LO1 Task 3: Analysis of a radio station programme

 Analysis of Radio Station 

talkSPORT  radio station Analysis

Purpose- The purpose of talkSPORT radio is to inform their audience of the latest sport news around the world from Football, Boxing and rugby. However, the main talking point of talkSPORT is football with most content involving big clubs and managers. For example, Manchester United and their current situation this season having being the lowest position in the Premier League they have ever been.

Ownership- talkSPORT is owned by News Broadcasting. This means the type of adverts that they get can be general news to keep those who listen to talkSPORT aware of what else is happening around the world.

The popularity of the presenters are determined by their audience, as you can go and google talkSPORT and do a vote poll on who you prefer to listen to. 

Listenership-  According to RAJAR talkSPORT network delivered a recording breaking listenership with having 6.6 million people listening weekly, with listening hours up to 5.6% year to year going up to 45.3 million per year.

Funding/Advertising- 

Audience- The primary audience for talkSPORT are mainly targeted at a male audience both ABC1 and C2DE, that have an interest in sport such as Football and boxing. However, talkSPORT mainly priorities their Football audience due to it being the main talk of sport. The ages of their male audience are those from 30-60 that might listen to talkSPORT in the car or while on work break.  

Content- The content that is on talkSPORT are podcasts with the presenter and a retired professional athlete, such as Matterface and Crook with Troy Deeney, where they talk about the recent events in Football such as the transfer market and talking about other players. 

Access- The way you can access talkSPORT, is either by their website which can accessed on a laptop or PC or you can use your Smartphone and download the talkSPORT app to listen to the different radio stations that are available.  

Analysis of radio station/ Podcast that links to my own broadcast (switched on pop)

Switched on Pop- Their Podcasts talk about news and controversial topics trending this year that have everyone talking such as 25 predictions, J-pop, Grammys, and Kazoos.

Purpose-The purpose of Switched on Pop is to inform and entertain their audience with the latest news going off around the music industry. They also share theirs and their audiences opinions and predictions for who the next top artist to going to be in the new year and who is going to fall off. However, they also talk about facts such as the billions club on Spotify, as over 800 songs have a billion streams. Switched on Pop would upload a new episode every week. The content they upload onto their channel reflects their topic in music. For example, their weekly content always includes the latest news and what is trending around the world of music. This is because it allows their audience to get inside information on what is happening. Another example of this, is from their latest topic regarding a heavy metal band called Sleep Token, who have gotten to number 1 in the Billboard 200 upon their new albums release.

Income- The adverts that get played on this podcast include business and marketing adverts, this can tell us that the adverts that are played on this podcast tells us that the target audience are older male and female from the ages of 18-40, as it will be quite unpopular for anyone under the age of 18 to start building a business. 

Ownership- There is no other company that owns Switched on Pop, as they are their own podcast show with their own website and social media. 

Access- Switched on Pop can be accessed through their website, or can also be accessed through other music apps such as Spotify and Amazon on their podcasts sections which have their latest and past podcast episodes. 

Listenership- According to the audience metrics on Muck Rack, Switched on Pop have 100k-500k monthly listeners for their podcast episodes while ranking number 6 in the UK for music commentary. 

Analysis of podcast show/ Podcast that links to my own broadcast (switched on pop)

Content- The content available on Switched on Pop are topics that get shared on each episode of the podcast starting with the 2025 Grammys winner, what are we going to see in 2025 and their latest episode How Spotify hacked our ears. The episodes are hosted by Nate Solen, Charlie Harding. However, on their latest episode called "Is the future of pop....Heavy Metal?" They talk about how Sleep Token reaching number 1 in the Billboard 200. However, they also go onto side topics and discuss other bands that are key figures of rock/metal such as Ghost, Metallica, Nickelback. They also play their songs for a few seconds while discussing about them, to give the audience a clear view on bands such as Metallica of what they sound like in a modern day.  

Audience- The primary audience for Switched on Pop are ABC1 both male and female from the ages of 25-40, as the content that is shared on the podcast a younger audience would not find as interesting, as they cover controversial topics within the music industry that teenagers would not find interesting. The reason why teenagers would not listen to Switched on Pop is because most of the news that gets shared on their episodes would already covered by journalists and accounts on social media which is what teenagers would use as their primary source of finding information.  

Staff and Resources- On Switched on Pop's website there is a page that tells us who the team are, and what they do. For example, Nate Sloan is the Co-host, along with Charlie Harding who is also the Co-host, which means they will be the main people we hear on the channel discussing the topics. Reanna Cruz  is the producer of Switched on Pop. They also have a cat on the team called Bear. 

 

LO1: Ownership & Different types of radio stations

National Commercial: talkSPORT.

talkSPORT target audience are both male and female, from the ages of 18-54 as the target audience for talkSPORT are mainly adults. talkSPORT is for a C2DE audience, as it is mainly used for those who do not have a TNT or SkySports to watch the games at home or travel to the match stadiums. The types of adverts that are played are Smartphone related such as the iPhone and insurance adverts. 

Public: BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 is a public radio station that can be played on normal radio stations such as ones in the car. However, BBC Radio 2 can also be played on the BBC Sounds. The target audience of BBC radio 2 are male and female from ages 35+ for both ABC1 and C2DE. For example, at 7am BBC radio 2 would do a general knowledge quiz with their host Jay Flynn. BBC radio 2 plays tracks from artists such as, George Harrison, ZZ Top, The Cure, One Republic, The Police, Alice Cooper and many more. The type of adverts that are played on this radio station are contents such as housing, car insurance, job finders and anything else adult related.    

Regional: BBC Radio Sheffield

BBC Radio Sheffield is a regional radio station that is based in Sheffield. The target audience for BBC Radio Sheffield, are both male and female audiences from ages fifty and over, with a demographic of Abc1 and C2de. From 10am to 1pm the presenter for BBC Radio Sheffield is Paulette Edwards, who presents content such as having guests on the radio, music such as Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones and Bob Marley, along with having their guests share stories about their life. The latest news being presented on BBC Radio Sheffield are the Children in Need events that are happening around the world to raise money for the children that need help the most. The jingle of BBC Radio Sheffield is a classic stereotypical ring to it first that sounds like a piano being played.

Community: Sheffield Live Radio 

Non-Profit Radio Station:

Lo1 Task 2: Ownership of different types of radio stations

Kerrang FM 

Kerrang! Magazine has been published since 1981 and is a well established brand. Kerrang! 105.2 Radio is a specialist rock music radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands. It is part of the Bauer Passion portfolio. Bauer who makes the magazines, also makes other medias such as radio, Bauer also owns 50% of box television.  The station launched on the 10th of June 2004 Broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands and DAB & Freeview and online, boasting a large audience of 1.4 million listeners. TSA- Target Sample Area e.g. Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton.Access- Fm Radio, Internet, Radio Player, DAB, Freeview, Apps (Black Box theory, Henry Jenkins.)Horizontal integration of Bauer, Technological Convergence. Partnered with Relentless, Releases a CD every year, Sponsors artists live tours.Presenters- Johny Doom, Kate Lawler (Male Gaze), Alex Baker.Kerrang! offeres range of rock music with attitude from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Green Day and more rock icons from each decade who are most likely going to get played on the radio station. Kerrang! has an audience reach of  474,000, with a  gender ratio, Female- 39%,  Male- 61%. Kerrang! also has half of their listenership demographic as an ABC1 Profile- 50%, as those who buy the products such as magazines, CDS, Live Events. Target Demographic Audience- 15-35, due to Kerrang! starting in the 80s. They are also the age where most people would begin listening to rock and the sub genres included in rock.  

DJ- Disk Jockey 

Hallam F

Hallam FM was launched in 1974, with the station broadcasting in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Chesterfield. Hallam Fm is the number one local commercial radio station in South Yorkshire and in the North Midlands. Also, Hallam FM has won many awards such as the Gold Award for Best Personality at the New York Awards. Hallam FM is a locally orientated music station that plays mainly plays music listened by adults rather than a younger audience. The reason why Hallam believes it's the number 1 radio station in South Yorkshire because they listen to what its listeners want, as they use weekly surveys to determine what music is being played on the stations. 

Hallam is part of the Bauer Place portfolio who own shares in national radio, local radio, television and channel 4 along with magazines.

The presenters for Hallam Fm include people such as Big John (Big John at Breakfast), Becky Hayes, Steve Priestley (Late N Live).

Like most radio stations Hallam Fm has many competitions such as BBC Sheffield due to how local it is, and also broadcasting in similar places such as Hallam FM, BBC Radio 1 as it is the most popular radio station by the BBC along with playing similar categorised music as Hallam Fm.

Bauer Media uses RAJAR figures to gain knowledge on is listenership for all of its stations, which allows them to know what needs changing or keeping from an audience perspective.  

Hallam FM's total reach of listeners is 361,000 listeners with a percentage reach of 28%. The gender ratio for Hallam FM is 54% female and 46% male, with a demographic age between 25 and 45. 

Hallam FM sponsor their city's local Football clubs Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday as a way to try and get a larger listenership and recognition from home fans and the away fans that have travelled into Sheffield. 

Hallam FM is accessible on FM radio, their own app that is available on the App Store, DAB, Freeview and the Internet. 

When accessing the website for Hallam Fm, it comes up with what is live and who the presenter is for that show. We also get a customised page to promote their sponsors, along with seeing headlines that could be featured in the radio station. 

Sheffield Live

Sheffield Live is an independent radio station, as it is not owned by any other company. Sheffield Live is a community radio station which means its purpose is not to make profit but to operate for the public or other communities. Sheffield Live must be operated for the good of the public, and must provide community benefit/ social gain. The way community radio stations get social gain is by following four mandatory requirements. First one being, community radio stations must provide a service for underserved groups. Second requirement is they must facilitate discussion and expression of opinion within the community served. The third requirement is they must provide training or education to people not employed by the station. The final requirement for community radio stations, is community radio stations must also help to strengthen the community served, fostering a greater understanding of its character and needs. 

The independent company who run Sheffield Live! are Commedia Sheffield Ltd. Sheffield Live! provides services for the people who live in Sheffield City Centre by reflecting the interests and diverse groups in the area. The station includes community information and covering local issues and concerns. Sheffield Live! also covers local arts and the different cultures that are in Sheffield.   

Internet- Planet Rock 

Planet Rock is an internet radio station, who are part of a company called Rayo, who stream multiple radio stations on their website for their listeners. Planet rock have a wide range of sub-genres of rock that get played on their station, such as Aerosmith, Elles Bailey and the Tubes, are some of the artists that are currently being played on the radio station. The news that gets shared on this radio station are obviously going to be focused around rock bands or icons that are important around the culture of rock. For example, one of their news articles they released talk about Ozzy Osbourne making more appearances in Birmingham than usual, due to his health decline and his last show that will be set in Birmingham. 

The Radio presenters for Planet Rock are Paul Anthony, Wyatt, and Darren Redick, along with a late night presenter Jen Thomas. 

Non-Profit- WABE 

WABE, is a none profit radio station based in Atlanta USA, WABE works along side with npr and PBS to produce basic content expected on a radio station such as Music, celebrity news, along side with political news and news based around their country. However, their main radio stations, will talk about current trending topics, that are either happening around the world or in that specific location. 

If you click on the community tab, it tells you the upcoming events that are set to be played on the station, along with having the option to volunteer to be on the radio show. 

WABE, features different kinds of listenership content, such as podcasts that popularise in controversial topics, that mainly base around politics. However, their radio shows mainly include content around music and night life, with genres such as Jazz, Blues and many more. 

The radio presenters for WABE are Lois Reitzes, Rose Scott, Herman Johnson who all specialise in the genres they have knowledge on or are well known for. 

Public- KCRW

KCRW is a NPR member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica college in California. The content that is followed on this radio station, includes Morning Edition, which goes through newsmagazines which is hosted by Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, along with A Martinez and Michel Martin. Towards 12pm they switch it up with their next show called Morning Becomes Electric. This is known as KCRW'S signature music program, which is hosted by Novena Carmel. What makes Morning Becomes Electric significant, is they play a wide range of music eras and genres such as new releases, and classics, along with 1 hit wonders. They also include live performances and artist interviews. 

What makes this radio channel unique in itself, is on their website they have a tab at the end called Newsletters. On this post it includes positive feedback and reviews from their listeners. Not only does this make their audience feel included in the adaptation of the radio station but gives the audience a voice. 

Comparison of the radio stations 

The similarities of the radio stations I have included in my analysis, can either all be accessed through a website or an app, making it much more accessible for those wanting to listen when on a walk or on a train. However, there are a few differences between them. Such as some of the radio stations such as Planet Rock, require paid subscriptions. However, Kerrang also follows this set up as the app/ website it is apart of requires a paid subscriptions to access some of their stations. The audiences for these radio stations are pretty similar from an age group of 16-40, as most of the stations include either the genre or era. Also, most of the radio stations either talk about political content or news following artists based around the specific genre their station focuses on.