Wednesday, 6th marked an historic occasion in Australia where our radio stations had now declared themselves digital (whatever that means). I suppose it can be something to the lines of Blogtalk Radio where eventually any Tom, Dick and Harry can start up a rockin’ radio station. For now, it’s just for the professionals.
I heard about the fiesta on my train ride to work (some what around 6:45 am) and instantly seized the moment to be a part of a day where all major radio stations had gathered together in a tight space to pretend to be one at a time that should be as big as Neil Armstrong’s moon walk.
There was the buzz amongst all the major players. I think it had a lot to do with the free muffins 2CH were handing out and the free coffee from Vega. I got to brush shoulders with Eskimo Joe’s vocalist and confirm my suspicions that Mike Goldsmith cakes his face in SPF 15 foundation (albeit a tone too dark for him). I also realised the dramatic shift in radio station trends and how much of a cut throat business that industry can be. There were the big wig execs grouped together with lattes and bluetooths and sticking out like dogs balls. A few cheered at their female mascots who were dressed in scantly clad clothing; those poor young things pretending to look cool whilst freezing in 5 degree weather.
Anyway, moving on to 2Day FM.
For Sydney people over the last couple of years, the big morning show to listen to was The Kyle & Jackie O show on 2Day FM.
Just a bit of background as to what type of radio station 2Day is. Its target audience ranges from ages ten to twenty five. This radio station has gradually performed plastic surgery on itself during the years in an effort to be ‘hip’ and inviting to the younger ‘wide-eyed naive’ people. They have built the hype as a ‘I’m the youth of today. We can be loud, proud and daring when ever we want, how we want.’ It’s cool to be a rebel without a cause so long as you fit in with the right clothes, gadgets and playlists of iTunes belting out angst misery and happy-endings won through torturous vocal gymnastics and boom-boom-chiki-wahwahs. It’s all about the bling-bling, big bings and girls just shaking their thing. As you can see, it’s a cheesy radio station that is highly focused on the right ‘packaging’.
Of course, I prefer Triple J and a bit of the oldies now and then as they carry a bit of class mixed with cool. Anyway, back to Kyle and Jackie o.
About a week ago, they began one of their new breakfast gimmicks where they would strap a listener to a lie detector and ask questions to bring out seedy truths about their relationships etc. Something like Gossip Girl live on air. Well, their first one involved a 14yr old girl and her mother’s concern about her doing drugs. The idea sounded horrible and the whole thing turned out horrid for the breakfast show.
People called in ranting and virtually swinging pitch forks at Kyle when the girl was asked about sexual experiences and she broke down crying confessed she had been raped at twelve. Of course, the show had drawn the line and killed their chances of being a role model for society. They disgraced an under-age girl. And the mother??? I don’t even want to go there.
Instantly, the show was mobbed and Kyle and Jackie O went off the air a few days later. On the first day their show was off air, the radio station had to make do and pull together other segment hosts to fill the gap for their Digital Radio launch day in Martin Place, Sydney. On the radio, it seemed they were carrying on as nothing had happen and it was all “happening”.
When I got there and saw what was going on between the breaks, it was a different and sad story. All the radio stations had people bunched around, sipping coffee and listening intently to the hosts chatter about shit. Today FM had the back end all to themselves and seemingly in the “quieter” area. They even had to get their workers in to fill the crowds and people prompting for cheers. Nova didn’t have to even try. They just cracked the jokes, whipped up a flavour of some wholesome cooking (they had a chef on) and the people went with it. Gags and all.
Digital Day 2Day FM Crowd
It wasn’t only 2Dayfm’s crowd (or lack there of) reaction but also the sober faces of the hosts themselves, which told a grim tale for the station. The hosts were working really hard to keep face on air. I overheard a snippet of chatter a “celebrity” had passed off to her friend when she thought she wasn’t being noticed in the crowd. She just happened to bang into my back the moment she said ‘oh my God, that’s so sad. Not the same without Kyle and Jackie O. Let’s check out Nova.’
Yep, she pretty much called. It wasn’t the same without Kyle and Jackie O. As much as they wronged with that stupid, thoughtless stunt and the humiliation they caused for that poor girl. They also generated a really entertaining show and enticed some cool big names. Now, it seems the place has a big hole to fill and a lot of rethinking to do.
Perhaps it’s time for 2Day FM to accept their age and grow up… just a tad.
