Radio: What’s Another Year?

In which I reflect on the events of 2023, consider some of the challenges ahead in the UK radio industry, and listen to a song and watch a TV sitcom about the wireless.

To start with, here’s an excellent summary of 2023, the Beeb’s latest annus horribilis.

Ministers Accused of Waging ‘Culture War’ on BBC Amid Licence Review and More Cuts

Meanwhile, a view from Rhodri Talfan Davies, the Director BBC Nations and the person responsible for BBC Local Radio in 2023, who wrote this following piece published in early December, a week before the Byline Times article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2023/bbc-role-in-the-local-news-sector

In 2024 the audience reaction to the programme changes is something the statutory body, Ofcom, says it’ll be monitoring. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/12/ofcoms-plan-for-2024-includes-monitoring-impact-on-bbc-local-radio-changes/

However, the cuts to the BBC Local Radio landscape – the creation of regional shows after 1400hrs weekdays and at weekends – have already caused upset. This is an interesting read. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/feature/former-bbc-journalist-opens-up-about-local-radio-job-cuts-and-what-hed-say-to-tim-davie/

David Lloyd, who I’ve previously mentioned here, is an experienced industry professional. He had a detailed exchange of letters with the Beeb at the end of 2023. This link is his carefully argued – forensic – response. It’s worth taking time to read it all.

https://www.davidlloydradio.com/post/the-bbc-chair-responds

And this month’s news of staff changes is here, first with details from England’s south coast: https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/12/former-bbc-radio-solent-presenter-alex-dyke-joins-wave-105/

And in the West Midlands: https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/12/caroline-martin-joins-wcr-fm-following-bbc-radio-wm-exit/

As well as Yorkshire and the North East. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/01/alex-hall-presents-her-final-show-for-bbc-radio-tees/

Previous details of ex-Beeb presenters can be found deep in these articles: here (Aug ‘23), here (Sept ‘23), here (Oct ‘33), here (Nov ‘33), and here (Dec ‘23).

Together they chart the uncertain pivot by BBC Local Radio towards a greater emphasis on digital publishing and away from linear broadcasting. More web, less localised radio you may say.

Meanwhile, for some light relief, whilst scudding along those country lanes at ridiculously unsafe motoring speeds, imagine listening to this…

But what does it all mean, you ask. Out there on the internet someone has already had a go at answering that one… (it’s worth a look, but beware of pop-ups and lots of ads on this site)…

https://genius.com/Ed-sheeran-radio-lyrics

This is exactly the sort of thing my academic research investigates: the relationship between popular culture and radio. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/radios-legacy-in-popular-culture-9781501388231/

Or how about the first episode of the original – and in my opinion the best – incarnation of Frasier?

From 1993, this is a radio presenter’s nightmare:

What are you listening to right now? Drop me a comment in the box below. All messages are moderated.

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