Does age matter

shabba man

wondering........who is the radio guru who came up with the idea that radio presenters/DJ's should be in the same age demographic as their audience i.e. if the station is aiming at a 18-35 age group, then the DJ's should be in that general age group also. Of course none of the suits would admit to this as it would open the door to a discrimination action. I m aware of one 'young persons' radio station in the South East that has an unwritten rule not to employ any DJ over 40 y.o. Ironic when you consider that their own top turn and oldest presenter is well over 40 and continually pulls the highest listenership. I would have thought the ability to relate to, and engage listeners would be the paramout requirement?........Any thoughts??

Orange Pants

I radio which used to only hire 20 year olds has recently taken on older presenters Ray Shah and Stephen Cooper.

Orange Pants

To answer your question tho, I really don't think it's tenable to have more than one or two older presenters on a youth station or else you end up as bad as 2fm was when John Clarke was in charge, with a housewives schedule of Ryan Tubridy, Gerry Ryan, Larry Gogan, Gareth O`Callaghan, Marty Whelan.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I'm 27 and all the music DJs I listen to are outside that demographic, John Creedon, Philip King, Tom Dunne for eg.

I suppose it depends on your tastes too, also I'm probably not typical of an average person my age.

When it comes to talk radio, most of the voices I listen to on a regular basis, both here and abroad are over 35.

Steve King

shabba man wrote: »

Im aware of one 'young persons' radio station in the South East ....

Beat?

Faugheen

shabba man wrote: »

I m aware of one 'young persons' radio station in the South East that has an unwritten rule not to employ any DJ over 40 y.o.

Well that's just not true is it? I've seen the Drive presenter doing an OB in Red Square in Waterford and he's definitely over 40.

Max Headroom

Well PJ on Nova is in his 50's (sorry pal) and i know a lot of much younger lads who tune in to his show and its purely for the music he plays..

Declan A Walsh

Max Headroom wrote: »

Well PJ on Nova is in his 50's (sorry pal) and i know a lot of much younger lads who tune in to his show and its purely for the music he plays..

He is well into his '50s too!

shabba man

Faugheen wrote: »

Well that's just not true is it? I've seen the Drive presenter doing an OB in Red Square in Waterford and he's definitely over 40.

I rest my case

Weekly_Top_40

I think it comes down to how well preserved the presenter is too. If they're early 40s but look early 50s then they cant be on a youth station. If they're early 40s and look 10 years younger then there's no reason why they cant be on one.

Steve K for example looks younger than his years. It also comes down to the attitude of the presenter. Are they keeping up with the teenagers in terms of what they want from radio? Steve K is another good example of someone who is savvy to this.

An interesting topic.

Faugheen

shabba man wrote: »

I rest my case

I dont see how that 'rests your case'? You said it was an unwritten rule for them not to employ someone over 40, I posted showing your theory to be nonsense, and you're claiming some sort of 'I told you so' victory?

Max Headroom

Weekly_Top_40 wrote: »

I think it comes down to how well preserved the presenter is too. If they're early 40s but look early 50s then they cant be on a youth station. If they're early 40s and look 10 years younger then there's no reason why they cant be on one.

Steve K for example looks younger than his years. It also comes down to the attitude of the presenter. Are they keeping up with the teenagers in terms of what they want from radio? Steve K is another good example of someone who is savvy to this.

An interesting topic.

Are you serious...youre basing your reply on "looks" for radio presenting..hav you ever seen Steve Le maq, Mark Radcliffe...hardly super-models...

Datallus

It's all gone downhill since they sacked Val Joyce.

shabba man

At Faugheen, I did not mean to claim any victory, when I posted 'I rest my case', it was because that is exactly the man I was referring to.

Weekly_Top_40

Max Headroom wrote: »

Are you serious...youre basing your reply on "looks" for radio presenting..hav you ever seen Steve Le maq, Mark Radcliffe...hardly super-models...

You are aware of what era we live in yes? The Social Media Generation?

Radio is definitely no longer a man or a woman hiding in a studio with no one knowinng what they look like.

Faugheen

shabba man wrote: »

At Faugheen, I did not mean to claim any victory, when I posted 'I rest my case', it was because that is exactly the man I was referring to.

Ah my mistake. I'm guilty of reading what I wanted to read. Apologies.

Clive Bisquette

I have to say in this posters opinion Radio Presenters are the most sycophantic up their own H%£es group you are likely to meet.

Radio presenting outside a few nationally known Dudes is very poorly paid but peeps are prepared to do it to feed their enormous egos and sense of importance.

Shelf life ..thankfully is very short...except for the likes of Gogan and "Cool" Dave Fanning ...who are on nice sinecures in RTE..and if reports are to be believed have taken ligging to a new high.

Nah mate ...not for me ....

smallfridge

It's interesting that on a lot the forum here people almost all the time speak of Dublin broadcasters and djs and the like. That's fair enough I suppose that's because it may be that they only know of Dublin radio people.

But whether theyre younger or older presenters there is some of the most talented broadcasters In Ireland working outside Dublin.

While I know one or two and they would definitely be egotistical there are others do it for the love of radio.

I urge anyone on here in particular if you primarily only hear Dublin radio to chance others. Like 96fm and red fm both have a mix of young and old presenters , radio Kerry have staff ranging from 20s to 70s on and off air, Tipp fm too and others. I mention this here only because while I agree there are a lot of presenters with massive egos there's also some great ones do it very well despite their age.

STB.

I think the wage a DJ can expect has some part to play here. It might be easier to pay less to someone eager and new than an old hand.

I wonder are there a lot of younger DJ's now on the radio who would not have comparatively got a gig in the 80's/90's ?

I don't mean to generalise but I have seen a massive drop in the quality of new radio presenters on the radio in Ireland.

My own thoughts would be that for the likes of Beat, Spin etc that there is a maximum age for a jock/jockette. Being out of touch, no one wants that!

Orange Pants

STB. wrote: »

I think the wage a DJ can expect has some part to play here. It might be easier to pay less to someone eager and new than an old hand.

I wonder are there a lot of younger DJ's now on the radio who would not have comparatively got a gig in the 80's/90's ?

I don't mean to generalise but I have seen a massive drop in the quality of new radio presenters on the radio in Ireland.

My own thoughts would be that for the likes of Beat, Spin etc that there is a maximum age for a jock/jockette. Being out of touch, no one wants that!

Chris Greene would never have been allowed in the door of any radio station in the 80s/90s

ford fiesta

well for sure you dont have to have any interest or knowledge about music to be on radio now, which suits the under 35's presenters.
it's all on a screen for them now.

Max Headroom

ford fiesta wrote: »

well for sure you dont have to have any interest or knowledge about music to be on radio now, which suits the under 35's presenters.
it's all on a screen for them now.

Theyre all Wikijocks nowadays...........i'd guess not many have any real interest in music, its just a stepping stone to tv...the fools...:)

euser1984

Matt Cooper could be listened to by anybody I believe.

Clive Bisquette

euser1984 wrote: »

Matt Cooper could be listened to by anybody I believe.

He could be ...but would anyone want to ?

Max Headroom

euser1984 wrote: »

Matt Cooper could be listened to by anybody I believe.

Does he play music..???...i dont listen to him..