Phantom FM, indie rock?

Tyrrial

Not that i want to put down the only radio station that plays music i listen to (be in hidden away between songs i hate) but i'm finding it really hard to listen to phantom on a daily basis.

I'm no indie purest, but i really think that for the most part they've lost their way, and fallen into the same annoying repetitive play-listing as most other stations. hope i'm not the only person finding myself turning off phantom when they start play the bloody delarento's for the 500th time.

in a side note, any good internet indie stations that people could suggest.

cinnamon girl

I have no problem with them playing Delorentos, although I'm not necessarily their biggest fan. They are an indie band, and they're Irish and I think Phantom should be in the business of promoting Irish indie bands.

What gets me is all this crap American stadium rock they play like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Red Hot Chili Peppers etc. I suppose there are Phantom listeners who like that sort of thing but it really does undermine its claim to be an "indie" station.

vibrant

I think it's the same owners as XFM in the UK, is it? I listened to xfm through sky on the telly a few times, it is really similiar. Perhaps they have their "winning formula" and need to stick to it for advertisers, etc.

WAY too much AC/DC and Aerosmith for my liking, though. Indie, are they?

theevilmonkey

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/

Not just indie rock but that genre would form the basis of the station along with a good mix of themed shows (Bruce Dickinson has a rock show, Guy Garvey of Elbow has a show, Craig Charles has a Funk & Soul show...etc).

It's the station Phantom could only have been instead of concentrating solely on "breaking" indie acts and established rock.

Fremen

BBC radio 6 has some good shows. You can listen to it on bbc iplayer (I think. You may need an English IP address. Use a proxy if you have to).

Adam and Joe do a great show on Saturday mornings, which is recorded so you can listen to it at a more civilised hour. Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio hour and Cerys Matthews' show are very good too.

Edit : DAMN YOU MONKEY!

theevilmonkey

You can get it on ntl/upc, sky as well I think, and on the Iplayer with an Irish address.

Gotta say that Cerys Matthews is a head wrecker...Lauren is much better IMO.

Fremen wrote: »

BBC radio 6 has some good shows. You can listen to it on bbc iplayer (I think. You may need an English IP address. Use a proxy if you have to).

Adam and Joe do a great show on Saturday mornings, which is recorded so you can listen to it at a more civilised hour. Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio hour and Cerys Matthews' show are very good too.

Edit : DAMN YOU MONKEY!

Slaphead07

I don't know if "indie" would be how Phantom pitched their licence bid, I suspect "alternative" would be closer to the truth. That said they're heading towards the middle ground as if their arse was on fire. Simply being an alternative to dumb pop music stations isn't enough, my CD collection fills that void, they need to be a genuine alternatiove while still attracting advertisers. That last bit is the tricky part but they knew that when they asked for the license... didn't they?

GwenR

They were playing Catatonia earlier this week. Is a pop group from the mid 90s now considered indie?

Tyrrial

cinnamon girl wrote: »

I have no problem with them playing Delorentos, although I'm not necessarily their biggest fan. They are an indie band, and they're Irish and I think Phantom should be in the business of promoting Irish indie bands.

Completely agree, they are indie and irish and that is indeed what i would love to see more that sort of thing. But i really can't stand phantom over playing one or two indie irish bands during the day so that they can tell themselves how well they're doing promoting irish music.

deanodrummer

Tyrrial wrote: »

Completely agree, they are indie and irish and that is indeed what i would love to see more that sort of thing. But i really can't stand phantom over playing one or two indie irish bands during the day so that they can tell themselves how well they're doing promoting irish music.

Completely agree there man. I've been noticing that about Phantom the last while. A whole load of U2, AC/DC, RHCP getting played. Most of the Irish bands they play are pretty safe and some are just ****e. It's become a very cliquey station if ya know what I mean.

If they're gonna be really alternative and support Irish indie bands they should play bands that people don't know. Most good bands in Dublin or Ireland play indie/rock with a slightly edgy feel imho. The Irish bands played on Phantom, on the whole, are more of a pop-style and we can listen to the other junk stations for that.

Best bet for indie and alternative is to find it yourself on MySpace, Breaking Tunes, or WE7. Or go to gigs.

Tyrrial

I used last.fm before it wanted me to pay. and i'm a serial gig-goer, so that isn't really a problem.

it would just be nice to turn on the radio and maybe discover a band i wouldn't have otherwise heard...
maybe i should inform phantom that AC/DC isn't going to surprise anyone.

deanodrummer

Tyrrial wrote: »

I used last.fm before it wanted me to pay. and i'm a serial gig-goer, so that isn't really a problem.

it would just be nice to turn on the radio and maybe discover a band i wouldn't have otherwise heard...
maybe i should inform phantom that AC/DC isn't going to surprise anyone.

Yeah true that man. It's just that radio stations just seem to blend into corporate entities at some stage. Phantom's the best of a bad bunch, and they still have their moments, but they're not as good as when they first got the license.

I'm in an unsigned indie band and were gonna try get our new e.p played in the next few weeks, so if they are what they say they are they'll play us.

Dudess

Phantom needs to make money in order to stay on air, pay its staff, a myriad of other stuff... therefore it can't do the really indie/alternative thing. Playing mainstream-ish stuff was always an inevitability - the only revenue radio gets is advertising and sponsorship. Phantom is not going to be able to drum up much advertising if its output is too specialised. So it plays U2 and Snow Patrol a lot... better that than Cascada and Basshunter.
If it wanted to take its own direction and not "sell out" it would have remained a pirate - and it still caters for the more specialised tastes with niche shows. At the end of the day though, genre aside, it is a commercial radio station. It still beats Spin, 98FM, FM104, Q102 though... /shudders

deanodrummer

Dudess wrote: »

Phantom needs to make money in order to stay on air, pay its staff, a myriad of other stuff... therefore it can't do the really indie/alternative thing. Playing mainstream-ish stuff was always an inevitability - the only revenue radio gets is advertising and sponsorship. Phantom is not going to be able to drum up much advertising if its output is too specialised. So it plays U2 and Snow Patrol a lot... better that than Cascada and Basshunter.
If it wanted to take its own direction and not "sell out" it would have remained a pirate - and it still caters for the more specialised tastes with niche shows. At the end of the day though, genre aside, it is a commercial radio station. It still beats Spin, 98FM, FM104, Q102 though... /shudders

I think that's the point I'm trying to make. I'm not complaining about Phantom per se, I still listen to it and it's basically the only station I do listen to, just that lately it's getting a little too commercial. I don't mind if they have to pay their bills and generate revenue I would just prefer if they kept their ideology that they started out with.

If people want to hear Snow Patrol and bands of that nature they won't tune into Phantom anyways, because Q, FM104, 98FM are out there. Therefore the music played becomes too broad causing them to lose their core audience.

Frankiestylee

Phantom obviously have to make money, but while you may have to suffer more mainstream music at prime times, some of their other shows are quite decent.
The likes of i-con crams in a load of Irish content, the majority of which people wouldn't have heard before, and then Jim Carroll,James Byrne and the like do quite interesting late night shows.

lordgoat

Frankiestylee wrote: »

Phantom obviously have to make money, but while you may have to suffer more mainstream music at prime times, some of their other shows are quite decent.
The likes of i-con crams in a load of Irish content, the majority of which people wouldn't have heard before, and then Jim Carroll,James Byrne and the like do quite interesting late night shows.

I think Carroll's show is boring and he just tries to play a huge range of new bands be them good or crap.
Think you mean Derek Byrne, he used to have a great show on sunday evening called the album archive and i'd be a fan of him whenever he plays.
Cathal Funge is the best DJ on the station. I can't stand the two clowns from the morning show or Sinead Ni Woooorda. But i suppose they are still marginally better than Michelle Doherty who has the most annoying accent i have ever heard. Tune is pronounced chin, no lie.

Overall concessions had to be made to pay the bills, i had hoped it wouldn't have turned into such a generic and repetitive station at times.

Apologies to any of ye phantom dj's that wander through boards....

Gillington

deanodrummer wrote: »

I'm in an unsigned indie band and were gonna try get our new e.p played in the next few weeks, so if they are what they say they are they'll play us.

My mates band Clockwork Noise(unsigned alternative) have been played twice in the last couple of weeks on phantom,there stuff is pretty good so I dont know if that was the reaon or just pure persistence but,hey they played it.Ill find out what shows they were on and let you know.

Greentrees

was a big fan of Phantom before it went legit.. far too many new irish bands.. am all for supporting as am one myself but most are not even indie anymore

Dudess

deanodrummer wrote: »

I don't mind if they have to pay their bills and generate revenue I would just prefer if they kept their ideology that they started out with.

But you're kinda contradicting yourself. The two have to be mutually exclusive unfortunately, especially when times are so lean. If Ireland was as wealthy as it was until about five minutes ago, I bet Phantom's output would be a lot more interesting.

Tyrrial

So.. is it impossible to run a music station that doesn't need to grovel at the feet of big labels?
Phantom played great stuff for years, this licence lark is the real killer, suddenly your listeners are a demographic and you have to dumb down the music so that the advertisers feel that they're reaching their target audience...
Phantom needs a competitor.

cinnamon girl

James Byrne = James Byrne, not Derek Byrne.
Has a late Saturday night show which I always try to listen to if I'm around. Very good mix of old and new, and a lot of really obscure 80s stuff you wouldn't ever hear in a "normal" Phantom broadcast.

Michelle Doherty who has the most annoying accent i have ever heard

Agreed ... Donegal channeled through UCD.

conti

yeah I definitely noticed the transition when Phantom went legit. Fair enough there are lots of alternatives like internet radio stations, but it was handy to just tune in the wireless or radio on my mobile to hear a good local station playing independant music.
Now it's a local station playing mostly dull independant bands with management good enough to get them on the air. I still tune in all the same.

i102-104FM has some good shows though, although it's not being broadcast in Dublin, just midlands and Galway. Worth having a listen in online.

thorbarry

I find it really hard to listen to Phantom on a daily basis. If you listen to it regularly for 2/3 weeks, then its just the same songs, over and over again.... i like to listen for a week or two, then take maybe a month off

jane says

lordgoat wrote: »

I can't stand the two clowns from the morning show

This ruined it for me. Used to listen to it in the mornings, but why o fn why did they have to ape the inane chatter of other stations? There is enough of this claptrap on other stations anyway. Play music and shut the **** up.:mad:

Tyrrial

jane says wrote: »

This ruined it for me. Used to listen to it in the mornings, but why o fn why did they have to ape the inane chatter of other stations? There is enough of this claptrap on other stations anyway. Play music and shut the **** up.:mad:

considering some of the music i've been hearing the chatter can some times be a relief

Dudess

Tyrrial wrote: »

So.. is it impossible to run a music station that doesn't need to grovel at the feet of big labels?

A commercial station? Yes.

Phantom played great stuff for years, this licence lark is the real killer, suddenly your listeners are a demographic and you have to dumb down the music so that the advertisers feel that they're reaching their target audience

But that's what having a licence entails.

Frankiestylee

jane says wrote: »

This ruined it for me. Used to listen to it in the mornings, but why o fn why did they have to ape the inane chatter of other stations? There is enough of this claptrap on other stations anyway. Play music and shut the **** up.:mad:

Haven't been tuned in for the early shows, but I used to love Sinister Pete and his "I'm just cycling into work now... weather is a bit breezy but nice..." bit. He's got a bit of character without being over the top.

I remember reading somewhere that Phantom are kinda screwed ratings wise because alot of the groups surveyed are 35 year old women who don't listen to Phantom at all. Something like only 100 people apparently listening yet they had 1000 or so texts for a competition, kinda suggesting that their slice of the pie is bigger than what they're being credited with. I'm vague on details I'm afraid, but I may try find the comment somewhere.

Notorious

cinnamon girl wrote: »

I have no problem with them playing Delorentos, although I'm not necessarily their biggest fan. They are an indie band, and they're Irish and I think Phantom should be in the business of promoting Irish indie bands.

What gets me is all this crap American stadium rock they play like Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Red Hot Chili Peppers etc. I suppose there are Phantom listeners who like that sort of thing but it really does undermine its claim to be an "indie" station.

IMO Phantom concentrate far too much on the Irish scene. I used to listen everyday I was working last summer since I spent the days in a car. Have to say I found it extremely repetitive; I really only listened since 2FM and the likes don't appeal to me. Fair enough they're an Irish station so they should promote the Irish music scene, but there's only so much Delorentos and Ham Sandwich I can stand. TBH I think all that listening to Phantom really turned me against the Irish scene. A lot of the presenters are tripe too; it always seemed like amost of them wouldn't have a clue what they were harping on about.

On the other hand I do love the fact that they air Bob Dylan's themed radio show, and that you can catch the likes of the Smiths, Joy Division or Pearl Jam (etc..) the odd time.

orourkeda

Tyrrial wrote: »

Not that i want to put down the only radio station that plays music i listen to (be in hidden away between songs i hate) but i'm finding it really hard to listen to phantom on a daily basis.

I'm no indie purest, but i really think that for the most part they've lost their way, and fallen into the same annoying repetitive play-listing as most other stations. hope i'm not the only person finding myself turning off phantom when they start play the bloody delarento's for the 500th time.

in a side note, any good internet indie stations that people could suggest.

I agree. I must admit that I dont listen to the station on a regular basis now but I did for a while. Especially the show in the evening on the way home from work and there were a handful of songs that your man was practically guaranteed to play.

purplepassion

Fremen wrote: »

BBC radio 6 has some good shows. You can listen to it on bbc iplayer (I think. You may need an English IP address. Use a proxy if you have to).

Adam and Joe do a great show on Saturday mornings, which is recorded so you can listen to it at a more civilised hour. Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio hour and Cerys Matthews' show are very good too.

Edit : DAMN YOU MONKEY!

No! I MUCH prefer Jon Richardson on a Sunday to Adam & Joe on a Saturday (although that could be because he talks about wheelie bins) - but definitely listen to Marc Riley - he has great stuff including old Peel Sessions *swoon* and loads of proper great indie bands.... to slightly over paraphrase - an ex-member of the Fall can't be wrong!

SimonMaher

Hello all,

Interesting discussion this, and familiar too! I cant tell you the amount of times Ive been in a pub and two people come up and say "You dont play enough Irish bands" followed by someone else who says "Stop playing Irish bands, they are ALL terrible"

The whole thing is all about balance. Dudess has it spot on, there are compromises to be made in the commercial sphere and Phantom is no exception to that rule. We spend our time working on that balance and trying to get it right. Sometimes you do, sometimes you dont.

Recently for example, we've been testing quite a bit of music online as well as researching listener tastes by getting listeners to suggest bands they would like to hear more and indeed less of! Trust me when I say this, its exactly the same as the Irish music example "Phantom plays far too much AC/DC" followed swiftly by "Why the hell doesnt Phantom play more AC/DC". Its that balance again.

People have commented too on some of the Specialist Shows that we can do late at night and weekends. Its great to be able to do those shows and the daytime output (and the revenue it generates!) enables us to do that.

For clarification, no, XFM and Phantom have no shared ownership.

On the 6 Music topic, yep, it would be great to be able to go down some of the roads they do (although reading UK message boards there are loads of "6 Music are sellout" threads) but its quite simple. 6 Music is not a commercial radio station and is funded by a licence fee base of 55 million people.

Commercial radio in general is suffering quite badly at the moment with the whole economy thing, and for now its a matter of survival and still being around for the pickup.

For now though, go, do the surveys at phantom.ie and fill in the comments boxes and suggest artists and songs at will. They may not get played, but I guarantee all input is taken seriously.

Cheers,

Simon Maher
General Manager, Phantom 105.2
simonmaher@phantom.ie