Why do music radio stations not like over 35's

prunudo

Was going to ask this in one of the other threads but thought maybe it needs its own discussion.
2fm did it a number of years ago, today fm seem to be going the same route and Nova is dumbing format.
So the question is, what do they have against older listeners? Why is growing old with their existing fan base such a bad thing? It appears to a common theme in Irish radio. Is it that they're listening to too many young trendy marketing people or it as simple as advertisers prefer to market towards younger people.
Why do all music stations have to be the same, there isnt much variation out there anymore, all bland music and inane banter.

Braids

Commercial radio relies on advertising and most of the larger music stations cater to a young audience with 'money in their pockets'.
John Creedon is pretty flexible playing music of all genres. Marty Whelan has played some cool music on Lyric AM - not necessarily serious/classic. There are a lot of Independent radio DJ's out there - just check out their programming via Google to see who may match what you want to hear...and make your request. Independent stations/County Council funded stations are supportive. Also College Stations too.

L1011

Over 35s don't change station as often and are often fairly locked to either their local ILR or Radio 1.

County Councils don't fund stations - a few have tiny shareholdings in (generally profitable) local stations they bought in 1989.

readyletsgo

Just listen to online radio via your phone. Or listen to your own music. I learned this back in the mid 90s in my late teens when I discovered IDM and other genres.

Conservatory

I go online radio now. You want classical search classical if you want punk search punk. It’s closest thing to being the dj without paying for Spotify.
Get an internet radio app.

NIMAN

Braids wrote: »

Commercial radio relies on advertising and most of the larger music stations cater to a young audience with 'money in their pockets'.
John Creedon is pretty flexible playing music of all genres. Marty Whelan has played some cool music on Lyric AM - not necessarily serious/classic. There are a lot of Independent radio DJ's out there - just check out their programming via Google to see who may match what you want to hear...and make your request. Independent stations/County Council funded stations are supportive. Also College Stations too.

I would question who has more money to spend, people in their 20s or their 40s and 50s.

prunudo

NIMAN wrote: »

I would question who has more money to spend, people in their 20s or their 40s and 50s.

More money but maybe less impressionable and not easily swayed by advertising.
I don't buy it that once you're over 35 you have to listen to radio 1 or local station's. I would also like to see the figures of how many younger people actually listen to radio.

joeguevara

jvan wrote: »

Was going to ask this in one of the other threads but thought maybe it needs its own discussion.
2fm did it a number of years ago, today fm seem to be going the same route and Nova is dumbing format.
So the question is, what do they have against older listeners? Why is growing old with their existing fan base such a bad thing? It appears to a common theme in Irish radio. Is it that they're listening to too many young trendy marketing people or it as simple as advertisers prefer to market towards younger people.
Why do all music stations have to be the same, there isnt much variation out there anymore, all bland music and inane banter.

What would you like to see in a station. I’m 39 and when driving I listen to news talk. If I wanted music I would turn on the IPOD. Some of the discussion is interesting if not repetitive. I like Sean moncrief. I like Ian Dempsey on today fm sometimes but mario usually irritates me and the competitions are usually boring.

Sometimes the phone ins on the Dublin and cork stations can be entertaining but more often than nots are too try hard. I flick between newstalk and today fm for the drive time. Some of the interviews are great. I like the tech talk and holidays on newstalk and the movies and tv slot give good analysis.

When the Ulster rugby trial was on I got sick of the constant inane analysis and turned off. One thing I really miss is the restaurant critic on moncrief who sadly passed. He really could talk about food.

So, I don’t think I’ve 35s are forgotten but one station doesn’t cater to them.

prunudo

Joeguevara, its more the national music stations that I'm referring to. The sort of light entertainment and music style shows that were common in the past. The likes of Anton Savage morning show and Tony Fenton in the afternoons worked well, even goiung back to Gerry Ryan. The sh!te thats on these days is a long way from those days.
Internet is the way to go but only really practical when I'm at home.

joeguevara

jvan wrote: »

Joeguevara, its more the national music stations that I'm referring to. The sort of light entertainment and music style shows that were common in the past. The likes of Anton Savage morning show and Tony Fenton in the afternoons worked well, even goiung back to Gerry Ryan. The sh!te thats on these days is a long way from those days.
Internet is the way to go but only really practical when I'm at home.

You can’t get better than John creedon for what your looking for. Brilliant eclectic mix.2fm are slightly bound by current chart music as it’s modus operandi is the younger persons station. Dave fanning plays some great tracks. Radio 1 is definitely pitched at an older listenership but misses the 35-45 age group. Today fm can be good but not what your looking for.

I never listen to internet radio but on a recent trip to Belfast was pleasantly surprised by the rock music on a station.but we live in a consumer society and if you want music that you like then iPod is the way to go.

Ursus Horribilis

Yes but John Creedon is one radio show that's on in the evenings. There is NOTHING on national radio for us during the day.

Technocentral

No good Irish music stations at all. BBC RADIO 6 is a great music station for older audiences, loads of old music plus brand new bands, Lauren Laverne is particularly good.

prunudo

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

Yes but John Creedon is one radio show that's on in the evenings. There is NOTHING on national radio for us during the day.

And in fairness to Today fm their evening schedule isn't the worst, its day time while I'm listening at work that is drivel.

dxhound2005

Technocentral wrote: »

No good Irish music stations at all. BBC RADIO 6 is a great music station for older audiences, loads of old music plus brand new bands, Lauren Laverne is particularly good.

How do you listen to it?

Ursus Horribilis

The evening weekend schedule isn't bad either but that's being eroded now.

Ursus Horribilis

dxhound2005 wrote: »

How do you listen to it?

I can't speak for Technocentral but I have to use my smartphone. Headphones in work. Bluetooth to the car radio and to the stereo at home. Pain in the hoop when the phone rings :rolleyes:

dxhound2005

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I can't speak for Technocentral but I have to use my smartphone. Headphones in work. Bluetooth to the car radio and to the stereo at home. Pain in the hoop when the phone rings :rolleyes:

Anyone using those technologies has the whole world of internet radio to choose from. In which case there is no need to confine listening choices to the material originating in the UK and Ireland.

I think the OP was complaining about the FM stations in Ireland not broadcasting his/her individual tastes in music.

Ursus Horribilis

Maybe some of us would like to hear Irish presenters presenting programmes for Irish audiences. And not have to be permanently using our mobile phones.

joeguevara

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

Yes but John Creedon is one radio show that's on in the evenings. There is NOTHING on national radio for us during the day.

What would you like to hear?

Sean Moncrief definitely is geared for that and has interesting interviews, stories and items.

Drive time with Ivan on newstalk and Matt cooper is aimed at late 30s up.

Is it you want music or what items? Demand dictates and probably that age group are working during that time and don’t listen to radio. I know I wouldn’t think of putting on the radio during work.

Podcasts are the way to go. Media is changing and more often than not we choose what we want to listen to or watch by going on demand or net flics etc. that age group maybe are not interested in being spoon fed content by broadcasters and are not sheep listening to chart music.

Not sure there is a demand for that demographic apart from, drive time and moncrief. Also off the ball is very interesting if you like sport. One of the best interviews I heard this year was the iraqi guy who plays hurling for Leitrim or Burnett the Irish world champion boxer who argued with his neurologist after pouring over medical journals after being diagnoses with a brain injury. He was able to overturn their decision to refuse a license and fought to victory.

There is plenty on, but maybe not all on one segment.

dxhound2005

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

Maybe some of us would like to hear Irish presenters presenting programmes for Irish audiences. And not have to be permanently using our mobile phones.

I can get about 30 stations on FM. Being near the border that includes some UK stations. That's enough for me. If I don't like something, I can tune to something else.

joeguevara

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

Yes but John Creedon is one radio show that's on in the evenings. There is NOTHING on national radio for us during the day.

I watch something’s on RTE1 or 2. But rarely. I choose what I want to watch mainly on Netflix or sports channels. I think there is more for me on national radio stations than national tv stations.

Ursus Horribilis

I would like to listen to music during the daytime. There's more than enough talk on Irish radio. Newstalk has it wall to wall. Radio 1 the same apart from Ronan Collins's show which is aimed at an older audience.

I use podcasts and spotify and am glad to have those. But you know, I'd like to be able to just turn on the radio and listen to music and presenters that don't have a mental age of 10. I have plenty of data on my phone but I drive a lot during the daytime and end up in mobile black spots sometimes. And I'd rather not have to be spending my life watching the phone's battery life and having to keep hooking it up to the car charger .

We're getting away from the original point here. Anyone with half a brain knows there are endless online alternatives. Why is it that the people who run our bog-standard FM radio stations in Ireland shunning the over 35s?

BailMeOut

when you hit 35+ you should just listen to Radio Paradise. Free, no ads and their app is excellent as allows you to cache 12 hours (and their music is brilliant).

http://www.radioparadise.com

dxhound2005

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I would like to listen to music during the daytime. There's more than enough talk on Irish radio. Newstalk has it wall to wall. Radio 1 the same apart from Ronan Collins's show which is aimed at an older audience.

I use podcasts and spotify and am glad to have those. But you know, I'd like to be able to just turn on the radio and listen to music and presenters that don't have a mental age of 10. I have plenty of data on my phone but I drive a lot during the daytime and end up in mobile black spots sometimes. And I'd rather not have to be spending my life watching the phone's battery life and having to keep hooking it up to the car charger .

We're getting away from the original point here. Anyone with half a brain knows there are endless online alternatives. Why is it that the people who run our bog-standard FM radio stations in Ireland shunning the over 35s?

I think the point is that the OP and you and me may have different tastes in music. If you got to design a station to suit your tastes, hundreds of thousands of other may think it is rubbish.

prunudo

Just to clarify, its not that I'm after a personalised playlist and as has been pointed out there are endless talk show options.
I'm just curious as to why the powers that be constantly seem to be messing with schedules and aiming themselves at younger audiences.
What is wrong with having a national music station aimed at people in their 30s and older.

Ursus Horribilis

dxhound2005 wrote: »

I think the point is that the OP and you and me may have different tastes in music. If you got to design a station to suit your tastes, hundreds of thousands of other may think it is rubbish.

Nobody is talking about personalised radio stations. The question is - why are the mainstream Irish radio stations all abandoning the over 35s?

prunudo

dxhound2005 wrote: »

I think the point is that the OP and you and me may have different tastes in music. If you got to design a station to suit your tastes, hundreds of thousands of other may think it is rubbish.

But they had that with Nova, a station aimed at people who like rock based music, they started with that format and it was great, no banter, just djs, who could provide solid links. Over time this has been eroded and now we have a station which is blending into the sameas everything else, kardashian and crazy bants.
I know you can never like every song on a playlist but at least they used to keep the genre on track. Only a matter of time before ed sheran ends up being played (not that i dislike the chap) but he's on every other station.

joeguevara

jvan wrote: »

Just to clarify, its not that I'm after a personalised playlist and as has been pointed out there are endless talk show options.
I'm just curious as to why the powers that be constantly seem to be messing with schedules and aiming themselves at younger audiences.
What is wrong with having a national music station aimed at people in their 30s and older.

Is today fm from 2 onwards not geared to that demographic? Maybe the market research has shown that 35 p don’t want msc but are more interested in current affairs and news.

I know when I’m driving I like drifting in and out of interviews, food talk, wine talk, movie talk, and news updates. I have my phone charging that if I wanted to listen to music I can play that.

I think 35 ups have a differing taste in music where 15-22 like listening to current chart so easier to appease with the radio shows.

Ursus Horribilis

If I want a personalised playist, I am capable of using Spotify. Despite my advancing years. That is not the point. I also know how to use radio apps. I would like to listen to Irish human beings on the radio and enjoy the presenters as much as the music they play. That has been taken away from us.

Ursus Horribilis

I still know lots of over 35s who like music. We don't all undergo a procedure on our 35th birthday that takes away our love of music or our desire to listen to it on the radio. Perhaps over 35s listen more to talk content but the thoughts of wall-to-wall talk all day is as bad as wall to wall Ed Sheeran.

dr.fuzzenstein

jvan wrote: »

But they had that with Nova, a station aimed at people who like rock based music, they started with that format and it was great, no banter, just djs, who could provide solid links. Over time this has been eroded and now we have a station which is blending into the sameas everything else, kardashian and crazy bants.
I know you can never like every song on a playlist but at least they used to keep the genre on track. Only a matter of time before ed sheran ends up being played (not that i dislike the chap) but he's on every other station.

Somewhere in the vaults of RTE is a large stone tablet which bears an inscription that Irish Radio Stations Hate Rock.
If you like anything harder than Ed Sheeran the attitude is that you can kindly go fcuk yourself with that sh*te.
I usually listen to Radio Bob online, real Rock music not that pansy sh*te that passes for rock in Ireland. OK, not trash or death metal, more old school, but right up my street.
Irish radio stations have one motto:
Born to be Mild

prunudo

joeguevara wrote: »

Is today fm from 2 onwards not geared to that demographic? Maybe the market research has shown that 35 p don’t want msc but are more interested in current affairs and news.

I know when I’m driving I like drifting in and out of interviews, food talk, wine talk, movie talk, and news updates. I have my phone charging that if I wanted to listen to music I can play that.

I think 35 ups have a differing taste in music where 15-22 like listening to current chart so easier to appease with the radio shows.

Ferg Darcy must have changed since last time I listened to him

wally79

Is it not the case that these stations play mostly current popular music and always have. However trends in popular music change and as you age your tastes are less likely to

As matthew mcconaughey once said

“I keep getting older, they stay the same age”

joeguevara

jvan wrote: »

Ferg Darcy must have changed since last time I listened to him

I meant Sean moncrief show.

kneemos

jvan wrote: »

More money but maybe less impressionable and not easily swayed by advertising.
I don't buy it that once you're over 35 you have to listen to radio 1 or local station's. I would also like to see the figures of how many younger people actually listen to radio.

I'd be amazed if any kids still listen to the radio.
People in cars or on in the background in the kitchen.
Yet they their total target audience seems to be thirteen years old.

prunudo

joeguevara wrote: »

I meant Sean moncrief show.

Sorry thought you meant the TodayFm schedule.

prunudo

kneemos wrote: »

I'd be amazed if any kids still listen to the radio.
People in cars or on in the background in the kitchen.
Yet they their total target audience seems to be thirteen years old.

Interesting point, plenty of people who listen to radio while driving yet they can't interact with the presenters via text or social media so they may be going unnoticed to the marketing people.

Ursus Horribilis

wally79 wrote: »

Is it not the case that these stations play mostly current popular music and always have. However trends in popular music change and as you age your tastes are less likely to

As matthew mcconaughey once said

“I keep getting older, they stay the same age”

That's fair enough. But the issue is that *all* the radio stations are going for that young demographic. There are none for the over 35s. The other end of the market is saturated.

wally79

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

That's fair enough. But the issue is that *all* the radio stations are going for that young demographic. There are none for the over 35s. The other end of the market is saturated.

What would 18 year old you have said if your dad complained none of his music was ever on the radio

joeguevara

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

That's fair enough. But the issue is that *all* the radio stations are going for that young demographic. There are none for the over 35s. The other end of the market is saturated.

Tom Dunn’s plays music geared for that demographic, as does Dave fanning as does John creedon. There are indie shows and rock shows. Is there an argument that one station should cater specifically for that age group? Television channels don’t do that so it is not surprising radio stations don’t either.

Ursus Horribilis

wally79 wrote: »

What would 18 year old you have said if your dad complained none of his music was ever on the radio

He never had that problem. Radio 1 still caters to his age group as does the local station.

Ursus Horribilis

joeguevara wrote: »

Tom Dunn’s plays music geared for that demographic, as does Dave fanning as does John creedon. There are indie shows and rock shows. Is there an argument that one station should cater specifically for that age group? Television channels don’t do that so it is not surprising radio stations don’t either.

The national music stations are already catering for the one demographic, as are the regional iRadios and Beat down in the south east. It's an incredibly saturated market. The people who listened to 2fm and Today FM in the 80s 90s and 2000s are still around but naturally won't be all the interested in the Top 40. No radio station seems to want to cater for this large demographic. We're still none the wiser as to why. All I'm seeing is "listen to podcasts and TuneIn"

joeguevara

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

The national music stations are already catering for the one demographic, as are the regional iRadios and Beat down in the south east. It's an incredibly saturated market. The people who listened to 2fm and Today FM in the 80s 90s and 2000s are still around but naturally won't be all the interested in the Top 40. No radio station seems to want to cater for this large demographic. We're still none the wiser as to why. All I'm seeing is "listen to podcasts and TuneIn"

So you want a station that plays non top 40 music? There are programmers that do that. Also for people who don’t want music there are current affairs shows on today fm and newstalk. There are alternative music shows on today fm that play music that should suit 35 up. John creedon has his programme also on radio 1 that does this. So I am unsure what more can be done.

No one watches just one tv channel so why think one station should be geared for one demographic only. Podcasts and on demand were offered as an alternative rather than the only thing. I get that you think that 35-45 don’t fit neatly into radio 1 or 2 fm but the other stations suit.

Thinking about it, I wouldn’t ever think about throwing on the radio when I’m at home. But when I am in the car which can be up to midnight I always find something that interests me.

Ursus Horribilis

If they took that attitude in the UK BBC radio 2 and 6 would not exist.

joeguevara

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

If they took that attitude in the UK BBC radio 2 and 6 would not exist.

Uk has a much bigger budget and listenership.

Antenna

L1011 wrote: »

County Councils don't fund stations -.

They (County Councils / local authorities) have given grants to community radio stations, community radio was probably being referred to?

NIMAN

BailMeOut wrote: »

when you hit 35+ you should just listen to Radio Paradise. Free, no ads and their app is excellent as allows you to cache 12 hours (and their music is brilliant).

http://www.radioparadise.com

I downloaded the app and have been listening for an hour or so.

Lot of music and artists I had never heard of, but wondering is the general music mix I've heard so far indictative of what they play? Lot of very gentle, acoustic guitar stuff.

Does it do rockier stuff at all?

dxhound2005

Looking at the Sunshine playlist, I see some music which I think would suit some over 35's.

Some of their music, not all, some over 35's, not "the" over 35's.

http://onlineradiobox.com/ie/sunshine/playlist/?cs=ie.sunshine

Ursus Horribilis

That's more like an over 55s easy listening playlist :pac:
Bread, The Carpenters, the Bellamy Brothers, Paddy Cole(!)

We're not that decrepit yet.

dxhound2005

After age 33 people do not like to listen to new stuff.

http://www.musicroom.com/blog/we-stop-liking-new-music-at-33-years-old-48930

Technocentral

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Technocentral wrote: »

No good Irish music stations at all. BBC RADIO 6 is a great music station for older audiences, loads of old music plus brand new bands, Lauren Laverne is particularly good.

How do you listen to it?

On bbc app when Im out, on sky box at home.