[IanMember]

Hi guys.
Just had an e-mail back from Adrian Juste, formerly of radio 1. He very sadly ended his e-mail with the following.

As for R2 – Simon Bates has just informed me that Matthew Bannister is favourite for the Controller's job to replace Lesley Douglas this week … so I don't imagine I'd be back on there any time soon!! – or indeed listening to it again ….

If he is correct, what do you guys think about it?

[mbMember]

There are still other people in the running.
altohugh I have my thoughts about each of them, I too would not like like to see Bannister get it.

[RobinBlamires]

I was never really a fan of Adrian Juste, but I also think that Matthew would be a tiny bit too “aggresive” for the Radio 2 job.

Although in all fairness I thought some of his actions made at Radio 1 were justified despite the hasty culling.

[GrahamCollins]

Don't forget Bannister did good things as BBC Radio London re-launched as GLR – a similar audience and music profile to Radio 2. I'd say it was in the bag. Bannister's the man.

[RobinBlamires]

Yeah, I was gonna say. With the exception of Tony Blackburn's dismissal, GLR was a pretty good station.

[ratnobMember]

Good coverage in the Guardian here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/23/radio2-controller-to-be-announced

They are waiting to get Jonathan Ross safely back before announcing.

My hunch is that in the current climate of fear, obsessive accountability, and cost-cutting, any new idents will be home-grown (ie British and boring). The station controller will be fearful of being accused by the Daily Mail of sending money to the US for new jingles, especially with the current exchange rate. That's my guess for what it's worth.

GB

[1Radio]

Would be interesting to see Bannister in charge of Evans again

[1Radio]

But alas not…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/27/bob-shennan-named-radio-2-controller

[LenGroat]

It's amazing that this post has not now attracted MORE attention?

Whether or not the 'new broom' decides to 'go back to JAM' it is a valid point that he seems to have LITTLE music radio experience. I find that MOST depressing as my worst experiences were with people from News /Sport who were elevated far beyond their abilities and THOUGHT they knew about 'Music Radio'.

It seems the BBC is keen to protect its licence by playing it safe and 'playing politics', rather than 'polishing up their act' ?

To me it is a radio station that is basically a number of disconnected souls, programming styles and voices, with VERY FEW actual 'dj's on it now.

Daytime it's a messy flow of Radio Hallam 1976, into RTE, into Radio Clyde, into TV's Newsnight, into Radio 1 circa 1985 into an aged Chris Moyles… well you get the picture!

As regards jingles, MY vote… is of course… for something FRESH from JAM….

[mbMember]

I know who the finalists were and Bob is probabbly the best choice for the nest work of all of them.
The one thing about radio 2 is that is different, It's a personality station not a music station and therefore the shows are all going to be a bit unique. you only have to look at lift music FM errm Heart to see what consistancy in format delivers on radio nowadays.

Radio 2 is NOT broken,

1. A very sound experience in News / Talk radio.
Radio 2 has a remit to cover more than music and his experience will be reassuring to those who see shows like the midday show with Vine as a differentiator from commercial radio.

2. Someone was needed who knew the inside workings of the BBC but was not tainted by the trouble in the last few months with competitions or compliance.

The controller of Radio 2 had a team including people who look after music – tasks on the list are compliance and talent management. Rememeber the last boss did not go because the output or direction was broken – it was compliance. Compare Radio 2's format with that of commercial radio and you understand that they can't say boo without a submission to the trust. A big part of the job is “steady as she goes” management of the UK's most sucessful radio station loved by millions.

Part of the stations remit is to support British music and talent in these times with companies like Music4, Wise Buddah and others there is an argument that a custom jingle package should be home produced.

There is a big support team at Radio Two and the new controller will be under more pressure to ensure that all policies are followed to the letter than looking at the music.

[LenGroat]

Michael, I accept we have different views of how 'successful' Radio 2 is aesthetically, but surely that is only because commercial radio is so WEAK (and syndicated) at present, and has LOST its strength of localness', and so is NO competitor to a station free of commercials?.

In my opinion Radio 2 could be a GREAT DEAL BETTER and at present is a very FRAGMENTED radio station – it changes style completely with EVERY successive daytme show.

'Part of the stations remit is to support British music and talent in these times with companies like Music4, Wise Buddah and others'

As the station plays a HUGE amount of American music I don't think you can rule out a few minutes each hour of American jingles?

Radio 2 does not have a 'remit' to only use British jingles as you suggest, and much of what is on air now is OLD so not many British musicians have played for quite a while. For much of it Radio 2 is just providing repeat fees for a few people at the British jingle companies?

Surely, as in ANY commercial scenario Radio 2 has to use the BEST of everything available? The awful, old, stale British jingle package(s) that have been flogged to death for years are hardly worthy of Britain's most listened to station?

[upsweepMember]

Now I have to put out the flags here, because its one of those rare times, I agree with the views of the repected Michael Bolton.

BBC Radio2 is not broken, it is very different, that is why its Britains most listened to station. Yes we could argue as jingle lovers the main package is 12 years old now – but the station music output is very different from when the package was lauched, yet it still works.

I like so many others, enjoy listening to Radio2 due to the different personalities during daytime, because it them that drive the show. Now I may be un-lucky having Invicta as my local commercial, but i have heard other locals, there is nowt there that makes me want to tune in again.

Music at Local Commercial stations,seems so restricted by their limited playlist, music lovers generally get bored @ hearing “
Dancing In The Moonlight” once a week. Thats where BBC Radio2 wins it hands down, because it has such a diverse music output on a regular basis, you can hear the latest by The Tins Tins, followed by a full length version of Led Zeppelin track.

Despite the main Groove Addicts package as well being old,it does still fit into the station music output, however it lets the jocks to go and include their own imaging to run along side the main imaging, Mr Wright (AJ Productions), Mr Evans (Wise Buddah).I would like to hear more grown DJ's on the station, but where are they coming from – certainly not local radio.

A few have fun/personality breakfast jocks – but try listening to mid morning/afternoon shows, they are just presenters “that was, the time now is, coming up next”.

Anyone who has caught Rob Brydon shows on Radio2 last year, will no doubt agree they sounded fresh & bright, not technically brilliant, yes its had it failures with personalities as well Devina McCall springs to mind here.National stations need to pick the best out of local DJ's, they just make them like they used too!

Yes i would love to hear Jam back on Radio2, because i never heard it in real time – so would be nice, to be honest not sure whether Wise Buddah or Music4 could do a full custom package that i would like for the station I !heart .

Commercial Radio has only its self to blame, for its poor state of health, it needs to gain a personality, a fun sound, look into the Guinness Book Of Hit Singles for its playlists.

Now I have only listened to Heart in the Evening (via the net), which i do enjoy the Club Classic show, due to its music content – definately not the jocks. However the ever growing Heart – this may be a good idea to get a good syndicated show to cover a bigger area of the UK, then entising bigger names & money to the station, then you get real competition against the public funded BBC Nationals.

[rsimpkins]

IMHO –

It's easy to knock any radio station that you don't like for one reason or another – however you just have to look at the audience figures. More people listen to Radio 2 than any other radio station. That has to be its own testimonial, really.

The commercial stations are, on the whole, floundering because radio groups decided to put business people in charge or radio rather than radio people. These “suits” have now pretty much filtered up to the top and don't know any better because they don't “get” what radio is, and don't have instincts to trust, instead believing what a focus group chooses to tell them. And focus groups are exactly the last people whose opinion you want to listen to. The end result is falling profits, leading to the cheapening of the output, leading to falling listening figures, leading to falling profits etc.

I remember the days when a station manager and programme controller would sit in the office and decide how the station would sound, the producers would get involved with the music selection and the presenters found new and exciting ways to build an audience for their programmes. Radio 2 still does this, which is why it works. Many of the networked and automated commercial stations don't, which is why they don't work. Who makes the jingles is really not an issue.

One of the 19 year old kids at work was slagging Radio 2 off the other day, saying that he thought it was slow and dull – but as I said to him firstly it's not aimed at him, secondly he has a choice. If he doesn't like it, tune into something he does like. That's what the rest of the country does, and the rest of the country prefers Radio 2 by a bit of a landslide.

I will be interested to see what Bob Shennan does at Radio 2 – he is a radio person, I worked with him at a radio station 26 years ago, and I think he will do good things with the station, even if they are a little unpopular to start with.

It would be nice to hear a new and exciting jingle package too – and I don't care if it's made in China or Siberia as long as it's good!

[Adam Lewis]

Hi All

As far as Im concerned Radio 2 is still as good as it's always been. I think Dame Douglas made some good changes, and not so good changes, and it will be interesting to see what the new controller does. Im am so pleased Bannister didn't get the job.

Overall the great mix of music and different styles is what makes me listen to Radio 2.

I dont want to see the Davina McCalls of this world inflitrate Radio 2. She would fit in at radio 1 but not Radio 2. We have enough presenters such as Dermot O'Really, Chris Evans and Jonathan Ross to keep the younger spectrum of the audience happy.

There IMO needs to be more Richard Allinson. For me he is a good mix of your typical high brow, quality radio presenter, not too laddish but has enough ” cool” to keep younger audience of Radio interested.

Esstablished stars like Bruce, Wogan, Wright (love him or hate him) have the clout to attract a vast age range audience during the Prime Time Shows.

Alex Lester is another fantastic presenter who I would have like to have seen at Drivetime instead of Evans.

But that's just me. At the end of the day we all have different opinions about Radio 2, and you can't please all of the people all of the time. But I think overall the BBC has done very well at pleasing most people, most of the time.

Frankly if 'it aint broke don't try and fix it', keep the formula pretty much as is.

Some established jocks such as Bates and Gary Davies would be great at the weekend too. I don't like to see Tv presenters being brought in all the while, lets keep the airwaves the main preserve of seasoned, good quality jocks!

[LenGroat]

Whilst I feel it's good that this thread has entered the realm of discussing HOW Radio 2 is run, and WHO broadcasts on it, the CORE of the topic HAS to return to the matter of the JINGLES, as this IS JingleMad.com !

The FACT is that the current jingle package is AGED, and the station IS a series of disconnected personalities and styles. That formula simply means that everyone likes SOME of the presenters. BUT presenters HAVE to play station jingles, and a national station deserves the BEST ~ the current package is musically and vocally dull, unimaginative, and worn out due to its age. To use the trendy terminology of this thread, the current jingle package is not just 'broke' it is dead.

I'm sure JM'ers have their thoughts as to WHAT KIND of package the station needs, and WHICH company would be the BEST to make the new ones ~ be it a British or American company.

So, please let's hear WHICH company YOU think would do it best, and WHAT kind of jingles you'd like to hear !

ps. I agree that Simon Bates would be PERFECT for Radio 2 ~ he is 'classy' THAT voice is MAGIC, and is necessary to balance the 'yob culture/lad voices' that have permeated the station under the last controller.

[mbMember]

For overall sound I'll always go to TM or JAM.

I'd love the challenge to be given to either to create a bright, modern package suitable for Radio 2.

[IainJohnstonMember]

Why just American or British? Doesn't mean other countries' producers can't sing well in English!

As I've suggested before, the sort of stylish MOR custom packages by Freeway of Paris for
NRJ's Cherie FM would sound good on Radio Two – deep layers of high-quality vocals and
contemporary yet not “machine-made” music tracks, and even the 4-note logo would fit
perfectly.

(And not a “Seattle-Screech” or over-done digital FX in sight! and Freeway sing far more in
English than in French for French stations…)

[IainJohnstonMember]

(…and maybe the audio will appear this time…?!?)

http://jinglemad.com/e107_files/public/1233177928_75_FT68736_freeway-demo-bestofcheriefm.mp3 filename:freeway-demo-bestofcheriefm.mp3

[RobinBlamires]

Honestly, Simon Bates would take the station back to 1985 which Steve Wright has covered.
He's doing OK at Classic FM as it is.

With regards to jingles, maybe a frehshen up is needed with the jocks being forced into using them more productively.

[IainJohnstonMember]

“…with the jocks being forced into using them more productively…”

Hope we're not going to get like Digital Spy discussing Sarah Kennedy (who is reputed to
have never actually used her cut in the 10 years since it was produced!). But you're right!

However, some (but not all) R2 presenters do actually seem to know what to do with them
– e.g. recently heard Ken Bruce play a jingle between his patter and a record – that never
seems to happen any more on commercial stations, not even between live pieces such as
weather/traffic then music – just d*mned sweepers (with sponsor/ads in them) if anything.

Other R2 people think playing 1 cut per hour, and only the same 1 cut, at the same
time every day with nothing else at all is OK (a certain M. Radcliffe comes to mind).

Ironically, there was a short program “segment” many years ago, actually on Radio Two(?) where
someone explained to the “rookie” interviewer “DJ” how to play jingles (e.g. matching tempo /
style with the record to follow it), how to pre-time a voiced intro so as to not “crash” the vocals, etc.
Perhaps “BBC Radio Grafton” needs to be resurrected and such training made compulsory even
for some of the “big names”!

[Adam Lewis]

I think R2's jingles are, on the whole, very good. Yes some do need updating and I personally think JAM should be employed to work their magic.

I like Steve Wright's use of jingles. I know many would disagree, and would perhaps argue he uses too many jingles simply to fill time (and perhaps they would be right)

But I enjoy good quality “power” jingles; jingles taking you through from one part of the show to the next, maintaining the rhythmn or energy of the previous song, section or feature.

I like power intros too, recently Steve Wright (promise Im not biased but he does seem to know how to use them) who played a powerful jingle leading into a wonderful Pet Shop Boys classic – it just seemed so right and really set the scene for the song.

And thats how i think personally jingles should be used; they steer you seemlessly between songs, banter and features, they maintain momentum, give you that “feel good ” feeling.

They sometimes help to build up an event, feature or song, or make you feel you are part of something big and something comfy and familiar.

I still love the R2 top of the hour news jingle. To me it encapsulates all that is good about R2. Some things just dont need to be changed. I like established brand identity and continuity; some “heritage” as it were. Something reminding you that youre at home on the most listened radio station in the Uk, and that while musical tastes and styles may change, core values are retained and you are still listening to quality radio.

For me jingles are a huge part of radio and tv. Long may they continue. Sorry folks rant over!

[Barras]

On the subject of jingles for Radio Two, I`m a man of few words – just one word……….JAM.

Barras

P.S. – just as a co-incidental comment here – I think TALKSPORT are in desperate need of an image change (TALKSPORT have used Steve Hartley liners for the last several years) – I think JAM jingles would work on Talksport also….

[Author]

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