Señor Hugo

Capital and Fresh are on it. I reckon this is going to be a big hit.

Might they release their duet with Lily Allen to save themselves?

Well Fresh Radio is a hit music station with a rock/pop bias. The playlist, however, is well balanced, IMO.

Fresh Radio - All The Hits - Main Playlist: Amy Studt – Nice Boys (Wawa Remix) Bat For Lashes – Daniel Bloc Party – One Month Off Britney Spears – Circus Cage the Elephant – Back Against The Wall Daniel Merriweather – Change David Guetta – Everytime We Touch Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream Esser – Let's Work It Out Fall Out Boy – America's Suitehearts Fight Like Apes – Tie Me Up With Jackets Frank Turner – Reasons Not To Be An Idiot Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses Gary Go – Wonderful Grammatics – Shadow Committee *NEW* Ida Maria – Oh My God Innerpartysystem – Don't Stop Jem – It's Amazing Johnny Foreigner – Lea Room Jordin Sparks – One Step at a Time Justice – Tthhee Ppaarrttyy Katy Perry – Thinking of You *NEW* Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You Kings of Leon – Revelry La Roux – In For The Kill Lady GaGa – Just Dance Ladyhawke – Paris Is Burning *NEW* Laura Izibor – Shine Lily Allen – The Fear Lisa Mitchell – Neopolitan Dreams Little Boots – Stuck on Repeat Metro Station – Shake It MGMT – Time to Pretend Miley Cyrus – Fly on the Wall My Chemical Romance – Desolation Row Noisettes – Don't Upset the Rhythm *NEW* Passion Pit – Sleepy Head Pete and The Pirates – Blood Gets Thin Ray LaMontagne – You Are The Best Thing Red Light Company – Arts & Crafts Scouting for Girls – Keep On Walking Starsailor – Tell Me It's Not Over September – Can't Get Over Shontelle – T-Shirt T.I. ft. Justin Timberlake – Dead And Gone *NEW* Taylor Swift – Love Story *NEW* The Airborne Toxic Event – Sometime around Midnight The All-American Rejects – Gives You Hell The Fray – You Found Me The Killers – Spaceman Coldplay – Life in Technicolour II The King Blues – Save The World, Get the Girl The Prodigy – Omen The Pussycat Dolls – Whatcha Think About That *NEW* The Rifles – Fall To Sorrow The Rifles – Romeo And Julie *NEW* The Script – Talk You Down The View – Shock Horror TV on the Radio – Dancing Choose U2 – Get On Your Boots VV Brown – Leave White Lies – To Lose My Life

Eventually? They already are! That was my point. Global Radio will be the ruination of good radio in this country.

Spot the difference between Galaxy and Capital's playlists. One or two more dancey/hip hoppy songs on Galaxy and Coldplay and The Script on Capital. That's it.

Red Dragon has because it was even crapper before. Capital, Richard Clarke aside, has declined immeasurably over the last year or so.

Capital's music team has gone right down the ******* since Sheena Mason left last year. The Hit Music Network, that Capital pioneers, is an absolute shambles. The main playlist is poor, ignoring some of the UK's most popular bands, like Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight. As for the level of rap and hip-hop - absolute nonsense. The people of London do NOT want to hear an Akon song every hour. Anything he is involved in is immediately playlisted by Capital nowadays. I'm sorry to say that it's utter crap. Even worse, is Capital's recurrents policy. The recurrent bank is boring, dull, repetitive and tiresome. They say they have embarked on a policy of not playing guitar music. The theory itself is the work of an absolute idiot. A hit music station cannot ignore any of the four genres of pop, rock/indie, RnB/hip-hop and dance. This leaves the recurrents bank sounding even more lame than ever. The stupidity of it all, however, is compounded by the fact that they still playlist occasional American rock bands for new music. I can honestly say that Capital has never sounded worse than it has done for the last year or so, since Scott Muller and Sheena Mason left. RIP to our 95.8.

My mistake - Lady Gaga is in there. When I copy it on I have to remove all the "listen", "buy" etc. features that are on the playlist I get fed through, and I remember thinking I'd removed an extra song in doing so. Lady Gaga's been edited back in, that was my mistake! Pink - Sober and Girls Aloud - The Loving Kind have both been and gone from the official playlist. Alesha has never been playlisted by Fresh Radio.

Fresh Radio - All The Hits - Main Playlist: Amy Studt – Nice Boys (Wawa Remix) Bat For Lashes – Daniel Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) Bloc Party – One Month Off Britney Spears – Circus Cage the Elephant – Back Against The Wall Coldplay – Life in Technicolour II Daniel Merriweather – Change David Guetta – Everytime We Touch Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream Esser – Let's Work It Out Fall Out Boy – America's Suitehearts Fleet Foxes – Mykonos Frank Turner – Reasons Not To Be An Idiot Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses Gary Go – Wonderful Ida Maria – Oh My God Innerpartysystem – Don't Stop Jem – It's Amazing Johnny Foreigner – Lea Room Jordin Sparks – One Step at a Time Justice – Tthhee Ppaarrttyy Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You *NEW* Kid British – She Will Leave Kings of Leon – Revelry *NEW* La Roux – In For The Kill *NEW* Lady Gaga - Just Dance Laura Izibor – Shine Lily Allen – The Fear Lisa Mitchell – Neopolitan Dreams Little Boots – Stuck on Repeat *NEW* Metro Station – Shake It Miley Cyrus – Fly on the Wall MGMT – Time to Pretend *NEW* Noisettes – Wild Young Hearts Passion Pit – Sleepy Head Pete and The Pirates – Blood Gets Thin Ray LaMontagne – You Are The Best Thing Razorlight – Hostage Of Love Red Light Company – Arts & Crafts Scouting for Girls – Keep On Walking *NEW* September – Can't Get Over *NEW* Shontelle – T-Shirt Starsailor – Tell Me It's Not Over *NEW* The Airborne Toxic Event – Sometime around Midnight The All-American Rejects – Gives You Hell The Fray – You Found Me The Killers – Spaceman The King Blues – Save The World, Get the Girl The Prodigy – Omen *NEW* The Rifles – Fall To Sorrow The Saturdays – Issues The Script – Talk You Down *NEW* The View – Shock Horror TV on the Radio – Dancing Choose U2 – Get On Your Boots *NEW* VV Brown – Leave White Lies – To Lose My Life

Passion Pit's "Sleepy Head" is, indeed, being released. Great tune. Three cheers for Bat for Lashes too.

Fresh Radio - All The Hits - Main Playlist: Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah Amy Studt – Nice Boys (Wawa Radio Edit) *NEW* Bat For Lashes – Daniel *NEW* Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) Bloc Party – One Month Off Britney Spears – Circus Cage The Elephant - Back Against The Wall Coldplay – Life in Technicolour II Daniel Merriweather – Change David Guetta – Everytime We Touch Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream *NEW* Esser – Let's Work It Out Fall Out Boy – America's Suitehearts Fe-Nix – Lady Baby (My Boo) Fleet Foxes – Mykonos Frank Turner – Reasons Not To Be An Idiot Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses Gary Go – Wonderful Ida Maria – Oh My God Innerpartysystem – Don't Stop *NEW* Jem – It's Amazing Johnny Foreigner – Lea Room *NEW* Jordin Sparks – One Step at a Time Justice – Tthhee Ppaarrttyy Kanye West – Heartless Kid British – She Will Leave Lady GaGa – Just Dance Laura Izibor – Shine Lily Allen – The Fear Lisa Mitchell – Neopolitan Dreams Metro Station – Shake It *NEW* Miley Cyrus – Fly on the Wall *NEW* Noisettes – Wild Young Hearts Passion Pit – Sleepy Head *NEW* Pete and The Pirates – Blood Gets Thin *NEW* Ray LaMontagne – You Are The Best Thing *NEW* Razorlight – Hostage Of Love Red Light Company – Arts & Crafts Shontelle – T-Shirt *NEW* The Airborne Toxic Event – Sometime around Midnight The All-American Rejects – Gives You Hell *NEW* The Fray – You Found Me The Gaslight Anthem – Old White Lincoln The Killers – Spaceman The King Blues – Save The World, Get the Girl The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die *NEW* The Rifles – Fall To Sorrow The Saturdays – Issues The View – Shock Horror *NEW* TV on the Radio – Dancing Choose VV Brown – Leave *NEW* White Lies – To Lose My Life *NEW* * Note that this week's playlist is the first after the festive period hiatus.

I've now rectified the first post to include the official link.

Didn't enjoy their coverage at all. The Hull - Newcastle game seemd to get more coverage than Forest's shock win. That seemed fatuous to me, and I'm a Newcastle fan! Incidentally, do Setanta have a highlights show of its own at any time?

If you're into music and fancy landing yourself an i-pod, click here to do some music research for Fresh Media.

Is that flabbergasted expression meant in a good way or a bad way?!

SO, the final results are in! Here are YOUR favourite songs of 2008: *1* - The Killers – Human - 55 2 - Britney Spears – Womanizer - 54 3 - Pink – So What – 45 =3 - Solange – I Decided (Freemasons Remix) – 45 5 - Fall Out Boy – I Don't Care - 40 6 - Vampire Weekend – A-Punk - 39 = 6 - VV Brown – Crying Blood- 39 7 - M.I.A. – Paper Planes - 38 8 - Panic at the Disco – Nine in the Afternoon – 37 9 - Gabriella Cilmi – Save the Lies – 35 10 - Alphabeat – Fascination - 33 11 - The Script – Breakeven - 32 12 - Sara Bareilles – Love Song - 30 13 - The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved - 27 = 13 - The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over - 27 15 - Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire - 26 = 15 - Sonny J – Handsfree – 26 = 15 - Robyn – Be Mine – 26 18 - Ida Maria – Better When You're Naked - 25 = 18 - Sandi Thom – The Devil's Beat – 25 20 - Cherish – Killa – 24 21 - Adele – Chasing Pavements – 23 22 - Little Jackie – The World Should Revolve Around Me – 21 23 - The Automatic – Steve McQueen - 20 = 23 - Leona Lewis – Forgive Me - 20 25 - Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down - 18 = 25 - Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me - 18 = 25 - September – Cry for You - 18 28 - Red Light Company – Scheme Eugene – 15 = 28 - Amy Macdonald – Run - 15 = 28 - Alicia Keys – Teenage Love Affair - 15 = 28 - One Night Only – Just For Tonight - 15 = 28 - Alex Gaudino – Watch Out - 15 33 - Duffy – Warwick Avenue - 12 34 - Miley Cyrus – 7 Things - 10 = 34 - T.I. – Live Your Life (ft. Rihanna) - 10 = 34 - Sam Sparro – Black & Gold - 10 = 34 - Mêlée – Built to Last - 10 = 34 - Ladyhawke – My Delirium - 10 = 34 - Jack McManus – Bang On The Piano - 10 = 34 - Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal - 10 = 34 - Das Pop – Underground - 10 = 34 - Annie – I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me - 10 = 34 - One Republic – Stop & Stare - 10 = 34 - David Jordan – Sun Goes Down - 10 45 - Black Kids – I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - 7 = 45 - Coldplay – Viva la Vida - 7 = 45 - Elbow - One Day Like This - 7 48 - The Zutons – Always Right Behind You - 5 = 48 - The Feeling – Without You - 5 = 48 - Sneaky Sound System – Pictures - 5 = 48 - Sam Beeton – What You Look For - 5 = 48 - Razorlight – Wire To Wire - 5 = 48 - Michael Bublé – Lost - 5 = 48 - Foo Fighters – Long Road to Ruin - 5 55 - Cajun Dance Party – The Race - 4 56 - The Hoosiers – Worst Case Scenario - 2 Thanks for voting!

The station has actually given one of its *exceptional* playlist spots to 'Fantastic Six' by Alphabeat. Uusally those spots are reserved for songs that come back into the charts due to an advert/film or something like Coldplay - Viva La Vida which isn't actually scheduled for release or even something like Beyoncé - Listen which some stations are playing at the moment. I'm certain that Fresh will continue to hammer out 'Fascination', and more besides, for a while to come yet from Alphabeat. Let's just hope they're re-signed.

2008's Top 10 Singles: 10 - Chris Brown - With You 9 - The Feeling - I Thought It Was Over 8 - Ida Maria - Better When You're Naked 7 - Panic At The Disco - Nine In The Afternoon 6 - Kid Rock - All Summer Long 5 - Miley Cyrus - See You Again 4 - Panic At The Disco - That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed) 3 - Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me 2 - The Killers - Human *1* - Alphabeat - Fascination 2008's Top 10 Acts: 10 - Scouting For Girls 9 - Kaiser Chiefs 8 - Mika 7 - The Feeling 6 - Panic At The Disco 5 - Razorlight 4 - Gabriella Cilmi 3 - The Fratellis 2 - The Killers *1* - Alphabeat 2008's Top 10 Bands: 10 - Nickelback 9 - The Kooks 8 - Scouting For Girls 7 - Kaiser Chiefs 6 - The Feeling 5 - Panic At The Disco 4 - Razorlight 3 - The Fratellis 2 - The Killers *1* - Alphabeat 2008's Top 10 Female Solo Artists: 10 - Robyn 9 - Rihanna 8 - Britney Spears 7 - Jordin Sparks 6 - KT Tunstall 5 - Duffy 4 - Adele 3 - Miley Cyrus 2 - Ida Maria *1* - Gabriella Cilmi 2008's Top 10 Male Solo Artists: 10 - Usher 9 - James Morrison 8 - Sonny J 7 - Jack Peñate 6 - Chris Brown 5 - James Blunt 4 - Kid Rock 3 - Newton Faulkner 2 - Jack McManus *1* - Mika - Please note that all Top 10s have been decided in terms of airplay on Fresh Radio over the course of 2008.

The Killers – Human - 55 (+10) Britney Spears – Womanizer - 54 (-3) Vampire Weekend – A-Punk - 39 M.I.A. – Paper Planes - 38 Pink – So What – 45 Gabriella Cilmi – Save the Lies – 35 Solange – I Decided (Freemasons Remix) – 45 VV Brown – Crying Blood- 39 The Script – Breakeven - 32 Panic at the Disco – Nine in the Afternoon – 37 (+10) Sonny J – Handsfree – 26 Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire - 26 Ida Maria – Better When You're Naked - 25 Sandi Thom – The Devil's Beat – 25 Sara Bareilles – Love Song - 30 Fall Out Boy – I Don't Care - 40 Alphabeat – Fascination - 33 (+10) The Script – The Man Who Can't Be Moved - 27 The Feeling – I Thought It Was Over - 27 Robyn – Be Mine – 26 Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down - 18 Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me - 18 (+2) The Automatic – Steve McQueen - 20 Leona Lewis – Forgive Me - 20 Adele – Chasing Pavements – 23 (+10) T.I. – Live Your Life (ft. Rihanna) - 10 Sam Sparro – Black & Gold - 10 Mêlée – Built to Last - 10 Ladyhawke – My Delirium - 10 Jack McManus – Bang On The Piano - 10 Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal - 10 Das Pop – Underground - 10 Annie – I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me - 10 Amy Macdonald – Run - 15 Alicia Keys – Teenage Love Affair - 15 Miley Cyrus – 7 Things - 10 Red Light Company – Scheme Eugene – 15 September – Cry for You - 18 Duffy – Warwick Avenue - 12 Coldplay – Viva la Vida - 7 Black Kids – I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - 7 Cherish – Killa – 24 The Zutons – Always Right Behind You - 5 The Feeling – Without You - 5 Sneaky Sound System – Pictures - 5 Sam Beeton – What You Look For - 5 Razorlight – Wire To Wire - 5 One Republic – Stop & Stare - 10 One Night Only – Just For Tonight - 15 Michael Bublé – Lost - 5 Little Jackie – The World Should Revolve Around Me – 21 Foo Fighters – Long Road to Ruin - 5 David Jordan – Sun Goes Down - 10 Alex Gaudino – Watch Out - 15 Elbow - One Day Like This - 7 (+3) Cajun Dance Party – The Race - 4 The Hoosiers – Worst Case Scenario - 2 Cassie – Is It You? - 2 Alphabeat – Boyfriend – 13 Chris Brown – With You – 2 Adele – Make You Feel My Love - 1 Ava Leigh – Mad About the Boy - 1 Ida Maria – Oh My God - 1 Jordin Sparks – Tattoo - 8 Miley Cyrus – See You Again - 2 (+2) The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name – 1

What do you think then?

- Blur will have a "The Verve" style comeback massive single and album then nothing much else Possibly. I think they could sustain themselves actually. - U2 will have a number one single and album. Quite possibly. - Eminem's album will be number one but it will be Dido style eg. the album will then fall and flop No chance. Eminem's a dead dog. - Alexandra Burke's debut album will beat Leona's record for debut album I think she'll do very well. I'd be extremely surprised if she topped Leona's debut album though. Let's not forget that Leona's success was absolutely gargantuan. - Aerosmith will go to number one in the album's following Metallica and AC/DC I think Aerosmith will, indeed, go number one. - McFly will split in around May time Impossible to say. - Green Day will return with a Kings of Leon style comeback massive single and massive album. They'll have a big comeback, without doubt. - Mika will return and flop I think Mika has taken his time over this second album and I feel as though it could be just as huge as his first one. Let's hope he does well, anyway! Anyway, here are my hot tips for 2009: - Florence & The Machine . Let's get the obvious out of the way first. They've already won the Brit Awards' prestigious "Critics' Choice Award" so Florence is guaranteed some success. 'Dog Days Are Over' showcased the immense talents that the band have to offer. Florence is in the mould of Kate Nash; except Florence is actually good. - VV Brown . Vanessa Brown has got to be THE one to look out for next year. With an amazing voice and some rather hot records to go with it, what could possibly go wrong? "Crying Blood" was released on 7” a couple of months ago and signalled the awesome potential of this girl. Sure to do well next year. - Jay Jay Pistolet . He has already shone in debut single "Happy Birthday You" and it is certainly possible that 2009 could be Jay's breakthrough year. A fantastic singer/songwriter. - Esser . Original and cutting-edge are words banded about all too easily these days, but Esser is deserving of such attributions. 2008 has been a reasonably good year for him with "Satisfied" and "Headlock" both making waves. "Work It Out" is next up for early next year and could be a big'un. - Lady GaGa . The first number one of 2009, methinks. Ms. GaGa will be pop personified next year. - Little Boots . If you like Alphabeat, you'll love Little Boots. Hotter than hot. - Noisettes . As far as I'm concerned, Noisettes squeezed one of the best songs of the year out for 2008, albeit late on - the single being released on December 29th. "Wild Young Hearts" is followed by their new album and 2009 could be their year. - La Roux . A listen to La Roux defines what 2009's chart will probably sound like. - The Temper Trap . The Temper Trap could well restore some decent indie to the charts next year. - Frankmusic . Frankmusic's catchy sound is sure to have you all on your feet next year. - Ava Leigh . This girl's rather an anomaly. She's a Bob Marley influenced ska/reggae singer, yet she's a blonde Cheshire lass. Her refreshing sound could do well next year. - Laura Izibor . Laura Izibvor, Ireland's answer to Aretha Franklin, certainly deserves success next year. Let's hope she gets it! - Jem . The rather odd little Welsh girl Jem, who had a hit with that equally odd track 'They', returns early next year. What you may not know, however, is that she returns off the back of massive chart success across the pond. From the soundtrack of the 'Sex and the City' movie, 'It's Amazing' kicks things off on January 19th. - Paula DeAnda . Paula has been on the scene for a while in the USA and her ridiculously catchy RnB/pop sounds could well make a mark on the UK charts next year too. Look out for 'Stunned Out', featuring Yung Joc. - Johnny Foreigner . A rather cool little band hit our airwaves with "DJs Get Doubts" early next year, after having some success with their debut album. In the mould of Noah & The Whale. - The Rifles . The Rifles have plundered along for some time without quite ever gaining quite the recognition they deserve. Perhaps the release of their new album, coupled with the excellent "Fall To Sorrow" will help them on to Radio 1's playlist. - Red Light Company . Another excellent band to emerge in 2008, Red Light Company could go on to even bigger things in '09. - Lisa Mitchell . Lisa has rather an interesting story. She was born here in England, before moving to Australia at an early age. There she was runner-up on Australian Idol and her inimitable debut album has charmed those down under already. She's now back in Great Britain and her haunting sounds are showcased by 'Neopolitan Dreams', released January 19th. This tune has already featured in a certain washing powder ad and promises to be stuck in your head for a long time. She's an immense talent, in the mould of a Laura Marling, Yael Naim or Regina Spektor. - White Lies . Could get even bigger next year. - The King Blues . Post-punk and reggae rockers King Blues sound fresh and original. 'Save The World Get The Girl' could be a huge hit early next year.

They should have released "Fantastic Six". That might have saved them. Still seems an utterly bizarre decision.

These girls are an absolutely awesome new girl band from the States. They've been making waves back in the USA but I'm informed that Universal are releasing them in the UK first to test the water. I've heard a few of their tracks and have been really impressed. Aside from that, I personally feel they have the charisma, determination and feistiness that a lot of girl bands in the market at the moment simply do not possess. Have a look at their stuff and let me know what you think. I predict a massive hit for 2009! P.S. I should also link their official website.

Not long left for the voting now folks. 00:00 January 1st is closing time.