HiyaLuv!

Thank God common sense has prevailed!

THIS WEEK'S TOP 40 01 (01) Silva Bumpa: On 2Nite (8-1-1) 02 (02) Drake: Janice STFU (26-4-2-2) 03 (05) F3miii: NOBLE (34-5-3) 04 (18) Barry Can't Swim: Return To Bhibo (18-4) 05 (03) Ellie Goulding: Black Prada Dress (36-6-3-5) 06 (07) Alex Warren: Passenger (38-7-6) 07 (04) MK ft. Poppy Baskcomb: Zone (15-4-3-2-4-7) 08 (06) Charli xcx: SS26 (22-5-6-8) 09 (12) Sienna Spiro: Material Lover (37-12-9) 10 (16) Olivia Rodrigo: stupid song (16-10) 11 (09) Nia Archives: Boys In Blue (19-9-9-11) 12 (10) Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure (37-29-20-10-12) 13 (NE) Slayyyter: DANCE... (13) 14 (08) L.P. Rhythm: Versatile (26-5-5-3-8-14) 15 (17) Nothing But Thieves: Evolution (38-15-13-17-15) 16 (11) Sonny Fodera x Libianca: Let Me Be In Your Arms (28-4-3-1-1-11-16) 17 (NE) Becky Hill: More! More! More! (17) 18 (NE) Olivia Rodrigo ft. Robert Smith: What's Wrong With Me (18) 19 (15) Ariana Grande: hate that i made you love me (34-12-15-19) 20 (28) Lily Allen & JADE: Beg For Me (28-20) 21 (21) Fat Dog: Go F**k Yourself (35-25-21-21) 22 (35) LP Rhythm ft. DJ Dre: Like That (35-22) 23 (19) Marlon Hoffstadt: Breathe (22-6-7-10-19-23) 24 (20) Ezra Collective ft. Pa Salieu: Only Love (20-24) 25 (38) Basement Jaxx: Jump N Shout (Gorgon City Remix) (38-25) 26 (13) Taylor Swift: I Knew It, I Knew You (39-14-13-26) 27 (31) Bleachers: We Should Talk (31-27) 28 (NE) Charli xcx: Wink Wink (28) 29 (26) FISHER & Tones & I: Favour (27-5-2-2-2-7-26-29) 30 (22) Gracie Abrams: Hit The Wall (40-18-22-30) 31 (NE) feeble little horse: Rewind (31) 32 (23) Harry Styles: Dance No More (38-17-23-32) 33 (34) horsegiirL: Only The Best (23-17-22-34-33) 34 (NE) Temper City: Self Aware (34) 35 (NE) Muse: Nightshift Superstar (35) 36 (25) Paul McCartney ft. Ringo Starr: Home To Us (40-25-36) 37 (14) Chaka Khan: Chakzilla (20-11-14-37) 38 (NE) Camelphat ft. Kuuda: So Good (38) 39 (24) Jorja Smith: What's Done Is Done (29-31-21-24-39) 40 (39) Syncia, Cash Only and Eljé: Something Something (39-40) OUT 27 (33) Riordan: Feel The Funk (33-27) 29 (NE) Fleetwood Mac: Dreams (29) 30 (24) Overmono: Lock Up (37-24-30) 32 (NE) Alessi Rose: Skin (32) 33 (15) John Summit ft. Julia Wolf: WITH ME (11-4-5-8-12-10-9-15-33) 36 (31) Kehlani ft. Usher: Shoulda Never (37-25-36-x-26-32-31-36) 37 (27) Florence Road: Hanging Out To Dry (23-11-6-7-12-27-37) 40 (32) Maisie Peters: Questions (32-40)

They really wouldn't give that much of a shit about this, it's on because it's doing well, suits the sound of the station and they're not as bothered about listener or artist age anymore. Let's face it, they need all the listeners they can get with so many young people not even understanding the point of radio, fragmented audiences etc. Nat and Vicky read out a text from someone talking about their 16-year-old daughter today, that would have never happened ten years ago as they didn't want to even acknowledge the fact they had listeners aged over 30.

This totally wasn't playlisted. And not to speak ill of the dead with money-grabbing grifting daughters but it was absolutely bloody unlistenable.

I see it more as a thing of airing artists of all ages if the song has enough 'buzz', but Padam Padam definitely opened the doors for this stuff! It's as hard as heck to get a hit now, and Danceteria is one!

A 68-year-old on the Radio 1 playlist without help from a much younger star this time. Totally there for it! Said it before, I'll say it again. If the song sounds right for Radio 1, and this one really does, it should be on! Padam Padam smashed down the ageism walls, now I'm really hoping they consider Kylie again next time round.

Or he's over already.

Feels like R1 are going off people quickly these days, particularly solo acts. One year you're omnipresent, two years after you're not even making the A-list or sometimes even B-list and your new songs get chucked in the R1 bin forevermore after a month, never to be aired again! In fact, thinking about it, it looks like we might not actually get a new anguished acoustic chart-dominating bloke this year!

Only just noticed Drake swiftly got booted off after only going B-list with an actual lead single. How times have changed. Ironically I really liked Janice STFU after many, many years of thinking "WTF is that half-hearted hookless nonsense you just farted out?" several times a year. Imagine if he became a Radio 2 heritage act.

Alternative Now 124 CD1 ends with Kylie, CD2 starts with Taylor!

Shame to see Passenger gone so quickly, the second Alex Warren song I actually like! Maybe he should be banned from ballads as that and Fever Dream were pretty, pretty decent.

THIS WEEK'S TOP 40 01 (08) Silva Bumpa: On 2Nite (8-1) 02 (04) Drake: Janice STFU (26-4-2) 03 (06) Ellie Goulding: Black Prada Dress (36-6-3) 04 (02) MK ft. Poppy Baskcomb: Zone (15-4-3-2-4) 05 (34) F3miii: NOBLE (34-5) 06 (05) Charli xcx: SS26 (22-5-6) 07 (38) Alex Warren: Passenger (38-7) 08 (03) L.P. Rhythm: Versatile (26-5-5-3-8) 09 (09) Nia Archives: Boys In Blue (19-9-9) 10 (20) Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure (37-29-20-10) 11 (01) Sonny Fodera x Libianca: Let Me Be In Your Arms (28-4-3-1-1-11) 12 (37) Sienna Spiro: Material Lover (37-12) 13 (14) Taylor Swift: I Knew It, I Knew You (39-14-13) 14 (11) Chaka Khan: Chakzilla (20-11-14) 15 (12) Ariana Grande: hate that i made you love me (34-12-15) 16 (NE) Olivia Rodrigo: stupid song (16) 17 (13) Nothing But Thieves: Evolution (38-15-13-17) 18 (NE) Barry Can't Swim: Return To Bhibo (18) 19 (10) Marlon Hoffstadt: Breathe (22-6-7-10-19) 20 (NE) Ezra Collective ft. Pa Salieu: Only Love (20) 21 (25) Fat Dog: Go F**k Yourself (35-25-21) 22 (18) Gracie Abrams: Hit The Wall (40-18-22) 23 (17) Harry Styles: Dance No More (38-17-23) 24 (21) Jorja Smith: What's Done Is Done (29-31-21-24) 25 (40) Paul McCartney ft. Ringo Starr: Home To Us (40-25) 26 (07) FISHER & Tones & I: Favour (27-5-2-2-2-7-26) 27 (33) Riordan: Feel The Funk (33-27) 28 (NE) Lily Allen & JADE: Beg For Me (28) 29 (NE) Fleetwood Mac: Dreams (29) 30 (24) Overmono: Lock Up (37-24-30) 31 (NE) Bleachers: We Should Talk (31) 32 (NE) Alessi Rose: Skin (32) 33 (15) John Summit ft. Julia Wolf: WITH ME (11-4-5-8-12-10-9-15-33) 34 (22) horsegiirL: Only The Best (23-17-22-34) 35 (NE) LP Rhythm ft. DJ Dre: Like That (35) 36 (31) Kehlani ft. Usher: Shoulda Never (37-25-36-x-26-32-31-36) 37 (27) Florence Road: Hanging Out To Dry (23-11-6-7-12-27-37) 38 (NE) Basement Jaxx: Jump N Shout (Gorgon City Remix) (38) 39 (NE) Syncia, Cash Only and Eljé: Something Something (39) 40 (32) Maisie Peters: Questions (32-40) OUT 16 (04) Calvin Harris x Jazzy: Satisfy (35-2-1-1-4-16) 19 (14) DJ Motu & Douvelle19: I Need This (40-32-14-19) 23 (16) James Blake ft. Dave: Doesn't Just Happen (35-7-9-16-23) 26 (11) Ahadadream, Raf-Saperra & Skrillex: Bass Dhol (35-16-11-26) 28 (06) p-ralllel: Bring it Back (38-18-11-6-28) 29 (25) Yard Act: Redeemer (16-12-25-29) 30 (23) James Hype: Serotonin (39-23-30) 35 (08) Kylie Minogue: Light Up (32-18-8-35) 36 (10) NOTION & Redlight: GET OUT MY HEAD (29-14-10-36) 39 (13) Slayyyter: BRITANNY MURPHY (28-3-3-8-13-39)

Maybe Katy should offer to play the Big Weekend!

THIS WEEK'S TOP 40 01 (01) Sonny Fodera x Libianca: Let Me Be In Your Arms (28-4-3-1-1) 02 (03) MK ft. Poppy Baskcomb: Zone (15-4-3-2) 03 (05) L.P. Rhythm: Versatile (26-5-5-3) 04 (26) Drake: Janice STFU (26-4) 05 (22) Charli xcx: SS26 (22-5) 06 (36) Ellie Goulding: Black Prada Dress (36-6) 07 (02) FISHER & Tones & I: Favour (27-5-2-2-2-7) 08 (NE) Silva Bumpa: On 2Nite (8) 09 (19) Nia Archives: Boys In Blue (19-9) 10 (07) Marlon Hoffstadt: Breathe (22-6-7-10) 11 (20) Chaka Khan: Chakzilla (20-11) 12 (34) Ariana Grande: hate that i made you love me (34-12) 13 (15) Nothing But Thieves: Evolution (38-15-13) 14 (39) Taylor Swift: I Knew It, I Knew You (39-14) 15 (09) John Summit ft. Julia Wolf: WITH ME (11-4-5-8-12-10-9-15) 16 (04) Calvin Harris x Jazzy: Satisfy (35-2-1-1-4-16) 17 (38) Harry Styles: Dance No More (38-17) 18 (40) Gracie Abrams: Hit The Wall (40-18) 19 (14) DJ Motu & Douvelle19: I Need This (40-32-14-19) 20 (29) Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure (37-29-20) 21 (31) Jorja Smith: What's Done Is Done (29-31-21) 22 (17) horsegiirL: Only The Best (23-17-22) 23 (16) James Blake ft. Dave: Doesn't Just Happen (35-7-9-16-23) 24 (37) Overmono: Lock Up (37-24) 25 (35) Fat Dog: Go F**k Yourself (35-25) 26 (11) Ahadadream, Raf-Saperra & Skrillex: Bass Dhol (35-16-11-26) 27 (12) Florence Road: Hanging Out To Dry (23-11-6-7-12-27) 28 (06) p-ralllel: Bring it Back (38-18-11-6-28) 29 (25) Yard Act: Redeemer (16-12-25-29) 30 (23) James Hype: Serotonin (39-23-30) 31 (32) Kehlani ft. Usher: Shoulda Never (37-25-36-x-26-32-31) 32 (NE) Maisie Peters: Questions (32) 33 (NE) Riordan: Feel The Funk (33) 34 (NE) F3miii: NOBLE (34) 35 (08) Kylie Minogue: Light Up (32-18-8-35) 36 (10) NOTION & Redlight: GET OUT MY HEAD (29-14-10-36) 37 (NE) Sienna Spiro: Material Lover (37) 38 (NE) Alex Warren: Passenger (38) 39 (13) Slayyyter: BRITANNY MURPHY (28-3-3-8-13-39) 40 (NE) Paul McCartney ft. Ringo Starr: Home To Us (40) OUT 18 (25) Arthi & Sam Interface ft. Stush: Leave (25-18) 21 (15) Prospa ft. Cloonee: Free Your Mind (17-10-3-2-2-4-9-15-21) 24 (21) Mitski: I'll Change For You (38-25-23-21-24) 27 (17) The Chemical Brothers: Go! (8-17-27) 28 (NE) Stormzy & Odeal: 24 Hours (28) 30 (40) Lola Young: From Down Here (40-30) 33 (33) Madeon ft. Slayyter: Fire Away (27-33-33)

THIS WEEK'S TOP 40 01 (03) Sonny Fodera x Libianca: Let Me Be In Your Arms (28-4-3-1) 02 (02) FISHER & Tones & I: Favour (27-5-2-2-2) 03 (04) MK ft. Poppy Baskcomb: Zone (15-4-3) 04 (01) Calvin Harris x Jazzy: Satisfy (35-2-1-1-4) 05 (05) L.P. Rhythm: Versatile (26-5-5) 06 (11) p-ralllel: Bring it Back (38-18-11-6) 07 (06) Marlon Hoffstadt: Breathe (22-6-7) 08 (18) Kylie Minogue: Light Up (32-18-8) 09 (10) John Summit ft. Julia Wolf: WITH ME (11-4-5-8-12-10-9) 10 (14) NOTION & Redlight: GET OUT MY HEAD (29-14-10) 11 (16) Ahadadream, Raf-Saperra & Skrillex: Bass Dhol (35-16-11) 12 (07) Florence Road: Hanging Out To Dry (23-11-6-7-12) 13 (08) Slayyyter: BRITANNY MURPHY (28-3-3-8-13) 14 (32) DJ Motu & Douvelle19: I Need This (40-32-14) 15 (38) Nothing But Thieves: Evolution (38-15) 16 (09) James Blake ft. Dave: Doesn't Just Happen (35-7-9-16) 17 (23) horsegiirL: Only The Best (23-17) 18 (25) Arthi & Sam Interface ft. Stush: Leave (25-18) 19 (NE) Nia Archives: Boys In Blue (19) 20 (NE) Chaka Khan: Chakzilla (20) 21 (15) Prospa ft. Cloonee: Free Your Mind (17-10-3-2-2-4-9-15-21) 22 (NE) Charli xcx: SS26 (22) 23 (39) James Hype: Serotonin (39-23) 24 (21) Mitski: I'll Change For You (38-25-23-21-24) 25 (12) Yard Act: Redeemer (16-12-25) 26 (NE) Drake: Janice STFU (26) 27 (17) The Chemical Brothers: Go! (8-17-27) 28 (NE) Stormzy & Odeal: 24 Hours (28) 29 (37) Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure (37-29) 30 (40) Lola Young: From Down Here (40-30) 31 (29) Jorja Smith: What's Done Is Done (29-31) 32 (26) Kehlani ft. Usher: Shoulda Never (37-25-36-x-26-32) 33 (33) Madeon ft. Slayyter: Fire Away (27-33-33) 34 (NE) Ariana Grande: hate that i made you love me (34) 35 (NE) Fat Dog: Go F**k Yourself (35) 36 (NE) Ellie Goulding: Black Prada Dress (36) 37 (NE) Overmono: Lock Up (37) 38 (NE) Harry Styles: Dance No More (38) 39 (NE) Taylor Swift: I Knew It, I Knew You (39) 40 (NE) Gracie Abrams: Hit The Wall (40) OUT 13 (05) Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter: Bring Your Love (36-19-4-1-5-13) 19 (19) Charli xcx: Rock Music (40-19-19) 20 (10) sombr: Potential (40-22-18-14-10-20) 22 (25) The Rolling Stones: In The Stars (25-22) 24 (36) Muse: Cryogen (34-36-24) 27 (13) Jessie Ware: Automatic (35-31-25-27-25-24-12-18-13-27) 28 (14) Bebe Rexha & Faithless: New Religion (13-1-1-1-6-14-28) 30 (38) Laufey: Madwoman (37-22-38-30) 31 (17) LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER: Eins, Zwei, Drei (36-25-13-11-12-10-16-6-15-17-31) 34 (21) Olivia Rodrigo: drop dead (35-18-14-9-21-34) 35 (20) Wasia Project: 2515 (31-13-8-13-20-35) 36 (31) Teddy Swims: Mr. Know It All (34-24-19-31-36)

THIS WEEK'S TOP 40 01 (01) Calvin Harris x Jazzy: Satisfy (35-2-1-1) 02 (02) FISHER & Tones & I: Favour (27-5-2-2) 03 (04) Sonny Fodera x Libianca: Let Me Be In Your Arms (28-4-3) 04 (15) MK ft. Poppy Baskcomb: Zone (15-4) 05 (26) L.P. Rhythm: Versatile (26-5) 06 (22) Marlon Hoffstadt: Breathe (22-6) 07 (06) Florence Road: Hanging Out To Dry (23-11-6-7) 08 (03) Slayyyter: BRITANNY MURPHY (28-3-3-8) 09 (07) James Blake ft. Dave: Doesn't Just Happen (35-7-9) 10 (12) John Summit ft. Julia Wolf: WITH ME (11-4-5-8-12-10) 11 (18) p-ralllel: Bring it Back (38-18-11) 12 (16) Yard Act: Redeemer (16-12) 13 (05) Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter: Bring Your Love (36-19-4-1-5-13) 14 (29) NOTION & Redlight: GET OUT MY HEAD (29-14) 15 (09) Prospa ft. Cloonee: Free Your Mind (17-10-3-2-2-4-9-15) 16 (35) Ahadadream, Raf-Saperra & Skrillex: Bass Dhol (35-16) 17 (08) The Chemical Brothers: Go! (8-17) 18 (32) Kylie Minogue: Light Up (32-18) 19 (19) Charli xcx: Rock Music (40-19-19) 20 (10) sombr: Potential (40-22-18-14-10-20) 21 (23) Mitski: I'll Change For You (38-25-23-21) 22 (25) The Rolling Stones: In The Stars (25-22) 23 (NE) horsegiirL: Only The Best (23) 24 (36) Muse: Cryogen (34-36-24) 25 (NE) Arthi & Sam Interface ft. Stush: Leave (25) 26 (RE) Kehlani ft. Usher: Shoulda Never (37-25-36-x-26) 27 (13) Jessie Ware: Automatic (35-31-25-27-25-24-12-18-13-27) 28 (14) Bebe Rexha & Faithless: New Religion (13-1-1-1-6-14-28) 29 (NE) Jorja Smith: What's Done Is Done (29) 30 (38) Laufey: Madwoman (37-22-38-30) 31 (17) LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER: Eins, Zwei, Drei (36-25-13-11-12-10-16-6-15-17-31) 32 (40) DJ Motu & Douvelle19: I Need This (40-32) 33 (27) Madeon ft. Slayyter: Fire Away (27-33) 34 (21) Olivia Rodrigo: drop dead (35-18-14-9-21-34) 35 (20) Wasia Project: 2515 (31-13-8-13-20-35) 36 (31) Teddy Swims: Mr. Know It All (34-24-19-31-36) 37 (NE) Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure (37) 38 (NE) Nothing But Thieves: Evolution (38) 39 (NE) James Hype: Serotonin (39) 40 (NE) Lola Young: From Down Here (40) OUT 11 (37) Michael Jackson: Beat It (36-37-11) 24 (07) Nia Archives: Danger (12-7-3-7-24) 28 (10) Fatboy Slim & The Rolling Stones: Satisfaction Skank (40-13-xx-40-x-35-37-17-11-10-28) 30 (29) Pola & Bryson & Emily Makis: Pretender (31-29-30) 33 (16) MUNA: Wannabeher (33-14-15-16-33) 34 (NE) Elmiene: Saviour (34) 37 (NE) Prospa & Murder Beatz: Baby (37) 39 (26) Marmozets: Cut Back (39-39-32-26-39)

Zero hype. Full Radio 2-only artist now and even there I think her new singles hang around the B or C-list for a few weeks before being dropped and forgotten forever. Didn't mind that "don't you bullsh!t me, baby!" one. But yeah, she's pop toast.

THIS WEEK'S TOP 40 01 (02) Calvin Harris x Jazzy: Satisfy (35-2-1) 02 (05) FISHER & Tones & I: Favour (27-5-2) 03 (03) Slayyyter: BRITANNY MURPHY (28-3-3) 04 (28) Sonny Fodera x Libianca: Let Me Be In Your Arms (28-4) 05 (01) Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter: Bring Your Love (36-19-4-1-5) 06 (11) Florence Road: Hanging Out To Dry (23-11-6) 07 (35) James Blake ft. Dave: Doesn't Just Happen (35-7) 08 (NE) The Chemical Brothers: Go! (8) 09 (04) Prospa ft. Cloonee: Free Your Mind (17-10-3-2-2-4-9) 10 (14) sombr: Potential (40-22-18-14-10) 11 (37) Michael Jackson: Beat It (36-37-11) 12 (08) John Summit ft. Julia Wolf: WITH ME (11-4-5-8-12) 13 (18) Jessie Ware: Automatic (35-31-25-27-25-24-12-18-13) 14 (06) Bebe Rexha & Faithless: New Religion (13-1-1-1-6-14) 15 (NE) MK ft. Poppy Baskcomb: Zone (15) 16 (NE) Yard Act: Redeemer (16) 17 (15) LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER: Eins, Zwei, Drei (36-25-13-11-12-10-16-6-15-17) 18 (38) p-ralllel: Bring it Back (38-18) 19 (40) Charli xcx: Rock Music (40-19) 20 (13) Wasia Project: 2515 (31-13-8-13-20) 21 (09) Olivia Rodrigo: drop dead (35-18-14-9-21) 22 (NE) Marlon Hoffstadt: Breathe (22) 23 (25) Mitski: I'll Change For You (38-25-23) 24 (07) Nia Archives: Danger (12-7-3-7-24) 25 (NE) The Rolling Stones: In The Stars (25) 26 (NE) L.P. Rhythm: Versatile (26) 27 (NE) Madeon ft. Slayyter: Fire Away (27) 28 (10) Fatboy Slim & The Rolling Stones: Satisfaction Skank (40-13-xx-40-x-35-37-17-11-10-28) 29 (NE) NOTION & Redlight: GET OUT MY HEAD (29) 30 (29) Pola & Bryson & Emily Makis: Pretender (31-29-30) 31 (19) Teddy Swims: Mr. Know It All (34-24-19-31) 32 (NE) Kylie Minogue: Light Up (32) 33 (16) MUNA: Wannabeher (33-14-15-16-33) 34 (NE) Elmiene: Saviour (34) 35 (NE) Ahadadream, Raf-Saperra & Skrillex: Bass Dhol (35) 36 (34) Muse: Cryogen (34-36) 37 (NE) Prospa & Murder Beatz: Baby (37) 38 (22) Laufey: Madwoman (37-22-38) 39 (26) Marmozets: Cut Back (39-39-32-26-39) 40 (NE) DJ Motu & Douvelle19: I Need This (40) OUT 12 (07) Noah Kahan: Porch Light (36-5-3-7-12) 17 (09) Sabrina Carpenter: House Tour (21-9-9-17) 20 (10) Disclosure: The Sun Comes Up Tremendous (15-8-10-10-20) 21 (17) Jim Legxacy: idk idk (22-9-11-17-21) 23 (19) Lady Gaga & Doechii: Runway (19-6-2-6-19-23) 24 (13) Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj: Beauty And A Beat (19-8-13-24) 27 (20) KATSEYE: Pinky Up (39-13-23-20-27) 30 (16) Joy Anonymous x Ezra Collective x STUSH: JOY (This One) (19-7-5-16-30) 31 (22) Kacey Musgraves: Dry Spell (27-9-6-20-22-31) 32 (RE) Zara Larsson: Midnight Sun (32) 33 (21) Tyla ft. Zara Larsson: SHE DID IT AGAIN (32-15-21-33) 36 (25) Kehlani ft. Usher: Shoulda Never (37-25-36) 39 (NE) The Strokes: Going Shopping (39)

Used to love going into town after school or uni and buying new Manics singles on 2CDs on release day, was so much fun, especially as there were often enough b-sides across every album campaign to fill a whole extra album. You're lucky if you even get unique artwork for a single now, it's often just the album cover for everything! I really miss that experience of a single release being a proper event.

WHAT. A. PRICK. I've been vibing to the solo version for years anyway.

I have been talking about this in another thread but it's getting genuinely worrying that hardly anything is sticking with the general public this year. Rein Me In has seen off big comebacks from even Harry Styles and Olivia Rodrigo and the Top 40 is packed with ancient hits whilst hardly any fresh tunes seem to be making a dent in the chart/popular consciousness. I won't struggle to make a spring-summer playlist but that's because there's enough radio puts out there that appeals to me regardless of chart performance etc but I do wonder how slightly less obsessive music fans feel about how things are going so far this year. What needs to happen? Which songs are the public going to think about when they look back on 2026? I know people round here will have lots of interesting theories. Are the charts dead? Is it the end of pop as we know it? Or do you feel fine? Would love to hear your thoughts!

If a 1xtra song didn't even make the Radio 1 playlist I'd argue it was way too niche but then again that hasn't stopped them before with the countless veteran flops. JP Cooper x Gabrielle FFS! Even if they could licence everything, there just aren't enough genuine hits millions of people actually cared about to convincingly fill these compilations at the moment! Blame the general public, I normally do. They're too busy listening to Jack Michaelson songs from 43 years ago. That Now! can't get on anyway because of f**king licencing!

I don't like it when they go 'out of season' (even as a kid The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite which peaked in Feb' 93 getting on the autumn one annoyed me as it ruined the 'time capsule' effect) but then again some songs are rinsed by radio so hard for so long it can be easy to forget their original release dates anyway these days. Amazed the labels are happy with so many vintage songs blocking their new acts out of the chart or maybe they don't care about that anymore. This is definitely going down as the year when the public went almost fully retro and barely gave a turd about new music. What are most people gonna even remember about 2026 musically? Mid Harry Styles and Olivia Rodrigo comeback songs but mainly Billie Jean, Lush Life and Go? This year might end up with no defining big new pop moments unless someone pulls their finger out. Let's hope the second half of the year is stronger.

They're going to have to scrape the barrel harder than ever. Personally I'd just use anything that's recently been on the Radio 1 playlist that they can possibly license but that idea might not have that much commercial appeal even if I'd love seeing all the B and C-list dance get on and bands like South Arcade, then again they're only really selling to dedicated collectors anyway now who'll buy whatever. Did someone say the last one sold 7,000 in its first week? Let's face it, this is just a dying concept now people can just make their own playlists of recent airplay tunes.

I don't expect every track to have gone Top 40 or even Top 100 but Now 123 had several that hadn't even touched a radio playlist as far as I know. Now that's scraping the barrel! Unless things pick up very quickly I don't see how they can credibly produce a summer edition this year.