The "Liam Coburn" thread

[Radio 2000]

"Liam Coburn is returning to Irish radio. Following seven years based in Aberdeen with radio station Northsound 1, Liam has accepted an offer to join 98FM in Dublin as a swing/weekend jock. Speaking to Radiowaves News today, he admitted to being very nervous about the move.
"For me, this is a terrific opportunity to get back into the marketplace in my home town," he said. "Dublin radio has grown rapidly in the past few years and I've been envious of those involved, so when this offer came along I was delighted to sign with one of the biggest names in Irish radio."
Liam's first appearence will be on the 3rd of June. "I'm a little nervous but very excited about getting back on the radio in Dublin!" he concluded"

- www.radiowaves.fm Newspage

So he is leaving a full-time job in Scotland to come back and do weekends at 98FM? Why? Are they paying him a full-time wage for weekends? What happened at Northsound? What time will he be on the air on Monday? This move to 98FM does not make sense unless there is something we do not know. IS someone about to be given the ax at 98FM?

[Richie O'Shea]

Glad to see Liam back in Ireland. I used to work with him on Energy. He's a good bloke and was a good mate. Welcome home Liam

[Euan Roberts]

Good to see you back Liam. At long last a jock with a very colourful personality and intelligence. Liam Dubin Radio lacks real talent real on air talent at present. Perhaps this is 98fm's way of showing us, the listener, that radio can be very exciting when you have someone who knows about radio inside out as against the current regime of clowns we have parading our airwave with their mid-atlantic accents and repititve one liner links. How Sad?

Hopefully 98 may become a real radio station with decent Jocks, and be less formatted. We'll see. I just hope it works out for Liam.

Good luck Liam

Euan Roberts

[Guest]

Most of the jocks on air at the moment ARE decent jocks, if they seem to be doing one line links its because they have no choice in the matter, they are simply being paid to follow a format, its their job guidelines so to speak, they all have personalities (well most of them) but unfortunally you cant get across much personality when you only have 7 seconds to talk about the next song.
To say irish radio lacks real tallent is an insult to the jocks currently on air, many whom have devoted most of their life to radio and have shown their capabilities in the past on pirates etc. where radio was not as formatted. If you want to point the finger perhaps you should start with the people upstairs, the guys who make the decisions, you cant blame jocks on 98 or 104 for taking the job - if they didnt then it would just be filled by the next person on the line. As the saying goes... don't shoot the messenger.

I'm curious as to why you think 98fm would change things for the sake of a new jock - he'll have to follow the same pattern of guidelines on air as everyone else, lets see how much of his "colourful and intelligent" personality can shine through a 14 second intro where he has to plug a current promotion and forward sell the next 3 songs...

[Euan Roberts]

I will say again one or two in 98 and 104 lack a degree of radio talent due mainly to the closed mouth syndrome. They are only allowd to do a link for 10/20 seconds at a time. Why, because as you say they are told literally what to say and what not to say. Its the pits. I hear them all the time with their links of that time scale. What you need is a more flexible approach, where the presenter can have a opportunity to develop his on air personality. It makes sense in the long run. What you don't need is some Program Director breeding down your throat all the time furnishing you with eloquent scripts on what to say constantly etc. Hey, we need real creativity now in radio. Its essential to keep this medium fresh and appealing to as wide audience as possible. Is that too much to ask? No i don't think so. I do understand the PD should still play the important role that he presently has.

Regarding your point concerning if Liam Coburn's arrival will have a impact on 98's quality, i guess it may force them to have a more loser format than out of choice. I've heard Liam and he is the sort of Jock that enjoys talking, has a personable and engaging way about him. All essential attributes that a jock needs. He is what 98 needs. I guess Dan Healy may be forced to ensure greater creativity and longer links to make sure you have a more consistant flow from the jocks across the day in 98. I hope they go down this road, they need to do something. And the beauty of doing this, is they should retain existing listenters, and more than likely gain some new ones such as some from 104, lite, 2Fm and Today FM.

One doesn't need to play Less Talk More Music to gain listeners.

[RadioFriend]

I agree with the above post...

We all come from different Schools of Radio but surely at the end of the day Radio is about Entertaining!

What separates a good Jock from a bad Jock is the knowledge and Sense to know what’s really funny, entertaining or down right silly and stupid. How many times have we been in the Pub where a friend tries so hard to be funny he ends up insulting someone and this is the very guy who can’t laugh at himself or take a joke directed at him without starting a fight…We all know those guys…. (B) Then there is the guy who is naturally witty, great company, always says the right thing, always knows his place is always able to tell different more suitable jokes in the company of your wife of parents and is the first in the door to say “I’m some GobShite, guess what I did”…and carry on to laugh at himself…

There is a place for everybody in the Pub but not for everyone on the Radio. A good Radio Programmer should see this quality in someone through a Demo and give this person an open Mic…. If this guy is great company in the Pub then he will be great company in the afternoon on a Radio Station.

I understand Short Links, Clutter free Radio and I know why its important to control your On Air talent but there has to be give and take…To all PD’s I say hire the right people and then let them do what they do best…ENTERTAIN…

Remember this BTW…”Happy the man that can laugh at himself for he shall always be amused”

Now give me a JOB! LOL


RF;)

[Guest]

But less is also more guys....15 seconds of entertaining talk is better than 60 seconds of rubbish talk.

Seeing that this is a thread about Liam Coburn/98FM I'll use that station as an example. During the day most of their audience are working, either at home or in a factory/shop/office. They want to hear music. If they wanted to hear a personality jock they have Gareth O Callaghan on 2FM, or Phil Cawley on Today FM. Both of whom would talk a lot more and do more "personality" driven shows than 98FM.

Yet, 98FM continue to be the most listened to music station in Dublin by a long shot - could this be because they know what their audience want?

Theres a dreadful mid 1970's era radio vision on this board at times. That is that you need naff music beds, stupid competitions and DJs who don't shut up to do 'personality' radio. Tosh! Even on 98FM - probably the most tightly structured radio station in this country - I can hear different jock styles. Robbie Fogarty/Barry Dunne/Brian McCaul/Gerry Stevens (and liam when he starts) all sound very different to one another. Sure they're doing the formatics like the pros that they are, but they've all got different styles of doing it. Robbie is more relaxed, Barry Dunne sounds more Atlantic 252, Brian McCaul (their best jock) sounds more like North American radio (he worked in Canada), Gerry Stevens sounds slightly like 2FM (in the good days!).

Lets turn this around slightly, and ask - if you were John Taylor and programming 98FM - what would you do with it? Sensible answers please!

[Spunky]

Euan, you're absolutely right. let's loose all the formats, let all the jocks talk and develop their personalities, discuss their feelings and the issues of the day and we would have a great station..

it's a pity that we have to have programme controllers at all - they're so intrusive, telling you what to do and what to play...

but did you know that there is a station on the air at the moment that gives their presenters complete freedom to do whatever they like - its called AnnaLivia, they're on 103.2 and they are exceptional! One thing though, they've No listeners! I don't understand why though..maybe you could cast some light on this seeing as you are programming expert of the year...!

[KJ]

Spunky - excellent points there. I'll talk about presenters trying to express themselves (and therefore break from the "rules") some other time (God knows I know about waffling too much), but I've come to the conclusion (even at live gigs) that less is more. People want the big tunes and they want them 5 mins ago. Dublin markets have changed. People are far more impatient these days and, as sorry as it may seem, fuses seem to be getting shorter. I have a theory that "text culture" ((c) me) is making people be far more impatient these days, mobile phones have an awful to blame if you think it through. If its not presented in a byte size wee package that's easily consumable, digestible and forgettable then its no use to the listener ............. put simply, they will switch over elsewhere.

From a DJ/Anorak point of view I want to be entertained/educated

From a listener's perspective all they want is the big tunes and lots of giveaways. End of story


KJ


;)

[Euan Roberts]

Euan, you're absolutely right. let's loose all the formats, let all the jocks talk and develop their personalities, discuss their feelings and the issues of the day and we would have a great station..

it's a pity that we have to have programme controllers at all - they're so intrusive, telling you what to do and what to play...

but did you know that there is a station on the air at the moment that gives their presenters complete freedom to do whatever they like - its called AnnaLivia, they're on 103.2 and they are exceptional! One thing though, they've No listeners! I don't understand why though..maybe you could cast some light on this seeing as you are programming expert of the year...!

Now study what you just posted to me. Do you know how ridiculous you sound. You slate me with your sarcastic tone and attitude along with kelly Jones. It's so obvious you guys are living in Radio Format Culture and all you seemingly have is a dangerously blinkered view of this type of radio and nothing else. You don't care in the slightest about creative radio because you say it doesn't make money and doesn't generate listeners. 2FM does and has a 1% lower listenership than 98 or 104 at 22% So don't try that red herrring on me.

Concerning your assertion that Anna Livia has no listeners, they do have listeners, maybe not as many as 98, 104, TodayFm, 2FM or LiteFm, but the main thing is they have a high quality niche listernship who have brains in their heads unlike the listenership of the other stations. So there is your difference. In addition don't be so sure that 98 and 104 will sustain their 22% or 23% indefinitely. I so disagree with you on every single point. These stations have lost listeners consistantly since 2000 and will continue to do so because they are stiffling to listen too, period. I include lite FM in that category also.

[Brian O'D]

So, was he on last nite? How did he sound?

[Guest]

He was on, he sounded fine in my opinion - nothing special though.

[Coffee Deck]

In fairness to Liam, the first few shows at a new station are spent getting used to the studio layout, format, etc. Therefore, the DJ is focussed on what he's doing and what buttons he's pressing rather that what he's saying. Give him a few shows to settle in and wait for his personality to shine through.

[Removed Member]

And they have an Alice Air 2000.

It's a great combination.
It all may seem a bit daunting at first but as you get into it, going back to using CD's and "other playout" seems like the world before the invention of the wheel.

Many "Keyboard junkies" here who have perhaps not the experience of systems of this automation level can easily sit back at their computers and make throwaway remarks like "nothing special,pressing buttons .... etc etc etc BLAH BLAH BLAH>>>>> BULAH! and on and on andon and Ariston!" However this is a "bed in" time for Liam at 98FM.
That means that the audience are getting used to a new voice, the people who work there are getting used to working with him,and he himself is adjusting to a new life on air so to speak.

Some of you contributors to this board who are free and easy with your "throwaway remarks" could take note that rome wasn't built in a day.

This is day two.

And in a year what will the "throwaway remarks" consist of??

I have an idea....

[KJ]

Coffee Deck

"the DJ is focussed on what he's doing and what buttons he's pressing rather that what he's saying. Give him a few shows to settle in and wait for his personality to shine through"

You've nailed it there CD. Im listening to him at the mo' and he still seems to be getting into the set up rather then his persona. Yet, he sounds far too good for overnights. If (when?) he goes daytime I can't see him replacing Barry Dunne as others have suggested.

There IS a weak link in the 98 chain, but it's not Barry


KJ

[Lilter]

Are'nt the overnights still automated at 98fm?

To be honest i feel 98fm currently have a superb lineup, the brekkie show is flyin - Robbie Fogarty is soundin great on-air - Barry sounds happier than he ever has before and Brian Mc Caul kicks ass on drive.

Personally i dont see any weak links...

[KJ]

As far as I know John wanted to go live with the new Overnight jock. I don't think its automated any more. Liam would be crazy to voicetrack anyway as he'll want to get into the set up and the swing of things as quickly as possible

KJ

[Euan Roberts]

To be honest i feel 98fm currently have a superb lineup, the brekkie show is flyin - Robbie Fogarty is soundin great on-air - Barry sounds happier than he ever has before and Brian Mc Caul kicks ass on drive.

Personally i dont see any weak links...


Lilter
98 is bloody awful radio but its addictive is one sense. DO you call Brian MCCaul, Robbie Forgarty good jocks. What are you on? They are terrible. NO personalities. Sure 98 are laughing all the way to the bank with this gold mine. This radio is not creative radio, it is formatted radio. I reckon if they want to give themselves any credibility they should go back to the Classic Hits Format which is the real 98. Hey, Jonathan Ross, Richard Allinson, Janice Long and Steve Wright are real Jocks. 98's Jocks are novices.

Liam Coburn is good, despite him been wasted on nights.

[Doobie Brother]

Euan, on the one hand you're slating 98FMs current line-up (terrible, no personalities is how you described them), yet then you tell us you want a return to the Classic Hits format.

Most of us would recognise that 98FM in its current form has given its presenters more freedom than they ever have done in the past. In fact, they are far less restricted than in the Classic Hits days. Did you ever HEAR Classic Hits 98FM? Now - THAT was liner card radio (and highly successful as well, so lets not knock it too much).

DJs like Jonathan Ross and Steve Wright ARE fantastic, but sometimes listeners do want music driven radio. A shock to some anoraks out there I know who would like DJs to have a hundred and one inane features and music beds. If you work in a noisy factory in Clondalkin, you won't be able to listen to "personality" radio, 'cos you won't be able to hear it over the din!

98FMs jocks are novices? Is that right? Liam Coburn, Jim McCabe, Brian McCaul (Nails Mahoney in a previous existence), and Gerry Stevens are all amateurs at this? Even the newer boys like Robbie and Barry probably have more radio years behind them than most of the anoraks on this board put together.

This isn't a post to defend 98FM, I'd equally rise to defend FM104 or Lite FM if similar was posted about them. They're not past criticism by any means, but lets at least get some logic to the discussion!

[Euan Roberts]

Hey Dobbie Brother, apologies for been a bit hard on 98. I guess, i did make a contradiction in my posting. Sure, some of the jocks on 98 are darn good, they gotta be. Furthermore, i guess personality radio as you rightly say is pretty hard to appreciate to listen if your in a noisy factory anywhere. Just to make one genuine point in defence of 98. In terms of listenership and profit they have been one of the successful commercial stations since Legal independent radio was set up in 1989. Furthermore, it was unfair of me to compare the likes of BBC Radio 2 which i listen to, to a very music driven station such as 98, Lite, or 104. Radio 2 is very personality driven, plus its a completely different market.

However, in saying that, i guess these stations, could use a few of BBC Radio 2's finer radio traits and incorporate it into their own stations. For example, a subtle development of the personality of the presenter,whilst retaining the essential element of the station which is music, and that's one of the main components a audience desires from 98. It can be done, the listener will notice if the jocks are sounding more human and natural than wooden. You would be surprised, even for the average listener that listens on the quarter hour. Then they become passive.

[DJMC]

Now that 98 have sliped in the JNLR could Liam soon be a regular part of the daytime line up? He sounds good on the Home run.

[Slicklink]

Is he fillen in on the home run ? Jeez he must have done every gig on 98 at this stage, firstly voice tracked o/nts then evenings now drive.... wow thats some floating in two months...... Liam will have no problem with 98's format radio as he's been there before with Capital Energy etc

I see Mork is back as well on the weekends, good jock but I dont see why they needed him as Robbie Fogarty has been doing a fine impression of him for ages (I cant tell the difference, honestly) meeooooooooww!