96.5 Bolton FM
http://www.boltonfm.com/
About Bolton FM:
"Bolton FM is a new growing radio station for the town we love to serve. Our unique selling point (USP) is that we are based in Bolton and are run by volunteers and staff who have lived in the town all their lives. Because we are new we need to grow our news brand. It is the stations aim to be a respected and reliable source for everything that's happening in Bolton.
What’s their history?
Back in 1997 Bolton was to have its first commercial radio station. A group of radio enthusiasts led by Dorothy Maryland, Roy Worthington and Derek Knowles got together a team, and planned to bid for the licence.
They got the advice of Councillor Frank White who brought together BIG community backing by getting the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Bury FC & The Manchester Evening News on board.
Over two years building up to the licence being announced, and under the radio station name of Variety FM, they provided Bolton with a number of professionally run restricted service licence (RSL).
In 1999 came the news that Variety Gold had not got the licence and it had been given to Tower FM - a bury group.
The disappointment was immense but one thing that had emerged during all this was that radio training is a tremendous tool in raising self confidence and self-esteem. So DBBC a radio training charity was born.
A few years later it was announced that Bolton was to get a truly local radio station, with a community licence being advertised. The team knew this was their chance to truly make a difference in Bolton, and succeed in the dream of providing Bolton with a radio station that serves its community. And here we are!"
Research Points:
The DJ's comes from local volunteers who have 'lived in Bolton their whole lives and know the area' they therefore speak in deep accents that are true to their upbringing and will connect to the local listeners.
They use northern dialect and phrases that are known to the area such as 'Teas on't table' and 'chuck' in humorous ways.
The records seem quite modern and from the charts rather than older ones. They will play some related songs such as famous northern bands like 'Oasis'.
The two DJ's are discussing local issues between songs to help the local people. As I’m listening, they are advertising a charity 'pet wash' happening in the area, which is leading to a general conversation about pets and a humorous time in their lives when his cat had kittens and he was stuck with 10 kittens, this 'banter' makes its more interesting and is likely to attract listeners. The chat fades into song and yet again it is a popular hit from the charts.
There is a lot of advertising for 'What’s coming up' on the show, and in the local area, such as the pet wash. It mentions local sport events and music performances.
Sound effects are used cleverly before the news is read out, this technique allows people who hear the tune to become familiar with it and listen closely if it’s heard.
The station has several high profile connections including former Labour Whip Frank White as the station's chairman and Xfm radio presenter Darryl Morris as a director and programming advisor. Former Cops actor Jack Marsden is a regular presenter.
Carl Hartley is Programme Controller of the station, a position he held at former CN Group station Rugby FM. He's also had experience at Lakeland Radio, Tower FM, and The Bay
Presenting the show: Jay Hull
Talking to the listener: He discussed local events of interest, there was opportunities for call ins
Talking about the record: He would introduce the next track
Adverts: Local businesses eg ‘Plumbers of Bolton’
Catch phrase/Theme tune: to a tune ’96.5 Live from the North’
Digresses to another subject: Presenters did discuss their personal lives
DJ talks about own life: He announced he’s getting a new dog at the weekend
I think local radio presenters connect with their audience better, as they deal with local topics and in this normally have presenters from the local area. Usually their editing skills are not as good as those of a national station, due to a lack of funding and less expensive equipment. This can also affect things such as their jingles. Despite this down-fall they work hard to present local issues.
National:
BBC Radio 1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/radio1/
"BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the BBC which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock or interviews. It is aimed primarily at the 15–29 age group.[1] Radio 1 was launched at 7:00am on 30 September 1967 as a direct response to the popularity of offshore pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline, which had been outlawed by Act of Parliament."
I listened to a show presented by Greg James and made notes:
DJ's: Greg James (but many throughout the day such as well known Chris Moyle’s and Ferne Cotton)
Catchphrases such as 'This is BBC Radio 1' are used frequently during the show.
The DJ's discuss themselves and their weekends with humorous effect to give a pleasurable listening experience and attract listeners. My criticism to this 'Greg James' show is that he is on his own and so has no one to talk too and therefore just talks about himself to his audience.
The records played are all chart hits and they have a charts show leading down to the number 1 song. They tend to be the genre of ‘pop’ or ‘RnB’.
Research Notes:
Slang: slang used like 'oh yeah'. This makes the listener feel more 'at home' and enjoy the experience.
Talks about themselves: talks about himself e.g who he is and what time he got there. This makes the listener feel they know the presenter and builds 'friendship' bonds, which will bring the listener back. This though, is usually done better on local radio.
About the record: Jason Durulo track is discussed. This keeps the show relevant with modern music.
Talks to the listener: talks about the news to the caller, again keeping the listener a main priority and creating a masked 'friendship'.
Another subject: talking about Christmas, again keeping the show relevant.
Says whets coming up: 'Jay Sean up next' This keeps the listener listening as they will want to hear the song.
catch phrase: 'You're listening to radio 1’
These national stations have less connection with their audience, with different people calling in everyday (due to the large audience). But the listening experience is normally preferred due to their better technical and editing equipment.
I then listened to Heart FM and made similar notes to compare. Heart is particularly interesting as it is London's local station that also broadcasts nationally.
Heart fM
http://www.heart.co.uk/
Presenting the show: Toby Anstis
Talking to the listener: caller calls in to answer question on chance to win tickets to a gig paid for by the show
Talking about the record: talking about the song e.g name chart position and if they like the track
Promotes another show: uses upcoming messages to tell you when Emma Bunton’s radio show will begin.
Adverts: Lg phones, trust a trader.com, Wilkerson and Persil
Catch phrase/Theme tune: 'This is Heart' and 'Give it Some Heart'
Digresses to another subject: starts talking about I’m a celebrity get me out of here.
Says whets coming up: songs from Michael Bubble and Lighthouse Family coming up.
DJ talks about own life: say that he is not feeling too well and has caught the cold that is going round
National and Local stations advertise different products and events (local promote local goods while national advertised bigger brands) but they both use similar advertising theories. They use the Syringe Theory to promote themselves, every time you hear 'This is Heart' as a listener, you feel you want to keep listening to hear what’s coming up on the show. The Two-Step Flow theory is also used, as people go away and discuss what they've heard on the radio e.g "BBC Radio 1 was playing that new track!" and more people will go and listen to pass their own judgment.
I will use these notes to create a document of 'radio convections' to develop my research and then use during the recording of my radio show.
By listening to these two stations I managed to analyse them and pick up some key skills. I listened to how the DJ's spoke and wrote down the convections of radio. I see our radio course-work being a local news show but with qualities from a national show. We will report on both national and local stories with the professionalism of editing from a national show, but the heart-warming presenting and audience connection you receive from local radio.
No comments:
Post a Comment