1. Make me programing director/head of pop picking.
2. No more fucking Foo Fighters.
3. Ditto for Ash.
4. We get it, you're the home of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour.
5. Whenever Una Mullally is on call it the "sies slot".
6. Break Sinister Pete's speaking clock with a sledge hammer, it's even more annoying than that "Stop, step away from the cookie jar" cookie jar that was in the office. Put footage of it's destruction on YouTube.
7. Bring back Aunt Thomas, I loved that guy.
8. Live in-studio webcam, all presenters must wear this outfit ...
9. Get rid of the English guy, it's not an 800 years things (I'm a hun), have you heard his show?
10. 1 song, 24 hours, 3 words.
Louis Louis Day!
11. On a rolling basis no music to be played by bands that have had the front cover of the NME in the previous 6 months.12. Make sure that your newsreaders/arts people know how to pronounce the words on their copy. Use phonetic (fone-eh-tick) spelling if need be. This is less of a problem then it used to be.
13. Realise that many of the people who might be interested in listening to Jim Carroll's show are out at gigs on a Saturday night. I've heard that dude play a single song ("Atlantic City" by The Boss) since he started up.
14. On the subject of specialist weekend shows, the amount of money that Pearl is on. Double it.
15. No more "text in your opinion on some makey uppy controversial subject of the day" on Simon Mahar's show. It's just biting Ray Darcy's shit and it's awful radio when he does it too.
16. Increase the amount of time that John Meagher/Eamonn Sweeny has on Edel Coffey's show to talk about new records. Same goes for that dude from musician inc who has the gear slot. You could give them the time that the guy from electricnews.net gets.
17. The last Shins record was shit, stop playing songs from it.
18. Push Nadine O'Regan's show back an hour, I'm usually asleep when it starts.
19. Challenge your daytime listenership, I'm not asking for Xiu Xiu to be put on the air but Jesus Christ, Liars have gone pop guys. Edel championing Battles was a start.
20. Playlist The Wrens, they're deadly.
* Actually it was 17, I thought of the other 3 as I was writing this.
60 comments:
No.9 - ohmygod, stadium rock is terrible. I am unable to listen to phantom on Saturdays AT ALL because of it. UGH.
Lately though, my biggest gripe is how they keep BRAGGING about being the first to play this song or that song and how they're the only ones to play irish bands.
SMUG. I hate SMUG.
i was going to say something about the irish coverage....... but i won't
good list ian, but one question for you...
will phantom be like that station from "airheads" in a few years time????
Phantom FM = Ham Sandwich FM
I just tape jim carroll, shane galvin and pearl's shows and ignore the rest.
They have some terrible DJs
That morning show is just a traffic report?
I agree re Jim Carroll, though maybe he likes to be all quirky and go out on the airwaves on Saturday nights...
no one should ever be quirky on the radio anymore, it's just wrong and deeply annoying
Leigh, regarding the Irish coverage. I think that considering the number of incredibly shit and self delusional Irish bands Edel has on plugging their gigs/singles their coverage of Irish stuff is reasonably OK. It could do with a bit more variation in style though I guess. I've never heard her chatting to you for example, and I wonder if Super Extra Bonus Party will get a chance to come in and plug their gig at the weekend.
Murt, the sambos are my buds, I'll not say a bad thing about them. Podge entertains me more than pretty much any person I know, on or off stage.
I was only talking about point 8 the other day and how grateful we don't have one. Nobody wants to see me dancing around the place when I'm there on my own! It'snever pretty!
Strongly agree with point 5 and also point 18 as it would give me an extra hour in bed since I desk the Kiosk!
Some good points there Ian, especially 2, 3, 17 and 19
Leigh - I think when Liz said "quirky", she was refering to me being on air on Saturdays when everyone else was out and about. I am the least quirky DJ on 105.2, dude. Well, me and the Album Archive fella
I've been informed through my sources that the ghost who walks outfits (8) is a possible goer.
Sorry Leigh, yes, I meant what Jim said... if you listen to his show you'll find it's all about the music. Hooray for that.
Right, enough compliments for him, I'll have click into On The Record now and poo-poo his tune of the week...
jim - hahee, no sweat... i wasn't referencing you at all
personally i find the style of 'off the wall' morning shows (which are everywhere, not just phantom) deeply irritating
it's just a noise in the background that distracts people from the hell that is work
i'm not flying back for phantom anytime soon and as for me not being on it, i'm not a goth (reallllly long story)
;)
21. Play some fucking Rollerskate Skinny when I text in and ask for it instead of pointless fucking britpop shite like Primal Scream and Blur you ignorant bastards.
Delorentos my hole.
I have to say, I agree with these!
@Sinead - Also, I *totally* agree with you on the whole SMUG thing :(
22. Go national. Yeah I can hear it online, but some of us would like to listen to the radio on the radio as crazy as that sounds. Sort it out.
Ian,Good timing. SEBP are on Edel's show tomorrow.
Ham Sandwich phorever!
it does represent a serious point though, that instead instead of being an alternative, it has just pretty much added to ranks of crap-dome we call irish radio... only they playing indie / rock!!
I agree with most of this.
Another thing:
Stop
playing
the
fucking
Cure
every
single
fucking
morning.
Every
single
morning.
Nevermind the Cure. Anytime I turn on during the morning or daytime, I always hear the cunting Smiths or Morrisey.
WHAT FUCKIN' YEAR IS IT????
Dear God what have I started?
WHAT FUCKIN' YEAR IS IT????
I don't want to target the dude more than I already have but Neil Austin was plugging taht night's Phantasm on Thursday at the end of his show. He finished up by promising that if you went you'd hear the next song up.
"Here comes your man" was spun. I love the pixies and all but to quote Gob Bluth COME ON.
21. Play some actually alternative music.
22. Perhaps hiphop or dance (or modern interesting indie) actually might be worth even one dedicated show.
At the moment it's basically another station in the mix of the 6 pop/commercial ones, occasionally a well worn out classic comes on and I leave it on. (this is also true of 2FM/FM104 etc etc)
Other than that I tend to enjoy the Goth show because it sounds a bit different at least and you won't hear some of the usual stuff.
Yea I agree with everything above. Its almost as if they are trying to appeal to an audience that isnt made up of entirely of blogging music nerds. Playing songs that regular listener people like is just sooo 1940's. How dare they! Its almost like they are competing with other radio stations for listeners and cash. Sell outs.
Then they go and have those stupid programmes that cool minorities like us listen to - such as Jims and Pearls and kiosk and the goth show. I mean I like those shows but the last fuckin thing Im going to do is give them credit for having the balls to put them on air. That will teach them.
How could they even consider mixing more popular output in the daytime with more specialist stuff later and at the weekend. And I agree too that its terrible that they have all these crap Irish bands on (except when its my band, friends of mine or a band I like/am told its cool to like). Scandalous.
And as for playing the Pixies at an Indie club night. Insane. How are people going to notice us miserable bastards sneering from our high moral ground if they are busy dancing to songs that they think they like. We know better!
That feels better. This internet is fantastic. Why the fuck isnt everyone as worthy as us posters?
I think you're being a bit harsh there Anonymous (boy do you get around though, and always so mean). They've got to earn a crust after all.
My problem with their music policy in the main (apart from the genuinely awful stuff on the playlist) is that the blend of the classic and the populist and the new has the wrong proportions. I disagree with the idea that what Jim Carroll plays is niche too, he's the music writer for the Irish fucking Times, you don't get more mainstream than that.
But on the Pixies, and the Smiths, and the Cure, and the Foos*, and Ash* and etc. ad infinitum ... if you go to their website there's a big fading in and out banner that say "where new music starts". Additionally in their "about us" section it says We provide a rock music format that thousands of Dublin radio listeners have asked for. Isolated by existing stations, our listeners have demanded choice and to hear new music. And that's what we give them. Above all, we have been driven by the thriving musical community and their fans that have been so ignored by mainstream radio. Phantom 105.2 plays the music Dublin's been missing**.
* If nothing else those 2 violate their "quality sounds only" claim.
** I fucking love Arcade Fire man. But Ray Darcy plays them and was prior to Phantom going on the air. Dublin wasn't missing out on that.
Ian, youre wrong. They have no right to earn a crust. Their job is to pander to the whims of us fans of music on the internet. When will they learn that?
On the arcade fan point, you are sooo right. They should never consider ever playing any music that any other station plays. I mean if one guy on one radio station plays one band at one time then there is no way anyone else should play it.
I also agree that no bands that dont suit your tastes (or indeed mine) should be played. Particularly not just because people (think they) like them.
As for Jim, youre right. He is mainstream. Lets on that he isnt but he sooooo is. I really enjoy his show and I think everyone else should too. And if they dont, then thats their problem.
High moral ground. Great place this.
I also agree that no bands that dont suit your tastes (or indeed mine) should be played. Particularly not just because people (think they) like them.
It's my universe dude, the rest of you fucks just live in it.
erm....even if there are plenty of reasons why Phantom isn't playing alternative music, that's all they are, reasons why what Ian said is true.
the rest of anonymous's post is just a comic book guy style repeitition of an argument that nobody made.
wow.... that got heavy
Ronan, of course everything Ian said in his post and his subsequent replies is true. Sure he says it on the internet so it must be true.
As he said himself too, its a great way to get response on the internet. All you have to do is pick a soft target and say mean things about it. Never mind the validity of it, of course. Nor should anyone.
Nothing anybody ever does will ever be good enough to reach my standards and thats the way its going to stay. I am so much indier than you and dont you forget it.
word of advice: irony/sardonicism only works when not mixed with huge salty tears.
have a good weekend, OR DON'T, "THE INTERNET WILL RUIN IT"
You plan on adding anything constructive at any point?
I fellate donkeys.
Too much information buddy.
Not a fan of the dissenting voice then Ian no? Im afraid I cant be more constructive than your "pick a soft target and say mean things about it" post. Just because I think your post is made up of nonsensical indier-than-thou ill informed nonsense, that doesnt mean that Im not being constructive. You have your style, I have mine.
Not a fan of the dissenting voice then Ian no?
I don't approve comments, I don't require people to log in or leave an e-mail address, seems to me I leave it fairly easy for dissenting voices to have their say. But I don’t see why I should have to put up with trolling which many of your previous comments amounted to.
Disagreeing with your comments and making light of some of the frankly ridiculous high-brow cooler than thou nonsense that has been posted here (not just by you)is not trolling.
Posting controversial messages on an online forum just to get a response (remember your "pick a soft target and say mean things about it" posting) is trolling too surely by that definition.
Taking pot shots at soft targets is just a bit sad and a bit lazy and the cooler than thou bit just makes it worse.
Just to get a response? I'm frankly shocked at the number of comments I've recieved to be honest as evidenced by my "say mean things" post. As for a "controversial message", I think our definitions of controversial are quite different.
Using cool in relation to me in any sense is just insane by he way, I'll have a good laugh with my friends in the comic book shop about that.
You got a better response than you hoped Im sure but lets be honest -you dont put postings like that up not to get a response!
The cooler-than-thou reference is not to you personally. Its to the tone of a lot of the posts which seem to imply that phantom should be this experimental super-cool outlet rather than being a commercial station that has programmes that appeals to different audiences at different times.
Simple fact is that there aren't enough indier-than-thou types to sustain a station so they appeal to a broad audience and then run more specialist stuff to appeal to smaller groups. Some people wont like it, some will and some might even give it credit where its due on occasion rather than the whole "mean things about a soft target" approach.
Its my universe, you f***s just live in it apparently
You got a better response than you hoped Im sure but lets be honest -you dont put postings like that up not to get a response!
I put a posting like that up because I've been pissed off and frustrated for a fortnight, had been stuck in traffic, had forgot to bring CD's with me in the car and due to the sad passing of my beloved doggy back in October had nothing around to kick. This is honestly the reason that I put it up but it's up to you to believe me or not. Well that's partly untrue. I didn't used to kick the dog.
posts which seem to imply that phantom should be this experimental super-cool outlet rather than being a commercial station that has programmes that appeals to different audiences at different times.
Simple fact is that there aren't enough indier-than-thou types to sustain a station so they appeal to a broad audience and then run more specialist stuff to appeal to smaller groups.
This is the thing though, I don't consider most of what I listen to to be all that ultra experimental or out there. And that out there stuff I do listen to I of course don't expect to get a daytime slot but as I pointed out they've dipped their toe in the water in the shape of a band like Battles (and the fact that they now get played every night that I go to Whelan's, which is generally when I go to a gig there and stay afterwards, where I imagine the target demographic of Phantom goes based in part on the fact that that's where they run their nights and that's where they used to broadcast from for a while in their pirate days, and gets people going the same way that the usual Whelan's staples do, and remember the big criticism of that place for years is the conservative policy they've maintained with their playlists, indicates to me that Phantom's listenership might be willing to listen to more varied things) and there's plenty of great stuff they could be playing that's way more mainstream and commercial sounding then that which also happens to be miles better than what they normally play. Additionally, the size of the audiences, I dunno, Animal Collective and Joanna Newsome and The National and Broken Social Scene and Explosions In the Sky are all pretentious wanker pitchfork-arsehole types of acts and have sold plenty of tickets here of late.
Some people wont like it, some will and some might even give it credit where its due on occasion rather than the whole "mean things about a soft target" approach.
And I've pointed out things that I like about the station. But why shouldn’t I be able to point out things that I don’t like? Especially here on the little corner of the internet that’s my own.
Its my universe, you f***s just live in it apparently
The weekend has started, I don't want to get into the reflexive nature of meta-physics right now.
"Simple fact is that there aren't enough indier-than-thou types to sustain a station so they appeal to a broad audience and then run more specialist stuff to appeal to smaller groups."
simple fact is fuck that centrist bullshit I don't have to like it any more than you have to agree with me.
Anon,
I don't think it's a case of "my friend's band / my band don't get played, etc...", but more to do with the fact the idea of an alternative station in Ireland seems to mean playing as much generic indie as possible.
Personally (as a blogger, musician, gig-goer, gig-doer, etc....) i find that very, very off-putting. It's not like it was 5 / 10 years ago when you're choice was simply Irish stations and a few pirates (of which Phantom was one).
Digital media now means that stations (and music) can be picked up from all over the world and as such many listener's have become more discerning, intelligent and less inclined to simply plant their ear to whatever happens to be on.
This works with regards to both a stations' music policy and to the way shows are presented
of course.
A station like Phantom (and any other station in this country) needs money from advertising to continue and while that is the case, we (as listeners) will unfortunately be subjected to what a lot of the poster's here have branded as generic music and irritating "wacky" DJ's.
Naturally you're free to disagree, but I just thought I'd put my two cents.
One question though (of course you don't have to answer), but who are you and are you attached to the station (or other stations) in any way?
Tell me to piss off if you want.
:)
Leigh
Leigh, no Im not connected with the station. Yes, you will be subjected to stuff you don't like (as am I). Im willing to put up with that (and in fairness enjoy some of it) while I wait for the stuff I really like. Small price to pay if you ask me. Strangely, I dont feel compelled to come online and slag off the rest of what they do.
"f**k that centerist bullshit" guy - Damn you are so much cooler than me, but Im waaaay indier than you. I thought we had established that earlier.
Ian - Thats fair enough, your opinion is that much of the stuff you listen to isn't ultra experimental and out there. The notion though, that in order to gain the audience they need to survive (which is quite a lot of people Im sure!) that they should avoid the big commercial sellers like the foos, arcade fire etc is just mad. Surely it has to be a balance between what keeps me happy and what keeps regular joe (who wouldnt even go to Whelans) happy.
I'm cooler than thou. To achieve this I stand inside a zanussi fridge for 45 minutes every morning. Try it and you too will become cooler than thou.
I've no problem with them playing Arcade Fire as such, I was just pointing them out as an example of a band played elsewhere that they've got as one of their mainstays, there's other bands like the Frames that they play a lot that regularly get airplay on their competitors and they're trumpeting the fact that they play stuff others don't, I accept that there's going to be an overlap at times but to me it's about balance, which at the moment I feel they're having problems getting right. Perhaps if they varied the songs they played by those bands a bit I'd be happier, there's other songs apart from "Keep The Car Running" and "God Bless Mom" (see also "Today" when they play The Pumpkins).
The Foo Fighters though I loath (save for "Big Me", super little pop song) and wish great harm on, they're the main reason I wish Cobain hadn't offed himself.
the audience they need to survive (which is quite a lot of people Im sure!)
The JNLR's for October 06 to September 07 give them 1.2% market share. What they're doing right now isn't grabbing significant portions of the audience either. I'm willing to accept that the JNLR seem to be related to the adult population and when you factor in kids the real figures might be a little bit healthier.
Have to say, criticising someone for being "cooler-than-thou" is pathetic. Get over yerself. This isn't New York, no one's fucking "cool" here to start with.
I bet if Ian checked the IP address for Anon, they would all come from Phantom Towers. Very defensive, passive-agressive stuff there.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Here's what I heard yesterday in a completely random half-hour listening to Phantom, 6.30pm to 7pm. I was stuck in traffic on Pearse St at the time. Not only did the DJ play U2 (Where The Streets Have No Name), but he got basic info wrong about one track he played (wrong band, wrong title) and got a request completely wrong (wrong name). Given that this info is in front of him on a computer screen, you have to wonder.. If anyone from Phantom Towers dont believe me, check the programme logs. Again, I stress this was a random 30 minute sample because I was stuck in traffic. The DJ is James Hyland.
At 7pm, I switched over to RTE Radio 1. Dave Fanning. Mr Mainstream, came on. His first track? Yes, you guessed, U2 "Where The Streets Have No Names".
If Phantom is supposed to be an alternative (quality sounds only, new music first yadda yadda yadda), it is sorely missing the target time and time again
Oh and I meant to also say - sorry Ian for the duplicate comment - 45 comments mean this is not some indier-than-thou circle jerk but a fact that there is an audience out there for alternative music who feel sorely let down by Phantom. We give out because we care.
I bet if Ian checked the IP address for Anon, they would all come from Phantom Towers. Very defensive, passive-agressive stuff there.
Blogger doesn't allow me to see IP addresses by default so it takes a bit of a work around to get done. And even then the solution I use isn't flawless as I have to compare the timestamp of a visit against the timestamp of a comment. I believe Anonymous to be posting from 30-40 miles away from Phantom Towers, so not guilty. I've passed that information on to the Scnientologists though, the planned protest in town tomorrow is hereby cancelled.
James Hyland
Jack Hyland.
Apparently tom cruise is their main assassin in armour now
Bloggers always make me laugh. On one hand they want the unfettered right to self-publish on the Internet. No problem with that. On the otherhand, they are the first to start digging for IP addresses to try and identify commentators that don't agree with them. The hypocrisy of the blogging community.
If somebody posts on a blog you have to take it at face value. At the end of the day, everybody has an agenda of some sort.
On one hand they want the unfettered right to self-publish on the Internet. On the otherhand, they are the first to start digging for IP addresses to try and identify commentators that don't agree with them. The hypocrisy of the blogging community.
Again, I don't approve comments and I allow folks to publicly post anonymously. All the same I've got structures in place so that on the infinitesimal chance that someone decides to be an arsehole I can figure out who they are.
Murt suggested that you might be posting from Phantom, I checked, and have evidence that you aren't so set him straight. What's wrong with that?
I don't typically check the site stats site because nerd that I am if I did I'd spend hours at a time going through them looking up foreign IP's just to see what part of the world they were from.
Would it be terribly un-pc to suggest that at least some of Phantom's problems are caused by the age-profile of the people running the station? I can't help getting a whiff of the Smashey and Niceys about Pete Vamos, John Cadell, Brian D etc. By all means continue to run the station guys, but for the love of mike go and hire some young talent who have their fingers on the pulse rather than relying on your own taste, which extends to bands who either are, or sound like, the Pixies. 1990 was good and all, but its a long time ago now. The presenters' jobs should be filled on basis of merit, rather than who's been working for the station the longest - especially as all the good DJs were snapped up by 2FM and TodayFM years ago....
It's an interesting point but on the other hand look at John Peel, or that Nic Harcourt guyfrom KCRW.
Ageist,
I met Pete a couple of years ago and "Smashey and Nicey" is quite apt. It goes back to what I wrote earlier about wacky DJ syndrome being completely antiquated and his style of presenting and show are seemingly more and more from another time.
Ian,
I don't think it's an age thing necessarily - even as an elder statesman of alternative music on a national broadcaster, John Peel (and Tony Wilson, etc...) was quite often on the ball with regards to upcoming music. Something that is simply not apparent with Smashey Ireland, Inc...
As it happens Leigh I find Stuart Clarke when he's talking about music on The Last Word far more annoying than anyone on Phantom when it comes to the "not with it" stakes. The guy just seems to recycle press releases and never really thinks about the items he's talking about.
do you go in the guinness book of records for most comments on a post yet?
This is pretty mad. Ian your so controversial.
and if anything phantom dont play enough ham sandwich!
oh and i just got no. 8 there now, The Phantom - Phantom FM. Very good. Im an idiot!
Maybe I'm the only one but... I actually ADORE the mix-mash-up of the classic old school alt tunes like the Cure etc., with new school irish indie bands like Ham Sambo. It's all just GOOD music. Why does the music played at a certain time of day have to conform to some "theme" "genre" "era"? It doesn't on Phantom, unless it's a specialist show, which I can tune out off if I'm not interested, otherwise it's a nice random mix.
Yeys!
"Bloggers always make me laugh. On one hand they want the unfettered right to self-publish on the Internet. No problem with that. On the otherhand, they are the first to start digging for IP addresses to try and identify commentators that don't agree with them. The hypocrisy of the blogging community." - it's John Waters! Case closed.
Phantom has its faults, but nothing is perfect. The fact that people talk about the station with such passion shows that it matters I guess.
I agree there with you Sinéad... but that's just me and my tastes.
At the end of the day folks, they are catering to a certain audience which is a result of marketing and surveys and the like... if you don't like it, tune to another radio station.... there's a whole wibblywobblywonder full of radio stations out there.
Or better still, make up your own playlist and play it non-stop. That way you get to listen to what you want, when you want.
hey are catering to a certain audience which is a result of marketing and surveys and the like...
At least one person who took the Phantom survey in one of the colleges tonight echoed most of my points here. I know becasue he told me he did when I met him at Islands this evening.
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