Capital Radio London launched in October 1973. From its earliest days I have been a fan, this power house of a radio station has always managed to capture the buzz, excitement and fun of one of the largest and most exciting cities in the world. I can't say I listen very often these days to Capital FM, mainly because it's not aimed at my demographic, but I do love hit music and I also know when a radio station sounds good or bad. At its inception the station simply 'oozed' London. Engaging, relevant and entertaining programming delivered by people with personality. The names speak for themselves: Kenny Everett, Tommy Vance, Mike Aspell, Greg Edwards, Roger Scott, Dave Cash….the list goes on. It somehow brought your radio to life as soon as you tuned-in. Was it the music? The jingles? The news and information? Yes, all those elements were important but most of all it was the personality of the on-air presenters that cut through and made the station truly unique. Whenever I do listen to Capital FM (London) it genuinely upsets me, I find the radio station has become a shadow of its former glory days, it's boring, it lacks creativity and currently has the dullest set of presenters on the air, I've heard, in the history of the radio station. In 2016, all the presenters on Capital FM (London) talk, but none of them ever have anything to say that's either interesting or mildly amusing, resulting in failure in all departments, it's become a lazy sounding radio station lacking in creative thought and content. The most exciting thing I can say about the current sound of Capital FM (London) is the production is good, head of imaging/production at Capital FM is doing a good job, the on air production is fresh, tight, contemporary and very good. We now live in a radio climate where Global Radio (UK) has become such a powerful radio company that nobody who actually works in the radio industry dare challenge or criticise anything they do, in fear of never working in radio ever again, it's become a cartel, those who work in radio will know exactly what I mean. Global Radio (owner of Capital) have in my opinion done many great things for the radio industry in recent years, but attention to detail (on the air) is a major area of concern for some of their brands. A healthy Capital FM London is vital for a healthy UK Commercial radio industry I have great fondness for Capital FM London, quite frankly I love it, mainly because I spent seven wonderful years at the radio station, great memories working with very talented people. I loved listening to the radio station as a listener before I joined, and I enjoyed being part of the on air team during my time there, it's a radio station that dominated the Capital City with wonderful big personality presenters. For me, Capital FM (London) has always been about sounding big, with the very best on air presenters at the very top of their game. It's where presenters end up when they become masters of their craft, but in recent years I'm hearing presenters learning their craft on the air at Capital, effectively turning Capital FM into nothing more than an average sounding radio station, that just happens to be based in London. Capital always sounded better and more polished than everyone else and that's the way it should be in the Capital city.
Capital FM (London) should be the very best of the very best, and throughout most of its history it has been just that, but it's lost it's sparkle, it's lost that unique point of difference that used to make Programme Directors from radio stations all over the world fly into London, just to listen to Capital FM. Such was the reputation of this magnificent radio station, PD's (mainly from the US) would fly into London (pre Internet streaming) record the output, make notes and take those notes back to their own radio markets around the world, now that is pretty impressive.
The current Capital FM breakfast show (2016) in my opinion, is the worst in the history of the radio station. Some may say I'm being brutal, I just think I'm being honest, it doesn't make me right, it equally doesn't make me wrong, I'm just concerned and it's just my opinion. It's hosted by 3 people who look good, but have little or no idea how to generate and deliver compelling, strong, funny breakfast content day after day, month after month, year after year. Who cares what they look like and how well they dress, this is radio. You don't learn your craft on one of the worlds biggest radio commercial breakfast shows, and it's this alone where I feel Capital has lost focus. Whenever I tune in, It sounds like one of those really boring teenage conversations that you occasionally over hear on the bus, on the train, out shopping, and then you suddenly realise that this is actually going out on the air on one of the worlds most respected and admired Radio stations. I've heard my own teenage kids and their friends, on the school run, describe the current Capital FM breakfast show as 'boring' and when the audience you're aiming it at are using words like boring, something is very wrong. Compare the current Capital FM breakfast show (London) with the current Z100 breakfast show (New York). Both markets are very similar, both radio stations chasing similar audiences and playing very similar music. The Z100 breakfast show in New York, now syndicated across America, is a master class of breakfast entertainment radio with its ring master and main host Elvis Duran. Listen if you can (on line) for a full week, it will take that amount of time to get to know the characters and feel part of the family, I guarantee the breakfast team will drag you in and you will be totally hooked, exactly the way breakfast radio should be, exactly what Capital FM (London) should be doing, exactly what they used to do. The players may have changed, times may have changed, but the the way you deliver great radio day in day out, hasn't changed. Radio breakfast shows don't become successful by chance, it takes talent, focus, huge commitment and extremely hard work. Capital FM should be absolutely dominating London radio listening and it's not. I hear that Ashley Tabor has taken personal charge of Capital FM (London). Ashley is Global Radio's founder and executive president, but has no qualifications for running and programming Capital FM. Of course nobody is going to tell him that. Ashley is a nice man, when I was at Capital he worked in the record library, I always found him very pleasant, but he's not the right man to make Capital FM the powerhouse in London again that it used to be. I described Ashley on Twitter once as a playboy (which he didn't like) but if my dad bought me a Formula one racing car I wouldn't suddenly think I knew everything about Formula One and start driving the car. Ashley has a lot to learn and should never have taken control of Capital FM. It's not an easy job programming Capital FM (London) and quite frankly I can't think of a single programmer currently in the UK who has the ability, steely determination, focus and reputation to deliver the quality product Capital FM should be delivering. All I do know is Capital FM (London) used to be one of the best Commercial music radio stations in the world, sadly this is no longer the case, it simply sounds ordinary, it's like any other local radio station. Capital (London) never use to sound ordinary.
I decided to write this opinion piece after listening again to a breakfast show that wouldn't sound out of place on hospital radio. I know Global Radio management will hate this opinion piece but quite frankly I couldn't give a monkeys. I know they will think there's nothing wrong and that their breakfast show is perfect (head in sand) although I suspect Richard Park isn't that impressed with the way it currently sounds. Deep down Richard will know it's not right and simply not good enough. Richard is a perfectionist, how could he be happy, it's poor. Every major City in the world has a great Commercial radio station at its heart, but if the current sound of Capital FM (London) is the very best this country can offer right now, I feel embarrassed. I suggest they get out of London more often, travel around the country and start listening to some of the good talent out there and get them on Capital FM. Make Capital FM (London) great again and stop putting kids on the air who've got nothing to say.
20 Comments
8/11/2016 01:44:35 am
Perhaps a little incorrect to compare the output of Capital breakfast to that of Hospital Radio. But I hear what your saying! You perhaps should consider the format of Community Radio which is putting real people with real things to say back on the wireless and not manufactured "same old" DJs. Radio went wrong when someone in PR invented "Maximum music power play"! Perhaps Laser 558 was trying to bring back the standard by trying to find the middle ground "Where the music is never more than a minute away" at least you had a minute to be human! Steve you pushed the boundaries also which yes got a laugh but the boundary got bent beyond belief to the point it became dangerous when others copied! Perhaps you should try community radio and help rebuild a real audience of real radio listeners who appreciate great music, real personality and just a friendly voice. The trouble is I was always taught the listener has a finger that finger can push the off button now saying that here's the strange thing - Where do they go? Help put the Rad back into Radio there's someone out there who needs a defibulator!
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chris
8/11/2016 06:14:03 am
Totally agree Steve, I live in the Home counties Beds/Bucks border and could pick Capital up on FM in the 90's Not sure how I stumbled across it, possibly being a child at the time and watching Pat Sharp on Fun House, must of read a magazine interview saying what he did as a job. Anyway I ended up working in London for 3yrs late 90's/00's and loved you and your Wind up calls, I'll be honest I also flipped to Heart Fm with Jono Coleman on Breakfast and honestly can say back then Heart was just as good as Capital and both great for London. Sadly now under the same roof and control by the same company both stations are a former shadow of themselves. Look at Heart in Oxford Steve, you use to work there when it was Fox Fm back then another fun local station and today just the same music day in day out with no personalities driving the desk.
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Simon Parrock
8/11/2016 07:43:11 am
Steve, you knock hospital radio, but there is probably more creative talent on hospital stations than on so-called professional radio today!
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Nik
8/11/2016 09:14:21 am
Agree fully on this Penky. Its also the case with Key 103 in Manchester. I grew up listening to Piccadilly Radio and then when it rebranded to Key 103. Although times have changed and media has changed beyond all recognition since then, it was about the personalities and characters that made the radio station. It was THE station in the North West. The Presenters had personality and the Steve Penk Breakfast show was legendary. I used to get up early every morning to listen before making the walk to school and I remember laughing every day. The breakfast show kick started the day and people talked about it and looked forward to it. I was gutted when you left for London. It took away the morning laughter in Manchester. I'm sure most people in Manchester of a certain age (late 30's / 40's plus etc) can name most of the characters on Key 103! Now, radio is so bland, and radio by numbers. Inane chat about which Kardashian wiped their arse or which X factor contestant kissed some z list celebrity outside a club where photographers for the mail / mirror / sun just happened to be. Its dull, its killing radio and drains the life out of people when they are listening. Are the radio programmers really just targeting the 'window licker' brigade who live vicariously through reality TV stars. Heart FM for example, jeez, they just hire so called TV personalities or ex boy / girl band members to host shows. Why? they have nothing to offer! I agree that the production is slick, but content is dull and the same songs over and over again! Ive always been passionate about radio and I am so disheartened by local radio and rely on Radio 2 in the morning for Chris Evans and Radio 6, plus The Wind Up channel. Even Virgin Radio has very very dull presenters! Keep up with the voice of reason Penky - you are a master at your trade and completely agree with you regarding DJs in New York. You only have to think about Howard Stern to understand what you are saying. Thankfully the audience has options to find the talent on the internet, we just need to look that little bit deeper for it!
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Steve, as a 20-something hospital radio broadcaster myself I agree with your points about Capital. I live in Banbury and remember the days you used to host Fox FM's Breakfast show, I would listen as a child in the car on my way to school. I also listened to Capital 95.8 on occasions and I can recall a time where the presenters were not only passionate about radio, but passionate about promoting our great capital city of London. These days I can listen on DAB in my car, and the breakfast show is what I describe "factory radio". I presume these presenters attended Global's Academy and have been "manufactured" to sound like robots, you can hear them on just about any commercial CHR station in the country. Dull, monotone and lacking in character and personality, I'd frankly argue there were hospital radio presenters who could do a better job (just take a listen to some of the winning entries from last years National Hospital Radio Awards). Granted, I'm no expert in the field (then again... who is?!), but there was no engaging content that made me connect with the presenters, nothing that made me feel like they were having a conversation with ME, rather a group of friends just having a laugh, as if they were in a pub or any other environment. Disappointing to see commercial radio going down the pan in this way.
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8/11/2016 04:25:21 pm
Remember GCap? Fru Hazlitt and all that? The tanking share price. All the upheaval around DAB, XFM closing, the AM network etc etc. The business was in turmoil. The first thing Global had to do was build a sustainable business - that's now done. Next was establishing strong national brands, and a DAB strategy. That's now done, although it'll still take a while for these brands to achieve the reach and recognition they desire. At some point, Global will likely invest in their own content - perhaps developing a unique YouTube channel, an interactive late night show, or some non linear content that really delivers for them. They're not at that stage yet, but LBC is more mature than the rest of the network and is maybe an example of how Global gets it right. It COULD just be a rolling news service. It was if you go back far enough - it's not vibrant and makes a huge impact. It takes time. 2010 was Year Zero for Capital. Stripping everything back to a simple, music intensive format was the right strategy in the absence of anything better. The personality talent you speak of either doesn't exist or isn't valued by the audience. Of course, Capital could be better, but it's doing fine. And within the wider business structure that's all that matters. Ashley Tabor answers to some extremely rich and powerful people (his father is just one of them) and I can't imagine any of them would tolerate someone who was anything less than at the top of his game. Like you, I admire the Capital of the 80s and 90s and I truly rate Elvis Duran but for me, the Global team are doing fine. The viability of the business is the key thing.
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jamie fairbrother
8/11/2016 10:57:46 pm
I cam across capital in the early 90s , & loved it so much I had a outdoor aerial put up so I could receive it near alresford in Hampshire, I loved tarrent, pat sharps top ten at ten, dr fox! & ure wind ups !! now id rather listen to kiss 100 ( with interference from classic fm ) & kiss is another station that's nothing like its original self
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Angie Shepherd
9/11/2016 08:24:56 am
I totally agree with everything you've said here Penk. Nowadays, as I am driving across the counties of the North West of England, flicking through all the morning radio shows; all Breakfast shows consist of a man/woman
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