4fm - improvement badly needed

bannerman34

Same oul stale Playlist,needs less of Boylan too,they should never have let Marian Farrell go

Fran1985

Guess the station. Answers on a postcard

bannerman34

Fran1985 wrote: »

Guess the station. Answers on a postcard

sorry!! 4fm of course

hullaballoo

bannerman34 wrote: »

sorry!! 4fm of course

I'll edit the title for you.

TBP

Yep, same playlists, same old rehashed topics, same callers banging the same drums day in day out.

The home of no repeats me hole!

Rock Solid

Boaring station, same mix of music, same topics and callers, Niall Boylan on to much, bring back Dave Harvey or have a new daytime talkshow presenter, even the csi are repeating.

Trebor176

If there is a station that is in dire need of a revamp, it's Q102. The playlist is painfully repetitive and so bland, I cannot bear to listen to it. But sadly, I have no choice as it is on in work everyday. For my rant, I refer you to the Q102 topic recently covered on the forum :P

In terms of 4fm, it was a joy to listen to when it started first. It was a station that played the real classics, among other light music. It was different to other stations, which rarely played such music, perhaps apart from the odd show. I enjoyed the shows to, particularly Smooth & Easy with Marian Farrell, who was a good presenter, in my view, and had the ideal voice for such a show.

Sadly, the format completely changed, class presenters were let go, and the station became just like most other radio stations. At one point, I referred to it as a Q102 clone, which it seemed to be. It even had similar slogans at one point. But, I would much prefer it out of the two. At least the music is a little more varied. It is certainly not the only station in need of improving, though. It's just a shame that its original format didn't work.

bannerman34

I think original format wouldve worked with tweeking and time

Eeden

Trebor176 wrote: »

In terms of 4fm, it was a joy to listen to when it started first. It was a station that played the real classics, among other light music. It was different to other stations, which rarely played such music, perhaps apart from the odd show.

I agree with this. It has really gone downhill in the last year or so. How can songs which are barely five minutes out of the charts be called "classic hits"?

Radio5

Very tired sound to it now.

Way too much Nial Boylan Whiny Ranting Show.

As you said, "classics" that were barely released 10 mins ago.

Listened to Gareth O'Callaghan the other evening, he sounded bored especially doing the CSI bit.

Heard an ad a few weeks back for a weekend show. "we'll be looking forward to the IFTA's" or words to that effect. The IFTA's which were done and dusted the previous weekend.

Eeden

Not to mention something I recently came across on 4fm - a programme on Sunday nights called "Psychic Sunday". Are they trying to insult our intelligence?

babaracus

Rock Solid wrote: »

Boaring station, same mix of music, same topics and callers, Niall Boylan on to much, bring back Dave Harvey or have a new daytime talkshow presenter, even the csi are repeating.

It's a pig alright.

fryup

who's the man

Radio is for life

fryup wrote: »

who's the man

It's quite odd looking at the negative comments about 4FM and although they are still struggling as a business, they seem to be one of the few stations not hemoraging listeners. In fact they are on a steady increase. This increase may be a little slow for the deep pocketed investors but I have noticed full ad breaks and sponsored shows, which leads me to believe something is right.

To suggest Gareth O Callaghan is boring or sounds bored, Niall Boylan on too much or the music is wrong sounds like the words of a disgruntled losers in the radio game.

I'm currently working closely with a station that has spent buckets of money on marketing and the listeners are running from it like a burning building. Radio listening is decreasing across the board and particulary music radio and yet 4fm are still showing growth.

The bigger stations are axing music shows for personality and talk in an attempt to stop the losses as the industry watchs the internet and other options offer music choices (ad free) to the listener. Adrian and Jeramy twice a day may also seem like a bad move to many on 98FM but again it's an obvious move that will pay long term. Like Boylan on 4FM Adrian Kennedy plays to the audience and will encourage people back to radio during the day. Stations are cutting back on cost and repeating the show at night is a cheap option and considering the majority of listeners at 10am on 98 won't be listening at 10pm why is it a problem and likewise on 4FM.

Ray Foley is taking his time finding his feet but he will I'm sure and will be tough competition for FM104, as for 4FM they offer the alternative with Jim McCabe and like Q102, a more music breakfast for the more conservative audience.

Overall it would be unfair to say 4FM have not improved as they clearly have since Ashmore and Co took over. The product is obviously good as they are hanging on to the audience they have (although small) and growing in every book. The real problem is will the investors spend the money at some stage to actually promote the station and launch it properly to the unsuspecting radio audience because sadly most people I know have never heard if the station. Overall a good steady performer with good talant but needs a big investor to make it work.

Relikk

Eeden wrote: »

I agree with this. It has really gone downhill in the last year or so. How can songs which are barely five minutes out of the charts be called "classic hits"?

Indeed. This is what bugs me most about 4FM (when I listen, between 10am and 5pm). People who tune into classic hit stations certainly don't tune in to listen to tripe like Ed Sheeran and Passenger (I can go on but, I won't). These songs are not, nor will they ever be "classic hits". They're played far too often during an hour and should be severely limited to even as little as once an hour.

Agreed on the too much Boylan, also. He's gotten really tiresome after taking over the afternoon slot.

Infoanon

Relikk wrote: »

Agreed on the too much Boylan, also. He's gotten really tiresome after taking over the afternoon slot.

Imho I think 4FM has improved a lot, more music variety, lovely FM sound and very tight production.

The negative is Niall Boylan, I don't see how the shock jock fits with the daytime target audience.

4FM continued struggles may have a lot to do with being a semi national station, not to sure about their latest strategy - 'Jane has made the move from Q102 to 4FM', 'John has made the move from 96FM ' etc, was always told not to mention the rivals !

hufpc8w3adnk65

Infoanon wrote: »

Imho I think 4FM has improved a lot, more music variety, lovely FM sound and very tight production.

The negative is Niall Boylan, I don't see how the shock jock fits with the daytime target audience.

4FM continued struggles may have a lot to do with being a semi national station, not to sure about their latest strategy - 'Jane has made the move from Q102 to 4FM', 'John has made the move from 96FM ' etc, was always told not to mention the rivals !

Are they name dropping other stations now? I only really listen too Gareth and I only ever hear him thanking people for making the switch but never mentioning from where

Mediajunkie

People seem to forget that they have to play a certain percentage of new music as it's been in the contract since the station launched and it's difficult to change.

I rarely hear new music on the station. Defiantly no more than one an hour.

Good presenters and good production.

Relikk wrote: »

Indeed. This is what bugs me most about 4FM (when I listen, between 10am and 5pm). People who tune into classic hit stations certainly don't tune in to listen to tripe like Ed Sheeran and Passenger (I can go on but, I won't). These songs are not, nor will they ever be "classic hits". They're played far too often during an hour and should be severely limited to even as little as once an hour.

Agreed on the too much Boylan, also. He's gotten really tiresome after taking over the afternoon slot.

Mobile Dj

Remember hearing "club classics" and thinking sounds like a great show, playing classic club music (upbeat tracks)

Tuned in a few times and have heard slow tracks played, The slow set is long gone from the club scene.. immediate channel change each time.

Can't see why don't they bring it upbeat on Friday and Saturday nights to "classic 12s" playing the extended 12"/extended mixes of 80s/90s night club sounds. with an experienced club DJ.

Infoanon

Mobile Dj wrote: »

Can't see why don't they bring it upbeat on Friday and Saturday nights to "classic 12s" playing the extended 12"/extended mixes of 80s/90s night club sounds. with an experienced club DJ.

Such a format is unlikely to attract an audience or at least the audience that 4FM is aiming for.

One 12" a week on Sara Coxs 80s show on BBC Radio 2 is about as good as it gets.

Mobile Dj

Infoanon wrote: »

Such a format is unlikely to attract an audience or at least the audience that 4FM is aiming for.

One 12" a week on Sara Coxs 80s show on BBC Radio 2 is about as good as it gets.

The electric disco on 2fm plays classic club tracks
(This show has an popular independent club night associated with it, owned by Jenny Greene, it plays regularly in Cork)

Al Gibbs (1st hour) again classic club tracks

Tuned in to 4fm while driving on Saturday night to hear DJ sammy - heaven.. kept going on the channel surf to get something worth listening to.

Maybe the fact that there are very few Djs left who can recall the good 12" mixes and remixes that were around that far back up to early 00's.

Niall Boyan should be well able to playlist this or Gregg Merriman would be the first to come to mind as they were part of the Tamango live mix crew, sadly Jim Kenny passed away and would have been another great contributor.

Have my CD collection to hand on most journeys so get my fix that way.. thought it would have been worth looking at instead of playing bog standard radio edit mix.

Trebor176

The Top 100 Classic Hits was on all day today, and it's like as if most of their playlist was just put into a random countdown, rather than actually picked my listeners. I know it was a listener poll, of course, but there was little to get excited about. And, the outcome was so predictable. The winner once again was Bohemian Rhapsody. It's not the first time it has come tops in such a poll, but there are so many other contenders.

Those that are considered real classics were further down the list. I mean, how is Toto "Africa" (2 in the pole) considered to be a lot better than Chicago "If You Leave Me Now (40) or 10CC "I'm Not In Love" (65)?

This was the top 10:

10 KATE BUSH - WUTHERING HEIGHTS
9 BON JOVI - LIVIN' ON A PRAYER...
8 ERIC CLAPTON - WONDERFUL TONIGHT
7 ABBA - DANCING QUEEN
6 FOREIGNER - I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS
5 JOHN LENNON - IMAGINE
4 BRYAN ADAMS - SUMMER OF '69
3 SIMON AND GARFUNKEL - BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
2 TOTO - AFRICA
1 QUEEN - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Now, Nova have compiled such a list before, and from what I can remember, a good bit that was played were classics. Things have changed in what are considered classics, and for such songs considered classics are those unlikely to be heard of in 20 odd years time. If Q102 were to compile a list, it would be more or less a clone of what 4fm played. Just my two cents anyway.

Antenna

Took a picture yesterday of one of the current localised billboard ads for 4FM, this one at Kinsale Road in Cork city:

Rubberchikken

Refuse to listen to it anymore.

The amount of talking by presenters has increased to the point where i, personally, wont put up with it any longer.

Maybe they're making a lot of money from the ad breaks but god they go on forever.

How many times do we need to be reminded about what station we're listening to!!

Do presenters have to love the sound of their own voices so much that they'd start waffling before the song ends!!

And yes Gareth O Callaghan is boring.
He shouts, he prattles on about inane things and the thing that finally made me give up listening to 4fm was when he started that segment reading out some awful sick-inducing story from a listener every afternoon.
Seriously, life is way too short to listen to 4fm, so now i stick with Lyric and Red Fm when Neil Prendevilles on

hufpc8w3adnk65

Rubberchikken wrote: »

Refuse to listen to it anymore.



And yes Gareth O Callaghan is boring.
He shouts, he prattles on about inane things and the thing that finally made me give up listening to 4fm was when he started that segment reading out some awful sick-inducing story from a listeners

I love gareth and that feature you refer too is gone ages.

He opens his show with the top 3@3 and has done since day if I remember rightly