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Future of the Chart Show?, where next?

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Chartfridays View member profile	5th March 2022, 12:44 PM Post #1
BuzzJack Enthusiast Joined: 20 August 2021 Posts: 1,368 User: 135,527	Anyone else starting to get a bit concerned that the changes made to the chart show over the past few years are going to stick - but also that the presenting pool for replacing Scott is becoming increasingly poor. I grew up with the chart show playing the Top 40 in full - to me this was always a pretty big deal with the show and the way it should. Yes some of the songs are utter crap but they're clearly popular so they should be played - the 3 hour version of the show has always been the way it should be to me. The 1 hr 45 version is a lackluster replacement and while Scott's presenting stint has improved things a lot since Greg's it's still a halfhearted way of treating a great institution. Obviously international release co-ordination makes returning to the charts natural Sunday night home - when more people are likely to be able to listen to it - but surely it could be done more justice on a Friday night - I appreciate moving it later also causes a few issues with people being out and about, and moving it to Saturday afternoon would be the best bet - but obviously with it being published on Friday that would require negotiation with OCC to not publish / be open to guessing the No 1 off spotify. 4pm - 7pm would surely be okay, with a break at the 20 mark to allow Newsbeat to be played (and account for generally shorter songs these days). It would give more time for interviews and features with the artists featured in the chart and perhaps could even give time to give the album chart more prominence. It would also still allow dance anthems etc to start early-ish in the evening. Lastly, Scott's been presenting for nearly 4 years now - whilst I'd hope he'd do it for another 4 as he's one of the best modern chart show hosts - it's obvious that at some point producers will want to replace him. His increasing prominence as a Radio 2 spare-hand also suggests to me that he's been gently prepared for a move over to R2 at some point, hopefully they'd leave him on the chart show if that happened - but if Radio 1 starts getting it's jizz on over youth appeal again, it might not like the optics of the chart being presented by a R2 Presenter. The pool of potential replacements is bad - Greg James has been tried and didn't do that good a job of, Jordan North is far too bombastic for the show, Vic and Katie are dreadful when they do cover (missing numbers, asking audience stuff that has nout to do with the chart). Some of the perhaps obvious contenders have left R1 - such as Grimmy. Jack Saunders is probably the most promising DJ on R1 at the minute - but that's mainly for his playlisting skill so the chart might be an odd fit for him. I honestly find it quite hard to see who the next chart show host would be, without them being truly dreadful - co-hosting has never worked (I remember Reggie and Fearn and JK and Joel).


JosephBoone View member profile	5th March 2022, 01:00 PM Post #2
you never forget your first time... Pronouns: he/him Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,685 User: 13,530	There's really no point in a 3 hour chart show these days. Firstly, with songs decreasing in average length, there probably isn't enough music for a 3 hour show these days, but also, the chart's much slower than it was when it was on Sunday. We don't need to hear the same songs every week for 5 months on end as they refuse to leave the top 40 and I think this would actually end up being less appealing to people, who would rather not spend 3 hours every week listening to almost the exact same songs. The current format allows for at least a little variety in what gets played, even if the choices sometimes aren't perfect. I don't see Radio 1 changing their schedule to remove the Dance Party show at 6pm (which runs until 8) which gets people hyped up for the weekend and is part of their night of dance content... just to be able to guarantee a Heat Waves play every week. (and re. the album chart, it got the exact same treatment when the chart was 4-7pm as it does now, I doubt that would change if they were to lengthen it again) The only real benefit I see to moving the chart back to Sunday is to allow a more accurate chart to be published, with the missing streaming data collected. However, 9 times out of 10 this is unlikely to make any real effect and I expect the OCC know this, hence why they've not made any effort to change things with Spotify, Apple and YouTube regularly being a day behind in reporting their figures. For Radio 1, they're obviously keen to keep the chart around or they could've binned it off when it moved from Sunday. I don't think there's any actual issue with the Friday show - drivetime means there'll always be some level of audience engagement and in 2020, it was crowned the biggest chart show on UK radio, ahead of the more publicised and hyped up Big Top 40 which airs in the famous 4-7pm chart slot. I doubt it's even a tiny concern for Radio 1 at this point! As for the presenters, I'm sure Scott's got the role long term. I'm sure for the last decade people have been anticipating a permanent move to Radio 2 for him and he's still there at R1 with both the chart and his regular weekday show! Even if he did move to R2 for a regular show, there's no reason he couldn't stay and do the Friday chart on R1 I'm sure. Therefore, there's not really any need to consider a replacement, but I'd expect most other Radio 1 DJs would be focused primarily on making it an interesting listen (like Vick and Katie do) without necessarily having a direct interest in the chart, much like Greg James and Jameela Jamil were beforehand. Personally I think Vick and Katie are entertaining and do a great job with First Look (and let's not pretend Scott hasn't missed positions before too) but I see Scott leaving the chart as being quite a long way off.


RabbitFurCoat View member profile	5th March 2022, 01:18 PM Post #3
IncredibleSquirrel Joined: 8 March 2006 Posts: 25,840 User: 118	QUOTE(The Kid JOSEPH @ Mar 5 2022, 01:00 PM) There's really no point in a 3 hour chart show these days. Firstly, with songs decreasing in average length, there probably isn't enough music for a 3 hour show these days On this point today's Spotify top 50 is only 2 hours 38 mins, the weekly chart is the same length and the global chart is 2:46. The song list isn't exactly the same as it's only one platform and doesn't take into account ACR but it's not going to be that different. I don't listen to the chart these days because I've 0 interest in almost all of the music in it but it definitely doesn't need to be more than 1:45.


DJ Cheeky Magpie View member profile	5th March 2022, 01:22 PM Post #4
Pineapple 🍍 Joined: 9 June 2017 Posts: 6,522 User: 33,062	Sunday update to me get pointless as miss lot streaming date only got look different between Sunday and Monday update. Plus annoying Katie and vick. Official chart does get boring good songs out don’t make it get stuck song like heat waves block chart. I take radio 1 party anthem of 3pm to 3.30pm big new week realise 3.30pm newsbeat 3.34 to 4pm top 20 album play track of album help out 4pm to 5.45pm top 50 singles chart lot new music 50 to 41 bit This post has been edited by Dj Cheeky Magpie: 5th March 2022, 01:28 PM


JosephBoone View member profile	5th March 2022, 01:26 PM Post #5
you never forget your first time... Pronouns: he/him Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,685 User: 13,530	QUOTE(Dj Cheeky Magpie @ Mar 5 2022, 01:22 PM) Sunday update to me get pointless as miss lot streaming date only got look different between Sunday and Monday update. Plus annoying Katie and vick Sunday's only meant to be a snapshot anyway, it's an indicator of how things could look and a chance for them to play potential new entries. As long as you bear in mind that things are likely to change (particularly as far as frontloaded and ACR songs go), the Sunday update is a helpful indicator!


DJ Cheeky Magpie View member profile	5th March 2022, 01:29 PM Post #6
Pineapple 🍍 Joined: 9 June 2017 Posts: 6,522 User: 33,062	Add bit post Joseph


Chez Wombat View member profile	5th March 2022, 01:48 PM Post #7
The owls are not what they seem Pronouns: He/him Joined: 11 July 2009 Posts: 37,124 User: 9,232	Have to agree a three-hour show wouldn't work these days, the chart's too slow with streaming and there isn't enough general interest in it outside of the brief interest in the Christmas number 1 race given music is so accessible these days that not everyone would be listening to the same thing (and indeed, a lot of acclaimed, award-winning music doesn't make the top 40). Plus, there's no way you can explain ACR to most casual radio listeners without them getting confused (especially Radio 1's intended audience). A brief snapshot like this I think is for the best for most, especially when the number 1 turnover is so slow, there's not exactly lots of suspense.


chartjack2 View member profile	5th March 2022, 03:40 PM Post #8
BuzzJack Enthusiast Joined: 19 November 2014 Posts: 1,410 User: 21,383	Scott seems genuinely interested in the charts tbh, so I don’t see any reason why he would want to move on (even if he presented other shows on Radio 2 more regularly). I mean, there may be an argument for the chart show to be moved to Radio 2 in the long term - it might get more listeners for one thing - but that’s just me.


Chartfridays View member profile	5th March 2022, 04:02 PM Post #9
BuzzJack Enthusiast Joined: 20 August 2021 Posts: 1,368 User: 135,527	QUOTE(chartjack2 @ Mar 5 2022, 03:40 PM) Scott seems genuinely interested in the charts tbh, so I don’t see any reason why he would want to move on (even if he presented other shows on Radio 2 more regularly). I mean, there may be an argument for the chart show to be moved to Radio 2 in the long term - it might get more listeners for one thing - but that’s just me. Oh yeah I'm sure Radio 2's core audience would be over the moon to hear Pushin P and Come & Go. I think optically moving the chart show to Radio 2 would be a very bad move, signalling it as a bit irrelevant to modern pop music - which yes it is but admitting that could damage the OCC brand. I'd imagine there's a commitment to it being on R1.


JosephBoone View member profile	5th March 2022, 04:10 PM Post #10
you never forget your first time... Pronouns: he/him Joined: 19 April 2011 Posts: 121,685 User: 13,530	Yeah I don't see the chart going to Radio 2 when the music in the chart is skewed mainly to younger demographics, which is exactly the audience R1 is meant to be targeting!


Smint View member profile	5th March 2022, 04:13 PM Post #11
BuzzJack Gold Member Joined: 21 February 2021 Posts: 3,554 User: 124,514	I remember the days when UK top 40 was played in full and seemed to consist of 'All of Me' and 'Stay with Me' moving one place each week for months on end. An utter snoozefest despite Jameela's best efforts to liven things up.


danG View member profile	5th March 2022, 04:16 PM Post #12
🔥🚀🔥 Joined: 30 August 2010 Posts: 74,565 User: 11,746	not that I bother with listening to the chart show anymore but they really ought to use the positions outside the top 40 for some more variety given the very slow turnover in the upper end. ie use the first half hour for new entries and climbers that haven’t yet reached the top 40.


Steve201 View member profile	5th March 2022, 04:17 PM Post #13
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,151 User: 5,138	Wasn’t Mark Goodier only doing his chart show by 2002? I wouldn’t mind the top 40 being played in full even if it is slow these days, it is what it is. Problem with R1 chart shows on Friday/Saturdays are that they are dictated by the time of week so they have to entertain and play dance music. That’s why Sunday for me suits better!


DJ Cheeky Magpie View member profile	5th March 2022, 04:32 PM Post #14
Pineapple 🍍 Joined: 9 June 2017 Posts: 6,522 User: 33,062	And Sunday is last day not Friday of week This post has been edited by Dj Cheeky Magpie: 5th March 2022, 04:32 PM


AcerBen View member profile	5th March 2022, 05:13 PM Post #15
BuzzJack Gold Member Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 3,628 User: 3,429	QUOTE(Steve201 @ Mar 5 2022, 05:17 PM) Wasn’t Mark Goodier only doing his chart show by 2002? I wouldn’t mind the top 40 being played in full even if it is slow these days, it is what it is. Problem with R1 chart shows on Friday/Saturdays are that they are dictated by the time of week so they have to entertain and play dance music. That’s why Sunday for me suits better! And Mark was about 6 years younger than Scott is now! I'd be happy for Scott to continue doing the chart show, but he'd probably be best off making a clean break. I don't see him as ready for Radio 2 yet either. He's in an awkward position I think. Maybe there's a gig for him on commercial radio.


Steve201 View member profile	5th March 2022, 05:28 PM Post #16
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,151 User: 5,138	Would hate BBC to lose a great Dj like Scott to commercial radio, although not all former R1 DJs just cleanly made the move to R2 so it happens even Simon Mayo, Mark Goodier and Peter Powell did!


kingofskiffle View member profile	5th March 2022, 06:54 PM Post #17
BuzzJack Regular Joined: 29 June 2007 Posts: 222 User: 3,777	The full chart is a Top 100, in terms of this one with the ACR and SCR rules. Why not change R1 show to be the Top 100, and you play the NEW and RE, biggest climber, one of the top 3 longest runners (rotates each week for variety), the climbers of more than 5 places and the Top 10 full. That's about 30-40 songs per week and so you can do a full 3 hours show. Moving to the Top 100 gives a larger base to draw from to reduce repetition (whether you agree with Top 10 in full or other elements of the above at all).


DJ Cheeky Magpie View member profile	5th March 2022, 08:11 PM Post #18
Pineapple 🍍 Joined: 9 June 2017 Posts: 6,522 User: 33,062	When was year that went wired Sunday chart did not play singles chart 1 hour 15 min into chart wired remix thing at start then 4.30 had album chart that when chart was worst This post has been edited by Dj Cheeky Magpie: 5th March 2022, 08:12 PM


JulianT View member profile	5th March 2022, 08:20 PM Post #19
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 20 April 2009 Posts: 8,539 User: 8,705	I’m actually amazed the chart show is still going - it’s never been quite the same since 2003 when Marc Goodier left, but somehow it’s survived another 2 decades. It’s fun listening to a show from 20 years ago but it’s a very different sort of programme - purely factual, with no chit chat and no opinions on any of the songs. You couldn’t really imagine a radio show operating in that way now.


slowdown73 View member profile	6th March 2022, 02:18 AM Post #20
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 August 2006 Posts: 8,209 User: 1,031	I don’t listen to the T40 anymore. When I was younger, the charts were exciting and I always tuned in on a Sunday at 4pm. However, since getting older I’ve become less interested as the quality of music isn’t the same and the songs hang around much longer due to streaming, sometimes leaving little movement for weeks on end. I’m not sure what the future of the chart shows will be. It’s success will depend largely on listening numbers I guess but maybe they need to change the format too. Due to less movement in chart positions now, running a full T40 every week isn’t necessary!