Radio 1, 2, 3... Linked to age???

[DangerMouse]

I'm beginning to wonder if the journey through the radio stations is irrevocably linked to age

I remember when I was a teenager I'd never dream of listening to anything other than Radio 1

Then, without me even noticing really, I started listening to Radio 2 more and more. And Radio 1 less and less - interestingly, all the DJs I loved on Radio 1 are now DJs on Radio 2 (like they are with me on the journey).

Now I never listen to Radio 1

Radio 2 is still my fave radio station but... I find myself tuning in to Radio 3 more and more.

Is it just a downward spiral to mid-age-dom and Radio 4???

 

[Canadave]

I think it works the other way if you're Canadian. CBC Radio 3 plays all Canadian indie music (online only), whilst Radio 1 has varied news\documentary\comedy\talk programming. Meanwhile, Radio 2 is a vaguely schizophrenic mix of classical, jazz, and adult contemporary pop.

 

[RoJoHen]

I don't even know what this means. Radio 1? Radio 2? Do you only have a few different stations?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Since radio stations aren't even close to comparable in the states (I listen to 93.3, 104.5, 97.9, and 102.9, for example), maybe some context would help. What are the formats for each station? I'm guessing Radio 1 would be more contemporary and it gets older with each station? If so, then the UK does seem to have you in a old age radio spiral. Just live with it and embrace Radio 4 already

 

[KimMH]

I have noticed as I march through time that my taste in radio stations seemed to have changed. When I found a station I liked and seemed to know all the songs they played, I was only slightly surprised to find they called it "The Oldies Station!" Your friend and mine, just like elastic waistbands . . .

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The weird thing for me is that, although I'm slightly past the new music phase (usually, your teenage years are the ones where you develop your taste for music), there is one station that has the format of "The Rock You Grew Up With" (basically, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, with some 70s thrown in) that I deliberately reject listening to. I think the idea of a radio station that plays relatively contemporary music should not reject the idea of playing new music like they do. I could listen to an iPod if I wanted to hear the same songs I already own.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Yeah, as an American i have no idea what this means. Like Rojo asked, do you guys really only have like 3 stations?

I have noticed on our stations however, there is only a very small number of rock or classic rock stations, only 1 classical station, 1 "oldies" station, about a million spanish speaking stations and quite a few dance music stations. So, most of the time, i listen to CDs while in the car. Pushing those buttons tends to be very aggravating for me (and i tend to be real anal about what i'm listening to. Plus commercials make me homicidal.)

Update: sorry. My mother is visiting and i'm ready to kill her.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I don't even know what this means. Radio 1? Radio 2? Do you only have a few different stations?

We have quite a few National and local stations. the ones the poster is talking about are just a few run by the BBC which means they are paid for thought the TV licence so no ads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio

 

[Hermiod]

I don't even know what this means. Radio 1? Radio 2? Do you only have a few different stations?

We have hundreds of national and local radio stations.

DM is talking about the BBC's five main national analogue radio stations.

Radio 1 is mainly aimed at 'young' people, playing a wide variety of new popular music.

Radio 2 is aimed at slightly older adults and above, playing all sorts of popular music, new and old. Radio 2 is by far the most popular radio station in the UK.

Radio 3 focuses more on 'the arts', jazz, classical, 'world' music etc.

Radio 4 is largely not a music station, focusing instead on news, radio drama and comedy, discussion, history etc.

Radio 5 Live is a rolling 24 hour news channel with discussion and also hosts the BBC's live radio coverage of sports.

The BBC also operates a huge variety of regional and digital only stations.

 

[Mary Ann]

I hear you. I moved to the UK when I was 26 and never listened to Radio 1, though my husband grew up with Radio 1, especially John Peel. I think you're in serious trouble when you start listening to your local BBC radio station, which I haven't resorted yet. Mind you, I listen to Radio 3 a lot...

 

[KimMH]

Update: sorry. My mother is visiting and i'm ready to kill her.

heehee! sorry -not funny I know! you seemed a little scarce - I'm glad you're just occupado!

 

[Etched]

I also find myself slowly moving from Radio 1 to Radio 2 - I think it started when Mark & Lard left and has slowly gone on from there. Radio 1 has so few real DJ's left these days just inane presenters like Ferne Cotton and Vernon Kay. I occasionally tune into 6Music as well.

 

[trekkiedane]

P1 is the informative channel, everyone (but the youngest of teenagers) listen to that.
P2 is mostly classic music (including all that jazz).
P3 is the 'loud music for young people channel' here (plus lots of light entertainment) - I hardly ever listen to that any more
P4 is like P3 but for the more 'mature' listener

None of these have any commercials as they are part of the public broadcasting service.

Yes, there is definitely certain age groups listening to certain channels and only going beyond 'their own' channel(s) for certain programs, except here the programs are numbered chronologically; the one that went on air first has the lowest number (until P5 starts broadcasting later this year...)

 

[Pingfah]

I never listened to Radio One, I always thought it was shite.

In fact, none of the major UK radio stations play any of the music I listen to ever and they never have, so I never listen to any of them. The only show I have listened to with any sort of regularity is Bruce Dickinsons' Rock Show on BBC radio 6, and they just axed it

 

[WillsBabe]

I'm beginning to wonder if the journey through the radio stations is irrevocably linked to age

Of course! I remember thinking my friend's dad was really cool because he listened to Radio One. Looking back he was probably only in his 30s at the time! I remember when I couldn't imagine a time when I didn't know what was at Number One. These days I don't even know if they still have the Top 40.

 

[Eyes]

I generally listen to Radio 1, so that fits. It plays good music, and the presenters are interesting to listen to. I occasionally tune in 2, and rarely 4 if I'm really feeling in an intellectual mood. I can't say I've ever listened to 3. I guess that comes with age.

I don't listen to radio much now, really. Some of the non-BBC local stations are decent, they almost never play a song I don't like, but they don't have good news, and the commercials are a pain. I really groan whenever anyone turns on BBC Cornwall or Devon (or any other local BBC station for that matter). They have nothing but talking about local news and other things that I couldn't give a shit about, and the odd song about once every 20 minutes.

 

[DangerMouse]

I hear you. I moved to the UK when I was 26 and never listened to Radio 1, though my husband grew up with Radio 1, especially John Peel. I think you're in serious trouble when you start listening to your local BBC radio station, which I haven't resorted yet. Mind you, I listen to Radio 3 a lot...

Oh god yes! You know you're on a serious downward spiral when you start thinking it'd be a great idea to tune into BBC Radio The Shire

Things aren't that bad... yet ;-)

 

[DangerMouse]

I'm beginning to wonder if the journey through the radio stations is irrevocably linked to age

Of course! I remember thinking my friend's dad was really cool because he listened to Radio One. Looking back he was probably only in his 30s at the time! I remember when I couldn't imagine a time when I didn't know what was at Number One. These days I don't even know if they still have the Top 40.

Yes, yes, yes... when the most important thing about Sunday was tuning into BBC Radio 1 at 4pm!

I used to tape it sometimes to listen again. Oh how angry I would become if the tape ended one side in the middle of my fave track.

The Sunday roast HAD to be timed to fit around it or major teenage tantrums would ensure

The depressing thing is that my dear old mum always knows what's number one in the 'hit parade' still and I never do

 

[DangerMouse]

Sorry about the multiple posts... I don't know how to quote more than one person in a single post

 

[Etched]

I generally listen to Radio 1, so that fits. It plays good music, and the presenters are interesting to listen to. I occasionally tune in 2, and rarely 4 if I'm really feeling in an intellectual mood. I can't say I've ever listened to 3. I guess that comes with age.

You see the presenters are my main problem with Radio 1 they have become increasingly inane. I'm still interested in new music but not in listening to Ferne Cotton droning on about things she really doesn't know much about.

Give me back Steve Lamacq and Mark Radcliffe, real musos with something interesting to say.

Sorry about the multiple posts... I don't know how to quote more than one person in a single post

Just click the "multi quote" button for every post you want to reply to then click "post reply" - and hey presto!