Q102 Playlist

waferthinboy

So I complained to Q102 because on Tuesday night, I unsucessfully made a song request to the Love Zone, which airs between 7 and midnight each night, for anyone who hasn't heard it before.
In the old days, haha not so long back, when it was hosted by Ernie Gallagher, you could make song requests and he played them.
But now, it is hosted by a different presenter each night, and not always the one advertised. There is Lisa Armstrong, and also Debbie Allen, and sometimes Lynsey Dolan.
On Tuesday night, the presenter received at least two song requests from listeners (one was from me). Live on air, she promised to play both of those songs - but neither song was played at any point. No requests were played during the entire show, just the usual unbroken stream of Q102 consciousness... Wind Beneath My Wings, When A Man Loves A Woman, Stand By Me grrr.
So today, when I spoke to [Mod: someone at the station, they] told me that The Love Zone (and likely the whole station) operates on a prescribed Playlist, which the presenter has "no authority" to change.
[They] said that while they encourage "participation" from listeners (e.g. "Please say happy birthday to my ma Mary"), the presenters can only play the songs on the station's prescribed Playlist.
[They] claimed that all stations operate like this, but I'm pretty sure that song requests from listeners have always been possible on radio?
I suppose this helps account for the station's overall incredible lack of musical variety.
But I'm convinced that it depends on the presenter. It seemed that Ernie could play songs that he or the listeners chose. So what's going on now? Suits in charge fully?

Seems like an odd policy to me, but then I've never understood musical requests in the post-spotify age*

*Unless it's something super-hard to track down, which might only be easily accessible to DJs.

Also, sorry to edit your post here OP, but you really shouldn't be giving one side of a conversation with particular individuals here. They are private individuals and aren't here to defend themselves

MikeyTaylor

waferthinboy wrote: »

So I complained to Q102 because on Tuesday night, I unsucessfully made a song request to the Love Zone, which airs between 7 and midnight each night, for anyone who hasn't heard it before.
In the old days, haha not so long back, when it was hosted by Ernie Gallagher, you could make song requests and he played them.
But now, it is hosted by a different presenter each night, and not always the one advertised. There is Lisa Armstrong, and also Debbie Allen, and sometimes Lynsey Dolan.
On Tuesday night, the presenter received at least two song requests from listeners (one was from me). Live on air, she promised to play both of those songs - but neither song was played at any point. No requests were played during the entire show, just the usual unbroken stream of Q102 consciousness... Wind Beneath My Wings, When A Man Loves A Woman, Stand By Me grrr.
So today, when I spoke to [Mod: someone at the station, they] told me that The Love Zone (and likely the whole station) operates on a prescribed Playlist, which the presenter has "no authority" to change.
[They] said that while they encourage "participation" from listeners (e.g. "Please say happy birthday to my ma Mary"), the presenters can only play the songs on the station's prescribed Playlist.
[They] claimed that all stations operate like this, but I'm pretty sure that song requests from listeners have always been possible on radio?
I suppose this helps account for the station's overall incredible lack of musical variety.
But I'm convinced that it depends on the presenter. It seemed that Ernie could play songs that he or the listeners chose. So what's going on now? Suits in charge fully?

Similar thing has happened with me and Rachael Ryan's Saturday Night Takeover on SPIN 1038. She used to always ring back and ask me what song I wanted, but did it last Saturday, and she didn't get back or play my song.

SATNAV

unfortunately the majority maybe all radio stations now use a format / playlist that the presenter must abide to .
( types of love songs do they match the station format ? )
I Know East Coast FM do play your song if they have a copy on the oldies show every Sunday morning .
I don't have personal experience with other stations

KReid

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Seems like an odd policy to me, but then I've never understood musical requests in the post-spotify age*

*Unless it's something super-hard to track down, which might only be easily accessible to DJs.

Also, sorry to edit your post here OP, but you really shouldn't be giving one side of a conversation with particular individuals here. They are private individuals and aren't here to defend themselves

I'd say a majority of them are here from what I read on these boards, Aliases and secrets everywhere.

waferthinboy wrote: »

So I complained to Q102 because on Tuesday night, I unsucessfully made a song request to the Love Zone, which airs between 7 and midnight each night, for anyone who hasn't heard it before.
In the old days, haha not so long back, when it was hosted by Ernie Gallagher, you could make song requests and he played them.
But now, it is hosted by a different presenter each night, and not always the one advertised. There is Lisa Armstrong, and also Debbie Allen, and sometimes Lynsey Dolan.
On Tuesday night, the presenter received at least two song requests from listeners (one was from me). Live on air, she promised to play both of those songs - but neither song was played at any point. No requests were played during the entire show, just the usual unbroken stream of Q102 consciousness... Wind Beneath My Wings, When A Man Loves A Woman, Stand By Me grrr.
So today, when I spoke to [Mod: someone at the station, they] told me that The Love Zone (and likely the whole station) operates on a prescribed Playlist, which the presenter has "no authority" to change.
[They] said that while they encourage "participation" from listeners (e.g. "Please say happy birthday to my ma Mary"), the presenters can only play the songs on the station's prescribed Playlist.
[They] claimed that all stations operate like this, but I'm pretty sure that song requests from listeners have always been possible on radio?
I suppose this helps account for the station's overall incredible lack of musical variety.
But I'm convinced that it depends on the presenter. It seemed that Ernie could play songs that he or the listeners chose. So what's going on now? Suits in charge fully?

It's always baffled me, stations being overly protective of their music, whats the harm in allowing a presenter to play a few requests, especially for the Lovezone which is a bit of a specialist show. One of those things that annoys me about Irish radio, by all means have a playlist, but let the presenter stick a song or two in if listeners want it.

coylemj

I think BBC R2 applies a playlist such that the DJ can play about 40% of their own choice and the rest from the current prescribed playlist which would be the current and very recent middle of the road chart hits. Something along those lines anyway.

L1011

In Ireland, realistically only specialist music shows allow the DJ to alter the playlist. 2FM however is at least somewhat of an exception here.

Most 'request chart' shows are complete bollox too; defined and programmed by the music director who went home before the 'chart' started.

ford fiesta

up to when dan healy came and ruined the national station, 2fm presenters along with their producers chose the music on each show. now they just follow a generated list of songs from the charts and songs from the past 2-3 years. like the sublin commercials have done for years.

by the way, does anyone know why 2fm keep playing john gibbons cover of the old michael jackson song?

Einstein A. Gogo

ford fiesta wrote:

by the way, does anyone know why 2fm keep playing john gibbons cover of the old michael jackson song?

Because it's on the playlist? ;-)

ford fiesta

Einstein A. Gogo wrote: »

Because it's on the playlist? ;-)

released in april. dont hear any other station playing it. i guess 2fm listeners must really like it.:rolleyes:

L1011

ford fiesta wrote: »

by the way, does anyone know why 2fm keep playing john gibbons cover of the old michael jackson song?

Because its bafflingly popular.

Lots of other stations don't play it as Gibbons works for a rival. 2FM don't seem to care there.