BBC Radio 1

[Spencer For Hire]

The problem is Radio 1's service licence specifies that it must target an audience of 15 to 29 year olds. In recent Rajars, the average age of a Radio 1 listener has been put at 33.

The Radio Centre which represents commercial radio has already complained about this to the BBC Trust, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if they take some steps to attract a younger audience.

[m-in-m]

I would argue they already have attempted to attract a younger audience:

[*]Nick Grimshaw on Weekend Breakfast
[*]Fearne and Reggie
[*]Switch

It has to be remembered however that a significant proportion of the schedule is given over to specialist and new music - though I would accept that during daytime the station seems to have reduced this content.

I would argue that part of Radio 1's success is actually that commercial radio appears to serve a narrow audience.

[Spencer For Hire]

I would argue that part of Radio 1's success is actually that commercial radio appears to serve a narrow audience.

I'm not sure that that's true at all. It may be the case that there's less variety on commercial radio, but most commercial radio stations (other than the 'specialist' types like Galaxy and XFM) have very broad demographics.

[m-in-m]

I would argue they already have attempted to attract a younger audience:

[*]Nick Grimshaw on Weekend Breakfast
[*]Fearne and Reggie
[*]Switch

It has to be remembered however that a significant proportion of the schedule is given over to specialist and new music - though I would accept that during daytime the station seems to have reduced this content.

I would argue that part of Radio 1's success is actually that commercial radio appears to serve a narrow audience.

Well the theme continues. Grimshaw is taking over Murray's slot (who leaves the station joining 5 Live). Presumably Grimshaw is seen as someone who will lower the average audience age. I presume this means we can look forward to more of Fearne filling in for Edith. Who will be given weekend breakfast. Since Spoony left it seems to have been rather changeable.

[all new Phil]

Tsk.

Why don't they go the whole hog and change the name of Radio 1 to Grimsham FM?

[jay]

Has anyone been watching the video streaming service that they are currently testing out? I tried it out for the Moyles show the other day and I was actually pleasantly surprised at the quality of it.

[Jovis]

Yes, good quality like before. Though when they're starting out with 28 people and having to resort to begging people to tune in to bring the total to two thousand, it's easy to see that it's simply a novelty in its current form.

[jay]

Something else to add to this thread (and i know it's a bit over-due), but I was lucky enough to win tickets to Big Weekend in Swindon earlier this year, and I have to say never before have I been to an event that was so well organised.

The tickets were free, the car-parking was free, the shuttle buses to and from car-parks were free - and the food was very reasonably priced. Loads of different stages with lots of different things going on all the time, lots of Radio 1 DJ's and newspaper journalists wandering around the site (I myself got interviewed by Edith Bowman and someone from the Swindon Advertiser!)

There was also a heavy appearance from all the other Radio 1 names from Scott Mills to Greg James, to Moyles' mum and dad that were stood behind me in the VIP area watching Dizzee Rascal (yes, she was dancing along too!)

Definitely a great event to 'thank' the Radio 1 listeners.

[Steve in Pudsey]

The problem is Radio 1's service licence specifies that it must target an audience of 15 to 29 year olds. In recent Rajars, the average age of a Radio 1 listener has been put at 33.

The Radio Centre which represents commercial radio has already complained about this to the BBC Trust, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if they take some steps to attract a younger audience.

I'm fully aware that this is an old post, but the fact that RAJAR doesn't include anybody younger than 15 means that statistically such an average is inevitable, given that there is no opportunity for listeners under 15 to balance out those who are over 29.

And if they are serious about reducing the age profile of the Radio 1 listener, they can only do that by introducing another station which is somewhere between Radio 1 and Radio 2 where the likes of Moyles and Mills can move to and continue to pull in the kind of audience which it is blatently obvious exists, and leave Radio 1 to target the "yoof" market.

[jay]

The problem is Radio 1's service licence specifies that it must target an audience of 15 to 29 year olds. In recent Rajars, the average age of a Radio 1 listener has been put at 33.

The Radio Centre which represents commercial radio has already complained about this to the BBC Trust, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if they take some steps to attract a younger audience.

I'm fully aware that this is an old post, but the fact that RAJAR doesn't include anybody younger than 15 means that statistically such an average is inevitable, given that there is no opportunity for listeners under 15 to balance out those who are over 29.

And if they are serious about reducing the age profile of the Radio 1 listener, they can only do that by introducing another station which is somewhere between Radio 1 and Radio 2 where the likes of Moyles and Mills can move to and continue to pull in the kind of audience which it is blatently obvious exists, and leave Radio 1 to target the "yoof" market.

Why can there not just be a Radio station that caters for all markets? If it ain't broke don't fix it!

[JonathanEx]

And the worst thing is that this age thing leads to things like Grimmy getting Colin Murray's old slot, Tom Deaker covering on Switch (his voice is bad enough on the promos) and dumbing down of some content.

Liking Moyles with visualisation trailer.