Both head of music at Radio 1, George Ergatoudis, and Nigel Harding, the station’s music policy director, have answered a number of questions from music industry figures in the new issue of Music Week. Among those quizzing the pair is Kevin McCabe, a music promotions specialist, who asked what the concise criteria is regarding an artist’s age and how that affects their chances of being playlisted on Radio 1.
Responding to the confusion around Robbie Williams‘ 2012 single ‘Candy’ not making the playlist but his ‘Goin’ Crazy’ collaboration with Dizzee Rascal being played heavily, Nigel Harding says: “This is all about the age of the artist’s primary audience. In Robbie’s case we believe that his main fan base is comfortably over the age of 30, whereas Dizzee’s is clearly much lower.” Moving on to Noel Gallagher, Harding adds: “I think Noel’s music feels more at home on Radio 2, and the last Green Day project simply wasn’t good enough.”
Muse also came into consideration with Harding stating: “Muse are approaching a crossroads – their last single was the first one not playlisted by Radio 1 in a decade. The door remains open to them but we’ll have to think carefully about their next album.”
Previously,Robbie Williams called Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw a “bastard” during a live appearance following the stations refusal to playlist his song ‘Candy’, saying that the former Take That singer was too old for them to champion.
[NME]
