Local Radio????

[Craig Strongman 13]

So, a year or so back, Saga became Smooth, with a line up of local talent, mainly all having been on Trent at one timeor another.

The changes start, and we get Londons output between 10 and 1 with Mark Goodier.

Then other changes happen, (not necessarily in this order) we get Tony Blackburn doing weekend breakfast from London, we get the evening slot 8 till 12 from the North East, we get over nights, certainly not from Nottingham.

Kev Roberts gets outed to make way for Andy Peebles, whos first show sounded like he'd did it whilst drunk and losing his voice, and soon there will be more networked shows from London at the weekend, meaning another "original" voice from our area, Jeff Cooper gets the elbow.

My old colleague, John Peters, the man whos voice was the first to be heard on the original Trent in 1975, and later on Gem, and indeed Saga at breakfast, gets slowly put onto the back burner, firstly on overnights a number of times per week, and a couple of weekend shows, gets to do one show a week eventually.

Yes, most of the names are well known to us, as they have at one time been on Radio 1 or 2, but what is local about shows coming from more than a hundred miles away?

Remember the earthquake we had a few months ago? No ILR stations were manned at the time, and were not able to answer the numerous calls made to them for information.

Back when the jet hit the M1 near the airport, I got a call from a listener saying how plane had screamed past her bedroom, within moments Id alerted our news team, who were the first on the scene, how can that happen now? It cant.

Local radio? I dont think so.

[.... 23]

I think all that is fair criticism, Craig. I'm not particularly a listener to local radio these days but if I did tune in I'd want local broadcasters and local issues, events and personalities to be the order of the day.

What do you see as the future for local radio? Optimistic or not?

[zab 47]

If I'm after local information I tend to go to Radio Nottingham but even part of that, I think, is syndicated.

[Craig Strongman 13]

I think all that is fair criticism, Craig. I'm not particularly a listener to local radio these days but if I did tune in I'd want local broadcasters and local issues, events and personalities to be the order of the day.

What do you see as the future for local radio? Optimistic or not?

Optimistic Stu? No!

It seems that it will be only the small "satellite" stations that will be local, unfortunately they cannot pay what the larger ones pay, so will only be manned by enthusiastic amateurs, who, with respect and a few exceptions couldnt get into radio in any other way, and im afraid it shows.

The large groups are rum by accountants, not by "radio" people, and their tightening of the belt just keeps on happening, why have 5 dj's when they need only pay for one, and network him/her?

[Beefsteak 305]

Sorry to say this, but I stopped listening to local radio "Trent" in particular ,in the late 80's when I went 'long distance' lorry driving and therefore would constantly need to retune the radio , (no such thing as auto tune in those days) I also got fed up with the constant barage of adverts (Pick and Pay, get your jeans down at Machins, and of course Barry Nobles Astoria,) They probably paid your wages Craig I know, but to me they started to get on my wick.

[rob237 89]

...Back when the jet hit the M1 near the airport, I got a call from a listener saying how plane had screamed past her bedroom, within moments Id alerted our news team, who were the first on the scene, how can that happen now? It cant.

Local radio? I dont think so.

Better than the Central TV news team...In their excitement at getting an East Midlands disaster at last...after waiting eagerly for decades...they immediately zoomed off = to Keyworth!

Cheers

Robt P.

[mick2me 3,033]

It Could be Worse!

[ube 38]

Quote... It seems that it will be only the small "satellite" stations that will be local, unfortunately they cannot pay what the larger ones pay, so will only be manned by enthusiastic amateurs, who, with respect and a few exceptions couldnt get into radio in any other way, and im afraid it shows.......never heard radio trent described in this way before .......but eh up ya gorrit spot on......

[pemberton 15]

I was an avid listener to 'SAGA' when it was run by local people for local people, (particulary Ron Coles, played the 50's and 60's music). Then came Smooth radio and like everyone is saying it all went downhill from there, I now listen to BBC Radio Nottingfham and have noticed that the midday Sunday programme is hosted by David Lloyd, an ex SAGA man, so even the presenters are moving!

[Craig Strongman 13]

Funny reply Ube! Ill try to address the comments from everyone in this post, Zab, yep, Rad Nottm does have its share of networking, from Brum mainly.

As for Lloydie being there too, so is Paul Robey, ex Trent/Gem/Saga/Smooth, Brian Tansley has been there ages, and, I bet you that before long a very well known local name goes there too!

Re the ads on Trent, didnt you think that the Get your Jeans Down At Machins was just so good???!!!!Mind you, as it was me doing the "voicer" for it, I would say that!! Joking aside, I completely take your point.

[Bip 88]

I listen to no local radio stations have no intrest in what they put out.

My radio which is on all day is tuned to radio two, I find there programs and presenters very stimulating/funny and thought provoking especially Chris Evens spot between five and seven...[ Drive Time ]

Bip.

[Beefsteak 305]

It's not just me who enjoys Chris Evans then !!

Now , it could be worse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both of these irritating gits

[Frank 13]

Can't stand Chris Evans, Radio 1, or that lippy git Johnathan Woss.

The day they paid them to be on radio 2 was the start of the slippery downward slope for R2. Come back Simon Bates and his morning show.

I'm altering the bathroom at the moment and had the radio on quite late on Smoothe the other Saturday night. As I'm usually getting ready to go out for a few, it made a change to listen to the radio on a Saturday night. I wasn't dissapointed when Kev somebody came on with his Northern Soul show at 6pm. Great show, you ought to give it a blast. It was just as good this week but I didn't hear it all as our taxi came at 6.30.

Now, if only they could get rid of all the adverts through the day. Have you noticed how they play less adverts at night?

[Pete C 2]

I used to listen to Trent when it first started..1976 I think..enjoyed Jon Peters show..and Kid Jensen's..also Chris The Mouth Ashley...now you get those prats Jo & Twiggy..absolute garbage..sorry Craig hope they are not friends of yours..but they really are...only local radio I listen to now is Radio Nottingham's football coverage when Forest are playing and that's it...a local radio station should be just that LOCAL or what's the point.

As I've said before Craig I prefer Radio Caroline on the internet..I bought a pair of wireless speakers and have them in the kitchen..or take them wherever I want..upstairs..in the shed..ok some of their shows are pre recorded and downloaded to the studio but most of it is live.. I send a quick email to the studio and say any chance of something by The Who and they'll play a track for you..there's no playlist the jocks have a free hand..on the net you can listen to stations from all over the world so you are bound to find some you like..another one I listen to is The Oldies Project..on Sunday mornings they play The Radio London Fab Forty from 40 odd years ago.

I know all that has not got much to do with local radio except to say that local radio is so bad I have to look elsewhere..by the way Craig what ever happened to VIP Radio..heard some of that when it first started and then it was gone...thought it was pretty good.

I bought one of those DAB radios a couple of years ago..total waste of money..reception was rubbish...it's stuck at the back of my shed but when I get round to it it's going in the wheely bin!

pete c....still riding a vespa

[mick2me 3,033]

Try a Soundbridge Internet Radio

Streams from your wireless router...

http://www.roku.com/buyroku_onlinecatalog.php

[Craig Strongman 13]

Can't stand Chris Evans, Radio 1, or that lippy git Johnathan Woss.

The day they paid them to be on radio 2 was the start of the slippery downward slope for R2. Come back Simon Bates and his morning show.

I'm altering the bathroom at the moment and had the radio on quite late on Smoothe the other Saturday night. As I'm usually getting ready to go out for a few, it made a change to listen to the radio on a Saturday night. I wasn't dissapointed when Kev somebody came on with his Northern Soul show at 6pm. Great show, you ought to give it a blast. It was just as good this week but I didn't hear it all as our taxi came at 6.30.

Now, if only they could get rid of all the adverts through the day. Have you noticed how they play less adverts at night?

Less ads are played at night because the advertisers are well aware that there are less people listening.

As for my chum Kev (Roberts) whose show you liked, didnt you read the first post in this thread? hes gone, got the elbow in favour of former rad1 and 2 geezer, Andy Peebles, whos show is networked from the North West.

Incidentally, it was me who actually first put Kev on radio, back in 1980, on my show on Trent, and he would bring in/send 4 records that were big at Wigan Casino, and I called it, "4 from The Casino".

(what else could it have been called!!)

Oh, Pete, yes they are mates of mine, in fact Twiggy used to be my "warm up" boy back in my Trent/Ram days! But dont worry, everyone is entitled to their own opinion!

Re VIP radio, yes, it was good, unfortunately, a year ago last December, when it was on, Kev, yes the same one mentioned above, was in Florida, when he had a heart attack, and one of the projects he let go of was VIP

[Frank 13]

As for my chum Kev (Roberts) whose show you liked, didnt you read the first post in this thread? hes gone

Yes, I read the thread but didn't realiase that Kev Roberts was the jock on Saturday Northern Soul. great prog by the way.

If he's gone, does that mean I'm listening to recordings (DOH!) - great all the same.

I must admit though that I thought Jon Peters seemed to be on at all sorts of funny times, early mornings, late nights, etc - no definite 'slot' so to speak.

[Craig Strongman 13]

Funny thing is, if it was the 7th you listened to Kev, yes it was a recording, but now, as I said, its Andy Peebles, being beamed down from the north west, so no local gig guides or whats where etc.

Re JP, in my humble opinion, they have pissed around the best presenter they have. Gary Burton who is also a mate was put on the brekky show, and John got shunted around, doing amongst other things over nights, which were obviously recorded, he is only now on Saturday afternoon, and temporarily on Sunday too.

When a similar thing happened to me when I was on Century, id very often go in and record the whole weeks shows in one go, and be in bed when they were put out! (Trade secrets, so dont tell anyone!)

[Craig Strongman 13]

Just looked at Smooths Saturday line up, 2 local shows in 24 hours.........

[Frank 13]

Just listening to Andy Peebles Soul Train.

Not as good as Kev's.

[dez 0]

just tuned in for the 70's sunday show not on, has jeff cooper got the boot. also what's the point of london news in the east midland's I KID you not.

[Charlie 11]

So, a year or so back, Saga became Smooth, with a line up of local talent, mainly all having been on Trent at one timeor another.

The changes start, and we get Londons output between 10 and 1 with Mark Goodier.

Then other changes happen, (not necessarily in this order) we get Tony Blackburn doing weekend breakfast from London, we get the evening slot 8 till 12 from the North East, we get over nights, certainly not from Nottingham.

Kev Roberts gets outed to make way for Andy Peebles, whos first show sounded like he'd did it whilst drunk and losing his voice, and soon there will be more networked shows from London at the weekend, meaning another "original" voice from our area, Jeff Cooper gets the elbow.

My old colleague, John Peters, the man whos voice was the first to be heard on the original Trent in 1975, and later on Gem, and indeed Saga at breakfast, gets slowly put onto the back burner, firstly on overnights a number of times per week, and a couple of weekend shows, gets to do one show a week eventually.

Yes, most of the names are well known to us, as they have at one time been on Radio 1 or 2, but what is local about shows coming from more than a hundred miles away?

Remember the earthquake we had a few months ago? No ILR stations were manned at the time, and were not able to answer the numerous calls made to them for information.

Back when the jet hit the M1 near the airport, I got a call from a listener saying how plane had screamed past her bedroom, within moments Id alerted our news team, who were the first on the scene, how can that happen now? It cant.

Local radio? I dont think so.

The thing is Craig, it's money men who run businesses - including radios and lots of popular DJs have sold out for the money too - so in the end it's a money thing!

I've never heard you on the radio - but reading stuff you've written I imagine it would be a good show. Same with Kev Roberts - his compilations make me think the same thing. so, keep doing your thing when and where you can.

I do like the radio stoke soul show on a Friday night and I think that is local - but maybe not. Speaking of which, how come Stu Morris hasn't signed up to this site yet? And, speaking of Stu Morris - I know you knopw Bob Lord, but do you know where he is these days?

[denshaw 2,872]

I've just been listening to Smooth Radio. Tony smarmy Blackburn was presenting, there were quite a few problems with sound quality and volume. The station went blank for a few minuets while the news was supposed to be broadcast and then played an advert and a track at the same time. The whole set up seemed to be very amateurish. Is this Tony's fault or the engineers? maybe Craig could answer this.

Den.

[radfordred 6,284]

Its not local Shaun Keaveny breakfast show on BBC 6 music plays some cracking stuff & good guests , just listening to Tuesday 8 July's show

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/shaun_keaveny/

track listing

Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored (07:01)

The Last Shadow Puppets - Standing Next To Me (07:04)

Css - Left Behind (07:09)

Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down (07:15)

Cast - Finetime (07:19)

Those Dancing Days - Run Run (07:25)

Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down (07:34)

The Verve - Love Is Noise (07:39)

Morcheeba - World Looking In (07:46)

Michael Jackson - Beat It (07:56)

The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way (08:00)

Mgmt - Electric Feel (08:02)

R.E.M. - The One I Love (08:06)

Placebo - Pure Morning (08:17)

Joe Jackson - It's Different For Girls (08:24)

The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way (08:27)

The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go (08:34)

Gorillaz - 19-2000 (08:37)

The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way (08:42)

The Cast Of Oliver - Food Glorious Food (08:45)

Dr. Dog - The Rabbit, The Bat, And The Reindeer (08:47)

Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors (08:49)

Royksopp - Remind Me (08:56)

Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (09:01)

Dirty Pretty Things - Bang Bang You're Dead (09:05)

Junior Murvin - Police And Thieves (09:23)

Maximo Park - Apply Some Pressure (09:34)

Television - Venus (09:44)

Yazoo - Don't Go (09:48)

Housemartins - The Mighty Ship (09:54)

[Beefsteak 305]

Love the Junior Murvin......Police and Thieves track. The flip side is great too