ftm Radio Page - December 6, 2013

Editing tune legitimate, dirty lyrics not
“capacity to cause offense”

Playing an edited version of a tune placing second on the BBC Radio 1 Official Chart Show was “legitimate” ruled the BBC Trust Editorial Standards Committee following a complaint from the public. A mere seven seconds of “Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead” from the classic film Wizard of Oz was offered rather than the full 54 second version on the program in April, which included a newscasters explanation. The tune’s chart position coincided with the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a divisive figure in British culture.

The complaint submitted that the tune “was not political, did not contain a political message and did not refer to any individual” and playing the edited version was “a breach of the requirement for impartiality.” The tune “I’m in love with Margaret Thatcher” was played on the program without edit. Newly arrived BBC Director General Tony Hall intervened personally to prevent another political crisis.

“The song had become linked with a campaign in the wake of Lady Thatcher's death to display opposition to her premiership and did have the capacity to cause offence because it had been widely publicized as being a way of giving voice to anti-Thatcher feelings,” said a statement from the Editorial Standards Committee (December 3). “Although it was not linked with to any real person when written, the committee believed that the song had clearly and unarguably gained association with Lady Thatcher.”

Chart shows have been a fixture on radio stations since time immemorial. BBC Radio 1 has broadcast a singles chart show under various names since 1974. Since 2005 the Official Chart Show has included download data.

Also this week, UK regulator OFCOM determined digital station Karrang wrongly broadcast a Red Hot Chili Peppers tune replete with foul language. Station owner Bauer Media explained the error as a technical problem when music files were transferred from one server to another. But the regulators saw it differently as “seemingly no member of staff had been monitoring the output as broadcast and that consequently no apology for the language in the song had been broadcast at the time.” (JMH)

Disco up, rock down
“clear trend”

Rock radio fans in Poland were horrified Monday morning to hear “rhythmic hits” on FM frequencies once held by Eska Rock. Time Radio Group decided some time ago to make the switch, swapping the several Eska Rock FM frequencies for the Warsaw-only FM license of VOX FM, formerly Radio Plus. The new VOX FM plays disco music, targeting a different audience. Gone, too, is the old VOX FM morning show that occasionally provoked the ire of regulators.

“This is not a joke,” proclaimed gazeta.pl (December 2). Poland’s rock radio fans opened a Facebook page for the disgruntled. Some began telephoning regulator KRRiT begging for a reprieve only to find a deaf ear as music formats are outside their remit. (See Poland – Major Radio Broadcasters here)

The decision was just business. “Recently we’ve seen a clear trend of advertisers investing their budgets in programs aimed at older audiences, which resulted in the adjustment decision,” said Time Radio Group president Renata Krzewska in a statement. “We hope that VOX FM as a super-regional network will adequately answer the needs of customers.” (JMH)

Radio Page week ending November 29, 2013
radio in France, digital radio, CSA, Médiamétrie, Paris audience, Radio Latina, Europe 1, talk radio, radio in the Czech Republic, Radio Impuls, radio in Italy, Radio Number One

Radio Page week ending November 22, 2013
radio in France, Médiamétrie, NRJ, RTL, Europe 1, Skyrock, radio in Russia, Sochi Winter Olympics, radio in Germany, WDR, Valerie Weber, Antenne Bayern

Radio Page week ending November 15, 2013
radio in Ukraine, United Media Holding, radio advertising, radio in the UK, digital radio, EBU, radio sports

Radio Page week ending November 8, 2013
radio in Africa, international broadcasting, Radio France International, Citi FM, African Story Challenge

Radio Page week ending November 1, 2013
radio in Africa, Radio Shabelle, radio in Sweden, Radio 1, MTG

Radio Page week ending October 25, 2013
radio in Germany, media policy, VPRT, RadioDNS, radio in Switzerland, DETEC, Radio Argovia, radio in the UK, RAJAR, BBC Radio 1, radio audience, commercial radio, KISS, Absolute Radio, LBC

Radio Page week ending October 18, 2013
radio in Finland, radio advertising, RadioMedia, radio in France, Médiamétrie, digital devices, mobile phones

Radio Page week ending October 11, 2013
radio in Switzerland, music quotas, radio in Sweden, Retro FM, radio news

Radio Page week ending October 4, 2013
radio in Greece, ERT, public radio, First Program, radio in France, Médiamétrie, radio audience, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, digital radio

Radio Page week ending September 27, 2013
radio in Hungary, music quotas, radio in the UK, digital radio, OFCOM

Radio Page week ending September 20, 2013
radio in Germany, measurement, RMS, AudiMark, online radio, radio in Norway, P4, MTG, Viamo

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radio in Liechtenstein, Radio L, radio in the Czech Republic, Londa, medium wave, Radio Impuls

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radio in Belgium, radio audience, CIM, RTBF, VRT, Bel RTL, Nostalgie, NRJ, Studio Brussel, La Première, radio in France, Radio France, France Info

Radio Page week ending August 23, 2013
radio in Switzerland, private local radio, OFCOM, program content, RadioDay, WRS, Radio 105

Radio Page week ending August 9, 2013
radio in the Netherlands, NLO, Radio 538, Sky Radio, 3FM, Q-music

Radio Page week ending August 2, 2013
radio in the UK, RAJAR, BBC Radio 2, Absolute Radio, Bauer Media, digital radio, radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, DAB+, radio in Ireland, JNLR, RTE, Today FM, 98FM

Radio Page week ending July 26, 2013
radio in France, Mediametrie, Europe 1, NRJ, Nostalgie, radio in Switzerland, MediaPulse, SSR-SRG, SRF1, Musikwelle, Radio Swiss Pop, digital radio

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radio in Poland, Polskie Radio, digital radio, radio in France, Sud Radio, CSA

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Radio Page week ending June 7, 2013
radio in Spain, XFin, Grupo S4 Media

Recently added radio audience figures and resources

• France - Greater Paris Radio Audience (26/11/2013)
  national and local channels, market share, trend
• France - National Radio Audience (19/11/2013)
  national channels, sectors, market share, reach/TSL
• UK - National Radio Audience (24/10/2013)
  market share, trend, sectors
• UK - London Radio Audience (24/10/2013)
  market share, trend
• UK - National Radio Audience (24/10/2013)
  BBC/commercial 'gap'
• France - National Radio Summer Audience (03/10/2013)
  national channels, summer period 2008-2013 trend
• Austria - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (09/09/2013)
  public and private broadcasters, owners, management, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (French region) (28/08/2013)
  Wallonia region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Belgium - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (Flemish region) (28/08/2013)
  Flemish region, radio broadcasters, public, private, owners, platforms, audience trend
• Turkey - Major Media - Radio broadcasting (15/08/2013)
  ownership, management, program formats, platforms
• Netherlands - Radio Audience (08/08/2013)
  national survey, market share, trend
• Ireland - National Radio Audience (30/07/2013)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• Ireland - Dublin Radio Audience (30/07/2013)
  market share, 07h00-19h00, trend
• Switzerland - Radio listening by region (19/07/2013)
  public and private sectors, penetration, time spent listening
• Switzerland - French region Radio Audience (19/07/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Swiss-German region Radio Audience (19/07/2013)
  share, trend
• Switzerland - Italian region Radio Audience (19/07/2013)
  share, trend
• Germany - Radio Audience (16/07/2013)
  leading stations, audience trend, daily reach
• Germany - Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (16/07/2013)
  public and private broadcasters, ownership, management, platforms, audience trend
• Latvia - National Radio Audience (12/06/2013)
  national channels, audience share, trend
• Spain - National Radio Audience (24/04/2013)
  national channels, reach share, trend
• Poland Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (28/03/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, market share
• Lithuania Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (25/02/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, platforms, audience reach
• Czech Republic Major Media - Radio Broadcasting (18/02/2013)
  public and private radio channels, management, audience reach

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