Good game, and I did get them right! Mix 1 is really well crafted, excellent variety from song to song covering a range distinctive to Radio 2. Mix 2 felt comparatively very samey and unrewarding, and while I’m not a listener, it felt like a station playing this at breakfast would be in decline (sorry Magic). It was harder than I expected to tell the difference between Smooth and GHR - first track in Mix 3 had me very confident it was Smooth, and there’s a beautiful balance of consistency and variety that’s hard to get right - good work! - and it feels like it’s broadened out lately. GHR’s Mix 4 is also very strong on variety, with a bit more eclectic range - could have been R2 except for the lack of new tracks. Let’s play this again next time!
Mix 1. I guessed this was Radio 2. Awful. I mean seriously, George Ezra, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, Morgan Wade! These are all artists better suited to kids parties.
Although their remit is to serve a 35+ audience, It’s clear the direction of the station has been to try and appeal to the bottom end of that demographic more than the upper end. I'm only 50s but cannot resonate with Radio 2 at all these days.
I was reading some BDRC audience research figures which revealed that although Radio 2's core audience is supposed to be everyone over 35 years, 31% of UNDER 35s think it is aimed at their age group! And this is where things are going wrong. The programming and choice of presenters is driving the appeal to a much younger demographic and in terms of pop music, they have abandoned the top end.
Mix 2. Has all the hallmarks of Magic. Bland bland and bland. Not for me.
Mix 3. I guessed Smooth but increasingly it's another station that's widening the music output to things I wouldn't consider Smooth at all.
Mix 4. GHR seems to have things spot on for the demographic Radio 2 abandoned. Loved the examples you played and with younger audiences in decline I do hope BBC Radio 2 are punished for moving the demographic goalposts and GHR carry on piling on new listeners.
In summary, I have no interest in BBC Radio 2 these days. Magic is far too bland. I could be ok with Smooth but GHR wins.
(I think Boom are doing good things too and Boom Lite is wonderful and reminds me of an old BBC Radio 2 show (when they appealed to over 40s) called Sunday Night is Music Night with David Jacobs.
im 18 (out of demographic, however i love a lot of older stuff. SOT60s probabaly my favourite program), personally used to be a fan of radio 2 but their new music playlist is pants. not a fan of the commercial alternatives find them really bland and dull, a bit too mellow for me. GHR sends me to sleep. Personally BBC 6 music is a good alternative if you enjoy a wider variety.
Good game, and I did get them right! Mix 1 is really well crafted, excellent variety from song to song covering a range distinctive to Radio 2. Mix 2 felt comparatively very samey and unrewarding, and while I’m not a listener, it felt like a station playing this at breakfast would be in decline (sorry Magic). It was harder than I expected to tell the difference between Smooth and GHR - first track in Mix 3 had me very confident it was Smooth, and there’s a beautiful balance of consistency and variety that’s hard to get right - good work! - and it feels like it’s broadened out lately. GHR’s Mix 4 is also very strong on variety, with a bit more eclectic range - could have been R2 except for the lack of new tracks. Let’s play this again next time!
Mix 1. I guessed this was Radio 2. Awful. I mean seriously, George Ezra, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, Morgan Wade! These are all artists better suited to kids parties.
Although their remit is to serve a 35+ audience, It’s clear the direction of the station has been to try and appeal to the bottom end of that demographic more than the upper end. I'm only 50s but cannot resonate with Radio 2 at all these days.
I was reading some BDRC audience research figures which revealed that although Radio 2's core audience is supposed to be everyone over 35 years, 31% of UNDER 35s think it is aimed at their age group! And this is where things are going wrong. The programming and choice of presenters is driving the appeal to a much younger demographic and in terms of pop music, they have abandoned the top end.
Mix 2. Has all the hallmarks of Magic. Bland bland and bland. Not for me.
Mix 3. I guessed Smooth but increasingly it's another station that's widening the music output to things I wouldn't consider Smooth at all.
Mix 4. GHR seems to have things spot on for the demographic Radio 2 abandoned. Loved the examples you played and with younger audiences in decline I do hope BBC Radio 2 are punished for moving the demographic goalposts and GHR carry on piling on new listeners.
In summary, I have no interest in BBC Radio 2 these days. Magic is far too bland. I could be ok with Smooth but GHR wins.
(I think Boom are doing good things too and Boom Lite is wonderful and reminds me of an old BBC Radio 2 show (when they appealed to over 40s) called Sunday Night is Music Night with David Jacobs.
im 18 (out of demographic, however i love a lot of older stuff. SOT60s probabaly my favourite program), personally used to be a fan of radio 2 but their new music playlist is pants. not a fan of the commercial alternatives find them really bland and dull, a bit too mellow for me. GHR sends me to sleep. Personally BBC 6 music is a good alternative if you enjoy a wider variety.
BBC local radio is well down year on year. On hours, only three are up over a year, the rest down
The hours at BBC Kent are 40% down y/y and down from the last quarter.