BBC Radio's Music And Ethics

For another part of my media case study work, we had to look at the ethics within the chosen media institution and how do media institutions deal with ethic and content related issues.

BBC’s Playlist management

 

How does BBC modify songs in order to play them?

The music team at the BBC takes different songs and takes out the strong language and sometimes some phrases that could be considered offensive.

However some songs that are still played on the BBC radio stations could still be offensive to people no matter how good the BBC’s editing is.

There are certain songs that contain an overall negative message and no matter how well BBC radio will edit them, if the overall message is offensive the song shouldn’t be played. Yet there are examples of songs that were still played.

Flo Rida’s “Whistle” was a huge hit in 2012, the song contains lots of sexual content apparently made radio friendly, however, the overall message still comes through clearly despite BBC Radio 1’s editing. The song was still played all over the station on daytime radio.

 

In contrast, Radio 1 used to be more careful about the music they played. When Prodigy’s Smack My B**ch Up was released, radio one refused to play it. The phrase that was offensive in the track was “Change my pitch up smack my bi**h up” this song was only played on night time radio.

Lots of women protested against the Prodigy track being played on radio at all do to the offensive lyrics of the song.

This leaves a few questions regarding BBC Radio’s editing and music preferences. It looks like in the olden days radio 1 was more strict on the music they play, however now more music which in the olden days would be unacceptable is played on daytime radio. This also leaves the question why Radio 1’s editing and playlist choices are much more loose in case of offensive phrases and the overall messages in the track.

 

Another case that leaves a few questions regarding radio 1’s music editing is the death of the first female prime minister in 2013 Margaret Thatcher.

After her death last year, people decided to create a campaign trying  to get the song “Ding Dong (The Witch Is Dead)” to number one in the Official UK Chart.

BBC Radio 1 Controller Ben Cooper decided to not play the song on the chart show due to the offensive lyrics and the context in which this song was related to Margaret Thatcher’s death.

This case once again leaves questions regarding radio 1’s editing. From looking at the news articles it seems normal to ban a song like that due to the situation regarding Margaret Thatcher. Considering the fact also that The BBC is funded by the government, it’s only right to not play the track on the chart show. But does it make the BBC sound like they are heading towards more of the right wing side of the government?

However, on the other hand this decision could’ve also been just an act of respect to the former prime minister.

In conclusion, despite Radio 1 taking actions which sound reasonable, looking at the case in more detail it’s possible that BBC was in fact taking sides with the right wing.

However, these are just speculations, Ben Cooper’s decision also could’ve been an act of respect towards the former prime minister.

 

 

Distribution and advertising methods of media products + Finding Audience

For the media institution case study, the next task was to write about different distribution and advertising methods of media products, and how do media products find their audience.

Distribution and advertising Methods for Media Products

 

Distribution methods

There are many different ways that a media institution can distribute their media products. It all depends to the media institution and the products they sell as there are various distribution methods for different types of media products.

 

BBC Radio’s Product Distribution

BBC Radio provides many media products, radio shows, podcasts/free downloads, online video and audio content and much more. The main way that BBC Radio distributes it’s main products is of course on live radio delivering great different radio shows.

Another way of media product distribution that BBC Radio uses is the internet, for not only live radio but on demand content, videos, social network and much, much more.

 

Advertising Methods

Various media institutions have various ways of advertising their products. Some media institutions advertise their products on TV, this advertising method is of course most popular and used with TV channel providers like the BBC or ITV.

Other media institutions also advertise their products on radio, that includes radio stations, TV networks and of course record labels advertising their media products on music radio stations.

Another very popular way in this day and age is advertising media institutions and their media products is social networking sites. Services like Facebook and twitter allow media institutions to advertise their products and services to millions of users online. The institutions like BBC Radio post links to their on demand content, YouTube videos or live internet radio on social networking sites and that is how they get many listeners due to that many people now use internet for most of their entertainment available, either on smart phones or computers.

 

Media Products Finding Target Audience

There are many ways which media institutions use to find target audience for their different media products. Various institutions have various ways of promoting their products, however, may institutions use social networking services to promote their content. Since social network is so popular right now it seems like the best place for media institutions to promote their media product to various audiences.

BBC Radio stations use social network frequently to promote their various content. They use sites like Twitter and Facebook to promote their content and to get the audience involved in the different shows.

Scott Mills show features popular with the audience and what influences the audience to get involved with the show

Continuing my media product of a chosen media institution case study, the next aspect of the task was to look at the different features of the Scott Mills show that are popular with the audience, and what influences the audience involvement with the show.

Aspects of the show popular with target audience

There are many different features of the show that are very popular with the show’s audience. Because of the entertainment that the features provide and the amount of audience interaction that the features have.

One of the very popular features on the show is “Innuendo Bingo” This feature has been on the show for over 3 years and has developed ever since. The feature requires lots of audience interaction in order to continue. The feature has been so popular that it’s been done more frequently on the show, and even celebrities are getting involved in the show more often.

What really influences the audience’s involvement with the show is how often the show encourages the audience to get involved with the show and it’s many different features apart from just texting the show to get a shout out the show encourages the listeners to contribute to the various features of the show.

How does the Scott Mills Show find it's target audience

For the next part of my analysing audiences unit of my media course, I had to look at how does the Scott Mills show, the product of my chosen media institution BBC Radio what I'm analysing finds it's target audience.

Finding Audience

The show itself finds it’s target audience by the show marketing team promoting the show on social networking sites. These are used by lots of people within Radio 1’s age range so there’s a good chance that the users are seeing the posts from the show’s Facebook page. Also people who follow Radio 1 but not necessary the Scott Mills show also see the promotions for the show.

The Scott Mills show also films their famous well known Innuendo Bingo feature which is uploaded on the station’s Youtube channel. Because Youtube is used by many young people, the show could also get more listeners that way.

The show also has it’s own unofficial fan page, and also has a podcast. The show’s many online accounts find Scott Mills the target audience that his show aims for.

BBC Radio Media Product target audience

Target Audience

The target audience for the Scott Mills show is young people aged between 15-29. Which is the general age range of Radio 1’s target audience.  

 

Gender

The show is aimed at both genders, it shows this by representing both genders equaly in case of guests and audience participation. However in case of the presenters the show’s gender representation is not as equal as it used to be since the female co-host has left the show in early 2013. However, the show still aims to over all show that the show is aimed at both genders.

Analysing a media product From BBC Radio

As a part of our media institution case study we had to analyse a media product of our chosen media organisation. I chose the Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1.

BBC Radio Media Product Analysis

 

Scott Mills Show

 

The Scott Mills show is broadcast on radio 1 every weekday between 1 and 4pm. It’s an entertainment and music show.

 

Form and style

The structure of the show is a mix of music and talk, news and various entertaining features. This is a typical music and entertainment show for young people as if features current music and celebrities that young people have an interest in.

 

Content

The show contains a mix of talk, music and entertainment. Apart from links the show feature interviews with various celebrities, also the show features lots of entertaining talk between the two DJs hosting the show.

In the show there also are some entertaining games which celebrities and other radio 1 DJs take part in like Real Or No Real or Innuendo Bingo.

The show also contains a various mix of current and upcoming music from very popular top charting artists to sometimes unsigned or upcoming artists supported by BBC introducing. 

 

Meaning

The show aims to entertain it’s audience with new music and lots of entertaining features. That’s the meaning of the show.

 

Production Process

The show is 3 hours of live radio with certain days involving live video streaming of celebrity interviews or the ever entertaining famous feature of the show Innuendo Bingo.

 

 

Creating a sound for media product: Yesterday's recording sessions

For our next task, we have to produce a media product which includes the 4 sound elements that were previously analysed. Sound effects, atmospheric sounds, music and dialog.
The production work started yesterday. As working within a team there was lots of ideas to consider. The first session yesterday was all about looking at possible genres of a track that we can produce. We decided to produce a track for our coursework, therefore  we had to look at the genres that we as a team would like to produce. This involved lots of consideration since each genre has also sub genres, so we had to listen and decide what we wanted out of our media product and if we would be able to produce a high quality product for a ganre. At the end of that session we have decided to produce an electro house track.
In the second session, it was time to start the producing of the media product. In the session the first task was to put together the drums for the track. This included looking at many different samples on the system and choosing the best sounding sample for the project we were making. After choosing the kick drum the procedure was repeted for the high hats and the ride and then the clap samples. Then, we had the intro drums, and that was what we did in the first 2 sessions for creating the media product.