People throw the word "ageism" about a lot but it's more that they don't feel it appeals to their target audience - albeit due to the age of the artists, but I don't think it's quite the same as ageism.

 

I think it is very blatant ageism, they're renowned for it. But it is what it is, and it's been that way for a very long time.

Why don't they support Elton/Britney? Ageism?

They added Cold Heart to the playlist only 2 months after it was released so they could still support Britney's collab if they bother to promote and do radio promo like Elton and Dua did.

People throw the word "ageism" about a lot but it's more that they don't feel it appeals to their target audience - albeit due to the age of the artists, but I don't think it's quite the same as ageism.

 

Really? Don't think it would be relevant, as if Cold Heart wasn't one of the biggest hits of the past year and as if every millennial and Gen Z wasn't posting about Free Britney? :unsure: I would call it ageism due to this station's history of disdain and reluctance to play artists over 40, even if they're at the top of the charts and the demand is clearly there.

Cold Heart's Radio 1 support felt like the bare minimum for, as has been acknowledged, one of the biggest hits of the year. It was only once it had already began proving itself as a top of the charts contender that Radio 1 hopped on board, and even then it wasn't A listed. The lack of support for Hold Me Closer isn't surprising at all, Britney is less "relevant" than Dua and I don't see it being anywhere near as big, but it's proving it has legs on streaming so far so it's clearly connecting with Radio 1's target audience.

 

Is it ageism? Yes, I'd say so, but Radio 1 are just one of the perpetrators of a wider problem in the industry. There is no reason they should feel like a big hit that is performing well on both streaming AND sales, from someone who had one of the biggest hits of the past 12 months, doesn't appeal to their target audience. People under 30 don't listen to people over 40... yet the album chart's GH presence thanks to streaming suggests otherwise. Radio 1 are out of touch and the industry's ageism is clouding them.

 

(of course they may still playlist it lol but I don't see it doing a Cold Heart so I'm not fully convinced atm)

Just heard 'BILLIE EILISH' for the first time and it samples 'Nothin' by N.O.R.E. - pretty sure I discovered that song on Radio 1 too via their 'One Hit Wonders of the Millennium' show!