2 (time zones allowing).