Today FM Megathread Mod warning post #1 / #1401

I predict they'll loose thousands of loyal listeners because some pr consultant reckons there's more money to be made from younger listeners who don't even care about Fm radio.

Maybe I'm wrong and the youth of today will start listening but they're all used to Spotify and other ways of listening to music etc. Be like trying to persuade a teenager or 20 year to buy a newspaper or magazine, they'll look at you sideways.

Maybe I'm too cynical, but watching the mess of 2fm over the last 8 years I wouldn't hold my breathe.

Iano wouldnt be a bad shout for the Mid morning slot, and get some young buck in to do the morning slot

Mc Love wrote: »

Iano wouldnt be a bad shout for the Mid morning slot, and get some young buck in to do the morning slot

I think though if they moved Ian to the mid morning slot they would lose a a huge amount of people on the morning slot and it would just be replicating the 2FM, FM104, 98FM setups.

I doubt they have anyone whatsoever lined up to take Antons place and they are going to struggle to bring in anyone similar, surely with the figures Anton retained from D'Arcy's departure he was the man to keep for another year or so. December is probably the biggest advertising revenue period for any radio station, it wouldn't have been any master plan to ditch your DJ at the start of it with nobody lined up to take over him a few days later.

The Parish priest wrote: »

The Today fm ceo has announced major changes are coming in 17...Any predictions ? My guess cormac and daniella for breakfast, Chris and Ciara for mid morning and Ian Dempsey goes to drive time

Never really thought of Cormac and Danielle being that good to be promoted to national radio. Although Danielle seems to be more focused on her online travel series and modelling than radio - as she seems to be off a lot. Don't think Today FM would offer her the same flexibility.

L1011 wrote: »

Sufficient people in management are gone from when Foley 'left'. May be a way back in there.

Foley "left" on good terms by all accounts. The current management are actually less likely to hire him, given the current CEO was CEO of 98 during Foley's tenure there, Foley has been pretty vocal about issues with Today FM both on NTN and even on an interview on Anton's show which was cut from the website.

I'd love to see it happen, but tbh I'll believe it only when Ray is sitting behind the mic and the news is over.

wnolan1992 wrote: »

Foley "left" on good terms by all accounts.

Not going on what I've heard... although the people he had problems with were not there long after.

You'd also have to wonder how happy Ian is. He's been in the same slot for 18 years, and has been doing early mornings for what, almost 30? The show is, IMO, sounding a bit tired, and has basically become the Gift Grub Breakfast Show featuring Ian Dempsey.

I'm sure he's on a fair whack of money, and maybe he's still loving it, but maybe if you combine the obvious annoyance at management with the above, he might want a change himself?

In relation to Ian Dempsey, I was speculating what he would do if he was approached by another station and if we was fed up in Today FM - of course, he may be quite happy where he is. Also, money may not be an issue for him at this stage so he might be tempted by a setup which suited his other needs in radio.

I thought of Radio Nova and 4FM because the target audience are at the older end of the scale and he would be comfortable with the music on both stations. In the case of Nova, he would know Marty Miller (from Today FM), John Clarke, Mike Maloney and, of course, from pirate radio many moons ago Pat James. He may not know as many on 4FM - he would know Gareth O'Callaghan very well.

I have wondered from time to time why he continues to work those godawful hours.

I'd happily do two hours a day from 7-9 for 30 years on that money.
If you think they are godawful hours then don't have a look at KC's hours on Red Fm, he's on from 5am till 9.
And won Breakfast show off the year a few weeks back.

reg114 wrote: »

Deadmau5 followed by Iggy izalia just now on today Fm, yeah defo goin after spin listener age group

At leaat the deadmau5 one was a good tune

Or should that be choon!

_Brian wrote: »

Was just listening to the handover from Ian to Alison... you could hear Ian had no interest in it, very forced and false, nothing like the genuine respect during the interaction between Ian and Anton..

Havent heard it but Ian & Alison worked together for a good few years on the Breakfast show, so they know each other well.

I do like Ian Dempsey but I don't think that we need more than 2 hours of him a day. And I just can't see him taking an afternoon or mid morning stint. Ian has been good cos he has a lot of activities in his show - the competition usually lasts almost 10 minutes, Kick start, gift grub, long sport news with interaction with PC, and lots more. There isn't much room for lulls in the 2 hour breakfast show but a 3 hour mid morning show...I dunno And form listening to Iano interviewing people over the years, he is not the greatest interviewer - and maybe thats to do with the interview types that he has done. Its talking mainly to bands and singers etc and he is usually fawning all over them, which is fine. But that for 3 hours with other types of giests...no thanks.

The Last Word imo has changed in the last few months - and I like it - Paul Kimmage on a Monday, longer TV slot on a Wednesday, your man from LCB, plus I do like Matt. They better keep hold of that show.

I said in another thread that I think the front runner for Anton's slot is Neil Delamres for the taking - I dunno if I like that but he has grown on me over the last year.

One other thing - Pat Kenny jumped off of the RTE ship years ago and who would have thought it. So what RTE star might leave it for TodayFM??? Just putting it out there...Mr Fanning? I do enjoy his Saturday & Sunday morning shows - beats Alison on TodayFM.

Thats my tuppence worth!

robo wrote: »

Oh agree - I so miss Friday Night 80's, cant understand why they changed it! Crazy idea...
Watch out the classic 9 at 11 will be cut next :eek:

The only crazy about getting rid of FN80's was, IMO, that Phil Cawley was left in the slot. According to Phil himself, the reason it was cancelled was that it was felt that it was giving the station "too old a sound". Now, if management really felt that, why wouldn't they bring in a younger DJ with a proper Friday night show, maybe even a dance/EDM show or something, rather than the horrific middle ground that is Friday Night Anthems which really pleases no-one.

(And to be clear, I loved FN80's and would be much happier if it stayed, but I see the argument management are making here)


I mean, it would have made a huge amount of sense if FN80's was replaced by FN90's. The people with the most amount of nostalgia for 90's music are now entering their mid-20's and early 30's. Y'know, Today FM's demographic...

robo wrote: »

I'd agree with FN90's too - and with Cawley. But he did sound a bit miffed at the time that they were getting rid of it.
Would have made good sense to have a new section at 7pm with a completely new show.

Phil spoke at an event I was organising about a month back. IIRC, he basically said that he understood that the station needs to attract younger listeners, but he felt that they were going at it in too extreme a way, and would end up alienating existing listeners faster than they would attract new ones.

I think people here need to realise that Today FM needs (or wants) to skew younger. People are saying that they are aiming for the Spin audience. However, I disagree. I think they are aiming for the Spin audience who are outgrowing Spin. I think that's a sensible move to make. These are the people who will, hopefully, be us in 10 years time bemoaning that the station they've listened to in the office or the car pretty much constantly all this time is now going after the filthy youth!