[Aled]

Some do - but the evidence is that they DON'T - at least not between 0630 and 0700!

There's sadly no evidence that that is the case

[Aled]

If I wanted music in the morning I'd tune to my local faceless Global Radio-owned station, even if it does have "Poor music variety".

Having said that, I'm quite enjoying these Hackney live performances.

Look, we're not saying we're moving to 7 or 8 songs per half hour we're saying 1!

[The Deadly]

To balance things out the majority of the regular members are not the target audience any more so the changes to the show are not to benefit us. I would imagine the changes in the show (song before 7, dropping of regular features like tedious) aren't done to annoy us but are done to attract a new type of listener.
I have come to the conclusion I'd prefer a Chris Moyles show with changes than no show at all.

[James H]

Look, we're not saying we're moving to 7 or 8 songs per half hour we're saying 1!

I know but there has been more music creeping in all over the show I've noticed. What sets you guys apart from Capital et al is the fact that the music does take a back seat and I guess I just personally don't like hearing increasing amounts of it (I think I heard a song to the top of 10am the other week! )

I'm also aware that at 26 I'm at the upper end of the demo so my opinion probably doesn't reflect the opinion of the 'youth' of today, but Radio 2 isn't my thing, and I can't stand my "local" Heart or kmfm!

Sorry if my previous post came across a tad blunt, I'm trying my best to word this one 'constructively'.

[Yudster]

Some do - but the evidence is that they DON'T - at least not between 0630 and 0700!

There's sadly no evidence that that is the case

Surely that depends on what you decide is "evidence". The overwhelming opinion on here is evidence of this (see the petition). The texts you get in on the subject is too.

The best points raised in this discussion are two that you haven''t addressed -

The half hour "mic check" was a Chris Moyles signature piece,and one of the things that makes him unique - this has been destroyed -

Anyone who wants "more music" is not going to listen the the show for 27 minutes in order to hear one song, grudgingly and sarcastically offered.

Sorry Al, I don't like to nag because I know that deep down you agree. And as for target audience - well, I'm not the one you should listen to if that is the opinion you want. But I do know, as a listener, what works on the radio and what doesn't.

[Travis Bickle]

I understand the point that a lot of you are making but I don't think this is that big a deal. One of the issues I have is that this changes virtually nothing. I don't believe for a minute that anybody will significantly alter their listening habits because of this. Is anybody really likely to tune in to the show because they play one song in the opening half-hour? And who would not listen to the opening link simply because they have cut it short by three or four minutes?

I get why Rhys doesn't want 45 minutes without music and if he had decided to go back to how it used to be and told them to stop the chat at 6.50 and play two songs, that would be logical and rational (not something I particularly advocate BTW) and I'd understand that, but to crowbar one song in before the news is pointless.

I don't see why we we are so insistent that we need the full 30 minute opening link anyway. In my opinion Chris frequently only keeps it going that long because he feels he has to. There are many times when he has clearly (and perfectly understandably) struggled to fill it with entertaining chat and Aled said a couple of pages ago that he and probably Chris thinks that there have been occasions when they could have easily played a song.

I agree with a lot of you that 06.30-07.00 is frequently the best part of the show, but sometimes it really isnt and playing a song or two would be logical.

I think there have been far more significant, negative changes that have impacted on the show more than this. I am outside of the target audience, but I like the music R1 plays and and I don't think that playing more music throughout the show would necessarily be a bad thing. I am not saying they should play as much music as other R1 shows, but since they phased out Raspberry, CPC and Tedious Link there is a lot of time to fill and maybe more music with shorter snappier links is the way forward. In principle I dont mind that idea.

I think a lot of people could do with listening to some old shows in the brilliant archive on here. I have listened to the show since day 1, but it is very easy to forget how the show has changed over the years. The archive has certainly changed my views on what I want from the show. It has consistently been fantastic in the past in a different format to how it is now. Long, rambling links CAN be great, but they aren't strictly necessary.

[Yudster]

I don't see why we we are so insistent that we need the full 30 minute opening link anyway. In my opinion Chris frequently only keeps it going that long because he feels he has to. There are many times when he has clearly (and perfectly understandably) struggled to fill it with entertaining chat and Aled said a couple of pages ago that he and probably Chris thinks that there have been occasions when they could have easily played a song.

Completely agree - and under those circumstances, PLAY a song for goodness sake! But more often its an unnecessary interruption of the studio chat. Its the imposition of it that is wrong.

[Misfit]

I've grown to like the pre 7 music. (runs away and hides)

No, I feel a balance has to be struck, if the conversation is flowing and its sounding like a full link before the news, dont play a song!

If we spend more time listening to the pre-7 bed that any vocals then play a song. job done. tick.


My idea - Aled, frequently the cheesy song finishes and we're left listening to the music bed for a minute or once, even two. I know it sounds like a daft idea, why not play a record then. it annoys me (which sounds pathetic in the big grand scheme of things) that once the cheesy song finishes, we're left waiting around and often the link is started by everyone laughing at something off air, with no explanation to what they're laughing at. I dont know why the reason is, but Id rather listen to swedish house gangsters ( )or whoever than a rubbish music bed.

Thanks
Alex

[SAV1OUR]

I hope this petition isn't self-defeating.

'Song before 7' is quite catchy.

Yeah like Travis says, its just evolved into a full half hour of chat, but I dare you to listen to the first ever cheesy song and link in 2007, you'll be horrified! 2 songs!

I preferred that, it ended the link on a high and keeps it jolly like it used to be at that time in the old days with JK and Joel handover.

Really its like moaning everytime the 6.30 news starts late cos you miss a few minutes.

But overall I'm not sure if the obligatory *song before 7* is a well executed idea, just an enforcement by management. Listen to how the feature was designed 5 years ago and you'll see that's how it was born and has now forgotten its place in my view.

[Aled]

What if they want music?

This is my main point - IF I wanted music before 0700 there are numerous options to scratch said itch. The pre-0700 'half hour mike check' was something not done elsewhere and a signature of tCMS - one which most people here will agree is the BEST part of the show.

This has now been soiled. I get you'll never please everyone all the time, but I do feel as though Chris has had one of the things which makes him truely unique destroyed.

Sorry Al, not trying to belittle your efforts. Just don't like non-broken things being 'fixed'.

When we started the 6:30 - 7 slot first we had music in it. Over time that went to 1, and then more recently to 0, management just wanted 1 back. It's only signature because you liked it that way (I'm guessing).

When we started the show in Jan 2004 I'm sure we played 5 or 4 songs per half hour. We don't need to react like this is us taking the guts out of the show, the show has had much more music in it than it does now!

[Aled]

I understand the point that a lot of you are making but I don't think this is that big a deal. One of the issues I have is that this changes virtually nothing. I don't believe for a minute that anybody will significantly alter their listening habits because of this. Is anybody really likely to tune in to the show because they play one song in the opening half-hour? And who would not listen to the opening link simply because they have cut it short by three or four minutes?

I get why Rhys doesn't want 45 minutes without music and if he had decided to go back to how it used to be and told them to stop the chat at 6.50 and play two songs, that would be logical and rational (not something I particularly advocate BTW) and I'd understand that, but to crowbar one song in before the news is pointless.

I don't see why we we are so insistent that we need the full 30 minute opening link anyway. In my opinion Chris frequently only keeps it going that long because he feels he has to. There are many times when he has clearly (and perfectly understandably) struggled to fill it with entertaining chat and Aled said a couple of pages ago that he and probably Chris thinks that there have been occasions when they could have easily played a song.

I agree with a lot of you that 06.30-07.00 is frequently the best part of the show, but sometimes it really isnt and playing a song or two would be logical.

I think there have been far more significant, negative changes that have impacted on the show more than this. I am outside of the target audience, but I like the music R1 plays and and I don't think that playing more music throughout the show would necessarily be a bad thing. I am not saying they should play as much music as other R1 shows, but since they phased out Raspberry, CPC and Tedious Link there is a lot of time to fill and maybe more music with shorter snappier links is the way forward. In principle I dont mind that idea.

I think a lot of people could do with listening to some old shows in the brilliant archive on here. I have listened to the show since day 1, but it is very easy to forget how the show has changed over the years. The archive has certainly changed my views on what I want from the show. It has consistently been fantastic in the past in a different format to how it is now. Long, rambling links CAN be great, but they aren't strictly necessary.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. This is where I am. We haven't always been this talk heavy, the default is now 45 mins of speech. Rhys just wants to change the default and I think Chris agrees with that. If there's a rant or a brilliant story then we'll drop the song (like we would in any other half an hour) but it's going to take a while before the default (and speech structure) settles to the song before 7. I believe (and I have at the moment no concrete evidence to back this up) the older you are the more resilient you are to longer period of speech, that's not to say you won't find younger people who like it. If a 13 year old stumbles across the show on her new iPhone app and she's faced with a 45 minute of pure speech there's less chance of keeping her. If it's broken up the chances are increased and so on.

If she is someone who wants 7 songs per half hour then TCMS won't ever be for her and the song before 7 won't make a slight bit of difference. But this is about keeping the walls down to new young people joining the show and keeping the churn of listeners consistent. Rather than having a fan base who've one way or another got into the show and are growing up with us. We can only keep 30+ listeners if we continue to keep a high percentage of young teens that listen to radio listening to us. At the moment we're doing a great job - but we can't be complacent. And with each year we stay on breakfast that's an extra year that our wide listener base adds to their age. There are so few young teens in the UK compared to 30+ that if the BBC Trust are really that focused on the 'average age' of the listener being a particular number we have a choice of stopping 30+ listening (like what happened in the 90's at Radio 1 - and something that none of us want) or we provide every opportunity for more and more young people to tune in.

That's happening on many fronts - for Rhys, and for me the song before 7 is one idea to try.

[Aled]

I've grown to like the pre 7 music. (runs away and hides)

No, I feel a balance has to be struck, if the conversation is flowing and its sounding like a full link before the news, dont play a song!

If we spend more time listening to the pre-7 bed that any vocals then play a song. job done. tick.


My idea - Aled, frequently the cheesy song finishes and we're left listening to the music bed for a minute or once, even two. I know it sounds like a daft idea, why not play a record then. it annoys me (which sounds pathetic in the big grand scheme of things) that once the cheesy song finishes, we're left waiting around and often the link is started by everyone laughing at something off air, with no explanation to what they're laughing at. I dont know why the reason is, but Id rather listen to swedish house gangsters ( )or whoever than a rubbish music bed.

Thanks
Alex

Hey Alex

Thanks for that. Unfortunately it's not just about playing a song before 7 - it's about breaking up a big chunk of speech so a song out of Cheesy won't help much. As for the silence before we start talking - there are many many reasons why that would happen but normally it would centre around Chris needing to check something, or get something off his chest - which more often than not is best done off air. That then normally gets the tone right for when he opens the mic - I'd hate to change that, but I get your frustration.

[Aled]

I hope this petition isn't self-defeating.

'Song before 7' is quite catchy.

Yeah like Travis says, its just evolved into a full half hour of chat, but I dare you to listen to the first ever cheesy song and link in 2007, you'll be horrified! 2 songs!

I preferred that, it ended the link on a high and keeps it jolly like it used to be at that time in the old days with JK and Joel handover.

Really its like moaning everytime the 6.30 news starts late cos you miss a few minutes.

But overall I'm not sure if the obligatory *song before 7* is a well executed idea, just an enforcement by management. Listen to how the feature was designed 5 years ago and you'll see that's how it was born and has now forgotten its place in my view.

Very interesting. I will do that. The show evolves though - i get that. It evolved to less music and it'll evolve to include a little more now.

[The Deadly]

One idea I'd put forward is if Radio 1 wants to promote new music then the 'song before 7' could be used to promote an unsigned/up and coming artist. Nobody could argue that Chris wasn't a supporter of new music then!

[DevilsDuck]

Boooo! Down with change

[bmstinton93]

Aled you are great. The effort you put into these answers is brilliant.

[Emmy]

The first link has been mine and clearly a lot of other peoples favourite bit of the show for a long time, sacrificing it just to tick a box doesn't seem fair. I'm disappointed Chris hasn't put up more of fight on this.

We don't know how hard he fought against it, but I agree that it doesn't sound like he objected too much. I can't blame him if that's the case, as he's probably reached the stage now that many of us do in our jobs where you eventually give up fighting against management about their stupid new ideas or decisions that are clearly wrong and never going to work and instead say nothing and go along with things just for an easy life. And given that he works for the BBC, which appears to come with a large amount of ridiculous red tape it's likely to be much better for his blood pressure to give in, go for that quieter life, and simply stop caring quite so much about every aspect of a show rather than continue to fight against the people in power. I think I feel this way about the song before 7 now, in that I really hate it, but don't see any point in complaining about it because nothing is likely to change it. So I will continue to suffer the utter torment it inflicts on my daily life in silence instead.

On a sort of sidenote, but still connected to the BBC redtape and regulations etc. I would like to applaud Dave for his 'tits' answer on the Pub Quiz today. It had me giggling away in the car and reminded me of the brilliant and carefree Will era, which can only be a good thing! Do you know whether you got any complaints about it Aled? I would imagine that there's always one.

[mcmahonman]

My original point was going to be how many young people are actually going to be listening from 6:30 as I would have thought school kids wont be up this early and therefore making this 'Song Before 7' a wasted motion but then something struck me.

As the broadcaster do you receive a better detailed version of the RAJAR figures? If you don't then surely the arguments on the both side of this 'Song before 7' are useless as there wont be proof that it works or doesn't outside of Longer listening hours or more listeners which both could be down to any number of things?

I understand why Radio 1 is doing the song but to me without it being measurable to an accurate level, its just something that will annoy the (majority of) die-hards.

Obviously if you do get the break down by what age people are and what times the tune in then please ignore this post.

[bmstinton93]

Aled, what's your favourite Cheese?

[officialthomasw]

Hi Aled,

A few questions but appreciate you may not be able to answer all or any of them

Who is Chris's fav handover to e.g.Jo, Fearne, Sara, Annie Mac, anyone who else has covered 10am slot.

If you could no longer produce TCMS but given first pick of another show on Radio 1 who would you choose to work with (personality wise ignoring time slot specifics)?

If TCMS was taken off breakfast but to be reallocated on Radio 1 with you and the show given first pick as to when it should be, as a producer would you recommend 10am, 1pm, 4pm, evening slot or weekend?

[Misfit]

Hey Alex

Thanks for that. Unfortunately it's not just about playing a song before 7 - it's about breaking up a big chunk of speech so a song out of Cheesy won't help much. As for the silence before we start talking - there are many many reasons why that would happen but normally it would centre around Chris needing to check something, or get something off his chest - which more often than not is best done off air. That then normally gets the tone right for when he opens the mic - I'd hate to change that, but I get your frustration.

Made me day hes replied!

Yeah I can see why chris ranting off air may be better!

Cheers for the reply
Alex

[chrysostom]

I think it's moving towards the subject that listeners like *us* aren't as important to Radio 1 as those who prioritise.

Nothing wrong with that, but none of these issues will bother anyone on other shows on the network.

[dimtimjim]

Aled you are great. The effort you put into these answers is brilliant.

True dat.

[RyanBridgwood]

Aled,

What is going on with Carpark Catchphrase, Tedious Link and Jingles? Is this a decision that Chris has come to or you as a team have decided or something from management?

There just seems to be no explanation as to why Carpark Catchphrase isn't being played but instead just talking to Roy (probably to use the already recorded material) ?

Today's show is sounding great so far and only two or three mentions of Hackney 47 mins in - I like it!

Ryan

[rratgerg]

My idea - Aled, frequently the cheesy song finishes and we're left listening to the music bed for a minute or once, even two. I know it sounds like a daft idea, why not play a record then. it annoys me (which sounds pathetic in the big grand scheme of things) that once the cheesy song finishes, we're left waiting around and often the link is started by everyone laughing at something off air, with no explanation to what they're laughing at. I dont know why the reason is, but Id rather listen to swedish house gangsters ( )or whoever than a rubbish music bed.

Completely disagree. I love the gap between the end of the cheesy song and the first word - the suspense of how many iterations of the music will play before someone chips in, who chips in first, and what the first phrase will be - hilarious when it is something like "We are here" or some incomprehensible comment that relates to an off air conversation. Keep it going Aled!

Also, have been a regular listener for just over a month and absolutely loving tCMS! Can't get enough of it. Sad I've missed 8 years though.

I'm 26 so within the target group. Please keep Roy Walker and the Pub Quiz as these are my favourite features - plus would be great to have CPC back.