The official 'Ask Aled' thread (Part Seven)

[Chris]

Feel free to post your questions for Aled below - maybe he'll answer them for you!

Please keep everything on topic, and keep your questions both sensible and reasonable.

ASK ALED!

[Mcqueen_]

There are around 10 of us. There's the music team (made up of 4 people) then other people around the station can apply to be on the team. Producers, Exec Producers, Assistant Producers etc. We each have a specialist section to focus on but we all have an opinion on the songs that go on (or don't go on). My specialist section is teen pop.

Perfect

Is there never any listener/public opinion surveys done regarding the playlist? The playlist and the amount of times songs are played a day seems to be a major point people mention when criticising Radio 1 as a whole.

When judging the music do you seperate what you think is a good pop record personally and what you think a target audience member would like?

[MC]

Aled,

I understand daytime Radio 1 has to cater for all tastes/genres etc, and the playlist certainly does that. What I can't understand though is the amount of airplay given to old songs in the daytime. By "old songs" I mean songs such as the following:

Tomcraft - Loneliness
Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme
Layo & Buchwacka - Love Story
Eminem - Without Me
Eve feat Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
Usher - Yeah
Basement Jaxx - Good Luck

There's probably tons more but that's off the top of my head. Why do Radio 1 keep playing these songs years later? On a consistent basis? (Of all the songs?..)

There is so much good music on the specialist shows that could take its place. I know Radio 1 does a brilliant job with this generally, but I can't believe two of the best songs of the year - "Suspicious Character" by The Blood Arm and "Once And Never Again" by The Long Blondes (both due for release shortly) are not even on the 1-Upfront List.

[Aled]

There are around 10 of us. There's the music team (made up of 4 people) then other people around the station can apply to be on the team. Producers, Exec Producers, Assistant Producers etc. We each have a specialist section to focus on but we all have an opinion on the songs that go on (or don't go on). My specialist section is teen pop.

Perfect

Is there never any listener/public opinion surveys done regarding the playlist? The playlist and the amount of times songs are played a day seems to be a major point people mention when criticising Radio 1 as a whole.

When judging the music do you seperate what you think is a good pop record personally and what you think a target audience member would like?

Yes there are. A survey is done every fortnight. listener reaction also plays a huge part in the feedback process.

Yes, that's exactly what we do. Playlist often goes "I HATE/LOVE this song but I believe the audience..." I'm 30 and my specialist subject is teen pop so I have to have two heads on!

There's also distinctions between what sounds good at home / on your ipod / in the bath and what sounds good as a Radio song. The argument at the moment is raging over Christina Aguilera's new song. Amazing song - but would it sound right on the radio? When most people have the radio on in the background in the daytime or on at the breakfast table in the morning etc

[Aled]

Aled,

I understand daytime Radio 1 has to cater for all tastes/genres etc, and the playlist certainly does that. What I can't understand though is the amount of airplay given to old songs in the daytime. By "old songs" I mean songs such as the following:

Tomcraft - Loneliness
Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme
Layo & Buchwacka - Love Story
Eminem - Without Me
Eve feat Gwen Stefani - Let Me Blow Ya Mind
Usher - Yeah
Basement Jaxx - Good Luck

There's probably tons more but that's off the top of my head. Why do Radio 1 keep playing these songs years later? On a consistent basis? (Of all the songs?..)

There is so much good music on the specialist shows that could take its place. I know Radio 1 does a brilliant job with this generally, but I can't believe two of the best songs of the year - "Suspicious Character" by The Blood Arm and "Once And Never Again" by The Long Blondes (both due for release shortly) are not even on the 1-Upfront List.

Above and beyond what I personally see (i.e. playlist) I've got to be careful talking on behalf of the music team because they know more about this than I do. On top of the playlist there is also "recurrants" which means older tracks get played for a certain amount of time. They're normally the tracks that tested well with our audience and who enjoy hearing them again. The number of times played / and how far into the past you go is a matter of taste and is down to the music team.

[Walter Sobchak]

Thankyou aled, that was a superb insight.

[bumheed7]

The playlist and the amount of times songs are played a day seems to be a major point people mention when criticising Radio 1 as a whole.

Totally. It's finally got the better of me. Songs like 'Promiscuos Girl' and 'Tell Me Whyyyyyyy' grate on me so much that whenever Moyles isnt on and I want the radio on, then it's Radio 2. And I'm only 19. That cannae be good!

[Yudster]

"Promiscuous Girl" is driving me up the wall too. I never did like that - but the problem is that sometimes there is a song that I really like, for instance the Feeling's single at the moment - and it gets played so much, every time I switch the radio on there it is - by the time it is released I am absolutely sick of it and never want to hear it again. Aled, do you think songs are getting played to death for too long before release? I wonder if they would maybe sell more singles if there was LESS radio play weeks and weeks before the single is actually available - byt the time its in the shops, you're bored with it! What do you think Aled?

[Aled]

The playlist and the amount of times songs are played a day seems to be a major point people mention when criticising Radio 1 as a whole.

Totally. It's finally got the better of me. Songs like 'Promiscuos Girl' and 'Tell Me Whyyyyyyy' grate on me so much that whenever Moyles isnt on and I want the radio on, then it's Radio 2. And I'm only 19. That cannae be good!

A few things here.

Firstly people are going to focus more on the tracks that annoy them that Radio 1 play, they naturally wouldn't focus on the ones that they enjoy hearing.

Secondly we've never pretended to play everything that everyone in the 15-24 age bracket like. Think about it - there's going to be people who like a particular genre of music that other stations that focus on that type of music might be able to cater to (e.g. 1Xtra). Radio 1 tries to do a bit of everything. If that's not your thing then we're no good to them.

Thirdly people on this website are clearly Chris Moyles / Radio 1 fans. And we love you - obviously. But the numbers of people who listen to the station as you do is actually very small. On average people listen to the radio for around 14 minutes. So songs will annoy you much quicker than the average listener because they would never hear songs as often as you do. We have over 50 songs on our playlist , that's more than Capital (40) Kiss (35) and Galaxy (31) have and theirs can be over the evening as well just daytime like our playlist. So if we annoy you with songs other radio stations would be much worse.

[Aled]

"Promiscuous Girl" is driving me up the wall too. I never did like that - but the problem is that sometimes there is a song that I really like, for instance the Feeling's single at the moment - and it gets played so much, every time I switch the radio on there it is - by the time it is released I am absolutely sick of it and never want to hear it again. Aled, do you think songs are getting played to death for too long before release? I wonder if they would maybe sell more singles if there was LESS radio play weeks and weeks before the single is actually available - byt the time its in the shops, you're bored with it! What do you think Aled?

See above

There is a whole multi billion pound industry in music with the Record Companies and if you ask ANY of them whether it would help them if we played songs less not one person would agree.

[Ballbag]

Two questions for you Aled.

1.Why the sudden influx of guests?

2. Do you like my glasses?

[fish heads]

1.Why the sudden influx of guests?

Aled's already explained this (I think) - it's because this is the time when people launch stuff for Christmas and people rightly think Moyles is a great place to plug the stuff on.

[Ballbag]

1.Why the sudden influx of guests?

Aled's already explained this (I think) - it's because this is the time when people launch stuff for Christmas and people rightly think Moyles is a great place to plug the stuff on.

Oh.... thanks......... but what about my glasses?

[Aled]

1.Why the sudden influx of guests?

Aled's already explained this (I think) - it's because this is the time when people launch stuff for Christmas and people rightly think Moyles is a great place to plug the stuff on.

Oh.... thanks......... but what about my glasses?

Love 'em

[bumheed7]

The playlist and the amount of times songs are played a day seems to be a major point people mention when criticising Radio 1 as a whole.

Totally. It's finally got the better of me. Songs like 'Promiscuos Girl' and 'Tell Me Whyyyyyyy' grate on me so much that whenever Moyles isnt on and I want the radio on, then it's Radio 2. And I'm only 19. That cannae be good!

A few things here.

Firstly people are going to focus more on the tracks that annoy them that Radio 1 play, they naturally wouldn't focus on the ones that they enjoy hearing.

Yeah, obviously I like a lot of the songs that are played on R1, otherwise I wouldnt listen to it. Songs like 'Aint No Other Man', 'Never Be Lonely' and 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin' are great, but over the weeks of listening to Moyles, and some of Mills, JK and Joels, even these songs become irritating due to overplay. Which is why I've decided to lay off the latter DJ's and listen to Chris Evans when I would normally listen to Mills, as whenever he's on, its a song I'm unfamiliar with or an oldy.
Not criticising R1 as its oviously the way it needs to be done from the record companies point of view, but its just gotten the better of me, and is why I've changed my listening habits.
Either way, BBC is happy as adverts get on my tits the most

[Yudster]

There is a whole multi billion pound industry in music with the Record Companies and if you ask ANY of them whether it would help them if we played songs less not one person would agree.

I understand this completely - but I genuinely think it is something that the record companies should think harder about. I think they are doing it because thats what they do, rather than because it is the best way to maximise sales (always assuming that maximising sales is the priority). I am not "target", so I don't count my own view in this - but my kids and their friends are very much "target" - as is my husband, actually ( ),and amongst them I can't find a single person who doesn't agree. With me, I mean. And I'm not scary, so I'm sure they're not just saying that. Maybe the record companies should have a policy review.......? Things change, you know.........

[Ballbag]

Aled .... will you be my side kick?

[Yudster]

He'll never be as good as me.........

[Sidders]

There's also distinctions between what sounds good at home / on your ipod / in the bath and what sounds good as a Radio song. The argument at the moment is raging over Christina Aguilera's new song. Amazing song - but would it sound right on the radio? When most people have the radio on in the background in the daytime or on at the breakfast table in the morning etc

That's a silly thing to say, when you play songs like Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars. That song would sound great lying in bed wih a partner, but does it really sound great on the Radio?

Maybe I'm just bitter, because that song really does my head in (even though I quite like Snow Patrol), but it's on Radio 1 ALL THE TIME!!!

[Boboff]

There is a whole multi billion pound industry in music with the Record Companies and if you ask ANY of them whether it would help them if we played songs less not one person would agree.

I understand this completely - but I genuinely think it is something that the record companies should think harder about. I think they are doing it because thats what they do, rather than because it is the best way to maximise sales (always assuming that maximising sales is the priority). I am not "target", so I don't count my own view in this - but my kids and their friends are very much "target" - as is my husband, actually ( ),and amongst them I can't find a single person who doesn't agree. With me, I mean. And I'm not scary, so I'm sure they're not just saying that. Maybe the record companies should have a policy review.......? Things change, you know.........

You have just admitted to our nemisis your not scary, he'll notice, and get brave. He's obviously after a number 2, asking Aled to help, keep it going we have him on the back foot !

[gbm]

Ok simple question (hoping to be a rather random one) Do you like curry? if so, which do you prefer Korma or Tikka Masala or other?

For the record my preference is Tikka masala

Edit: Wooo start of a new page

[Adam]

Aled, not sure if youre aware of this but re: Beep Beep Busters - on the DAB, RDS radios they have at BH, why does it still mention that Beep Beep Busters is coming up or that is its a feature on the show? Its scrolling text on the front display. Who controls that, is it R1, or somewhere else in the BBC?

[ninebob]

Aled, not sure if youre aware of this but re: Beep Beep Busters - on the DAB, RDS radios they have at BH, why does it still mention that Beep Beep Busters is coming up or that is its a feature on the show? Its scrolling text on the front display. Who controls that, is it R1, or somewhere else in the BBC?

I listen via freeview, and have just noticed it's the same:


I have also noticed that the "track now playing" tag can be "interesting" at times. Aled, does that info come directly from an mp3 filename?

[Ballbag]

I bet that massive plant makes watching TV a bit of a bind. Ever thought about moving it?

And if I'm not mistaken, do you also have another TV outside? You must be loaded to be able to have outdoor TV!!!!!!

[ninebob]

I bet that massive plant makes watching TV a bit of a bind. Ever thought about moving it?

And if I'm not mistaken, do you also have another TV outside? You must be loaded to be able to have outdoor TV!!!!!!

Haha, no, that's just the angle from which I quickly snapped the pic - I assure you the TV has a perfect and plantless view from the sofa!

And yes, well spotted, that's "BalconyVision™"! Not (even remotely) rich, just happened to have an old portable spare - but you can't use it for 3 days after it rains!

Anyway, I fear we're drifting off-topic, so the point was - Aled, who at the BBC controls the display on DAB or Freeview, and how is the "now playing" tag generated?