BBC interview

Radio production and distribution research and homework

The Radio 1 Playlist can make or break bands and musicians, it plays a big part in what gets played on one of the world's most influential music radio stations.

Chris Price is head of music for Radio 1 and 1Xtra, he's responsible for all the music across both stations, his main focus is on the playlist. After 7pm Radio 1 goes specialist and the music is picked by the DJs and show teams. The Radio 1 Playlist makes up the majority of the songs that are played before that in the daytime. Most radio stations have a set playlist, however Chris Price says Radio 1's is unique because it introduces brand new artists right alongside established pop acts.

"As a twentysomething new music lover and on-and-off and radio 1 listener since my teens, I fit bang into the station's target demographic, yet I've begun to find its daytime roster of hits increasingly bland and passé."

When picking songs as part of the playlist the team will research and look into the YouTube views, Soundcloud hits, Shazam ratings, Twitter followers and Facebook likes to evaluate the popularity and success. They sometimes feel they need to play certain 'upcoming bands' music as they otherwise feel they are "pulling the carpet from under their feet". However Radio 1 has a lot of power when helping artists break through by giving them the exposure they need.

Artists that the station has been late to play, such as Drake has been " because their songs are not suitable for daytime radio play", although for the younger demographic this he is one of the biggest trends. In the late 2000s the 'BBC Trust' criticised the station for having too old an audience and said it must focus on getting the average age down to under 30. The Trust promised to monitor Radio 1's listening figures among the 15-29-year-old demographic over the coming years. But despite introducing younger presenters, the average age of a Radio 1 listener is still 32. "Today's 30- to 50-year-olds have lived through just about every genre of music that's ever existed, from the most hardcore metal to hip-hop to dance and house."

In order for Radio 1 to know what to play for 15-29 year olds: "We've got a panel of thousands of young people from the age of 12 to 29 in our overall research group, and we pay a research company to test 400 of them every week. We play them the hooks of 25 current songs, most of which we've played over 100 times, and they tell us which they relate to.

From 6am-10am Nick Grimshaws breakfast show includes special guests which are current and up to date swell as the latest charts music and prizes to win. This is aimed at the younger demographic to keep them interested on their way to school or work. From 10am-12am is the 'live lounge' which includes more urban 'rap' music which is shown to be played when younger children are in school grabbing a different audience. 12am-1pm is the newsbeat show aimed at an older audience which is usually around the time they are on lunch break at work. Throughout the day the schedule changes to suit the demographic listening at that moment based around their everyday lifestyle.

Radio 1 presentation

BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show schedule (08.01.18)

Audience:

- Songs include a mix of the top charts but also new music showing that the audience is more youth and younger so that they like the music. BBC Radio 1 breakfast show differentiate from other Radio stations who stick to a set list of songs and play new music from new artists to see if viewers like it and give new artists a chance.
- The chat features mostly contest chat but also relatable topics that feature banter that entertain viewers. The contest is beneficial to viewers.
- The interaction with viewers is a good feature to attract viewers so they can decide what they want to listen to.
- News is inputted every 30 minutes to keep audiences updated when they tune in.

Timings	What happens...
6:30:00	News and weather
6:30:53	Radio 1 Breakfast show Ident
6:31:16	Nick Grimshaw introduction
6:32:00	Sting (Short Jingle)
6:32:20	Song: Tom Walker - Leave a light on
6:34:57	Song: Ellie Golding - On my mind
6:38:11	Nick talking about coming back after holiday
6:38:34	Song: Wolf Alice - Don't delete the kisses
6:42:11	Nick Welcoming viewers and Fiona. Talk about going back to work.
6:43:22	Talking about the new year and the holiday
6:44:14	Nick references the viewers
6:44:46	Song: En Vogue - Don't let go
6:47:05	Sting and charts reference
6:47:39	Song: Jason Derulo - Tiptoe
6:50:34	Talk about Jan slam competition and previous sporty prizes won. Today's prize is Sam Smith tickets
6:53:52	Song: Ramz - Barking
6:56:53	Nick referencing the Jan slam
6:57:27	News - Steve Holden. includes; Travel, sport, weather and entertainment
7:00:32	Sting
7:00:50	Reference to Jan Slam - In an hour the word that needs to be said when answering the winning phone call will be revealed.
7:01:50	Song: Craig David - I know you
7:04:55	Song: Miley Cyrus - Malibu
7:08:42	Song: Duke Dumont & Gorgon city - real life
7:11:43	Talk of holiday, new years revolutions and the previous prizes with a random caller who picks the next song between choices given
7:15:03	Song: Kanye West - Power
7:18:10	Trailer for a film
7:18:59	Song: J Hus - Bouf Daddy
7:22:00	Jan slam referenced again and question that needs to be answered to win prize; What is the name of Sam Smith's number 1?
7:25:44	Song: Disclosure & Sam Smith - Latch
7:27:42	News with Steve Holden
7:31:13	Song: Mabel - My Lover
7:34:18	Song: Arcade fire - Everything now
7:37:43	Nick and shenade talk about Golden Globes Gossip. (Banter).
7:42:50	Song: Fuse ODG - Boa Me
7:45:41	Sting including 2017 highlights
7:46:18	Song: Taylor Swift - Gorgeous
7:48:51	Reference of competition and talk of on flight films including Dunkirk, Happy feet & Joy
7:52:39	Song: Shawn Mendes - Nothing holding me back
7:54:50	News with Steve Holden
7:57:45	Sting, Nick welcoming viewers & lines closed for today's Jan slam. Word = Lonely
7:59:59	Song: Clean Bandit - Miss you
8:03:02	Song: Coldplay - Clocks
8:06:40	Song: Jax Jones - Breathe
8:09:18	Jan slam: Caller answers with correct word & wins prize. Reference to tomorrow's prize
8:13:11	Song: Rihanna & Calvin Harris - This is what you came for
8:16:46	Nick reveals tomorrow's prize; tickets to Katy Perry, Backstage passes & behind the scenes tour. Contest info and question: What is Katy Perry's 2016 No. 1 single called?
8:21:29	Song: Katy Perry - Firework
8:25:10	BBC soundlist advert
8:25:50	Song: HAIM - Nothing's wrong
8:28:20	what is coming up in today's show
8:28:50	News with Steve Holden
8:32:05	Song: James Arthur - Naked
8:35:43	Song: Diplo & Sleepy Tom - Be right there
8:39:20	Nick and Shenade talk about Golden Globe gossip & celeb gossip including Ed sheeran
8:44:46	Song: Sigrid - Strangers
8:48:09	Sting and Radio 1 app advert
8:48:48	Song: RAYE - Decline
8:51:50	Nick talks about the daily mixtape coming up and his tune of the week...
8:54:40	Song: Justin Timberlake - Filthy
8:58:54	Nick talks about this song, sting, talks about this weeks content.
9:01:37	Song: Ed Sheeran & Eminem - River
9:04:29	Song: Avelino - 1 in a million
9:07:42	Song: MK - 17
9:10:40	Talk about tomorrow's Jan slam including the prize, question, contact info, terms and conditions
9:14:25	Song: Paramore - Fake Happy
9:17:34	Song: Dave - No Words
9:21:11	Sting, Talk about mixtape and January. Talk about his previous plans over the weekend; spin class. Also, his relationship with Fiona
9:25:28	Song: NF - Let you down
9:28:43	Talk about viewer comments
9:29:08	News with Steve Holden
9:32:25	Mixtape: Basement Jaxx - Good luck Kelis, feat. Andre 3000 - Millionaire DJ Fresh - Gold Dust Jay Z - Excuse me  miss Aaliyah - Try again Aloe Blacc - I need a dollar Amerie - 1 thing Kanye West - Touch the sky
10:00:00	End

Audience playlist research

Looking at the Radio 1 playlist on the left and the breakfast show playlist on the right, you can see a large difference in the top songs, radio 1 playlist consists of songs in the top 40 charts, therefore they are new and popular songs. Whereas, the breakfast shows playlist has a wider range of songs including new, old and classics to attract a more wider audience. 

I believe the reason the playlists are so different it because they have to attract the audience that listen to each show. The breakfast show has a wider range due to a more varied audience listen to it, having older songs such as the spice girls will be relatable for young adults as they are songs from their childhood. Whereas Radio 1 just mostly plays the charts as it is for the younger audience. 

You can see the link to both these playlists trying to target the largely under 30 audience as they are the people who are most likely to listen to new and popular songs in the charts as it will be a range of music genres. Also, the breakfast show playlist is new songs but also songs which would be around when the audience would be growing up so they would know all the songs. This targets them as people will enjoy the songs and not want to change the radio station.

BBC programmes

Which programmes are most clearly fulfilling their PSB remit?

BBC RADIO :
The remit of Radio 1 is to entertain and engage a broad range of young listeners with a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech.
It should offer a range of new music, support emerging artists: especially those from the UK. As well as provide a platform for live music. News, documentaries and advice campaigns should cover areas of relevance to young adults.

BBC RADIO 2:

The remit of Radio 2 is to be a distinctive mixed music and speech service. It should offer entertaining popular music programmes and speech-based content including news, current affairs, documentaries, religion, arts, comedy, readings and social action output.

BBC RADIO 4:
BBC radio 4 is also fulfilling their SB remit. The remit of Radio 4 is to be a mixed speech service, offering in-depth news and current affairs and a wide range of other speech output including drama, readings, comedy, factual and magazine programmes.
The service should appeal to listeners seeking intelligent programmes in many genres which inform, educate and entertain.
What range of programmes are offered?

Comedy, Drama, Music, Factual, Performances & Events, Documentaries, Readings, news, science & nature, history, arts & culture, politics, leisure                                        

• Paul O'Grady- BBC radio 2
• Radio 1s life hacks- BBC radio 1
• Desert Island Discs- BBC radio 4
• World book club- BBC world service
• The Leisure society- BBC radio 6 music
• Graham Norton- BBC radio 2

Which audiences are being targeted?
BBC radio 1: Target audience is 15-29 year olds and it should also provide some programming for younger teenagers.
BBC radio 1 Xtra: Young target audience (15-24 year olds), particularly - although not exclusively - those from ethnic minorities.
BBC radio 2: targeted at a broad audience, appealing to all age groups over 35
BBC radio 3: The service should appeal to listeners of any age seeking to expand their cultural horizons through engagement with the world of music and the arts.
BBC radio 4: The service should appeal to listeners seeking intelligent programmes in many genres which inform, educate and entertain.
BBC radio 5 live: Appeal to news and sports fans of all ages and from all ethnic backgrounds and areas across the UK.
BBC 6 music: Entertain lovers of popular music with a service that celebrates the alternative spirit in popular music from the 1960s to the present day.

BBC podcast interview

What are the different responsibilities of presenters and producers?

• A team assistant who works outside the studio- one of the most important roles is putting callers forward onto the radio
• The assistant producer also gives them a debrief e.g is the radio off and do they know what they are going to talk about- sound brilliant for the millions of listeners. Also if there is a guest coming on they may need to be briefed (coming on to say)-running equipment
• Don't swear
• Don't talk about certain brands
• Everything runs smoothly
• Producer constantly teaching
• Music team pre-programme all the songs before so they are not be over lapped
• The team can request guests to be in or if they bump into them ask

What preparation goes into each programme?

The day before they tend to know what goes into the next days show, this includes any guests or competitions, the first few hours of the day the look at whats happened and try their best to reflect it in the show this includes scrolling through various social media sites. Not scripted yet a structure to follow in order to be flexible, yet use 'hot foods' as back up. Have 5 things in place to drop throughout the show (talking points) when it fits in best. Within the Whats-app group chat there is always a form of a business meaning including talking about things that have happened and can be spoken about; always thinking and remembering things that can be included. You are always thinking of the radio.

Whats most challenging and most enjoyable about working on the show?

• Messes up the sleeping pattern (being in by 5 am)
• Always need to be fresh and up to date- a big responsibility 
• Enjoy having guests on the show
• Enjoys playing games
• The whole team get on so well it makes work feel even more enjoyable
• You can make it relatable and funny
• Audience makes you happy
• Love making listeners laugh and cheering them up
• Sometimes get difficult guests and have to cut them short
• Doesn't have to be as clean and perfect-flexible

What are the team dynamics like?

• Everyone is very close together in a refined space
• Important you understand each other
• Quite a lot of changing within the team-however always a close enough bond especially with the producer- creates new ideas
• Good vibes within the 'dysfunctional family'
• Belief and trust in each other

How can you break into radio?

• Do free work in local radio stations
• Student radio
• Directly approaching people in the industry- persistent and not afraid to be rejected
• Finding topics you enjoy talking about
• Studying at university helps as it covers such a wide range of topics

BBC radio 1 breakfast show introduction