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.

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.

JK & Joel won the ratings for 3 reasons. 3 groups of Independant Radio stations were broadcasting 3 different chart shows. Hit40UK, The A List & The Smash Hits Chart. Radio One won by default of which Regional variation, you got on your local Independant Station.

 

The original Network Chart never had more than 5 million listeners. 1986 was the peak. Radio One Top 40 in 1986 having nearly 11 million listeners, but Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club achieved nearly 12 milllion, due to listeners switching over to David Jensen's Network Chart Show.

 

Falling listeners for both shows are contributed, by people watching more TV on Sundays, people going to work (hardly anyone worked on Sundays in 1986) & the fact that the Singles chart is largely a show of reflection to a small age group of people, that download records. Back in 1986, the record buying public reflected a more ecelectic age group. Des O'Connor & Roger Whittaker would never trouble the chart compilers today, for instance let alone Clare & Friends (I fear). The Top 40 & Network Chart were a family thing in 1986 & not your average Rihanna fan. Added bonus of the Network Chart being, they still recognised Alan Freeman, as not being too old to stand-in. Where as Radio One insisted (that although there were many complaints in 82/83) that Tommy Vance was quite a good choice to stand-in.

 

Radio One hasn't really won the ratings on chart shows, since 1993 & the advent of Neil Fox's Pepsi Chart on Independant Radio. And if hosts are to blame, then look no further than Brookes & Goodier. Goodier has always had a mind like a sieve & the amount of notes, given to him to remember things was incredible. Really they haven't had a decent presenter since Simon Bates (& he was never actually given the show permanently, it was just an ongoing replacement role). How do I know all this? Well, a good friend of mine (Richard White) has been researching all of it, for a new book. Coming out soon. I suppose the major point on Radio One (i've not mentioned) is the 1993 hatchet job by Matthew Bannister & Trevor Dann. Yes, Radio One had to change, but not within a few weeks. Big Top 40 & 2.5 million suggests Independant Radio have only lost half their Sunday listeners, while Radio One have lost nearly 8 million in 20 years & therefore is of minority interest to a small age group i.e. under 25 year olds. If it were a BBC Soap, then it would be axed. Did I mention Eastenders previously?!

Edited August 2, 201312 yr by davetaylor

That is a book I will want to buy!

JK & Joel won the ratings for 3 reasons. 3 groups of Independant Radio stations were broadcasting 3 different chart shows. Hit40UK, The A List & The Smash Hits Chart. Radio One won by default of which Regional variation, you got on your local Independant Station.

 

The original Network Chart never had more than 5 million listeners. 1986 was the peak. Radio One Top 40 in 1986 having nearly 11 million listeners, but Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club achieved nearly 12 milllion, due to listeners switching over to David Jensen's Network Chart Show.

 

Falling listeners for both shows are contributed, by people watching more TV on Sundays, people going to work (hardly anyone worked on Sundays in 1986) & the fact that the Singles chart is largely a show of reflection to a small age group of people, that download records. Back in 1986, the record buying public reflected a more ecelectic age group. Des O'Connor & Roger Whittaker would never trouble the chart compilers today, for instance let alone Clare & Friends (I fear). The Top 40 & Network Chart were a family thing in 1986 & not your average Rihanna fan. Added bonus of the Network Chart being, they still recognised Alan Freeman, as not being too old to stand-in. Where as Radio One insisted (that although there were many complaints in 82/83) that Tommy Vance was quite a good choice to stand-in.

 

Radio One hasn't really won the ratings on chart shows, since 1993 & the advent of Neil Fox's Pepsi Chart on Independant Radio. And if hosts are to blame, then look no further than Brookes & Goodier. Goodier has always had a mind like a sieve & the amount of notes, given to him to remember things was incredible. Really they haven't had a decent presenter since Simon Bates (& he was never actually given the show permanently, it was just an ongoing replacement role). How do I know all this? Well, a good friend of mine (Richard White) has been researching all of it, for a new book. Coming out soon. I suppose the major point on Radio One (i've not mentioned) is the 1993 hatchet job by Matthew Bannister & Trevor Dann. Yes, Radio One had to change, but not within a few weeks. Big Top 40 & 2.5 million suggests Independant Radio have only lost half their Sunday listeners, while Radio One have lost nearly 8 million in 20 years & therefore is of minority interest to a small age group i.e. under 25 year olds. If it were a BBC Soap, then it would be axed. Did I mention Eastenders previously?!

 

Interesting points Dave! Bit harsh on Goodybags though...