Señor Hugo

In fairness, Radio 1 still haven't playlisted "Jackie Collins". The Manics' tune comes out in a few weeks and they haven't been far behind anyone else. This playlist is the hottest and freshest out there, in my opinion.

True - but that's on analogue. You can pick up both XFM and Kerrang! virtually everywhere in the UK on DAB radio. I'm not a massive fan of Kerrang! but XFM does play some tip top indie/rock/alternative music.

I believe they first registered as www.capitalfm.com officially. They've always also used www.capitalfm.co.uk - which is what the former used to redirect to. When they rebranded to Capital Radio in '06 they changed the web address to www.capitalradio.com which would redirect to www.capitalfm.co.uk and then to www.capitalradio.co.uk. The official web address is currently www.capitalfm.com again, but redirects to www.capitalradio.co.uk still! I think all four have been in action since they launched their website in the 90s.

Erm...pure pop is what Capital are trying to do now. They've just interpreted it as more RnB than rock. In the UK we have a lot of CHR stations. Most play more rock than RnB, that's why you have that impression. The only reason is because rock/pop is more popular with listeners. There are a whole load of dance/RnB specialist stations: KISS and GALAXY are both all over the country. There're other stations like JUICE etc. There're also specialist rock/indie/alternative stations like XFM and KERRANG!. Then CHR stations have to provide the middle ground. My argument is that Capital sounded better with its format which leaned more towards indie/rock/pop.

I'm talking as far back as the 90s, when they did pure pop, similar to now - but with less RnB/hip hop rubbish. Yes, though, my favourite period at Capital was Scott Muller's reign from September 2007-December 2008; a very listenable hit music /pop-rock slanted format.

And it used to be a great radio station.

A slight improvement. They seem now to be splitting the Capital and XFM playlist so they barely cover any of the same artists.

I'll try and correct that!

Fresh Radio - All The Hits - Main Playlist: Bat for Lashes – Daniel Bat for Lashes – Moon and Moon *NEW* Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow Britney Spears – If U See Amy Carolina Liar – Show Me What I'm Looking For Ciara – Love Sex Magic (feat. Justin Timberlake) Daniel Merriweather – Red David Guetta – When Love Takes Over (feat. Kelly Rowland) Demi Lovato – La La Land Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden – Bonkers Empire of the Sun – We Are the People Fightstar – Mercury Summer Frankmusik – Better Off As Two Freemasons ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) *NEW* Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool Golden Silvers – True Romance Green Day – Know Your Enemy hockey – Learn to Lose Jack Peñate – Be The One *NEW* Jack Peñate – Tonight's Today Just Jack – Embers Kasabian – Fire Kelly Clarkson – I Do Not Hook Up Keri Hilson – Return The Favour *NEW* La Roux – Bulletproof La Roux – In for the Kill Ladyhawke – Back of the Van Laura Izibor – Don't Stay Lily Allen – Not Fair Little Boots – New In Town Manic Street Preachers – Jackie Collins' Existential Question Time *NEW* Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover Maxïmo Park – The Kids Are Sick Again Metro Station – Shake It Miley Cyrus – The Climb Noisettes – Don't Give Up Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm Passion Pit – The Reeling Patrick Wolf – The Vulture Pink – Please Don't Leave Me Pixie Lott – Mama Do Placebo – For What It's Worth *NEW* Röyksopp – The Girl And The Robot (feat. Robyn) Scott Matthews – Fractured Snow Patrol – The Planets Bend Between Us *NEW* Star Pilots – In The Heart Of The Night Taylor Swift – Teardrops on My Guitar Team Waterpolo – Room 44 Temper Trap – Science of Fear The All-American Rejects – I Wanna *NEW* The Fray – Never Say Never *NEW* The Gossip – Heavy Cross The Killers – The World We Live In The Maccabees – Love You Bette The Prodigy – Warrior's Dance The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho The Saturdays – Work *NEW* The Veronicas – Untouched Tommy Sparks – She's Got Me Dancing U2 – Magnificent White Lies – Farewell to the Fairground Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero Zarif – Let Me Back

Actually, I find him quite endearing. And usually I can't stand his type of music!

Fresh Radio - All The Hits - Main Playlist Bat for Lashes – Daniel Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow Bloc Party – Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix) Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy Carolina Liar – Show Me What I'm Looking For *NEW* Ciara – Love Sex Magic (feat. Justin Timberlake) Daniel Merriweather – Red *NEW* David Guetta – When Love Takes Over (feat. Kelly Rowland) *NEW* Demi Lovato – La La Land Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden – Bonkers *NEW* Empire of the Sun – We Are the People Esser – Headlock Fightstar – Mercury Summer Frankmusik – Better Off As Two Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool Girls Aloud – Untouchable Golden Silvers – True Romance Green Day – Know Your Enemy hockey – Learn to Lose *NEW* Jack Peñate – Tonight's Today Just Jack – Embers Kasabian – Fire Kelly Clarkson – I Do Not Hook Up *NEW* La Roux – Bulletproof La Roux – In for the Kill Lady GaGa – PokerFace Ladyhawke – Back of the Van Laura Izibor – Don't Stay Lily Allen – Not Fair Little Boots – New In Town Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover Maxïmo Park – The Kids Are Sick Again Metro Station – Shake It Miley Cyrus – The Climb Noisettes – Don't Give Up Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm Passion Pit – The Reeling Patrick Wolf – The Vulture Pink – Please Don't Leave Me Pixie Lott – Mama Do Rochelle – Chin Up Röyksopp – The Girl And The Robot (feat. Robyn) Scott Matthews – Fractured Star Pilots – In The Heat Of The Night Steve Appleton – Dirty Funk Taylor Swift – Teardrops on My Guitar Team Waterpolo – Room 44 *NEW* The Gossip – Heavy Cross *NEW* The Killers – The World We Live In The Maccabees – Love You Better The Panics – Don't Fight It The Prodigy – Warrior's Dance The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho The Temper Trap – Science of Fear *NEW* The Veronicas – Untouched The Virgins – Rich Girls Tommy Sparks – She's Got Me Dancing Trip – River Phoenix U2 – Magnificent White Lies – Farewell to the Fairground Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero Zarif – Let Me Back

A very happy birthday, Tom!

Sometimes a radio station will avoid playlisting certain songs because their playlist is stylistically directed in a certain way. Whether or not this may later turn out to be a mistake is a question. Besides, the charts don't have any real effect on radio station's playlisting - they're decided by the buying habits of the pocket money of pre-adolescent girls. Radio groups spend millions of pounds testing songs on their audience. Looking back at number ones since Fresh Radio launched, however, there have been 32 of them. Fresh have playlisted 28 of them. The four they ignored were Calvin Harris, (Barry) Islands In The Stream, Basshunter and Eva Cassidy & Katie Melua. The Fresh Playlist is now aimed at indie/pop/electro primarily (with elements of rock, RnB, other dance).

Oops, sorry about that White Lies fans. Edited it now to include the "White" part! Yeah, Friendly Fires are good lads who make great music. Fresh have supported Noisettes all the way through this album since "Wild Young Hearts" was released on 7 inch, so great to see them doing so well now!

Fresh Radio - All The Hits - Main Playlist: Bat for Lashes – Daniel Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow Bloc Party – Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix) Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy Ciara – Love Sex Magic (feat. Justin Timberlake) Demi Lovato – La La Land Empire of the Sun – We Are the People Esser – Headlock Fightstar – Mercury Summer Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal Frankmusik – Better Off As Two Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool *NEW* Friendly Fires – Skeleton Boy Girls Aloud – Untouchable Golden Silvers – True Romance Green Day – Know Your Enemy *NEW* hockey – Song Away Jack Peñate – Tonight's Today James Morrison – Please Don't Stop the Rain Jason Mraz – Make It Mine Just Jack – Embers Kasabian – Fire *NEW* Kid British – Sunny Days La Roux – Bulletproof *NEW* La Roux – In for the Kill Lady GaGa – PokerFace Ladyhawke – Back of the Van Laura Izibor – Don't Stay Lily Allen – Not Fair Little Boots – New In Town Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover Maxïmo Park – The Kids Are Sick Again Metro Station – Shake It Miley Cyrus – The Climb Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm Noisettes – Never Forget You *NEW* Passion Pit – The Reeling Patrick Wolf – The Vulture Pink – Please Don't Leave Me Pixie Lott – Mama Do *NEW* Rochelle – Chin Up Röyksopp – The Girl And The Robot (feat. Robyn) Scott Matthews – Fractured Star Pilots – In The Heart Of The Night Steve Appleton – Dirty Funk Taylor Swift – Teardrops on My Guitar *NEW* The Enemy – No Time For Tears The Killers – The World We Live In The Maccabees – Love You Better The Panics – Don't Fight It The Prodigy – Warrior's Dance The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho The Temper Trap – Science of Fear *NEW* The View – Temptation Dice The Virgins – Rich Girls Tommy Sparks – She's Got Me Dancing Trip – River Phoenix Twisted Wheel – We Are Us U2 – Magnificent White Lies – Farewell to the Fairground Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero Zarif – Let Me Back

Just to mention that Radio 1 have changed their playlist to the Friday the week before the playlist is actually published online. I'm not sure whether this affects when the songs start being played, but I believe that they used to have playlist day on the Tuesday before the Wednesday publishing of the playlist.

Has anyone heard this tune yet? Great new band. I heard the song just a couple of weeks ago and instantly sat up. Now the more I hear it, the better it becomes. If I were to recommend one song to anyone at the moemnt, it would be this one - best thing I've heard in ages. What do you think to it? Listen here.

And Fresh's most played tunes of the last week: 1) Tommy Sparks – She's Got Me Dancing = Rochelle – Chin Up = Jack Peñate – Tonight's Today = La Roux – In for the Kill = Frankmusik – Better Off As Two = Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm = Bat for Lashes – Daniel = Friendly Fires – Skeleton Boy 9) The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho = Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls = hockey – Too Fake = Lady GaGa – Poker Face 13) The Virgins – Rich Girls = The Panics – Don't Fight It = The Gaslight Anthem – Great Expectations = Twisted Wheel - We Are Us

Fresh Radio Playlist: Bat for Lashes – Daniel Beyoncé – Halo Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow Bloc Party – Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix) Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy Ciara – Love Sex Magic (feat. Justin Timberlake) Demi Lovato – La La Land *NEW* Detroit Social Club – Sunshine People Empire of the Sun – We Are the People Ercola ft. Daniella – Every Word Esser – Headlock *NEW* Fightstar – Mercury Summer Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal Frankmusik – Better Off As Two Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls Friendly Fires – Skeleton Boy Girls Aloud – Untouchable *NEW* Golden Silvers – True Romance *NEW* hockey – Song Away India.Arie – Chocolate High Jack Peñate – Tonight's Today James Morrison – Please Don't Stop the Rain Jason Mraz – Make It Mine Just Jack – Embers Kasabian – Vlad The Impaler *NEW* Kid British – Sunny Days La Roux – In for the Kill Lady GaGa – PokerFace Lady Sovereign – So Human Ladyhawke – Back of the Van Laura Izibor – Don't Stay Lily Allen – Not Fair Little Boots – New In Town *NEW* Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover Maxïmo Park – The Kids Are Sick Again Metro Station – Shake It Miley Cyrus – The Climb Nickelback – I'd Come for You Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm Passion Pit – The Reeling *NEW* Patrick Wolf – The Vulture *NEW* Pink – Please Don't Leave Me Red Light Company – Meccano Rochelle – Chin Up Röyksopp – The Girl And The Robot (feat. Robyn) *NEW* Scott Matthews – Fractured Snow Patrol – If There's a Rocket Tie Me to It Star Pilots – In The Heart Of The Night Steve Appleton – Dirty Funk The Enemy – No Time For Tears The Gaslight Anthem – Great Expectations The Killers – The World We Live In *NEW* The Maccabees – Love You Better The Panics – Don't Fight It The Prodigy – Warrior's Dance The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho The View – Temptation The Virgins – Rich Girls Tommy Sparks – She's Got Me Dancing Trip – River Phoenix Twisted Wheel – We Are Us U2 – Magnificent White Lies – Farewell to the Fairground Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero Zarif – Let Me Back

FRESH RADIO PLAYLIST Bat For Lashes – Daniel Beyoncé – Halo Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy Ciara – Love Sex Magic (Feat. Justin Timberlake) Detroit Social Club – Sunshine People DJ Perempay & Dee / Katie Pearl – In The Air Doves – Kingdom of Rust Empire of the Sun – We Are The People Ercola ft. Daniella – Every Word Fightstar – Mercury Summer Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal Frankmusik – Better Off As Two Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls Friendly Fires – Skeleton Boy Gaslight Anthem – Great Expectations Hockey – Too Fake India.Arie – Chocolate High Jack Peñate – Tonight's Today James Morrison – Please Don't Stop the Rain Jason Mraz – Make It Mine Katy Perry – Thinking of You Kid British – Sunny Days La Roux – In For The Kill Lady GaGa – PokerFace Lady Sovereign – So Human Ladyhawke – Paris Is Burning Laura Izibor – Don't Stay Lily Allen – Not Fair Maccabees – Love You Better Marmaduke Duke – Rubber Lover Maxïmo Park – The Kids Are Sick Again Metro Station – Shake It Nickelback – I'd Come for You Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm Oasis – Falling Down Panics - Don't Fight It Peter Bjorn and John – Nothing To Worry About Pink – Please Don't Leave Me Red Light Company – Meccano Rochelle – Chin Up Scouting for Girls – Keep On Walking Snow Patrol – If There's a Rocket Tie Me to It The Enemy – No Time For Tears The Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho The Rakes – 1989 The Rifles – Romeo And Julie The Script – Talk You Down The View – Temptation Dice The Virgins – Rich Girls Tommy Sparks – She's Got Me Dancing Trip – River Phoenix Twisted Wheel – We Are Us U2 – Magnificent White Lies – Farewell to the Fairground Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero NEW ADDITIONS: Star Pilots – In The Heart Of The Night Miley Cyrus – The Climb The Prodigy – Warrior's Dance Hockey – Song Away Steve Appleton – Dirty Funk Zarif – Let Me Back Scott Matthews – Fractured Ladyhawke – Back of the Van Bloc Party – Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix) Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow Passion Pit – The Reeling

No stations's really picked up on Untouchable as yet. It'll definitely find a spot on all of Radio 1, Fresh and Capital's playlist in due course.

Both Rochelle and Empire of the Sun's tracks are floorfillers. Rochelle is definitely electro-pop. They also have other dancey tracks on there like DJ Perempay, Doman and Gooding, Ercola, Frankmusik, Jack Peñate, La Roux, Noisettes and Tommy Sparks.

The audience figures would disagree with you. Scott Muller was axed, inexplicably, after Q3 2007. Here are the figures: Under Scott Muller: Q3 2007: 1.707 million listeners Since he left: Q4 2007: 1.517million listeners Q1 2008: 1.563million listeners Q2 2008: 1.617million listeners Q3 2008: 1.599million listeners Q4 2008: 1.624million listeners I think anyone in the industry will tell you that Capital sounded immeasurably better under his governorship.

Detroit Social Club are ones to look out for.

I've said before that Capital's playlisting has been mediocre since old boss Scott Muller left. The former head of music, Sheena Mason, also left soon after. That said, the playlist size had increased to about 45-50 songs. Recently, a lack of new additions every week (you'll notice that the quoted new additions are actually new over the course of the last three weeks) has seen it dip back down to 40. Extremely odd, especially since the station has taken on a fresher sound lately. Their old "95.8 Capital FM" jingles also relaunched today for the first time since 2005.