richbrown wrote:Hi Aled,
I have a question about the Radio 1 Playlist. Why is it that, the license payers don't get any input into what goes on the playlist? There have been loads of times when a really popular song has missed out on the Playlists for whatever reason, and then others when an absolutely abysmal song has been selected and gets slated, not just by the listeners but by the DJs.
I'm sure a lot of work goes into the process, but I'm surprised that we don't get any input at all, especially when it's the majority of the music played on Radio 1 all day.
Thanks. Also, hope you're feeling a lot better,
Rich
Hey Rich
This is a very tricky one - I can't speak for the playlist - there is a Music Team at Radio 1 and a head (George) who should be the people who answer questions on the playlist - and they would frown upon me thinking I have the right to speak on their behalf. I don't.
So these are my thoughts, and I may not be 100% right because I am a radio producer who's opinions are asked for as part of playlist - I don't run it.
There are truly many factors to consider when looking at songs for playlist. Honestly. Some factors include what Radio 1 is there for - to break new music, to champion new British music, to provide an alternative to commercial radio playlists, to play songs that a 15 - 30 audience would be interested in and would want to hear, sometimes to honour a core Radio 1 act when bringing a new project back, sometimes because Radio 1 specialist is championing a song, or band, sometimes because there is great interest from the daytime shows that an artist is played etc.
It's difficult to allow the public to have a greater role in the playlist because no matter what system you look at (and a lot have) there isn't a perfect one. Most come down to a popularity contest (aka the Official Chart) or would be open to abusive by social network driven lobbying by fan bases (again favouring the biggest rather than the new).
If we select a handful then that's no different really to the 10 producers and 4 music team who sit in playlist - at least these guys are paid to try to be as knowledgeable and unbiased as possible.
We use analysis of social networking about artists, YouTube, MySpace hits, we have a panel of listeners that test new, current and recurrent songs and we use text and email feedback directed at the shows.
So we do try our best to be as inclusive of the audience as possible.
Do you have any other ideas on how we could include the audience more?