The two Johnnie's are to move to the iconic mid-morning Gerry Ryan slot and Jen Z goes to drive according to the red tops today https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/2fm-planning-major-shake-up-32825017
Easier path if you are good and if RTÉ or any company can develop you, but its also important to role the dice when the time comes to leave the organisation that has supported you.
I have no real problem with RTÉ taking the 2 Jonnies, Doireann or Jenny Z and supporting them, in reality the 2 Jonnies were taken to boost 2FM audience. Which they kind of did, but defenders of RTÉ will say they really weren't given enough time, I'd argue that that is about a far as they could have brought it and they would have flatlined over the next few years and we'd still be talking about them.
Doireann is a grifter and that is fine, it will be interesting to see where she goes with her podcasts following this, perhaps I underestimate that side of the industry.
Jenny Z on the other hand doesn't really have anything from that side of things. She's not like the 2 Jonnies and their touring talks/comedy. And unlike Doireann she doesn't have a podcasting background. It will be interesting to see if she retains the presenting role on DWTS. I have a feeling that RTÉ TV will want some connection to their Radio stations especially as no Radio 1 presenter is currently on TV. Nothing stopping RTÉ getting Claire Byrne and Louise Duffy to present DWTS.
Sorry Miriam O'Callaghan is the only RTÉ Radio 1 presenter also on TV. Aine Lawlor on TWIP. No one expects the Spanish inquisition !
I think Louise Cantillon from today fm could be a good move. She’s rarely on her show, and could present from limerick. She’s also been on the tv with Dathi
Who actually aspires to be a 2fm presenter these days when anyone with ambition has multiple options for launchpads with the internet?
The two johnnies make more from their podcasts without the overheads of rte.
Their exit only confirms 2fm's irrelevance to generations whose main milieu is the internet.
Dan Healy says 2FM are competing with the radios and the Spins. Honestly does it not say that 2FM should switch Fuchs? 15-34 can’t be listening. Go 25-50 or the same demo that BBCR2 covers and you might get a more stable listenership.
He's actually insufferable.
How is he charge of anything?
He sounds a bit like Louis Walshe. Same level of BS as well.
Healy is absolutely flailing here on Claire Byrne.
I can hear his lips sticking to his gums.
Laura Fox replaces Zamparelli. Isn't it fantastic to see a station like 2FM on the front page of every newspaper? says Dan to Claire Byrne
That'd be 2FM going back to its roots. So many of the DJs from its first decade of existence came from a pirate background (including one G. Ryan) and were virtual unknowns when they started out. Of course it was easier to become a household name in those days but it was a formula that worked. If a presenter is likeable and competent, and plays good music, they'll go a long way towards holding their listeners.
I’m sure there are plenty of young talented presenters out there. Hire them cheap, make them. Maybe they’ll stay, maybe they won’t but rinse and repeat if they feel they’re now bigger than the station. Doireann is an opportunist. Lottie, a nepobaby, Zamp may have had comedy chops a long time ago but the fact I can’t place her tells me she hasn’t the X factor, or Iano/G-Ryan factor).
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Or that back fires on them and there is a major up swing in listenership. And we all realise that Jenny Z isn't a star and neither was Doireann.
Do we need 2FM at all?
I imagine with the “stars” walking out because their income sources are limited, they are Backhurst & Co are figuring out that by losing listeners they can have a mandate to shut that station down.
It seems more a case, 2fm are trying to dictate about external income and the high profile stars are saying I'm out. Those with limited commerical profile with stay , which is hardly a recipe for success….
Ah but do you only see radio 2 as more relevant as you've aged perhaps, should radio1 or 2 fm feel relevant to someone 35+. I doubt the majority of teenagers in the UK deem radio2 relevant to them in the same way the may feel for radio1…
Like 2fm, BBC radio 1 doesn't seem to be as ageist as it was in the early 2010s. Chris Moyles was deemed too old for their breakfast show in 2012 at the age of 38 but their current breakfast host is 38 now and recently got a new contract. It's similar to how Rick O'Shea and Will Leahy were frogmarched to Gold when they were the age Tracy Clifford is today.
How relevant is BBC Radio 1 to youngsters in the UK these days? It's been the model that 2fm moulds itself on since its inception. But these days I feel like Radio 2 is the more relevant music station over there. Maybe it's time for 2fm to aim for Irish equivalent of BBC radio 2 listeners rather than BBC Radio 1.
Just came across this Brought back memories of when 2FM was relevant and staffed by real radio enthusiasts
Dan Healy aka Head of Audio Strategy and 2fm, I imagine he will soon be Director of Content Audio before the year is up.
bbc/us and uk market are salivating over the free talents …. Or maybe not
the head wrecker Laura Fox surely will replace her
sounds like theyre bringing in cheaper labour. i said it above, there will be current fill in 2fm presenters / weekend presenters given primetime weekday slots.
It seems Jen Z is going too
I'm glad I put a few € on this coming to fruit 🤑
I would think these are all steps in a cost reduction plan. Backhurst has to show some change, or a bit like the Government dictat to FAI, no governance changes/no funding.
2fm had to be subsidized by €3.6m of license fee money in the 2022 published RTE accounts. 2fm is not a public service.
Staff 2FM with shows with 1 presenter (instead of x3 for breakfast and x2 for Drive). There are set song lists from what I hear, so a lot of these presenters dont actually have much choice over the songs played.
Either make 2FM wash its face with advertising, or sell it.
I also think Backhurst is very comfortable with all of this.
He can't go cap in hand to the Dept looking to fund 400 voluntary redundancies with the risk of another Doireann or Jennifer related Instagram land mine exploding.
What was it he said last week about her leaving? Oh ya……"Bullsh!t, Bullsh!t, Bullsh!t"
Apparently Dan told a "Town Hall" meeting in RTE yesterday that he's all about bringing through fresh talent and has done lots of this already, with some Pulse presenters.
I don't know if anyone there had the decency to laugh in his face.
Jenny Z is hanging up her head phones.
A good day. If they’re running so quickly when a bit of discipline is imposed then they were a waste of space to begin with.
