[MusicManiac]

I listened to the BBC Oxford Package and I have to say its awful, it does sound dated and somewhat like alfasound imaging. and the way it is sung in just dire

Why do BBC stations all go to different production compaies, where as like capital go to one company for all their stations.

[mbMember]

Capital go to 1 station for all thier stations – really!!! so on Century they are playing IQ beats jingles and Capital FM has cuts from Reelworld. and do Capital Disney still use the Music 4 jingles??? That would be three suppliers?

EMAP and SRH don’t all go to one company.

The BBC has reduced the number of providers in recent years and trhankfully the dreadful Trailblazers department bit the dust which comissioned some truly dreadful packages. On the whole its now either IQ, Groove, Bespoke, Steve England / JAM, Music 4 or David Arnold.
They have tried with the optomistic chimes et al to establish a brand and it didn’t really work hence the chimes are dead- so thankfully now there is a bit of variety. Why should Radio WM have the same jingles as Radio Cornwall and why should the packages be done by the same company.

How old are you Music Maniac? seeing as BBC locals aim at the over 50’s they might not want the latest contemporary music, some BBC locals are more funky than others and some BBC local imaging would suit some stations and not others. The Steve England BBC Oxford is quite pacey but at the same time not too noisey or beaty. Maybe they didn’t want a more “hefty” modern set of tracks.

Who knows we may see sweepers tak the helm at all the Capital – sorry GCap Medfia stations.

[MusicManiac]

Radio wm have the same package as radio newcastle.

and many have the well know bespoke packages

capital did go to music 4 for its stations IDS in 2000 + if you look on the site.

iqbeats still have a way to go to impress, the leaders at moment
are music 4 followed by bespoke and groove addicts

oh and btw i’m 29 and work in production for a mid-sized tv company.

[mbMember]

Radio wm have the same package as radio newcastle.

and many have the well know bespoke packages
capital did go to music 4 for its stations IDS in 2000 + if you look on the site. iqbeats still have a way to go to impress, the leaders at moment
are music 4 followed by bespoke and groove addicts

Both Birmingham and Newcastle are big cities and therefore probabbly similarly suited. I dont understand your comments about Capital I was just showing that Capital does not get all its imaging from one supplier as you indicated.

[Jonnyh]

I have to say that I think the BBC Oxford Package is really nice (and I don’t usually like British made sung jingles).

The logo is catchy and melodic, the beds are funky and fresh (while still aiming at a more conservative audience). I think they’re cool.

WELL DONE S2BLUE.

Oh, and by the way Music Maniac – I think what you’re actually trying to say is – “why don’t the BBC get all of their jingles done by a company that I like?” – well the answer is that the BBC are supposed to appeal to different people. Do you, as a 29 year old like listening to BBC Oxford? I bet you don’t! In turn why would you expect to like their jingles? See the logic?

[danjamesuk]

Well, I’m hoping that MusicManiac’s age has nothing to do with his criticism of the Oxford package. After all, and as he pointed out, he’s a producer, so will hopefully be hearing it through producer’s ears. That is, you look at the technical aspects of the production (the levels, EQ, processing, stereo separation, vocal production etc); you listen to the melodies, the choice of voices and harmonies, the instrumentation and the innovations. Hopefully, as a producer, MusicManiac won’t have made his comments based solely on whether or not he likes it!

There are packages I respect and believe to be shining examples of excellent work. I’m 32, yet I accept there are great packages aimed at 50+ listeners, and, because I hear them through producers’ ears, I LIKE them.

An observation for you…

MusicManiac, you say the industry leaders are Music4, then Bespoke and Groove Addicts, with IQ Beats having “a way to go to impress”!

In actual fact, the individual companies’ current performance would indicate Reelworld as the leader, followed by IQ Beats, Music4, Steve England/S2Blue, Bespoke and then David Arnold.

Groove Addicts in the top 3?! To the best of my knowledge, they’ve only been on ONE station in the UK for at least the past 5 years, and that’s Radio 2.

[DevawebMember]

danjamesuk wrote: Groove Addicts in the top 3?! To the best of my knowledge, they’ve only been on ONE station in the UK for at least the past 5 years, and that’s Radio 2.

I’m not sure that’s strictly true… they’re on Radio Shropshire at the moment, and they’ve certainly been on Capital’s FM Network stations in the last five years. It’s only in the last 12 months that Capital have been using the Reelworld power intros, and I’m sure I still hear some of the standalone Groove idents out of ad breaks now and then. I could be wrong though!

And another company to add to the list that Capital use – Wise Buddah have produced the (excellent) imaging for the Capital and Beat 106 breakfast shows.

It’s the weekend!

[mbMember]

…and the excelent cuts for BBC 6 Music – I really really like the New Order cut.

didn’t someone post some of the WB resings for Souther FM Breakfast a couple of days ago???

[MusicManiac]

Groove addicts are all over the place in the UK
IQ Beats are very poor im afraid and certainly not in the top 5, you only have to look at polls.

[danjamesuk]

I thought we were talking about the Top 5 most popular companies at present, rather than the top 5 as voted by us anoraks!

IQ Beats are very poor?! Certainly not the view of Programme Directors from…

Wave 102
BBC Radio Leeds
Northsound 1
BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Stoke
TFM
Heart 106.2
West FM
Beat 102
FOX FM
105.4 Century FM
LBC 97.3
LBC News 1152
Chiltern FM
Key 103
Peak FM
Imagine FM
Signal 1
The Pulse
Tower FM
Wire FM
Wish FM
Radio Wave
96.4 FM The Wave
Valleys Radio
The Wolf
Q96
Red FM
Forth 2
KMFM
106 Century FM
Ocean FM

That’s 32 UK stations… does that also mean 32 misguided or useless Programme Directors? I think not!

Plus the many US and European stations already with them, and the numerous UK stations currently working with them. Heck, even Radio 1 like ’em, having used their production beds for the Brits coverage!

And no, I’m not saying this because I produced the UK versions of their demos, I’m saying it because it’s plain to see they’re becoming increasingly popular, probably because of their innovative, unique sound that doesn’t rely on tried and tested group vocal styles and old-hat production values! The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that some anoraks are only interested in anything that has its roots firmly planted in the past, rather than supporting originality and a redefining of radio identification. (By the way, if you do want to hear IQ’s new UK demos, go to http://www.danakers.co.uk)

And whilst we’re talking about newer companies, look at the more recent work of Music 4 vs IQ Beats. Whilst Music 4 have produced some really bloody excellent material, listen to their new stuff… whilst IQ Beats are producing ramps and beds that continually change, Music 4 are churning out ramps and beds based on nothing but loops (recent Chris Moyles work excluded, which is very good). In fact, some of Music 4’s recent cuts are simply re-hashes of material from older packages, if you listen closely!

Back to the criticism of IQ Beats, MusicManiac… please, at least if you say something’s very poor, try to justify it with solid reasons why!

As an aside, I always find it interesting that many of those people ready to criticise IQ Beats are also big supporters of Reelworld, many of whose most well-loved packages were composed by Steven Scalfati, who is working with ex-Reelworld boss Michael Berlin at IQ Beats… indeed, they formed the company together! Also, we’re talking about the same Michael Berlin who produced much of the great work produced by Killer Music and Groove Addicts!

As for Groove Addicts not doing much in the UK market at present… I stand corrected! Very surprised about BBC Radio Shropshire using them though. Knowing what budgets are like for BBC local radio, I’m surprised they could afford them – whilst they’re very good, Groove Addicts are well known for not exactly being the cheapest!

[mbMember]

As an aside, I always find it interesting that many of those people ready to criticise IQ Beats are also big supporters of Reelworld, many of whose most well-loved packages were composed by Steven Scalfati, who is working with ex-Reelworld boss Michael Berlin at IQ Beats… indeed, they formed the company together! Also, we’re talking about the same Michael Berlin who produced much of the great work produced by Killer Music and Groove Addicts!

However Dan the IQ Beats stuff is quite different to Reelworld – In my own personal view a little more harsh and stripped back with a different vocal sound. Not a criticism and all credit for taking a different approach theres room for both, but I would have expected them to sound much more similar than they do. Both have packages that are good, reelworld have some fantastic packages – I find IQ not to my taste whereas the Reelworld fuller music and vocals is more to my liking – just a taste thing.
Because of the differences in the work it is sortta fair to say I like one and not the other.
In my case at the moment because of the sheer number of packages Reelworld have more stuff in total than IQ that I like. We’ve yet to see IQ produce a distinctive Country or Oldies package. Only when they breakout into these different styles will we really be able to judge. – To be honest thats where Music 4 fall down for me – Everything seems to get stuck around the second Wireless group package and most stuff from then on all sounded like the continuation of that package. ( not necessarily their fault again PD’s saying I’d like a package like that one….) I also though that the logo for Capital Gold was dreadful even though I liked the cuts instrumentation and strapline sings..but Capital Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal didn’t do it for me.

hope the above was fair and not overy critical

[danjamesuk]

Different styles?

All I can say is… watch this space! Exciting times ahead!

And no Michael, you weren’t too critical! Mr bloody Sarcasm! 😆

By the way, I don’t think you meant to say overy! That’s a woman’s reproductive part! (Not that I’d know!!)

[mbMember]

it was late I was tired and confused 😆

[NickySMember]

The bottom line for me is that companies wouldn’t get the gig unless they did what the stations/programme controllers wanted. And if you look at history it tends to go in cycles as to the ‘in’ company that gets a lot of work. In the early 70s many of the small UK firms got the gigs (mainly because of the MU rule), as we went into the 80s David Arnold/Alfasound took over, followed by JAM in the late 80s/early 90s. Then came Vibe/Music 4/Groove Addicts, now we’re into the Reelworld/IQBeats period with TM Century thrown in for good measure across the ages. I think stations tend to follow the pack – one company gets popular and everyone wants that sound, then someone gets bored and they go with another one – that one becomes popular and they take over.
As to the BBC – they tried (as has been mentioned) to centralise the jingle commissioning process for LR – it worked for a while but then individual managers (especially those who liked jingles) decided they wanted something different and broke out of the mould.

[MusicManiac]

danjamesuk wrote: I thought we were talking about the Top 5 most popular companies at present, rather than the top 5 as voted by us anoraks!

IQ Beats are very poor?! Certainly not the view of Programme Directors from…

Wave 102
BBC Radio Leeds
Northsound 1
BBC Radio Kent
BBC Radio Stoke
TFM
Heart 106.2
West FM
Beat 102
FOX FM
105.4 Century FM
LBC 97.3
LBC News 1152
Chiltern FM
Key 103
Peak FM
Imagine FM
Signal 1
The Pulse
Tower FM
Wire FM
Wish FM
Radio Wave
96.4 FM The Wave
Valleys Radio
The Wolf
Q96
Red FM
Forth 2
KMFM
106 Century FM
Ocean FM

That’s 32 UK stations… does that also mean 32 misguided or useless Programme Directors? I think not!

Plus the many US and European stations already with them, and the numerous UK stations currently working with them. Heck, even Radio 1 like ’em, having used their production beds for the Brits coverage!

And no, I’m not saying this because I produced the UK versions of their demos, I’m saying it because it’s plain to see they’re becoming increasingly popular, probably because of their innovative, unique sound that doesn’t rely on tried and tested group vocal styles and old-hat production values! The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that some anoraks are only interested in anything that has its roots firmly planted in the past, rather than supporting originality and a redefining of radio identification. (By the way, if you do want to hear IQ’s new UK demos, go to http://www.danakers.co.uk)

And whilst we’re talking about newer companies, look at the more recent work of Music 4 vs IQ Beats. Whilst Music 4 have produced some really bloody excellent material, listen to their new stuff… whilst IQ Beats are producing ramps and beds that continually change, Music 4 are churning out ramps and beds based on nothing but loops (recent Chris Moyles work excluded, which is very good). In fact, some of Music 4’s recent cuts are simply re-hashes of material from older packages, if you listen closely!

Back to the criticism of IQ Beats, MusicManiac… please, at least if you say something’s very poor, try to justify it with solid reasons why!

As an aside, I always find it interesting that many of those people ready to criticise IQ Beats are also big supporters of Reelworld, many of whose most well-loved packages were composed by Steven Scalfati, who is working with ex-Reelworld boss Michael Berlin at IQ Beats… indeed, they formed the company together! Also, we’re talking about the same Michael Berlin who produced much of the great work produced by Killer Music and Groove Addicts!

As for Groove Addicts not doing much in the UK market at present… I stand corrected! Very surprised about BBC Radio Shropshire using them though. Knowing what budgets are like for BBC local radio, I’m surprised they could afford them – whilst they’re very good, Groove Addicts are well known for not exactly being the cheapest!

I Q Beats are new, everyone wants to have it, you know like the lastest cell phone, so 35 stations want to try it. it’ll ware off soon.

[MusicManiac]

NickyS wrote: I think stations tend to follow the pack – one company gets popular and everyone wants that sound, then someone gets bored and they go with another one – that one becomes popular and they take over. .

That I agree with

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