Lyric Fm to be rebranded in March

Expunge

Lyric FM goes Garth raving mad from March 17th

In a major shakeup to the ailing arts and music station run by RTE, it was announced today by Managing Director of Radio, Jim Jennings that Lyric FM is to close. It will be replaced by a new all Garth Brooks format. Station insiders indicate that the only presenters to be retained will be veteran mustachioed jock, Marty Whelan and forgotten but not gone legend, Gay Byrne.
"This re-brand is a logical step for RTE" according to Mr. Jennings. "We've thrown so much at these Garth Brooks comeback concerts without taking in a cent of advertising from the promoters that we may as well go the whole hog."

There is concern among RTE top brass that there won't be enough free tickets for the famously freeloading staff at Montrose. "If management can't produce enough free tickets for these concerts, there will be industrial relations consequences" said a Trade Union Group brother. "We cannot have a situation where the membership won't have access for themselves and their families to tickets and a free bar at the very least."

The new format will consist mainly of music by the Oklahoma country star with some tracks from his wife, Trisha Yearwood. There will be hourly news updates on everything to do with the concerts from a special RTE News team based in the singer's Oklahoma ranch.

Veteran broadcaster, Gay Byrne will host his show from The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee each Sunday afternoon. "The mileage is spectacular and I love money", Byrne enthused.

In a related development, the RTE Concert Orchestra will relocate to Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan and narrow its performance focus to Country Swing and Rocakabilly under new artistic director, 'Big Tom' McBride.

Endorsing the move, RTE Director General Noel Curran said "the classical stuff just wasn't working. Only auld wans were listening and they don't even pay for a TV licence." He added, "even the wife thinks it's crap and she has a B Mus!"

CountyHurler

You know you had up until this bit..

Expunge wrote: »

here is concern among RTE top brass that there won't be enough free tickets for the famously freeloading staff at Montrose.

There is ALWAYS enough free tickets for the famously freeloading staff at Montrose.. :pac:

StaticNoise

I don't know where you got this, but I love it.

The thing is, that it could be true.

:rolleyes:

bureau2009

There has undoubtely been shameless plugging of Garth Brooks gigs on RTE Radio.

Wonder who benefits from that?

Expunge

'Shameless'!! Very good!

StaticNoise

bureau2009 wrote: »

Wonder who benefits from that?

All the staff that free tickets, the promoters, and Garth, at the end of the day.

Maybe all the lovely money goes into paying preemptive lawsuit settlements, Bertie's in laws, and stock effects for their in house sound design.

jmcc

So scary it could be true.

Regards...jmcc

Busted Flat.

Hopefully this will be graybo's last annoying broadcasting intervention in our lives. If RTe can accomplish this task it will be well worth the effort.

DownBeaten

Pat Kenny must be raging, having to buy his own tickets, seeing that he inflicted GB on an unsuspecting country!

kittytwister

Decided at 7.35 am when I was out for a walk to tune in to Lyric for some classical music. I usually listen elsewhere but first tune I heard was PJ. Proby 24 hours from Tolsa. Now sometimes a fm can make a programme but the patronising manner Marty Whelan carries on brings it to a new low. Even the poor girl on aa road watch got it "you're very good". RTE management should take a leaf out of the presenters on Classic Fm where the music does the talking. Marty you are not funny and we can hear Abba elsewhere on the dial. Treat your listeners with respect and not as ignorant country folk which you clearly think we all are. My licence is due this month and it kills me to be paying it, particularly when it's going to a salary where the recipient is so vain that he has to get a hair transplant and then publicise it on television chat show.