J14C

The lack of big hits at the minute has at least made the playlist quite interesting, with so many songs on the A-list that have had no commercial success.

They go through a random phase of giving C-list songs power intros. I remember the one from 2022, and I’m sure there was another brief period maybe a year later - though it may well have been around the time ‘Daises’ was playlisted. The audio wizard who does them must’ve had some spare time!

It’s only for six weeks (thankfully)

They have to choose their TOTW a few days prior (and I think it’s from a list rather than just whatever they fancy), but if someone is covering for a full week it makes no sense for them not to choose their own TOTW. A producer likely gets in touch a few days before to ask what they want.

Did they not just mean it was their first TOTW as a permanent show? I imagine if someone is covering for a full week they get to choose.

Yeah I fully expect ‘Joy’ to be A-listed on Friday. Other than that, there’s not much standing out as potential rises - Barry Can’t Swim and Steve Lacy maybe?

I like the Rachel Chinouriri power intro - it’s a fantastic song too.

It’s like those weeks around Christmas when there’s not many big songs so artists that don’t normally make the A-list get a turn. Nice adds for NBT and Florence Road.

Yeah I’m finding it very addictive

Appears Ella Langley, Sam Smith, Sienna Spiro and of course Phoebe Bridgers have been removed from the A-list. Sombr gets a ridiculous 11th week. Also ‘Joy’ and ‘Ten Over Ten’ have moved up.

New music coming soon, perhaps as part of a deluxe album, as she performed ‘Too Cute To Be Lonely’ at Reading and Leeds this weekend. It’s around 20 minutes into her set on BBC iPlayer and sounds incredible!

Yay ‘Cruel World’, one of my favourite songs of the year - it would be nice to hear ‘To Love Somebody’ get a few recurrent plays too. I remember ‘The Walls Are Way Too Thin’ used to be a favourite recurrent for a couple years.

‘Manhattan’ gone too soon :( Feels unnecessary to have three songs there for 10 weeks, surely sombr and Phoebe Bridgers could’ve gone rather than some B-list tracks?

And it’s a banger

Really like this, but yes a big gear change.

This is fantastic!

Out Friday

‘Aperture’ and ‘the cure’ are being played now the other singles have left the playlist. I do wish they’d vary the recurrents more. It wouldn’t hurt to have some A-list songs from earlier in the year sprinkled in.

Amazing for Fontaines! Surprised Chase & Status are off already. Jazzy has been removed.

That switch-up is quite something!!

Very enjoyable, and I reckon it’ll really grow on me.

I don’t think there’s any standouts candidates to move up to the A-list so that’ll help Fontaines’ case. I suspect Chase & Status will get there, but beyond that I’m struggling. Would love to see ‘Manhattan’ get there but I very much doubt it. Beyond Fontaines, there’s a fair few I hope they add this week: Nothing But Thieves Florence Road Cloonee/Prospa ANOTR Rose Gray (maybe a couple more weeks yet)

I wonder if Fontaines D.C. will get insta added on Friday? They gave a big fan fair to the new song on Breakfast yesterday and ‘It’s Amazing To be Young’ was insta B-listed last year. Is an A-list add too far?

Oh my god Rose Gray! I actually prefer ‘Just Be Bodies’ to ‘Club To Your Arms’ so would love to see it added.

Ooo I remember that song being teased in its previous form and it sounded great. Their previous collab, ‘TEMPORARY FRIENDS’, was one of my favourite dance songs of 2024 so high hopes for this.