Why no commercial radio aimed at the 35-50 age range?

[Manks]

I am in my mid 40s and there seems to be no radio station aimed at my age range, so I seem to spend a lot of time flicking between stations when I am driving.

Radio 1 is for kids, though there are some occasional good tunes. The presenters are inane though.

Radio 2 can have some excellent music, but then they'll play Dusty Springfield and Kajagoogoo.

Radio 3 seems to specialise in music for funerals.

Radio 4 is informative, but it's tricky to sing along to.

Our main local radio is Capital which appears to be music for chavs and they play the same ten songs over and over again. There's also Gem 106 which seems to be music for soft chavs.

BBC local radio is dreadful unless you own an allotment.

The best station locally at present is a pirate station that plays some old skool, hip-hop and D&B. But it is amateurish and goes off air regularly.

So, why is there not a radio station aimed at people like me? Is there a gap in the market or are people of my ilk not sufficiently lucrative for radio stations?

[Flintstone]

The trouble is that any commercial station is going to be full of ads and I'd rather rather turn the radio off than be subjected to those.

[Zad]

BBC R6 is well worth a listen after the kids programmes have finished (7pm I think). Intelligent DJs and a much higher chance of hitting decent music.

BBC R7 Drama and comedy, lots of archive stuff.

Sadly, both are digital only

[Randy Winkman]

As mentioned - Radio 6 - but it's digital.

[Truckosaurus]

I'm enjoying Absolute Radio currently although it is not on FM everywhere (formerly Virgin 1215).

Plays some good tunes from yesteryear, and I heard a promo-jingle claiming that don't repeat a single song between 10am and 5pm.

Edited by Truckosaurus on Monday 24th January 21:24

[StevieBee]

Planet Rock

That is all you need to know!

[randomwalk]

absolute 80s, absolute 90s

[Flintstone]

randomwalk said:

absolute 80s, absolute 90s

Are those stations? If so, what frequencies?

[durbster]

Manks said:

...so, why is there not a radio station aimed at people like me? Is there a gap in the market or are people of my ilk not sufficiently lucrative for radio stations?

You need to get yourself a DAB radio that can also get internet radio stations. Then take your pick from the hundreds of stations on offer

Personally it's 6 Music or Triple J from Australia pretty much all the time, but the latter wouldn't really be an over 35s market

[Eric Mc]

What's wrong with Dusty Springfield (apart from the fact that she's dead - of course)?

[Manks]

Eric Mc said:

What's wrong with Dusty Springfield (apart from the fact that she's dead - of course)?

If you need to ask the question...

[Eric Mc]

Manks said:

Eric Mc said:

What's wrong with Dusty Springfield (apart from the fact that she's dead - of course)?

If you need to ask the question...

Sacriledge.

[thatone1967]

Absolute 80's and 90's are spin offs of Absolute (formerly Virgin) who in my opinion are one of the best stations out there. I used to listen to Capital when I lived in London but was gobsmacked at how much it changed recently, but on reflection, I think it may be ME that has changed. As stated Absolute is excellent apart from the annoying teat Oconnel who does breakfast.

[scdan4]

StevieBee said:

Planet Rock

That is all you need to know!

seconded. by far the best radio available at the moment, even if it is marred by 'glass for autos' every 25 minutes.

(i'll never use them, ever, even if they have the last windscreen on earth, just because of their annoying, repetitive, "kevin was having a nice day but then his missus left him and his children died from face aids all because he ignored that miniscule chip in his windscreen the heartless barsteward" adverts.)

[redtwin]

Wife and I are in that age bracket and the only thing we both like (or can tolerate) can be found here.

http://www.smoothradio.co.uk/

[davepoth]

Manks said:

Eric Mc said:

What's wrong with Dusty Springfield (apart from the fact that she's dead - of course)?

If you need to ask the question...

Really? really? She was one of the greatest pop singers ever! Dusty in Memphis is a masterpiece!

[thehawk]

StevieBee said:

Planet Rock

That is all you need to know!

Best station full stop.

[Manks]

Many of the stations mentioned are not available locally. Or at least not on my car radio.

[LuS1fer]

Manks said:

The best station locally at present is a pirate station that plays some old skool, hip-hop and D&B. So, why is there not a radio station aimed at people like me? Is there a gap in the market or are people of my ilk not sufficiently lucrative for radio stations?

You have appalling musical taste and answered your own question?

I tend to listen to Ken Bruce who has a good playlist to some degree. What infuriates me is how lazy the Beeb are and you'll get the same oldies played on several shows through the day. However, can't stick Chris Evans, Jeremy Vine or the skin-crawling Steve Wright. The only real alternative is a big SD card for the MP3 and just let it play.

[Manks]

LuS1fer said:

Manks said:

The best station locally at present is a pirate station that plays some old skool, hip-hop and D&B. So, why is there not a radio station aimed at people like me? Is there a gap in the market or are people of my ilk not sufficiently lucrative for radio stations?

You have appalling musical taste and answered your own question?

No, I suspect I have quite reasonable music taste (eclectic aanyway). But it tends to be anything but "middle of the road". Which brings me on to:

LuS1fer said:

I tend to listen to Ken Bruce who has a good playlist to some degree.

Is he the Scottish one? If so he is a syrupy, glib Wogan-a-like with all the appeal and edginess of Marks and Spencers slippers.

I think the problem with Radio 2 is that they will play a couple of good records in a row and then drop Boney M's "Ma Baker". It breaks the bond of trust with the listener. Or me anyway.