Assignment One - Music Programming - Types and Styles

Pure Radio

For our first assignment we have to develop a new programme for a brand new Community Radio Station; broadcasting to the Havant area of Hampshire. First we had to create a brand new radio station.

My radio station is a Community Radio play which plays current hits and popular hits of the last 6 to 12 months and songs from previous decades including the 80's and 90's. The target audience is young adult and adults ages 25 to 40; my radio station is based in Portsmouth and is broadcast to the Hampshire area. My radio station will fill my listeners needs by giving them local news that they may need to hear; such as traffic updates and news updates in the area. My radio station is important for parents and people that take long journeys to work because they need to know traffic updates and to keep them entertained on their journeys.

I researched other radio stations like mine;

• Heart - Heart is a network of 17 adult contemporary local radio stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times. Playing songs from the 80's - now. Such as Phil Collins, Lady Gaga, Toni Braxton etc.  Heart radio meets it's listeners needs by doing quizzes and playing music from previous decades to satisfy all ages. Heart FM broadcast appropriate and relevant content that immediately connects with listeners’ lives. 

I think that Heart FM caters to its listeners by catering to its target audience; Housewives with Children. They do this by talking about typical things housewives would talk about for example on the Heart website they are talking about Christmas; hitting their target market and giving 'Their Perfect Christmas Gift Guide'. They also cater to the target audience with the type of music they play; for example the music they've played today is a mix of newer and older music such as U2, Take That and Olly Murs. Heart FM also connects to their listeners by the type of competitions they run; like Spa Breaks, money winning competitions and prizes for the whole family.

• Capital FM - Capital is a radio network of nine independent contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom which are owned and operated by Global Radio, launching on 3 January 2011. Capital was previously known as Power FM Mix, One, Galaxy and Hit Music at various times. Playing new cutting edge music, current hits, popular hits of the last 6 to 12 months and current chart music. They weekly showcase the Top 40 songs on iTunes. Playing music such as Swedish House Mafia, The Wanted, Rihanna, Flo Rida etc. Capital FM meets it's listeners needs by playing the biggest and best music of right now with massive competitions, up-to-date local news and traffic & travel to give listeners the best combination of quality programming and great local content.  

Capital FM's main target audience is 15-34 year olds interested in popular music, interested and know a lot about the media and are on trend with whats going on in the celebrity world. Capital FM caters to this by giving it's listeners the latest news on celebrities that are big in the public eye such as One Direction, The Wanted, Cheryl Cole and Taylor Swift. They also connect with their listeners on a social level by connecting through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter; this is important because now-adays a majority of the British public live on the internet. They also connect with their listeners by the type of music played; playing music such as Maroon 5, Calvin Harris and Rita Ora. Like Heart FM, Capital also connect to their listeners with their competitions; they are different to Hearts as they have a different audience; they give away concert tickets, chances to meet their favourite celebrities and the latest gadgets to be released and other things the younger generation are interested in. 

• Express FM - Express FM is a Non Profit community radio based in Portsmouth and broadcast to South East Hampshire. There aim is to broadcast stuff their listeners can really use such as information on how to get a better job, how to switch on to the local music scene, how you can make a difference to life in the community, and much more. Playing songs from artists from different genres to cater to all groups listening; such as Keane, Muse, Jake Bugg, Lianne Le Havas etc. 

Express FM is a 

I think that The Breeze is the biggest competition for my radio station as it is a local radio station as well and they fulfill all the listener needs my radio station fulfills. They also play the same music to satisfy different ages from 20-45.

Capital FM is also competition because of how they keep their listeners hooked by airing competitions and the weekly Top 40 chart.

Heart is another big competition for my radio station as they are one of the biggest radio stations in the country and they also air lots of competitions and the listeners are around the age range that my radio station listeners are such as parents and people that have long journeys to work.