Michael Jackson - airplay?

[NoelRock]

This may seem like a bizarre question to most of you, and in the minds of the majority of you it will make me lose the tiny iota of respect I once held. However, I feel I should speak out about this here - since a lot of you are jocks on one station or another and may have an answer to put closure to this issue in my mind.

Ever since I was young (well, younger than I am now :P) I've always been an avid follower of Michael Jackson and his music - it just 'speaks' to me in a way no other music has thus far.

However, in recent years - the airplay for his songs has declined rapidly. I've only ever heard 'You Rock My World' played three times on radio (bear in mind my radio is on most waking moments of the day) - yet it made it to Number Two, showing that while his popularity is nowhere near what it used to be - it *is* still popular.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the scale (I'm going to be massacred for using this as an example...) Coldplay's latest single - 'In My Place' also made it to Number Two - yet I've heard it no less than thirty times.

Where is the equality? Is the media in general really biased against Michael? It seriously seems it after MTV decided to turn their back on him last night on the VMA's... sickening indeed for someone who has given so much to music in general.

That's the end of my rant then, feel free to bash my musical taste now.

[Liamo]

No bashing required.....but I don't think it's a specific anti-Michael-Jackson agenda either.

Basically, unless your "band" (and I use the term VERY loosely, since most of them wouldn't know an instrument if it....I dunno, played music to them) appeals to the 7 - 15-year-old age group, or else it's a techo/house/drum-and-bass and whatever sub-category dance has these days, then forget it.

Last week's TV interview with Louis Walsh about their new project said it all....he and Pete Waterman are going to battle it out for the Christmas number one - not ANYONE else worldwide who might happen to release a half-decent single, just those 2!!!???!!

It's marketing, not music, that's driving things, and while I don't know if any of the Irish stations are paid for placement of songs, there's definitely a lack of variety on radio.

Thank God for Today FM - at least there's some occasional breaks from bland pop, and occasionally some classic tunes around lunchtime (heard Zepplin's Stairway to Heaven and Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall already this week). Having said that, Live 95 managed to root out the original "Manic Monday" the other evening.....I'm impressed (or else Now 52 was scratched!)

[shecaughtthekaty]

Noel,

There is no hasrd and fast answer about this. Michael Jackson is suffering from what marketeers would call perception issues. Ever since that kid made those allegations he has had troubles. I would go so far as to say that if he had brought another album out that was as good as Thriller or Off The Wall he still would have had airplay issues.

Aside from that, things have changed and people have moved on. In similar spheres new albums or singles by Paul Simon or Billy Joel aren't the events that they once were. In short music has changed.

Also, in this country there isn't the diversity of radio stations to support the ongoing splintering of the music industry.

Think of it, in the US in the 80's there were a few formats. Now there are hundreds, Urban, Urban AC, Smooth Jazz, Hot AC, Modern AC, Soft AC, Ac on it's own, CHR, Urban CHR etc. People are being put into pigeon holes more and more. Artists like Michael Jackson no longer sit in the cool pigeon holes so they don't get played. You and I will still buy his stuff but he doesnt get played.

Another example - Paul Simon attracted 20,000 people to Kilkenny this summer and his last album got damn all airplay in Ireland or the UK. Bellefire on the other are given free by their promoter when you book SIX ( a musical buy one get one free), yet they get the airplay. Paul Simon is by far the greater artist, but in a less attractive pigeon hole.

Comprende???

[NoelRock]

You both make very valid points - I'm just beginning to get a bit frustrated heh, that's all I suppose.

(Whilst on the continent I heard something from MJ everyday - over here I'd be lucky to hear something every fortnight :-\)

[Liamo]

No credit required for valid points - I'd rather not be right :o(

Katy's spot on re the concerts....and raises a valid question. I've known people who were BIG into dance and whatever who've since discovered Sting and other good stuff (and raided my CD collection as a result!) and I've recently gotten a listen to some K&D (won't attempt a spelling) stuff via a guy from work and some of it's EXCELLENT.

Where does the marketing style "pigeon-holing" fit in for that scenario ? Is it possible that someone could be a techy-yet- sporty type person, or a musical labourer, or whatever else the marketeers and profilers would have you believe is a contradiction ?

P.S. in case my dear Niles-Frasier wannabes miss the point) the answer's YES.

Send me back to the good old days when there was variety on each station....you just might've managed to hear something good that caught your attention, instead of being pigeon-holed as a dance/R&B/country & Irish/pop/80s/rock only person. Do stations have the guts to try stuff and have some faith in their audiences ?

As Capital Gold's jingle goes....you're only 3 minutes away from a really good song - stay with us.

Pigeon-holes are just that - for pigeons!

[stayin alive]

AHHHHHHHHH somebody finally mentioned Pink Floyd , probably one of the greatest bands on the planet , cant really add more to the Michael Jackson debate but if i ever hear Larry play Pink Floyd on his alleged golden hour , ill never call him a'' washed up ,out of touch , non entertaining Owl one again .

ps .......Hey Liamo , great wording dude and a good read too .

[Elaine]

Totallty agree with u there Noel and u just gave me an idea for my 3 from 1 on my show tonight. Ive run out of ideas so tonight its wacko jacko.

[NoelRock]

^_^Nice idea, I'm looking forward to it!

[John Fleming]

Elaine, have you no shame? :eek:

Firstly you use this site to work out your 'issues', now you steal ideas from it ;)

What time is your show on?

[Elaine]

Where else do u think i get my ideas from? lol On at 9.
I really should change the whole "ive got issues" thing.........and no i dont have any shame:D

[NoelRock]

Hah, John the guides to the shows are on your site ;) that's how I found out without looking like an idiot :)!

You've just gained a lifelong listener in me Elaine :D !

[John Fleming]

Whereabouts on my site is it Noel :eek:

I hate it when i look like an idiot! :(

[DeargDoom]

Hi guys - I used love Michael Jacksons stuff in the 80s. In the 90's a couple of things happened ; first off there was the child abuse allegations.

Secondly, and musically more important, he dropped his long time producer Quincy Jones. After that it all went pear shaped for Michael. He failed to keep up with musical trends ... and lets be honest here, his mental health is not the best. It would be a brave producer who would stand up to Michael and tell him that his new material is crap. Quincy Jones used to do that, and that is why Quincy no longer produces his material.

[NoelRock]

Originally posted by John Fleming
Whereabouts on my site is it Noel :eek:

I hate it when i look like an idiot! :(

Nah - you don't look like an idiot at all ;)! I just look like less of an idiot when I know something that nobody else does - hehehe! Here we go: http://www.radiowaves.fm/index7.shtml

;)

Yes Dearg - dropping Quincy was a bad, bad move - and unless he's dead (is he?) perhaps Michael should consider reconciling with him. Michael needs guidance - and producing his own albums really wasn't a good idea in his case since people expect great things from him at every turn.

The child abuse allegations - to begin with I believe Michael is wholly innocent, and what he (the child - Jordan I believe) was disgusting, taking advantage of Michael's connection with children like that.

[Elaine]

Noel u just might be a bit dissapointed with the choice of songs i picked. Sadly i dont have much of his old stuff (i know i should be ashammed) so basically it will be, thriller, blood on the dance floor n rock my world. Oh and im glad someone else is looking like an idiot for a change lol.. cough cough (and its not noel;) )

[NoelRock]

Hey ^_^ they're still pretty good, though you could've probably picked something better off the 'Blood On The Dancefloor' album IMHO - still though, that's great :D!

;) Sure it's not Noel... not this time anyway.

[John Fleming]

Elaine, there's no need to go all big-headed presenter Charlie Wolf-style on me :D

Now, how can i get you back....where's that avatar Dane sent me....or maybe i'll archive your show from tonight on the site so that the whole world can listen. Nervous? :p

[NoelRock]

Hehehe ;) John can give as good as he gets! I never knew :eek: !

[Elaine]

God i dont feel well all of a sudden....... dont think i can to my show lol.
Please, im bad enough as it is. Dont make me go all nervous and lose the one listener i have (my mam).

[NoelRock]

Nah I'm sure you have more than that...

*ahem* I'll be listening tonight :D!

[John Fleming]

Dont make me go all nervous and lose the one listener i have (my mam).

I wondered who was sending in all those requests!

Anyway you'd have a lot more listeners if you promoted your show, which was the point of my original post ;)

Freedom FM

92MHz in Dublin

9pm this evening

Text Elaine and request lots of obscure tracks...i know i will. :)

[John Fleming]

Hey Noel, nice to know the schedule pages are helpful...let me know if you spot anything that needs updating.

[NoelRock]

Hey John, sure ^_^ if I spot anything - I'll let you know.

Who knows, maybe you'll be adding my slot one day if I find a station that will let me in without being bribed repeatedly.

[John Fleming]

Bribe me and i'll stick you onto a schedule now!

[NoelRock]

LOL - I don't think Rick O'Shea would be too happy to find himself out of a job according to radiowaves.fm ;)!

[John Fleming]

For a substantial fee. i'll make you co-host!!!

[NoelRock]

Really? Hmm... how about I give you a free copy of Mariah Carey's 'Glitter' album? Very limited edition and all.

[John Fleming]

Mariah Carey?!?!

Well for her i can say...watch the weekday schedule:

Red FM

10pm Mon-Fri

Cork Talks Back with NoelRock!

How does that grab you?

[NoelRock]

*Snickers**Rubs hands together with glee* Sounds great - Charlie is even online now ;) - he must have a sixth sense about these things.

[KJ]

If nothing else you'll have a lot more listeners tonight Elaine

:p

I'll give my thoughts on MJ later tonight

KJ

;)

[NoelRock]

Yeaaaaa... there's my man on Freedom ^_^! (Michael, not Elaine :p )

However she didn't devote it to the 'super-cute-yet-cool Noel Rock', how disappointing... ;)!

[Elaine]

Aww sorry noel. ah i made a bloody hames of it anyway lol.

[John Fleming]

Originally posted by Elaine
Aww sorry noel. ah i made a bloody hames of it anyway lol.

Nothing to do with hair-colour i'd imagine, though! Sorry, there are some things which are too good to pass...

[NoelRock]

Depending on what a hames is... I hope this comment is relevant.

It was *fine*! :D You really did a great job - but like I said earlier, Blood on the Dancefloor could've been replaced by something better - perhaps if you'd had more notice ^_^ Ghosts, Is It Scary or Scream Louder would've been better ones off that album in my opinion anyway...

But then again in my opinion toasters should fly so... yeah, rather irrelevant stuff.

[NoelRock]

Ooo, John nipped in and got there before me!

And he made a witty commment too :P ah, he left me reeling.

(Was HE the one sending in the blonde jokes during the show? I thought Elaine said it was a girl *cough*...)

[Elaine]

Noel i think u might have been better off doing the show for me lol. Oh and thats the last straw mr flemming........im not dieing my hair........im shaving my head (ok im not really lol)

[Elaine]

May as well use up the rest of this page since we've spent the whole thread having a big chat! Any more ideas from 3 songs noel throw em my way:p

Anymore blonde jokes and theres gonna be trouble girls.;)

[NoelRock]

Hah *blushes* no - Michael Jackson is my only field, so I have no real clue outside of that heh *nudges next person in line to step in and steal the limelight*

If you're really getting desperate you could always try three best Irish songs - there'd be an argument or two over that depending on who is in it :P.

John - I'm still waiting for that Red FM slot ;)!

[NoelRock]

Hah - Blood on the dancefloor made it to Number One for a week. I just realised that :P yet I still don't like it... :-\

[NoelRock]

" NoelRock
Mono FM Member
Total Posts: 105"

Bloody hell - it appears I don't have much of a life :P.

[KJ]

That doesnt say alot about me Noel!

Seriously tho, the site makes for essential reading every day and contributing the odd bit of info or your opinion only takes a few mins. I cant understand people who just come in for a read without typing whats on their minds

What Id really like to know tho is ....... does the first person to reach 500 posts get a proper yellow anorak from John?? ;)


KJ

[NoelRock]

*Snickers* Eircom must be making a packet off us Kelly ;) (thank goodness someone else is on at this unearthly hour!)

Yeah - the site makes for pretty good reading, I'm 'Junior' around here, so I'm just absorbing all your wisdom and eventually making a good point about two weeks after people have stopped caring.

[KJ]

Nearly forgot there about the topic of the thread. Ive loads to say about MJ .......... he was a childhood hero and Ive read a fair bit on him - I'll leave that for maybe tomorrow as its late, but for now here's my All Time MJ Top 5

1) I Want You Back (with his bro's)
2) Billie Jean
3) Dont Stop Till You Get Enough
4) Blame It On The Boogie
5) Rock With You

[NoelRock]

Hm, all on the older end of things ^_^

To be honest I thought you were going to slam MJ and were leaving it until late at night so that I couldn't beat you with a stick in a Mr. Burns style :p .

[Elaine]

After all my waffle i forgot to leave my top five:

1.Scream (with janet jackson)
2.Billie jean
3.Thriller
4.The way u make me feel and........em
5.Smooth criminal

[NoelRock]

Gawd, I waffle on so much at night :( I'll never get a job at Spin now :P!

Nice Top 5 - I don't think I could put together a top 5 *Sigh* too many to choose from!

[Elaine]

Was that u i heard on the radio last night noel? I listen in every sunday!!

[NoelRock]

Me? Never :P!

Um, yes it was actually. I even got mail from Niall - that makes me feel happier after acting like an idiot for ten minutes... normally I'm more coherent, I swear ;)!