Heat Radio (Music & Gossip)

Styles of Radio Heat Radio (Music & Gossip) When I listen to Heat Radio I imagine having my hair done at the salon and this being on in the background. Pop songs and the gossip on the stars that sing them pretty much sums up Heat Radio. Their demographic is pretty specific and rightly tailored to females from as young as 16 right up to 30. This station serves it’s purpose acting as the ultimate procrastination. Not to mention it’s really addicting, host of the lunchtime slot Sarah Powell has a bubbly personality which has a knack of drawing you in and making you listen to the petty gossip you love to loathe. For example we don’t need to know that Harry Styles visited a Pizza Hut in Scotland once and now they’re putting up a plaque in honour of his visit, but we just can’t help it. One weakness would be that the songs played are a little repetitive. Perhaps they have a set playlist for just Top 40 tracks or listeners are requesting those tracks, either way it’s not ideal for those who want to listen for a long period of time. Geoff Lloyd’s Hometime Show (Music, Drive-time, Talk) This Absolute Radio show is one for the road beginning at 5pm on weekdays, perfect for those who have just been freed from the office. It lets listeners unwind and drift away from the troubles of the day by talking about things that have very little importance. It’s a chance for people to escape from the pressures of work and enjoy light-hearted banter on the little things of our society. One feature of a particular show was how dialling wrong numbers is dying out. Geoff asked listeners to call in with their funny ‘wrong number’ stories. Whilst the show does have structure it really depends on your personal taste if you like the “rambling” style of the show. The tangents that Geoff goes off on can often become a little too much and no longer entertaining. This could lose the listeners interest, perhaps if Geoff kept it short and sweet with his opinions it may be more effective. Particularly as Annabel Port can sometimes seem a little pushed out, which is something the audience is sure to pick up on. However the show works well for the target audience providing an informal radio show which also comes in a convenient downloadable podcast for those who don’t drive or have a smart phone. The idea of a podcast snippet of the show is something I’m particularly interested in using for my own Radio show. Biffy Clyro Track by Track Interview Podcast (Music exclusive, One of a kind, structured promo) The relationship between a band and their fans is incredibly important and so when a band releases a personal insight into their material it’s not only great promotion but also the fans feel closer to their idols. The style of the release is very simplistic with a snippet of the track followed by their thoughts on each one. The podcast overall is relaxed but does follow quite a formal structure which works well for it’s purpose, it doesn’t need any gimmicks as it would take away from the actual content. The only weakness I can pick up is that the volume levels are not that consistent. However I think this is more to do with the band members speaking quietly rather than the recordings or editing. In-Store Radio Format Retail Radio is an industry growing at a huge rate with more and more high street shops launching their own radio which is discreetly disguised but extremely rewarding. More often than not shoppers are stressed with long queues, masses of people, crying children, heavy bags and a mental list of things to do inside their heads. So to ease the tension, a whole host of brands and supermarkets jumped at the idea in-store radio with playlists of cheery, current music tracks and mini adverts and jingles promoting the latest offers throughout the store. Asda FM has been at the forefront of this new found market for quite a while being dubbed as ‘The UK’s biggest radio station” by the Guardian in 2010. Having music playing projects a particular image of your company and the kind of people you want or will have walking through the door. It creates a warm and friendly atmosphere for the customer browsing the products and almost creates an illusion, distracting customers from prices, encouraging impulse buying and so on. Key 103's Sam Walker commented saying that “Radio is intimate – it sits on your shoulder and it's a little voice in your ear. The thinking is that it has the same effect in a shop. Your customer comes in and you know what sort of house they've got, how many kids they have, where they like to go on holiday and what kind of music they like”. (Walker, 2010) Companies have been founded to create tailor made services for brands wishing to set up their own station or even selling packages including playlists of Top 40 tracks which the stores can then manage alone and simply play through their PA systems. Other stores such as Superdrug or Wilkinsons have opted to avoid paying a royalty fee on their music by using session musicians who then record cover versions of well known songs. PEL Music & Media is just one of the companies that specialise in providing a radio service to shops. They work with licensing companies (such as PPL and PRS) to make sure that their own customers comply with the copyright regulations and that musicians are receiving credit for their work. Initial ideas Live band sessions including interviews, music exclusives, general discussion and a quiz. Character presenter radio based on a theme Music review show of latest releases Final Idea - Character Presenter/Music Theme Name: Dorothy Diva presents Diva Evening on Diva Fm The more I began to research into presenter styles in formal radio I realised how I might feel uncomfortable by taking myself seriously when recording. Therefore I decided to create a character completed unrelated to my own personality in order to create a unique piece of work that I feel is achievable. Length: 15-20 minutes long to be seen as a snippet of a full radio show. Features: Playing top diva tracks which listeners can ‘text in’ and vote for their ultimate diva. ‘Pretend’ interviews with celebrity divas, playing up to the stereotypical role of a diva. Caller interaction within the interviews to mirror real life radio interviews. Have ‘studio staff’ become part of the show for comedic value. Characters: Dorothy Diva – An overly enthusiastic lady who’s dramatic right down to her accent. Despite this she finds herself in awkward positions with her celebrity guests by asking illogical questions in a ‘dippy’ manner. Stanley – The useless studio runner with an attitude. Mariah Carey – Celebrity guest who plays up to the demanding personality the public has built up. Station Manager – Makes a brief appearance to tell Dorothy off about the turbulent interview with Mariah. Dolly Parton – Another celebrity guest spoof interview. Brian – An Australian listener who phones in to ask Dolly Parton a question. Target Audience: Ages 40-55 who are young at heart wanting a little glamour in their lives, just like Dorothy Diva. Playlist: Christina Aguilera – Aint No Other Man Aretha Franklin – Think Mariah Carey – Dreamlover Britney Spears – Oops I Did It Again Madonna Material Girl Beyonce – Crazy In Love Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody Gwen Stefani – Sweet Escape Girls Aloud – The Promise .

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