Today, Rick O'Shea's radio programme changed to mostly music.
It's incredible really. At a time when RTE insists on blabbing on about the importance of their 'personalities' etc, paying/justifying massive salaries to radio staff like Gerry Ryan (who in no universe belongs on a youth station), they simultaneously completely withdraw the emphasis on the personalities of their most interesting employees. Rick O'Shea is one of these.
His programme is generally stimulating, funny, interesting, interactive, revealing and thought-provoking. Now? Pink - 'So What', Beyonce - 'If I Were A Boy'. A few links. The news. The sport. Entertainment news. It's an insult to a person of Rick's capabilities, experience and skills as a radio presenter to turn him into someone who just presses play.
Why now is 2fm taking this approach? They have just launched 2XM, a digital station with an emphasis on music. Surely, then, they should develop 2fm separately to the demands that are now being met on that digital station (which, seems to me, to just be loads of music.) So if 2XM is about the music, then why aren't the good things about 2fm being reinforced?
Talk about a lazy way out.
And even the music they are playing offers nothing new. It's just playlisted pop. Do the people who make decisions at 2fm not understand that if young people want to listen to music, they plug in their iPod or whack on Last.fm? Do they really just want the afternoon slots at 2fm to turn into a soundtrack for customers at Spar or petrol stations? Because that's what will happen now with these rudderless and badly thought out decisions.
If 2fm is looking to lose listeners to Phantom Daily, Spin Hits with Steve K, hell, Tony Fenton on Today FM! then they're certainly going in the right direction.
If you agree with what I'm talking about, you can join the Facebook group which makes some similar points. And you can also email complaints@rte.ie.
Yes, Rick O'Shea is a mate, but even if he wasn't, I'd still be ragin'.
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31 comments:
Oh, I'd also like to know what kind of market research etc (if any?!) RTE did leading up to this mindless decision...
The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The farther you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter, cos there's....
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time
You squander wealth that's mine
My light will shine so brightly
It will blind you
Cos there's......
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Brothers and sisters
When they insist we're just not good enough
When we know better
Just look 'em in the eyes and say
I'm gonna do it anyway
I'm gonna do it anyway
Something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Brothers and sisters
When they insist we're just good not enough
When we know better
Just look 'em in the eyes and say
I'm gonna do it anyway
I'm gonna do it anyway
I'm gonna do it anyway
I'm gonna do it anyway
Because there's something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Because there's something inside so strong
And I know that I can make it
Tho' you're doing me, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
ah, our old friend anonymous! Would you be able to come up with better gags if you left your name?
That's some nice nutshell packing right there Una.
Anon, your copy and paste skills are breathtaking.
What do you think - one month before ricks at today fm?
Always thought that Rick was overrated. He has a very annoying accent. People who take off annoying DJs are in fact taking off Rick.
I hated the endless texting in nonsense. Fair play to 2fm.
you are entitled to an opinion, however, it means much less when you're anonymous.
Goodbye England's rose;
may you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself
where lives were torn apart.
You called out to our country,
and you whispered to those in pain.
Now you belong to heaven,
and the stars spell out your name.
And it seems to me you lived your life
like a candle in the wind:
never fading with the sunset
when the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here,
among England's greenest hills;
your candle's burned out long before
your legend ever will.
Loveliness we've lost;
these empty days without your smile.
This torch we'll always carry
for our nation's golden child.
And even though we try,
the truth brings us to tears;
all our words cannot express
the joy you brought us through the years.
Goodbye England's rose,
from a country lost without your soul,
who'll miss the wings of your compassion
more than you'll ever know.
*yawn*
2FM is utterly beyond saving at this point. They can't even go after their stated demographic properly ie. BBC Radio 1 without resorting to mindless soul-destroying programming. It's been rudderless for a long time and needs someone to step in and shake it up. Even if they continue their "young person" approach, they need to go after that demographic more imaginatively. Hopefully Clare Duignan can instigate something. I can see the Gerry Ryan anomaly resolving in the next year though. For someone who loves radio, I just see such an epic waste of a potentially good station...(Deep Breath) Rant over.
That's unfair Una. You don't criticise the anonymous status of other anonymous posters who happen to agree with your usually ill-thought rants.
And may I add, it's a joke how much you pretend to be outraged about this and that, when in fact it's another thinly-disguised post aimed at complimenting some dull friend (who probably thinks you're a twat!)
And also, this blog is total self-obsessed rubbish and my 5 year old could write better english. Why do I log on every now and again? Because it's so bad there's always something to complain about.
Yeah. Don't know what the hell there at over on 2FM alright... To pick up on a point about the slew of RTE DAB stations that were recently launched - which I haven't bothered to check out as there are too many to bother with. Has anybody else noticed how they've managed to bring down the whole DAB network? Now where once I could get all the usual FM stations in clear, interferance-free digital on my nice new radio, they've all been anihialated and all that's available on DAB is all the new RTE's!? They're able to screw almost anything up...you have to hand it to them...
Well said Una, ricks shows isn't the same without Ricks interraction with the audience.
You can get music on any radio station so the way I see it 2fm can only lose listeners with their new super tactic...if people didn't like rick then they wouldn't be listening in the first place, so could it be that people who do tune in do so cos they like Ricks take on things.....that's far too logical for the geniuses in RTE management to understand!
Reminds me of the simpsons episode where Bart wins an elephant on a radio show and the DJs get replaced with an automated song intro machine....maybe thats where Michael Cahill got this brainwave from.
And while we're at it, what demographic do Larry Gogan and Gerry Ryan fall into on 2FM I wonder (Larry's a nice chap but he's 70.....that's only 3 years younger than Gaybo and Gaybo gave up the day job 10 years ago !!!!!)
So what should Gerry Ryan do instead and at what age will you be too old to comment on music and whats the plan then?
@ Paddy: if Gerry Ryan must keep his job in RTE, he should be on Radio 1, not the youth station that insists it's now all about music, yet still gives him three hours to blab on in the morning.
You are never too old to comment on music, of course! But do pensioner DJs really belong on what is meant to be the 'young people's' station? I mean, maybe Larry Gogan knows everything there is to know about Rihanna or Katy Perry or MGMT or whoever, or maybe he's just reading links and playing tracks off the playlist. Gogan is a legend and one of the nicest guys in the industry, sure, but does that mean he should still have six hours of programming every week on 2fm? It's hardly progressive.
2fm should be youth-focussed with quality programming and an entertaining playlist. It had a quality programme with Rick O'Shea's show, and it still has the saving grace of Jenny Huston's show, but with these new changes, one would imagine thousands of listeners will just switch off.
@ JP: if you actually find entertainment in being annoyed and seeking things out to complain about, may I suggest you find more positive ways to amuse yourself?
But do pensioner DJs really belong on what is meant to be the 'young people's' station?
If they still retain a passion for what they do, if they're still clued in to what's going on, if they still know better than the kids that they work with what's good and what's bad then yes.
Basically what I'm saying is that I want Zombie John Peel and I want him now. And I'd feed him that brains of everyone at 2FM to get him.
"If they still retain a passion for what they do, if they're still clued in to what's going on, if they still know better than the kids that they work with what's good and what's bad then yes."
totally agree
"...if people didn't like rick then they wouldn't be listening in the first place..."
Maybe you inadvertently hit upon the problem...
For the record, I have no allegiance to any Irish station at all.
I know it aint the time to be quitting jobs but if he's that fucked off about it, maybe he should.
Oh and im not a big Gerry Ryan fan, just saying if there prepared to pay him a large wage, is he suppose to say no? And wouldnt he be like the young guy if he moved over to Radio 1.
"And wouldnt he be like the young guy if he moved over to Radio 1."
he's 52; the same age as Joe Duffy, 17 years older than Ryan Tubridy, and just 8 years younger than Pat Kenny.
fair enough, off to the retirement home with him so! JOEEEEEEEEEEE DUFFFY!
Thoroughly agree with you una, I am a full time Today FM listener until Ray Foleys show ends and i then tune into Rick O'Shea cos i loved his programme, hate the new format.. he wont stay in 2fm to be treated like that..
my opinion doesn't matter because I'm anonymous? What a crock Una. Cop on.
What about the Twenty Majors etc of the blog world who are also anon.
Rick's show was shite. The fact that Rick is a mate of yours should of been at the top of the post to warn how biased your opinion was.
Also, from Rick's position - who cares. Same money, less work. Less text revenue mind you - don't know what the commercial bods in RTE were thinking there.
Rick O'Shea is one of the most boring people on the radio. Now if only they could get Ruth Scott less air time too they'd be on to something.
As for Gerry Ryan, he actually has his own opinions and doesn't spend the whole show reading out texts from people about their favourite 80s cartoon or flavour of Angel Delight. Granted his opinions are mostly ridiculous and idiotic, but entertaining nonetheless.
2fm has been terrible for years, terribly ran and terrible dj's we should let it go down the tubes and be replaced by better thought out and more widely available than ever before DAB stations.
Rick is decent but not great and tbh would today fm need him,Ray Foley does a better type of show.
The two of them and shows of that ilk are just very poor imitations of Moyles.
That Larry Gogan is still on 2fm is fantastic.A youth station doesnt have to be presented by young people.Did John Peel not work on radio one?adam and joe and formerly phil jupitis on 6music were/are not young.
The Bob Dylan and Alice Cooper shows on various satelite channels also were a big hit.
If the presenters on 2fm werent so "wacky" and constantly looking for feedback via text and email and concentrated more on not saying em,ah,and general poor skills then 2fm would be better off.
Gogan can seemlessly skip[ from Elvis to Rhianna and give a bit of info about each.Also as he said himself he does like modern music and is a big Kings of Leon fan.
I'm not Larry Gogan bashing, just pointing out that a 70 year old doesn't belong in a YOUTH station (aside from the fact that other public sector employees have to retire at 65). Move him to RTE 1 and let him do some stuff there, but he's out of place on 2FM.
Holden said : "Gogan can seemlessly skip from Elvis to Rhianna and give a bit of info about each.Also as he said himself he does like modern music and is a big Kings of Leon fan"
Well Larry has the advantage of being around when Elvis was there and as for Rihanna and kings of leon well anyone can read a playlist (or get researchers to dig up some trivia to make you sound knowledgable).
Larry is a good DJ but comparing him to John Peel is ridiculous.
John Peel was an innovator and maverick playing psychedelic rock, reggae, punk, alternative rock, pop, death metal, British hip hop and dance music on BBC1 whereas Larry plays 2FMs playlist, possibly picks his own selection for the golden hour (can't see Larry including and death metal like napalm death in that) and does the "just a minute quiz"....hardly a fair comaprison !
I bet you're delighted you started this post for your mate Rick. Most people think that the DJ who based his show on reading out texts from the public got his just desserts.
If they're going to just play music in the afternoon I'd prefer to hear Cormac Battle or Dan Hegarty and the not the brother of Tony Fenton aka Riiiiiiiiiiiickkkkkkkkkkkkk O' Sheaaaaaaaaaaaa.
all this fuss is being written by friends of Ricks and blogged by his other pals.
2fm is a national station which has a crap playlist in the afternoons.He is up against Tony Fenton and other type Dj's at the same time.
Everyone plays the same shit and all have entertainemnt slots and various text us in your ideas shite.
Why is everyone's knickers in a twist over this.
Now if today fm would only cut the same rubbish from The Darcy show that would be fantastic"i had to pull over ray,the thoughts of zig and zag have tears streaming down my face"jeez louise.
Irish radio is pretty crap and has a few standout dj and hosts,moncrieff probably being the best of them.
Everyone is losing the plot over this,average show now just has a litte but more crap music on it.
In refernce to Gogan,dont all 2fm dj's just play off a list and put simply he is better at it than most there.
Also i may be shot down here,but John Peel wasnt really that good and had some awful taste's in music.
Also i may be shot down here,but John Peel wasnt really that good and had some awful taste's in music.
I hate the white stripes most of the time.
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