Radio 1 - 1,395,000

The Big Top 40 - 2,525,000

 

Nothing they try seems to work does it? Amazing to think that 20 years ago 9 million people listened to Bruno Brookes.

If they concentrated on making it a factual historical chart show and just played the records they would get it right - making it a kids show demeans the chart and just trys to outdo the capital networks which do that job better anyway!

Same as everything Radio 1 do. They target a young teenage audience who just aren't there and aren't interested. I won't listen to the chart anymore because I can follow online without having to listen to a poor quality show that hasn't been made for me.

Is that the full figure for the Big Top 40 on all the many stations it's broadcast on? Because if so that's quite poor.

 

Haven't radio listening figures plummeted in general over the last few years also?

Not bad figures considering the radio 1 chart show is broadcast only on radio 1 whereas every station owned by Global plays the big top 40. And I'm pretty sure that most people who listen to the big top 40 are just happen to be listening to capital fm when it's on so I wouldn't say that the big top 40 has more of a cultural impact than the official chart. People who listen to the chart show because it's a chart show go to radio 1, people who don't care and just wanna hear some music in the car will go to capital.

 

Good to see that over a million are still listening to the charts, of course the figures are never gonna be as high as they used to be as the charts aren't talked about outside of internet music forums.

Edited August 1, 201312 yr by Thermometer

I suppose it's still a point that some 4 million, are actually still listening to one chart show or another.

 

Radio will never win again, as (like has been said) it's target is teens to 25s. Big Top 40 is a much better produced show, though a tad messy. They've ditched the Airplay for the iTunes chart of the week, but you won't hear "Black Skinhead", I don't think...but they play all the new entries now, aside that & usually get some 48 songs into the 3 hours. The 6 O'Clock change around is a tad silly, as it contradicts what's been played (even more so, when the numerous versions have been lumped together in the original Top 10 at 4pm & then ignored in the change around).

 

On listening to that it's damn hard to guess, what is actually going to be lumped together in the 40 to 11 to start with, but I gather Album versions will not be lumped into the single version, false stop. As in Blurred Lines & a few others. Though it look's like they did lump all the Now 85 other versions, on to the single versions. It's a confusing programme & no mistake, but I would say slightly more interesting, as you don't really know what is coming up, where as Radio One's Top 40 is easily guessed, based around the Friday Mids. Though Big Top 40 (without the 6 O'Clock change about) is pretty much the same as Radio One's Top 40. The trick is they say "The Most Up To Date Chart In The UK" by the 6pm change around, but it isn't entirely true. Independant Radio's game has always been to try to be ahead of R1, as in the Record Business Top 30 & (later) Network Top 30. Big Top 40 has improved greatly in the last few months & is certainly a nod to the original Network Chart countdowns of the 80s & (indeed) a better show than Radio One.

I suppose it's still a point that some 4 million, are actually still listening to one chart show or another.

 

A lot of the listeners to both chart shows won't be tuning in to specifically hear a chart, it'll just be that they tune into their normal station, and they happen to be playing a chart at the time.

A lot of the listeners to both chart shows won't be tuning in to specifically hear a chart, it'll just be that they tune into their normal station, and they happen to be playing a chart at the time.

Well anyone could say that. Even 30 years ago. I know what you mean,though. Those whose radio dials have become welded to 95.8fm, for the last 40 years! And those that are still stuck on 247 metres...God knows what broadcasts from that frequency today. So, all those listeners just can't be bother to re-tune their radios. Bit hard for a new radio station just starting up. They'll never get any listeners. On that basis, no wonder Radio One haven't many listeners.

I don't understand the point of the Big Top 40, it just doesn't make any sense in terms of how they compile the chart which is why I prefer the Radio 1 official chart as its based on what's been the most purchased of the week, not the most played which hardly gives any new act a good chance at getting airplay!

 

But the good old days of the official chart are long gone, ever since Mark Goodier left the quality of the production and the presenters are turning it into a farce, and its got worse since they've been trying to target the younger audience just feels like a distant memory when I'd want to rush to turn the radio on and listen...

It is no surprise that Radio 1 are behind when the Big Top 40 is broadcast on 140 radio stations. When it was HIT40UK there were 130 stations, and when it was the Pepsi Network chart there were about 80 local stations that took it. This number grows every month as Global Media slowly turns UK radio into a playlist of about 4 songs.

 

It's a negative feedback loop really - first commercial radio gets taken over by Global Media who play less variety which means that consequently the general public (i.e. those who don't go actively seeking new music) become exposed to less new music. The chart gets duller because there are fewer 'new' acts making the charts and it slows down a great deal - > therefore Global Media are reluctant to play new songs because they haven't or won't chart -> and then it feeds back into an even slower chart.

 

The reason figures are falling is because the chart is a lot slower/duller.

 

Even in the 80s when all singles climbed, they still only had an average chart life of 7-10 weeks, and there was much more 'action'.

 

31-7-4-{2}-3-8-17-30-55-OUT is a lot faster than {2}-3-5-6-8-11-15-18-22-28-28-29-34-35-38-40... etc

I don't think you can just say Big Top 40 is bound to do better because it's on more stations. Radio 1 is still available across the UK after all. And I'm pretty sure JK & Joel once narrowly won the battle, and that wasn't that long ago.

It is no surprise that Radio 1 are behind when the Big Top 40 is broadcast on 140 radio stations. When it was HIT40UK there were 130 stations, and when it was the Pepsi Network chart there were about 80 local stations that took it. This number grows every month as Global Media slowly turns UK radio into a playlist of about 4 songs.

 

It's a negative feedback loop really - first commercial radio gets taken over by Global Media who play less variety which means that consequently the general public (i.e. those who don't go actively seeking new music) become exposed to less new music. The chart gets duller because there are fewer 'new' acts making the charts and it slows down a great deal - > therefore Global Media are reluctant to play new songs because they haven't or won't chart -> and then it feeds back into an even slower chart.

 

The reason figures are falling is because the chart is a lot slower/duller.

 

Even in the 80s when all singles climbed, they still only had an average chart life of 7-10 weeks, and there was much more 'action'.

 

31-7-4-{2}-3-8-17-30-55-OUT is a lot faster than {2}-3-5-6-8-11-15-18-22-28-28-29-34-35-38-40... etc

 

Yeah, it's true what you say. The charts are extremely slow now. I say this all the time, but I just wish Radio 1 would just simply not play the 10 longest-running songs each week, and play new entires in the #41-#200 region in place of them, since quite frankly, it's lower down the chart where the more interesting songs are often, whilst the top end of the chart is quite MOR.

 

I don't think you can just say Big Top 40 is bound to do better because it's on more stations. Radio 1 is still available across the UK after all. And I'm pretty sure JK & Joel once narrowly won the battle, and that wasn't that long ago.

 

When I used to use FM radio or whatever, there were probably about 5 stations playing the Big Top 40 Show, only 1 playing the official chart show. And people aren't tuning in specifically to hear the chart, most of them are just putting their usual station on, and the chart happens to be playing at the time. Capital + Heart + over a hundred local stations combined would probably get more audience than Radio 1 any other time, so why would it be different between 4-7pm on a Sunday?

Edited August 1, 201312 yr by Eric_Blob

When I used to use FM radio or whatever, there were probably about 5 stations playing the Big Top 40 Show, only 1 playing the official chart show

 

But those stations broadcasting the Big Top 40 are only broadcasting in small regions. At the end of the day the potential maximum number of listeners either show can get is the same - ie: the number of people in the UK - if every single person listened to the same show.

 

Radio 1 - 1,395,000

The Big Top 40 - 2,525,000

 

Nothing they try seems to work does it? Amazing to think that 20 years ago 9 million people listened to Bruno Brookes.

 

What were the listening figures like a year ago? Were they higher or lower than todays figures? That normlly gives a better indication on how well a presenter or format is doing. I doubt even if the numbers have gone down they'll get rid of Jameela yet. I think that when Scott Mills' contract is up next year, they'll move him over to the chart show from afternoons as they try to reduce the average age listening to the station.

Edited August 1, 201312 yr by gavindeejay

But those stations broadcasting the Big Top 40 are only broadcasting in small regions. At the end of the day the potential maximum number of listeners either show can get is the same - ie: the number of people in the UK - if every single person listened to the same show.

 

Yeah, but I mean, where I live in Birmingham, Heart + Capital + BRMB + Mercia + Touch (I can't remember exactly which local stations played it, but just as an example) would probably get more audience than Radio 1 at any time of the week, so obviously they will on Sunday afternoons when the chart shows are on too. And I would assume the same would be the case across the whole country (well, those very figures we're discussing suggest that is the case).

 

Not many people are thinking "I'll tune into this radio station since they have an amazing chart show", they're just tuning into their normal station and that's what's on at the time.

 

It seems logical to me that the Big Top 40 Show would have more listeners, it's been that way for years now. I've been listening to it on and off since 2009, and it seems like every time I listen to the Big Top 40 Show they say they're the most listened to chart show.

Radio will never win again, as (like has been said) it's target is teens to 25s. Big Top 40 is a much better produced show, though a tad messy. They've ditched the Airplay for the iTunes chart of the week, but you won't hear "Black Skinhead", I don't think...but they play all the new entries now, aside that & usually get some 48 songs into the 3 hours. The 6 O'Clock change around is a tad silly, as it contradicts what's been played (even more so, when the numerous versions have been lumped together in the original Top 10 at 4pm & then ignored in the change around).

I know it's been debated before but the Big Top 40 is just a joke. People who buy music from Monday-Saturday are completely ignored by the system as it only matter what is on the iTunes Chart on Sunday. We've seen tracks enter high in the iTunes Top 40 during the week and fall out by Sunday. Also, why should they pick and choose which songs have charted this week, why not play Black Skinhead seeing as though there is a radio edit for it .

At the risk of sounding mealy-mouthed (and I agree with all the previous comments) it's difficult not to get one's blood boiling when listening to Radio One's chart show, quite apart from the fact that it's soooo slooooow-moving these days. It's actually insulting to older listeners, never mind just targeted at 12-year-olds, they treat anyone over 30 as if they're fragile grannies losing it, and a recent re-charting record from 10 years ago as if it's some sort of historical aberration. Jameela is partly to blame, her "chat" extends from "oorhh she's fit" to "text me if you have nothing much of interest to say about One Direction". Call me old-fashioned, but I think if you're paid to play 40 records in the correct order, announce them and chat a bit in between to teenagers, the job description calls for someone who is actually capable of putting the right record on, announcing the right record, and not talking down to kids. Previous DJ's seemed to manage it....oh, and a few background facts on the records might help, too.

Is that the full figure for the Big Top 40 on all the many stations it's broadcast on? Because if so that's quite poor.

 

Haven't radio listening figures plummeted in general over the last few years also?

Overall radio listening has gone back up. However, for younger listeners it is down. As Radio 1's remit is to appeal to younger listeners - with no exception made for the chart show - they are bound to suffer from this trend. I wish they could make an exception for the Chart Show. After all, it is only three hours out of 168 but the powers that be disagree.

What were the listening figures like a year ago? Were they higher or lower than todays figures? That normlly gives a better indication on how well a presenter or format is doing. I doubt even if the numbers have gone down they'll get rid of Jameela yet. I think that when Scott Mills' contract is up next year, they'll move him over to the chart show from afternoons as they try to reduce the average age listening to the station.

 

From memory the last figure I saw for Reggie was above 1.5 million and I think when Fearne & Reggie started it was around 2 million.

At the risk of sounding mealy-mouthed (and I agree with all the previous comments) it's difficult not to get one's blood boiling when listening to Radio One's chart show, quite apart from the fact that it's soooo slooooow-moving these days. It's actually insulting to older listeners, never mind just targeted at 12-year-olds, they treat anyone over 30 as if they're fragile grannies losing it, and a recent re-charting record from 10 years ago as if it's some sort of historical aberration. Jameela is partly to blame, her "chat" extends from "oorhh she's fit" to "text me if you have nothing much of interest to say about One Direction". Call me old-fashioned, but I think if you're paid to play 40 records in the correct order, announce them and chat a bit in between to teenagers, the job description calls for someone who is actually capable of putting the right record on, announcing the right record, and not talking down to kids. Previous DJ's seemed to manage it....oh, and a few background facts on the records might help, too.

 

Yes the show is very poorly researched, which is as much the producer's fault as Jameela's. Goodier would say something after the record like "they're playing at Manchester Academy tonight" or "their next single will be released on" or a fun quote from a recent interview or something. Jameela says f-all of interest.