Conference marvin::uk_music

    .....and 'Ice Ice Baby'.
    
    Bob

    Bob,
    
    don't worry - sick bags in the post.
    
    Paul.

I think the playlist is really 30 songs but they all sound like the same
3 songs .... the rest are all rip-offs of older/better tracks or better
known as TV ads ....

The charts these days stink of money lining pockets and SAW out to grab all they
can before someone notices they are rubbish

barf barf barf 

She who often listens to radio 4 in the evenings driving home cos it's FUNNY !!

woof

    RE-1, SAW haven't had a sizeable hit for a while now.
    
    I've been moved - into the warehouse, where the radio is on all day. 
    No tapes allowed, just Radio 1.  How much I enjoy myself really depends
    on what song is on at the time.  I get really depressed when the play
    Cliffy or Snap - I just can't stand those records.
    
    The general quality is below standard, but they do play the odd good
    tune.  They seemed to be better a few months back, with loads of Happy
    Monday's etc, and surprisingly Gary Davies used to play some cool club
    cuts.
    
    
    matty

    RE's
    
    Hear hear guys...the same sh** is happening in dull radio land Holland
    too,I call it(it's realy a dutch saying)"eenheids worst".
                                     xlation"clone sausages".
    
    Meaning "ignorent medioker quality",turn the dial from left to right
    finding out that no difference can be detected.Another terrible thing
    started up a year ago,a new radio station called Radio 10 has even gone
    over to a format that restrict them to play old records only.This
    station now call themselves Radio 10"GOLD". I used to have special
    memories and good feelings of some particular songs from the past,but
    I hate it that they play records we used to call "evergreens" atleast
    4 or 5 times a day. IMO such a song is being killed as evergreen.You
    that I'm sick of hearing these socalled "golden oldies".These days
    all stations use the golden oldie format in the morning....yuk!
    
    What is you guys near London your opinion about Kiss 100FM?
    Or in general,write down your suggestions of how a radio format must 
    look like,the records,the programming,the 3 day parts(morning,noon and
    evening)and what during the night?
    
    I like to know this very much cuz I'm working for a local indipendent
    radio station which also goes on air during the month of januari 91.
    I have a weekly "dance music" 2 hour show on the friday eve and you
    would'nt believe it but the show is realy picking up lots of listeners.
    At this stage we only broadcast via cable units,so I'm surprised that
    I have actually people listening to my show which is called Beats
    Rythm&Party.I review last weeks dance record releases from the record
    companies and indeed play classic dance material(and yes,not the ones 
    you keep hearing all day on other stations)
    
    �SAW(stock aitkin&waterman) did a biggie with that Kylie thing did
     they?
    
    YO�
    Jan.

    I heard that SAW have only had 13 hits this year but they had something
    like 47 in '89,  so somethings are getting better.
    
    Tim
    ---

    Re .3...yeah, get tuned into Radio 4...ain't the same old show on my
    radio!!
    
    Mikef

    Talking of Radio, I hate Radio Sussex because they broadcast my
    interview with Billy Bragg but cut out my voice and replaced it with
    their DJs, what a %$##&*^%$#, they didn't even reply to the nasty
    letter I sent them.
    
    AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH  It still makes me angry, I thought the
    BBC were supposed to have some integrity.
    
    Tim
    --- 

    Obviously, what I'd like to hear on the radio will never happen;
    listeners would turn over in droves (I don't think Henry Cow would go
    down too well on Gary Davis' Bit in the Middle). I accept that mass-
    audience radio has to play fairly safe, as a lot of people listen on a 
    fairly casual basis, or use it as a background, but I do think they could 
    broaden theirspectrum a lot, and mix up the styles without alienating 
    listeners. I'm sure there could be a good mix of pop, indie, dance, rock, 
    oldies etc., where listeners wouldn't desert the station.  
    
    My main gripe, apart from the musical content on the radio is the fact
    that the amount of music per hour seems to be falling to make way for
    yet more inane babble, quizzes, characters etc., etc., etc., from the
    blummen DJs. It seems they think it is more important for them to make
    it 'their' show rather than play music; it's almost as if the music is
    an intrusion or interruption. But then perhaps that's what the people
    want......
    
    I'm just making these comments after listening casually yesterday, as
    usually I listen to tapes or R4, but as someone once said, 'Don't
    criticise what you don't understand'.
    
    Bob

    Sue 'em Tim, take 'em to the cleaners!
    
    Paul.

    The problem is I don't think I've got a leg to stand on legally bacause
    they were recording the interview as well and asking some of their own
    questions and since they didn't broadcast my voice have I any claim to
    what Billy Bragg said to me personally copyrightwise?  I doubt it, its
    just very annoying I didn't get credited.  Anyway since they didn't 
    reply I decided to use some of their questions in my fanzine to at 
    least get something out of them so they'd probably sue me back.
    
    Tim
    ---  BOYCOTT THE TURN IT UP PROGRAM ON BBC RADIO SUSSEX!!
    
    P.S. I had a laugh at their expense when the NME took the piss out of
         the guy that nicked the stuff in a bit about the band 5.30.

    Jan, I'd like to see daytime radio playing mixes of records that most
    people don't get, ie. unreleased mixes, but just versions off the 12"
    would be an improvement.  The problem with that is the amount of poor
    quality remixes about now is sky high.  Also it would be nice if they
    played the odd live recording, but not whole concerts, and album tracks
    too.  Then you have all the good dance and Indie records that flop due
    to exposure.  I feel if they played more Indie and more Dance more
    people would get into it all.  It happened with the Manchester groups,
    and House music.
    
    I think radio needs to give something that you can't get elsewhere, but
    because they just play the same few records over and over again they
    don't do that.  Most of those records are Top 20, so people have
    already heard/got them.
    
    You need to keep people interested though, with the quizes etc.
    
    Gary Davies is popping the odd classical pieces into his show, which I
    think is a very good idea.
    
    Also Radio 1 seems to be tying to resurrect Soho's `Hippy Chick' now
    that it's done the business in the US.  That's good too.  They should
    dig up all the old good flop records and play them till they sell, then
    everyone would be into the World Of Twist and the Paris Angels!!!
    
    
    matty

    One of the best things Radio 1 could do is get rid of Simon "I'm a
    really sincere guy" Bates, I hate him and his Our Tune bit.  Seriously
    I think that Radio 1 could do with revamping its DJ line up, its
    basically too old, or at least too stuck in its ways, the exception to
    the rule being John Peel.
    
    On the other hand maybe its time to launch a new station, we've got
    radio 5 for sport how about radio 6 for more experimental types of
    music and not just one genre.  Kiss FM is good but only concentrates on
    dance, I think we need something with a wider base.
    
    Tim
    ---
    

    re: .13
    
    Annie Nightingale & Fluff(on Saturday Night) - yeah I know he's old hat, 
    but he plays better music than Tommy Vance, are probably the only
    others that should stay.
    
    			Andy.  

>        <<< Note 780.9 by WELMTS::GREENB "Resign! Resign! Resign!" >>>
>
>        the amount of music per hour seems to be falling to make way for
>   yet more inane babble, quizzes, characters etc.
    
    You mean, like those repeated interjections on R1 where they say, "Radio
    1... advert free so you can hear more music".
    
    
    Rod

    Is KISS FM available nationwide, or just the London area?

    RE-1
    
    YUP...unfortunatly just london area.
    
    Jan.

    
    Would I be right in saying that there is a legal limit on how many
    minutes of music can be played on the air per hour?  If so why is this?
    	I don't understand why a radio station doesn't just make a tape of
    LOTS of types of music and just play them all day.  Perhaps have
    'oldies' hours, Indie hours, dance hours (although I'd prefer
    minutes!), all at specified times of the day. - OK OK so they can slot
    a few adverts on commercial radio here and there.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Russell.
    

    
    The BBC (certainly), and other stations (presumably) operate under
    "needle-time" restrictions. They have to pay someone, presumably the
    BPI, for the right to play recorded music, and this is not cheap.
    Actually, I guess "laser-time" would be a better description these
    days,
    
    I've always thought it was a pretty good deal for the record companies.
    They get money for getting the records played, and that very airplay is
    what sells the music to the public !
    
    Trevor

    I have to disagree with Russell about separate hours for 'different'
    musics, except perhaps for more minority tastes. During daytime
    peak-listening hours, I'd like to hear a greater range of music, and
    let's face it, there's a lot more out there that could be played that
    wouldn't offend the average casual listener (no put-down of that kind
    of listener intended).
    
    For instance, in the case of oldies, it always seems to be the same few
    that get played. Occasionally, though, I'll hear an oldie that I
    haven't heard for ages, and then it seems to crop up regularly for a
    while. Has anyone else noticed this?
    
    Bob

    RE.20
    
    Bob, read my opinion in 780.5 regarding "oldies".
    
    Jan.

    Done that, Jan. Agreed. What strikes me as strange is that one DJ will
    pick up on an old record (not even necessarily an 'evergreen') and
    suddenly it's all over the place for a few days. The most recent
    example of this I can think of is Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich's
    "Legend of Xanadu", you know, the one with the whip. I mean, it may
    have been OK at the time, but I've heard it about 450 times this week.
    I can't understand why this is, unless it's being used on an ad at the
    moment and has been re-released. If this is the case, I'm emigrating to
    Guam.
    
    Bob

    Yeah...Bob,ya gotta have thik skin to ignore this...but I know,it's
    irritating as H**l. The one we have at the moment is Young girl by the
    Union gap.Also stuff from the Les Humphry singers and that terrible
    thing by Cindy Lauper:Girls wanna have fun.
    
    Boring boring boring.
    
    Jan.

    The one really bugging me at the moment is 'kinky boots'. Its the worst
    piece of dross ever recorded (excepting perhaps Shaddap your face).
    The fact it has got in the charts just proves the fact that with a lot
    of radio overkill/hype any crap can sell. 
    
    Ian, I hate radio one but its my wife's radio alarm clock, Turner.

    Kinky Boots shows how much radio can push a record, especially at
    Christmas, remember John Kettley is a weatherman, it would never have
    sold if it hadn't picked up the Christmas airplay.
    
    Tim
    ---

    I like the `Kinky Boots' record.  I would never had heard it unless
    they did what they did.  Though it does show the power they have.  They
    should use that power to bring unheard stuff to the casual listener,
    such as `Kinky Boots' or the latest Pixiessingle.
    
    Radio 1 have `Box Set Go' by the High on at the mo.  They keep playing
    Jesus Jones too.  Good or what!
                                                    
    
    matty

I think the reason an 'oldie' gets played over and over is cos te DJ's leave
records in studios and the next DJ picks it up and thinks "I'll play that cos
I haven't heard that for ages..." and then leaves it for the next DJ etc etc

"Needle-time" does restrict the playing of records ... some records are 'free'
of "needle-time" - K-tel stuff methinks ?? .. I was amazed to find out
that even a few seconds of a record used in a competition is charged 
"needle-time" !! typically shows on commercial stations late at night are only
allowed to play 2-3 needle-time records an hour ... that's lots of K-tel
stuff in-between .. yeukk


As for scrapping the DJ's ... nah .. some are very good and make the radio worth
listening to cos they're funny - like Tarrent ...if there were no DJ's then
you may as well listen to tapes instead of the radio ... then you'd get music
you like without the chat


Woof

    
    	I agree to a certain extent, but kinky boots was deliberatly hyped
    by radio one. A local station here in manchester played it three or
    four times last year but there was no deliberate hype...that is what
    bugs.
    	The words to HITSVILLE UK by the Clash sum up radio one really
    well...
    		EXPENSE ACCOUNTS AND LUNCH DISCOUNTS
    		AND HYPING OF THE CHARTS.
    
    BTW	I live in Manchester and think most of the music scene eminatingh
    from this city is pretty dire.
    
    	Ian T.

    Can we discuss news bulletins?  Well I'm going to anyway!
    
    Have you ever tried going on a long car journey with the radio on? 
    Don't you find it INCREDIBLY irritating to hear the EXACT same news
    bulletin every � hour?  I've been known to be able to recite a complete
    days' news as read by Rod MckMckMckenzie.  
    
    One suggestion: keep news bulletins to once an hour?
    
    OK guys tear me apart!
    
    Russell.
    

    Has that John Revolta/Olivia Neutron-Bomb classic (gag), 'Summer
    Nights', been re-released, or is it just coincidence that I keep
    hearing it? On the positive side, it at least reminds me of how much
    punk rock needed to happen back then.....
    
    BTW, the reason I'm listening to R1 lately is because a small and nasty
    relative vandalised my car ariel and now R1 is all I can pick up.
    
    Bob

    >Has that John Revolta/Olivia Neutron-Bomb classic (gag), 'Summer
    >Nights', been re-released, or is it just coincidence that I keep
    >hearing it? On the positive side, it at least reminds me of how much
    >punk rock needed to happen back then.....
    
    They've released a `mega-mix' of Summer Nights, Grease Lightning and
    one of the other songs from the film.  There are some people somehwere
    who need a good UZI 9mm taken to them.
    
    Paul

    Punk rock had already happened by then, the Grease stuff came out in
    '79 while punk was mostly based around 76ish
    
    Tim
    ---

    How the memory fades, Tim. I thought they were both happening about the
    same time......
    
    Old Man Bob

    Its frightening to think that punk was 14 years ago, I remember it well
    even though I was only 9
    
    Tim
    ---

    Greaser was before 79...we're talking 77/78...ashamed that I am to
    remember this.  Anyone remember the Rats knocking JT/ONJ off the no 1
    spot?
    
    Mikef

    It can't have been 77 because i was definitely living in Reading when
    it was around and I didn't move here til 78.
    
    Tim
    ---

    It could have been all those times. The first punk record I remember
    hearing was "New Rose" by The Damned in August 76, but punk carried on
    all through 77 and 78 until by 79/80 it was beginning to shade into
    what they called New Wave.
    
    And now we return to our regular programming.
    
    
    Rod

    I don't find the news reports that boring Russ, they're not as bad as
    the weather reports - they might as well be on tape.
    
    Paul.

Subj:	Campaign for Irish Radio station in London

All,
    I was at a meeting of the London branch of the Celtic league last 
night and there I found out about a campaign to get an Irish radio
station going in London. Clearly, this is provides an opportunity for
Irish language to be broadcast in the area, and may also be a forum
for other Celtic communities to get airtime. 

There's a 2/3 page article on this campaign on P8 of "Irish in
Britain news", 19-Jul-91.

The aim is to give the temporary "Irish Festival Radio" station a
full licence, and to extend it's broadcasting area to the whole
of London, perhaps beyond.

A follow up article in the paper on 26th July said:

"1,000 plus sign media petition

Over 1,300 people signed the Irish media group's petition at the 
Southwark (London) Irish festival calling for a fair share of media
time for the transmission of Irish music, sport, culture and current
affairs in the UK. 

With 74 MP's and 29 MEP's having already signed, this brings the 
total to more than 21,000 signatures"

    What was the all time number 1 on the recent Radio 1 celebrations? I
    was out at friends for dinner, and we arrived already late while they
    were playing number 2. 
    
    Dougie
    

    You could probably guess this quite easily ...
    
    Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen.
    
    	I.

    If it was the thing on Sunday afternoon about the best-selling records
    of all time, I believe no2 was Queen, and No1 was Bryan Adams. 
    
    Sad, really.
    
    Andy

    Did anyone hear the interview with Johny Beerling, who's controller
    of Radio 1, last week ??   It was after the announcement about the
    green/white paper to decide the future of the BBC.   Basically he
    said that he thought that R1 should continue to exist, but maybe
    with a "less trivial approach" (ahem).   Anyone got any comments ??
    
    Ray

Ray,

As long as Mark Goodier's show and John Peel stay on the air, I couldn't care.
I think it's important to keep them because they are the only shows (I know of)
in the UK that play music that is not in/ unlikely to get in the charts.

Yours humbly,

Mark

    
    I don't think Radio 1 should go away, because there isn't actually
    anything like it in the commercial sector (yet).
    
    There aren't many commercial stations that play Radio 1's mix of music
    all day long. A lot of the independent stations seem to go into "Radio
    2 Housewife" mode during the mornings, for example.
    
    If there were an nationwide independent pop station, I wouldn't miss
    the daytime "personalities" on Radio 1 very much.
    
    Trevor

    
    Has anyone listened to Virgin 1215 yet ?
    
    My preconceptions were totally vindicated when I turned it on for the
    first time, and heard "Bat Out Of Hell". The sound quality is pretty
    bad where I live, but the signal seems to be stronger than the old
    Radio 3 signal on the same frequency. 
    
    I think it might turn out to be very successful. Yesterday, the top 10
    of the Radio 1 listener's all time top 100 albums contained amongst
    others Stars, Dark Side of the Moon, Bat Out Of Hell, Automatic for the
    People, Joshua Tree, Sgt. Pepper. Sounds like Virgin's playlist to me.
    
    Trevor

    Yes, I listened a lot this weekend because they were playing their way
    through 1,215 "Classic tracks" (most over-worked word in the music biz)

    If you can put up with the sound quality, I think they are well worth a
    listen but then I am in their declared target audience : thirty somethings
    who want Rock not Soul or Dance and who can't stand Radio 1 and the inane 
    drivel the DJs churn out.

    Branson seems to have picked up a lot of staff from GLR ... Chris Evans was 
    doing exactly the same show as he used to do on Saturday morning .. Richard
    Skinner is there, Jonathan Coleman, Kevin Greening and they have scheduled
    the great Tommy Vance to compete with Steve Wright in the afternoon. Even 
    the Emperor Roscoe (sp?) show, on Saturday did not sound out of place !

    I'll reserve judgement for a while because this weekend was an exception but
    as long as TV plays things like Led Zep's "Battle for Evermore" and Neil 
    Young "Southern Man" back to back at six o'clock in the evening (like last 
    Thursday) .. then I'll stay tuned.


		Paul

    I'd like to listen to this station - but the reception is just too bad 
    - Radio 1 ect is fine so maybe they don't put out a strong signal for
    us up in the north.

Since it started it's been constantly on the car radio. However the reception is 
terrible on 1215 am but on 1224 its clear as a bell. In fact, although it's not
FM Stereo, the sound is clearer than radio 1, especially near Reading Town Centre.

Love the music. Half the songs I've heard so far I'd forgotton about, and it's so
nice not having to put up with the rave/hip'op et al you get on Radio 1. It's even
worth putting up the commercials.

Al

    
    Yes, I know what you mean about  the  reception , it isn't so great in 
    Basingstoke either . However , as mentioned .49 you can also try 1224,
    1242 and one other( <1215)which I can't remember ... 
    
    One of their best ideas is  not playing the same track again in a 24hr
    period so you don't get inane drivel repetitively assaulting your ears
    (..just because it's Kylie's latest poppy chart offering etc !)
    
    Sandie (getting used to the WuuuuOOOOuuooooowwwwwOOOuuuu noises!).../
    

    I think its a great shame that Virgin have devoted an entire Radio
    Station to nostalgia.  There doesn't seem to be one show based around
    new music, of whatever sort.  If I ever have to listen to 'Bohemian
    bloody Rhapsody' again in my life I will kill whoever plays it to me.  
    
    Mikef

    
    Anyone see that program on Channel 4 last night?  The one that
    basically came up with the conclusion that pop music is dead, or at
    least waving it's little feet in the air.
    
    Anyone have any thoughts on it?

    Anyone have a summary? - I missed this.  Who presented it? Is pop dead
    or just eating itself?
    
    Mikef

    I saw it and agreed wholeheartedly - basically the argument is that the
    "soul" (in the largest sense of the word) has gone out of the pop
    industry, with record companies playing safe with "formula" hits. 
    Showing old videos of stuff around the mid-eighties - and contrasting
    them with the techno-dance crap that fills the airwaves - was in itself
    a very effective argument.  The presenter put it down to the
    "hedonistic" rather than "idealistic" attitude to life that pervades
    amongst the young.  
    
    I hate to agree with him as it makes me feel middle-aged - I remember
    my parents saying "this isn't music" when I was glued to TOTP or The
    Old Grey Whistle Test... but I do.
    
    Debs

    The programme was presented by famed ex-punk NME writer Tony Parsons,
    and it's basic premise was that pop music is now running a pretty poor
    second to computer games with today's yoof.
    
    Bob
    
    

    Sounds as though it was interesting.  Depends on what they callpopmusic
    tho' i guess.  The stuff inthe charts?  If you listen to Peelie, there
    are still lotsof new bands making exciting new sounds,with very little
    hope of chart success.
    
    Mikef

    ....and equally little chance of getting on any other radio
    show/station apart from the Peel ghetto.
    
    Personally (when I remember to listen to it), I like the kind of music
    Mark Radcliffe plays on his "Out on Blue Six" show - a mix of new
    stuff, punk, rock, garage (in it's original sense), psychedelia etc. I
    just wish there was more than one hour a week of it.
    
    Although I like some of the music played on Virgin, I get bored with
    it's middle-of-the-road-ness after not very many records.
    
    Bob

    
    re .54
    
    Yeah, I have to say I felt like that too.  It was interesting how the
    kids they interviewed felt that a computer game had better shelf life
    than a record.
    
    I think it was a bit narrow to just cite computer games as the problem
    though.  I for one just can't afford/don't get the chance to listen and
    buy as many records as I used to.  I did agree about how dance music is
    purely an entertainment medium though; I'll listen to some dance in
    clubs and enjoy it but when it comes to fitting music to moods, I like
    indie/pop/punk to listen to at home/in the pub (where I spend most of
    my time and money {see above about not being able to afford records
    ;-)}
    
    Paul

    Mark Radcliffe - yes, his show is one of the few things I have to
    listento, brilliant stuff.  He does some shows on Radio 5 also, but not
    as good or way out as Blue 6.
    
    Cost certainly has a lot to do with things, I only buy a small amunt
    compared to what I used to.  
    
    Hmmmmm
    
    Mikef
    

    I didn't see the programme but always feel that whenever there is a 
    resurgance of oldies the "critics" blame it on "the current state of
    the music" - but how far do they look - not past the top 40.
    If as said you look there is almost always good music comimg out - it's
    just that it normally doesn't get into the charts.
    Anyway sometimes it's good to see a resurgance - can't do much harm -
    unless it's Abba!
    
    				Stuart 

Seems to me that this thing about computer games being bigger/better/grabbier
than pop is just a standard media-clever-bastard thing to say these days,
something to get a pushy writer out of music papers and into Sunday
supplements. The music's still there.


Rod

    But it does all sound the same...
    
    Yesterday, driving over from EHQ to Ferney (how provincial, ed.) I
    heard a song by the Beatles (Candyskins), a song by David Bowie (Suede)
    and a song by Charlie Parker (Charlie Parker, overdubbed with "the loud
    minority").
    
    Piers

Face it, Piers. You're just too old for all this 'popular' music.

Rod

    A Q: How is KISS-FM in London making out these days?
    Anything interesting to tell? ;^)
    
    Jan.

    KISS-FM seems to be very succesful, but it's way too DJ-oriented for 
    my taste.  
    
    Quite a lot of hardcore late at night and in the morning; David Rodigan 
    does a lovers/classic show at lunchtime and more Jamaican/reggae in the
    evening.  For a while they had comedy acts (Craig Charles etc) on with 
    Steve Jackson (the cocky morning DJ).  They certainly get London's
    best/worst phone-ins.
    
    The UK still needs a decent music-oriented non-classical station.
    
    PLEASE!

    What was that "UFO watch" all about last night at 7pm on Radio 1 ?
    
    I caught a few minutes of it. Nicky Cambell and Patrick Moore were
    going on about be invaded by UFOs the size of the Isle of Wight.
    They even had spoof newsbeat items on it and very poor impressions of
    John Major and Tony Blair.
    
    It was clearly a rip off of Orson Wells and War of the Worlds and the
    interest caused by the Independance Day film.
    
    A bigger pile of cack I have never heard and it surprises me that
    Patrick Moore would have anything to do woth it (although I know he
    is a great debunker of UFOs).
    
    Royston

    I agree - I turned on because I was expecting a documentary style show. 
    What we got was basically an hour long ad for Independance Day.  And a
    not very good one at that....I hope the people responsible for ID paid
    up for all that advertising...
    
    garbage city
    
    m