Phantom on the Re-brand?

bbability

Just talking to an old friend on the phone and he tells me that Phantom is changing its name...


Is it rumour or is it true?

Bard

The change of name has been a rumour for a number of months now. What name did you hear... XFM? While it would surprise me if it's true, I haven't seen anything that either confirms or denies it.

What does seem to be true however is that they're (at the moment) moving into Marconi House along with Today FM and Newstalk.

StaticNoise

They're definitely in Marconi House: the first broadcast went from it today.

Also, they *are* rebranding to K-Roq (or K-Rock).
And, Tom Dunne is to join the broadcaster to present a (recorded) but flagship show.

Bard

Steve Conway blogged about the move today... http://steveconway.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/phantom-moves-away-from-the-water-but-still-makes-waves/

And ... K-ROQ/K-ROCK ??? Really ???

byte

K-Roq? LOL. I think the Phantom name is perfect.

Up-n-atom!

Wasn't Phantom modelled on some Canadian radio station? Would this have something to do with the changes (Sinister Pete's influence behind the scenes, hmmm )? Pretty sure that was called K-Rock too (there seems to be a lot of them out there), but shouldn't they just have called it that from the beginning?

Now if only they'd send me out that phone I won during the week - silly me, didn't answer the call I got, but then they quoted my 'winning' anecdote the next day even though I don't get the prize, lol!

StaticNoise

Up-n-atom! wrote: »

Wasn't Phantom modelled on some Canadian radio station? Would this have something to do with the changes (Sinister Pete's influence behind the scenes, hmmm )? Pretty sure that was called K-Rock too (there seems to be a lot of them out there), but shouldn't they just have called it that from the beginning?

Interesting take on the name change!

Now if only they'd send me out that phone I won during the week - silly me, didn't answer the call I got, but then they quoted my 'winning' anecdote the next day even though I don't get the prize, lol!

They'll be in touch. It's happened to me before. You'll have to go in. Bring ID.

yosser hughes

They should get rid of a yer man Ritchie Ryan. He tries to be too cool for school,but actually sounds like he was bullied at school. Dreadful.
There is far too much talk on Phantom as well,much more inane "banter" than there used to be.

bbability

I don't understand the re naming myself. Phantom sounds good to me. I can identify with it straight away which is very important these days. I'd have to agree though more music, less talk would be better. Slowly but surely we are following our radio allies in the uk. One presenter can multi-task across the owners network of radio stations. Although the presenter is probably not getting anymore for what extra work he carries out. Another cost saving measure.

Up-n-atom!

They'll be in touch. It's happened to me before. You'll have to go in. Bring ID.[/QUOTE]

Really?! I haven't heard back from them, texted them again about it but didn't hear anything back - maybe I'll email them and drop in during the week to see what the craic is, really need a new phone - the one I have is about 5 years old!

miketv

I remember when they re-branded from Spectrum to PhantomFM, I recall at the time that I preferred Spectrum but now that time has passed I like the Phantom brand. Maybe this will happen again, time will tell I suppose.

Proxy

I really hope it's not true. But even with the name change, will there be a change in content? I hope Tom "When I was in Something Happens" Dunne doesn't spoil it. I love Phantom Daily and Drive.

Sergeant

I always thought Phantom was a strong name for the station, surprised to see them change. Haven't had a chance to listen in a few months, I used to be a fan of certain aspects of it (the speciality music shows and Michelle Doherty), but the breakfast show used to bring me out in hives.

ThisRegard

Posted this a couple of weeks ago, K-Roq will indeed the name.

Incidentally K-Roq is the name of a very excellent rock station based in LA, it was my station of choice living there and has an awesome playlist, http://kroq.radio.com/

Their website advertises themselves as "KROQ FM - The World Famous KROQ", I wonder how they'll feel about the young Irish upstart using their name, unless there's some sort of tie-in which I'd be surprised of.

squonk

K-ROQ! Phantom was a great name. IMHO they don't need a name change. Anyway, who comes up with these names? When I hear K-ROQ I immediately think of 'KROQ of ****e!"

BrianDaly

Up-n-atom! wrote: »

Now if only they'd send me out that phone I won during the week - silly me, didn't answer the call I got, but then they quoted my 'winning' anecdote the next day even though I don't get the prize, lol!

Of course you get your prize! We've held off contacting individual winners due to both to the move and until the prize stock arrives in so it can be collected at our new studio location.

Congrats on winning!

Brian Daly
Phantom 105.2

SteM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Posted this a couple of weeks ago, K-Roq will indeed the name.

Incidentally K-Roq is the name of a very excellent rock station based in LA, it was my station of choice living there and has an awesome playlist, http://kroq.radio.com/

Their website advertises themselves as "KROQ FM - The World Famous KROQ", I wonder how they'll feel about the young Irish upstart using their name, unless there's some sort of tie-in which I'd be surprised of.

Wasn't it also the name of the New York station that Howard Stern used to be on?

eth0_

ThisRegard wrote: »

Posted this a couple of weeks ago, K-Roq will indeed the name.

K-roq? SERIOUSLY? Why would Phantom feel the need to re-brand and why on earth did they decide to use a US-style station name?

It's a K-roq of sh1t decision.

telecaster

Phantom has drifted to become like every other station: traffic reports, news, sport, blah, blah

I want indie rock damn it.

BrianDaly

telecaster wrote: »

Phantom has drifted to become like every other station: traffic reports, news, sport, blah, blah

I want indie rock damn it.

We have an contractual obligation to provide 20% news and current affairs content since day 1. This is a BAI (regulator) requirement that applies to every licenced radio station and unfortunately there is no avoiding it. As regards, traffic information there is a natural demand for it.

Brian Daly
Phantom 105.2

telecaster

BrianDaly wrote: »

We have an contractual obligation to provide 20% news and current affairs content since day 1. This is a BAI (regulator) requirement that applies to every licenced radio station and unfortunately there is no avoiding it. As regards, traffic information there is a natural demand for it.

Then the regulator is an ass.

To make it compulsory for you to broadcast 20% of the same content as every other channel negates the diversification that you are bringing to the airwaves.

There is traffic information on every other channel. Not everyone drives. You'll find there's a chunk of your potential audience don't give a flying flute about traffic.

The 'stadium rock' show on Saturday afternoons is hardly ordered by the regulator. Premiership updates are on every other channel, a supposed specialist rock music channel hardly needs them.

I'll say it again. Indie rock, damn it.

BrianDaly

Certainly radio stations providing a specific music genre should not be compelled to carry 20% news and current affairs content. That's not to say, no news at all as most of our listeners are worldly wise and like to be up to date with news from home and abroad.

As regards traffic info, perhaps travel info would be a better term as we include info on bus, rail and tram. We g a lot of supportive comments for the extensive updates that we provided on-air and online during the recent cold snap.

As for sport...nothing to say that sport and indie don't mix! Look at the number of indie bands that are vocal in the support of various soccer teams. Stadium Rock is there through audience demand.


Our remit is to provide an alternative rock music service and this includes news and information that is relevant to and appreciated by our audience.

Brian Daly
Phantom 105.2

telecaster

Brian, correct answer was ''thanks for the considered feedback telecaster, I'll take your points on board''

I am an audience member that you have lost in recent times. You'd be better served taking heed of my observations rather than trying to disprove my opinion.

Of course your audience appreciates what you do, thats what an audience does, or else they change the channel.....as I have done.

BrianDaly

I have certainly taken your points on board, apologies if this wasn't stated. I was just giving you some background as to why certain features that you don't enjoy are on-air.

Who are you listening to these days?

Brian Daly
Phantom 105.2

hardCopy

BrianDaly wrote: »

Certainly radio stations providing a specific music genre should not be compelled to carry 20% news and current affairs content. That's not to say, no news at all as most of our listeners are worldly wise and like to be up to date with news from home and abroad.

As regards traffic info, perhaps travel info would be a better term as we include info on bus, rail and tram. We g a lot of supportive comments for the extensive updates that we provided on-air and online during the recent cold snap.

As for sport...nothing to say that sport and indie don't mix! Look at the number of indie bands that are vocal in the support of various soccer teams. Stadium Rock is there through audience demand.


Our remit is to provide an alternative rock music service and this includes news and information that is relevant to and appreciated by our audience.

Brian Daly
Phantom 105.2

I have to say the Phantom twitter feed was probably the easiest single place to find travel info during the cold snap

miketv

I dont know Telecaster, I found Brian's responce quite interesting and honest, him being from the station. Imagine If Tubridy or one of his staff came on to the Tubridy thread and did similar, be nice to hear their feedback but thats an imagine!;)

hardCopy

miketv wrote: »

I dont know Telecaster, I found Brian's responce quite interesting and honest, him being from the station. Imagine If Tubridy or one of his staff came on to the Tubridy thread and did similar, be nice to hear their feedback but thats an imagine!;)

I imagine it would be ban-tastic

telecaster

BrianDaly wrote: »

I have certainly taken your points on board, apologies if this wasn't stated. I was just giving you some background as to why certain features that you don't enjoy are on-air.

Who are you listening to these days?

Brian Daly
Phantom 105.2

I listen to a lot of lyric, I really like the JK ensemble. I listen to lots of FM4 in the car. I listen to phantom when there's music being played

Personally I can't stand talk-too-much DJs, competitions, phone ins, advertisements etc. I channel hop a lot.

The songs per hour rate seems to go down down down all the time on all radio channels.

If I want news, weather, sport and travel info I know where to find already.

I liked Phantom when there was more music and less chat, thats all.

Best of luck with the rebrand, I hope its not a greater shift towards the gloopy sameness which pollutes the airwaves.

Credit to you for coming on and giving your side all the same.

Seosaimh77

telecaster wrote: »

Personally I can't stand talk-too-much DJs, competitions, phone ins, etc. I channel hop a lot.

Credit to you for coming on and giving your side all the same.

Gotta agree with Telecaster. I know the news stuff is not Phantom's fault, and you obviously need to advertise to keep the station going. But I listen to the radio 99% for music:
I don't care if billy form baldoyle wants to say hello
I want to hear all the song - not a dj talking over the start/end of it
I really don't want to hear another obscure list of whatever phantom daily want us to text in our suggestions about.

Up til recently there wasn't any choice so my radio was stuck on Phantom, but the last 4 months have seen me listening more and more to Nova - although they are not without their own flaws tbh. So there is a lot of switching back and forth between them two stations.

But back on topic, is the name change anything to do with the emergence of Nova as a competitor for the rock audience? Stick 'rock' in the name so everyone knows that it is a rock station (still get shocked by the number of people who don't know what type of stuff you play!!)

ghostdancer

telecaster wrote: »

Best of luck with the rebrand, I hope its not a greater shift towards the gloopy sameness which pollutes the airwaves.

musically, it's certainly going that way in recent months. less and less "indie-rock", and more and more "guitar-based pop".

stuff like Brandon Flowers and The Wombats is played constantly on Phantom, I imagine it's only a short time until The Script get added to the playlist....

lordgoat

hardCopy wrote: »

I have to say the Phantom twitter feed was probably the easiest single place to find travel info during the cold snap

LiveDrive on dublin city fm was where it was at. John Neary and crew are saints among men. Also best music on the radio too.

ghostdancer wrote: »

musically, it's certainly going that way in recent months. less and less "indie-rock", and more and more "guitar-based pop".

stuff like Brandon Flowers and The Wombats is played constantly on Phantom, I imagine it's only a short time until The Script get added to the playlist....

As Brian has said 20% of the time table during the day is gone to news etc. It's why the format for daytime radio is the same.
Also the playlist is at a guess at least 75%set and all the presenter gets to do is decide when it's played. But again the reason why all radio stations sound similar - the DJ'd don't really get a big say in what they play.

I listen to very few shows anymore on phantom, the lounge on a sunday evening was the best of them. Most wanted is good but i'd make it 90mins. and move it til a little later.

I actually wouldn;t change the morning or afternoon line ups as they need to make their most money from them so that's fair enough.

Also Brian i'm sure you aren't allowed confirm or either deny the name change, hence the no comment policy, you've always been better than decent when dealing with questions, but for what it's worth, i think it would be a mistake moving away from phantom.

bbability

I agree. I # tagged live drive during the snow. They were without doubt way ahead of any commercial station.

hardCopy

lordgoat wrote: »

LiveDrive on dublin city fm was where it was at. John Neary and crew are saints among men. Also best music on the radio too.

On-air or online?

I fly to the UK every week so twitter feeds work best for me. I may start following them before the next snow episode if they're any use online.

lordgoat

hardCopy wrote: »

On-air or online?

I fly to the UK every week so twitter feeds work best for me. I may start following them before the next snow episode if they're any use online.

Both, the show live drive is on dublin city fm

@livedrive

RCNPhotos

Remember when Phantom actually played rock music? And not just singles but went deeper into the albums?

Soon as it went legit it changed to sh1te "indie", and hipster rubbish, same old, same old. Boring old drudge.

qwert2

lordgoat wrote: »

LiveDrive on dublin city fm was where it was at. John Neary and crew are saints among men. Also best music on the radio too.

I have to agree. You get almost any song you want played within 15 minutes after requesting it. And I mean any song

It's funny, they're not even a music station.

ghostdancer

lordgoat wrote: »

As Brian has said 20% of the time table during the day is gone to news etc. It's why the format for daytime radio is the same.
Also the playlist is at a guess at least 75%set and all the presenter gets to do is decide when it's played. But again the reason why all radio stations sound similar - the DJ'd don't really get a big say in what they play.

not really sure what most of that has to do with my point.

the overall musical direction of phantom over the last 6 months is going from bad to worse IMO.
there needs to be a serious rethink of the playlist choices (or whoever is setting them), and the lack of musical variety in the morning and daytime shows, not least the non-stop sh1t-talk between songs during the day.

there's only so many times i can listen to Adele and "send us your texts about your most embarrassing moment on 51052" on an "indie rock" music station.

it's because of those reasons i listen to Phantom about 1/4 as much as i did a year ago.

bbability

But you see phantom has a problem, well two actually. Nova's slightly classic rock stroke modern rock playlist and Dublin city fm's livedrive presenters having a little more affect on listenership as the music played by livedrive am and pm been very close to Phantoms. Would they not be better off looking to broadcast the livedrive show on Phantom? Could be a Market coup

ThisRegard

I doubt Livedrive could be broadcast on Phantom as Dublin City Council probably would not allow access to their traffic control room for a commercial venture. But another thumbs up for me on Livedrive, great show and they really go that extra mile during times of traffic chaos by staying on air to get people home, mixed with good music too.

At a stroke Phantom would regain a big morning listenership by bringing back Sinister Pete and getting rid of the current moronic breakfast show.

draylander

I gota disagree with some of you people. I love some of the talk shows on phantom and would tune in on a daily basis just to hear them. (Well them and michelle doherty who would make the last rites sound sexy.)
Phantom daily and cinerama are really good listening and i would highly recommend them.
The morning show is a bit of a disapointment as it has gone the way of all the other stations. What is it about people thinkin its fun its be goofy on the radio first thing in the morning. half the time it has me wanting to drive into a wall.


Ps:im not a morning person

RichieMc

Thanks for the insights guys. Will take them on board.

All the best

Richie McCormack
Pure Morning
Phantom 105.2

draylander

Aw sh1t. Now i feel bad.

Gooch2k4

draylander wrote: »

Aw sh1t. Now i feel bad.

Lol

Seosaimh77

draylander wrote: »

Phantom daily and cinerama are really good listening and i would highly recommend them.
The morning show is a bit of a disapointment as it has gone the way of all the other stations.

I agree about Cinerama totally - but that is a one off hour show with something exact to talk about. And Michelle does sound sexy as hell.

Totally disagree about Phantom daily. It is nothing more than patronising rubbish most of the time (can you think of any songs about "colours" today listeners?, text them in on ....). Absolute bull.

Text them in all the songs that match their theme that you want - but they still play the few that are on their playlist that they probably would have played anyway.

They may get a good interesting guest in some times - but they could do that without the rest of the bull

JajaD

K-Rock? Thats an awful name. Really cliché. Also, phantom is gone terrible. The songs they play are the same **** over and over again. I rarely hear any Irish music on it, and when they do play irish music its the same **** you've already heard over and over again. There is nothing special about it. Their playlists need to be updated and be quirky, because as a station who bases their image on alternative music, most people who listen to alternative music know a lot about it, therefore what is played, needs to be good, special and unpredictable.

eth0_

The people at Phantom need to listen to some BBC 6 Music. Then they need to listen to some tapes of Phantom before it went legit, and strike a happy medium between the two.

I just can't listen to Phantom these days.

rjmf

Wouldn't go that far but agree they can improve....alot

For Forks Sake

Has Michelle Doherty ever heard a band that she didn't think were fantastic? Fawning nonsense most of the time.

ghostdancer

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Has Michelle Doherty ever heard a band that she didn't think were fantastic? Fawning nonsense most of the time.

if she played some of the stuff she has on "Under Ether", i wouldn't mind so much, but there's clearly no time for something vaguely left-field when Sex on Fire, or Many of Horror haven't been played this hour :rolleyes:

Bard

According to Simon Maher (on twitter), "K-Roq" was yet another rumour and the station is staying as Phantom.

http://twitter.com/simonphantom/status/30671638143967232

rjmf

ghostdancer wrote: »

if she played some of the stuff she has on "Under Ether", i wouldn't mind so much, but there's clearly no time for something vaguely left-field when Sex on Fire, or Many of Horror haven't been played this hour :rolleyes:

In her defence she is fine...