Easy Listening Wallpaper Indie/Phantom Sell Out

ferdi

hey,
i've not been in here in a good few months so dont b!tch at me if there have already been lots of posts on this.

dont get me wrong, i've been listening to phantom for years and i love it to bits but lately i find myself increasingly disillusioned with the "music that matters"(worst slogan ever).

i'd say a half of the music on phantom these days is verging on sh!te. there's so much wishy washy indie pop elevator musak crap on my beloved phantom. i also find myself listening to pop/rock drum n' bass type stuff which is just awful!! i think you guys find you need to play this stuff, just devote one show a day or something to it. i cant name the bands which i object to i'm afread but i feel sure i'm not the only one who feels like this, those who agree with me will know the music to which i refer. i' usually very opened minded when it comes to music, i'm not an exprert but iknow what i like. i have no doubt some people must love it and there for phantom should play it i guess -

i dont care what is played, be it rock, rawk, punk,ska ,rock,metal,pop punk, pop rock, indie, hip hop, deathsatanhatekillmurder metal,funk,rap orwhatever- JUST LET IT HAVE SOME KICK AND SOME SOUL.

please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please DONT SELL OUT TO EASY LISTENING WALLPAPER INDIE!!

you guys are the best,
peace,one love,keep rockin'

ferdi.

anony

You hit the nail on the head there ferdi. i agree.
I mostly listen to phantom during the day in work.... well until someone changes the station that is.

When I first discovered Phantom it was like an oasis in the barren wasteland that is daytime radio. You could actually some hear cool stuff on the radio during the day. Wow! and even the not so good stuff was prefrerable to listening to the chatter of some inane DJ on marketing fm.

But now phantom is fast becoming as safe and predictable as all the other commercial stations, mainly due to how homoganised the playlist is, endless crap american plastic punk bands and dull indie by numbers stuff. Its a real shame, I sure there's loads of people out there who love this kind of thing.... but I personally think Phantom needs to broaden it's music horizons.

Kopf

I've been listening to phantom for about 4 years now and I agree totally. The majority of music on phantom these days is ****e and whenever i'm in the car on the way home i find myself wishing i'd taken the time out to write down frequencies for xfm or jazz fm or some other alternative radio stations which i hear are good.

lyric fm beats the **** through phantom these days, even with all the vocal music they play which doesn't at all agree with me.

thedrowner

i make a point of only listening to the dj's i know are excellent, and i rarely tune in, so i cant really voice my opinion on this one....except to say 2 things-, that i also, have heard a lot of bad press about the station. and secondly----GIVE ME A JOB AND ILL SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS !! (and dont tell me to send a tape in....im too lazy )

SimonMaher

Hello all,

Theres a few points in this thread that come up on a regular basis and Im always meaning to save the reply so I dont have to keep on typing the flippin thing again and again.

Basically the deal is this. First of all its impossible to keep everyone happy. As can be seen from the Eminem thread, some people really like it, and some people really dislike it. Thats the way it goes sometimes.

This next bit is important: The object is not to keep everyone happy with everything they hear. Thats why 98, Lite Etc do focus testing on every song before they play it. Yes, some people will tune into Phantom and dislike a certain song, or even group/genre of songs. But others will like them and not like other stuff. Thats just the way it works, and thats why Phantom is a success.

Every time this thread comes up, we ask people to suggest songs, bands and artists that they would like to hear us play more of via email. And each time, we maybe get two responses.

So, deal is, positive suggestions please. Always love to hear them.

Regards,

Pete Reed
Phantom FM

SimonMaher

Yea,

What he said, refer to the thread on the phantom board. And just on the topic of the thread title, whats all this about us selling out? If Im not mistaken, selling out involves some silver (thirty pieces if Im not mistaken) being passed over. Last time I checked Phantoms bank balance, that silver sure as hell wasnt there. So, bad metaphors aside, no, Phantom hasnt sold out.

Regards,

Pete Reed
Phantom FM

ferdi

i'd say more punk type stuff: eg the misfits would give phantom a much needed energy boost. some fast loud hi-octane stuff (i cant think of anything just now) stuff thats more free and expressive and dare i say youthful? not these indie bands who could be 18 to 80 for all i know. some more raw music eg: rancid,nofx, and even some ska (less than Jake, mad caddies, [spunge]) to make everyone get up and get skanky!! ("who threw that?!"):p
there is plenty of irish stuff like this. dont confine them to icon, play the unsigned irsh bands all the time god danm it!!

ferdi

ferdi

selling out to bad music in a probably successful attempt to boost the oulde ratings or something but i dont really know, i guess there is a demand for it or you guys wouldnt play it. i have the greatest amount of respect for you pete and your phantom empire, rubbing shoulders with tycoons such as rupert murdock and the like, i cant wait till my attempt to use music as my means of an income fails so i can go back to college and become a radio just like you. as i read my last few lines, i realise that it sounds like i'm slagging you off, i'm actually not at all, so dont take offence.

i leave the fate and future on our beloved phantom in your very capable hands.

peace man;)

ferdi

ps:the post on the phantom board is mine also.

lamda

Well ye see now, you cant please everybody all the time... for example id be all up for playing more punk but i HATE ska with a vengeance!!! But if people wanna hear it then i dont have a problem with it... its gotta be give and take!!

Sinister Pete

Ferdi,

Posts like this never cease to amase me. They purport that we have essentially become MOR then tell us to change. You haven't given us one single notion of what we've done what you would have us do. That is extremely poor commmunication.

R n B ??? When have we ever played R n B??? Tell you what, you come down and look at the records I have or every song we've played over the last two years, point out the offenders, look at the rest and we'll do a statistical analysis. My guess is these 'terrible' songs will not even make it to 3%. Then you can buy me and Pete Reed dinner in a nice restaurant after you apologise.

Morn

Does Sinister Pete = Left Pete?
And does anyone know the equivalent term for rightness?

Mewzel

well, i gotta say that ive been listening to phantom for about 4 years and i definitely agree that it has changed to more mainstream.
whats caused this? its become all request. well, if memory serves me the all request sunday with his sinisterness was the only request show.
the majority of people like mainstream music, thus the majority of requests will be mainstrem, therefore you get more mainstream than you used to in the days of yore.

ferdi

exactly what Mewzel said.

look pete and pete i'm not trying to pïss you off here, its your radio station so do whatever the fück you want with it.

one love

ferdi

lamda

Well heres a suggestion - instead of moaning about it why dont you ring or text the lads and ask for the music you wanna hear....

Mewzel

i dont know if anyone else agrees with this but waht atracted me to phantom in the first place was being introduced to new bands, bands i would never usually have come accross, and since its turned to requests only, i find this happens a lot less.
i miss it....

polarbelly

Originally posted by Mewzel
waht atracted me to phantom in the first place was being introduced to new bands, bands i would never usually have come accross, and since its turned to requests only, i find this happens a lot less.
i miss it....

i gotta disagree, i'm listening bout the same length as you 4 or 5 yrs and i reckon ph are playing the same amount of new bands as ever, listen to icon on a weds night, look at the phantom charts, you always see/hear new names

Mewzel

i agree icon is great for new bands, but its only irsh bands. i feel there is a bit more than just irish bands to acknowledged

Gar_ptc

Pete,

As regards to your statement, I don't think that listeners should have to specify what bands should be played, it should be taken that the station should play alternative music...i don't really mind the playing of chart rock occasionally,cos some ppl like it; but GOOD GOD!save us from,as ferdi said, the wallpaper indie.

variation is spicy, but there is no variation.I listen to jazz fm and always haev a cd and tape ready.The only way i discover good music is by going out on a limb and buying obscure bands in secret sound cellar.

And by going to the small unsigned bands,of course.unsigned bands never compromise to labels or what they think is to a popular taste!


I love pearl's show and the metal show!quite contrsating,showing that im not just hard core,or bore-core!
I loved steve conway in the morning!
this is all very cruel...kindness/cruelty...yak yak yak

Are there many complaints of this variety of texted in or email in?

Rob Taylor

Can someone please explain to me what (specifically) you think is wallpaper indie?? Examples please.

Gar_ptc

well,i wouldn't listen long enough to hear the pop groups name's

but basically the usual -strummy-strummy, cliched same old stuff with no thought,energy zest or originality to it.

the antithesis of polar.
polar are indie,but DAMMIT they are good!they have energy and originality.

don't start on asking definitions;by originality I mean summit that has the above elements!

are these indie kids afraid of distortion?they are all so afraid!

where are their balls when it comes to making music? cos what they make is undulating wavey,strummy,unabrasive inoffensive PAP pop

SimonMaher

Hello all,

This really is an interesting debate, and Im glad to see its being carried on in a positive manner!

Lets deal with a few points then:

Firstly, Mewzel says the station has become all request. Well, truth be known, it hasnt. In fact, its the opposite. In its earlier days Phantom used to play on average 70% of its output as requests. This figure is now less than 30%. The all request sunday is an obvious exception to this one of course.

Second, I dont buy the fact at all that Phantom has become more mainstream. Im looking at playsheets here, and its just simply not true. The range of music being played, allied with the growing amount of music available in studio to presenters has ensured that this is not the case. You really will have to base what you say on something a bit more solid than that.

One of the points thats reguarly missed is that pre-phantom there were a whole stack of bands that just never got played at all, so when we played them, suddenly it was "Wow, never heard them on the radio before". Now, many are more well known, and the arrival of other stations and programmes have meant that the artists, by definition are more well known too.

Gar you say that listeners shouldnt have to specify what bands should be played. Well, why not? Thats what they did in the past, in the "good old days" when Phantom was alternative. So what is differenct now? I really dont get that one.

And of course I wouldnt agree that there is no variation on Phantom. The trick with Phantom is to have a recognizable sound, but that every presenter brings their own tastes and talent to the show too. Thats where the variation comes in.

Keep trying.

Regards,

Pete Reed
Phantom FM

Gar_ptc

what i mean is that we shouldn't have to do your guys job-i know that you guys do it out of love,but GOOD GOD! where's the alternative side when it all blends into one big boring bowl of bland aural porridge!

I think you guys are great since its only done out of love.
BUT think not more,of what would most ppl like-bland and inoffensive - but more of a variation of songs type.

i would hate to heatr only death metal/punk etc,that stuff rocks but id need some of the esay stuff....all this stuff is the BORING STUFF!

you know what; i shall offer my self to dj!

Silverfish

I don't think Phantom has changed.

When you first start listening to Phantom, of course its all different and 'new'. But if you have been listening for four or five years, of course its going to all just blend into the background.

Maybe the gripe here isn't with the station, which we are all, I think, very lucky to have, maybe its with the music that's out there at the moment? Phantom play whats available, I'm sure.

Yeah sure, there could be more punk/ska whatever, I personally don't like it but everyone's different. Like Lamda said, text in and ask. If you don't get it first time, don't come on and post and whine and moan, try again. Or maybe wait until there's a show on where you think the song you want will fit in, and text in a request then.

But I feel there's a lot of examining of the gift horse's mouth going on here.

Sinister Pete

Originally posted by Gar_ptc
well,i wouldn't listen long enough to hear the pop groups name's

but basically the usual -strummy-strummy, cliched same old stuff with no thought,energy zest or originality to it.

the antithesis of polar.
polar are indie,but DAMMIT they are good!they have energy and originality.

don't start on asking definitions;by originality I mean summit that has the above elements!

are these indie kids afraid of distortion?they are all so afraid!

where are their balls when it comes to making music? cos what they make is undulating wavey,strummy,unabrasive inoffensive PAP pop

Well that was specific. You want us to play Polar.

Gar_ptc

polar was an example of good indie,and if that style of music has to be played-indie is not my thing at all-that it should be innovative.

gave my gripe and cited an example.

more genre mixing; a big bowl mixed upPUNK SKA METAL INDIE ELECTRONICA, PAST HITS ,NEW STUFF,FOREIGN STUFF HOME STUFF.

keeping people on their toes;not having a "reliable"monotone.


its like;in dead poets society; they were told they had the freedom to walk however they wished, right, well what if you dont want to walk!

not thinking outside of the box,but thinking independantly

bandit

The fact of the matter is that it is impossible to cater for everybodys taste, to tar every acoustic indie guitar track as being "acoustic wallpaper" is crazy, if you are taking example of how it should be done look at south by polar {as you've mentioned} we by 66e, July by mundy aswell as the frames, the reindeer section and a hell of a lot of other acts phantom often plays.

To hear at least 10 songs you like in an hour on phantom is much better then 10 songs a day on any other of the other mainstream stations is it not??????????????

If you dont like it there is always your own music collection to with you can dj away to your hearts content!!!

Me personally i'd like to hear more older acts like Costello, Dylan, Cole, Cohen, Tim Buckley, Neil Young, etc so I could investigate their vast back catelogue more BUT as soon as phantom started play these acts you can bet on a thread about 'sad old bastard' music appearing.:p

shay

I think there is validity in the following point-

a lot of the bands played by phantom 4-5 years ago was indie then and, via becoming popular became "wall-paper indie" to the same listeners now.

Just a thought....

anony

Pete your absolutley right in saying that you can't please all the people all the time and even attempting to is the road to ruin.

I'd like to heard more left of centre electronic stuff like Aphex Twin, Amon Tobin, Squarepusher, Telefon Tel aviv, The Future Sound of London, DJ Shadow (whom I think you've played)
and definitley some Man or Astro-man?

It not so much the bland indie stuff that annoys me. Its that corperate punk rubbish like good charlotte, bowling for soup, that band that do "it's just porn mom" & that other one "The flavour of the week" that kind of thing *++(*)&*^ sucks and also the corporate grunge of Creed, Staind, Nickleback, Papa Roach
and I heard iris by the Goo Goo dolls on the other day need i say more

and would you mind putting some pixies, elastica, pj harvey , early suede, 80's Metallica ect back into the daytime mix

keep fighting the good fight

Tyrrial

All said.... phantom is all we have... and i for one am pretty happy that they can play at least one song i want to hear within about half an hour.



no body can like every song they play

polarbelly

mewzel... i was listening to phantom this morning on the way to college on the dart and all, and they didnt play a song that i didnt like, 4 or 5 of the songs played (in the space of an hour) i didnt know... or at least hadnt heard before on ph
so i'd say thats playin new bands, unless, they're back catalogue etc of bands that i know, or, unless they're just old bands that i dont know

i think as drowner says, you should pick out the shows you like the best and listen to them... if its a problem with during the day when there are no presenters, you just gotta realise that other folk's tates gotta be catered for too

nice one gar... antithesis of wallpaper indie... will have to tell the lads that one

Mewzel

maybe its just becasue ive become so accustomed to phantom over the years that i dont really see it as innovative anymore, but i really feel something has changed.