We’re back…Nine resurrects 2UE, Magic and 4BH
20 January 2020 · News
Nine has announced a move to a music format playing the best of the 70s, 80s and 90s across its stations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, along with digital radio in Perth, killing off the Macquarie...
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Tags: 2UE | 4BH | Magic 1278 | Nine Radio
If Rob Duckworth's recent stint filling in on 2CH Breakfast is a guide, 2UE could do better.
And I also agree that Melbourne needs to do better than "Magic". Perhaps a call sign would be a better branding. Is a return to 3XY rather than 3EE a possibility? It would certainly fit the heritage rebranding that 2UE in Sydney and 4BH in Brisbane give them.
That's Who, What and Where. How about When?
EDITOR: Thanks. Good point. Soft launch on Feb 2 now added to the story.
One need not be a "Nostradamus" to say that MSR will not continue in its current format. I "predicted" one of four scenarios would be a return to a music format. I also mentioned the other scenarios being a continuing of a sports format, a talk format or stations 2UE, 4BH and 3EE being sold off. Reference https://radioinfo.com.au/news/macquarie-sports-radio-axes-talkback-and-reviews-all-programs.
The former of a continuing sports format was a fizzer. It seemed to be an irrelevant mish-mash of a sports-oriented programming from the UK with local commercials.
It may well be that the return to established heritage-branded callsigns will be in the right direction, A music format may well be a very economic and return positive returns compared to a labour-intensive talk format especially a sports-talk format such as MSR. It may well rate several magnitudes higher than 0.8% in Sydney alone.
I also said in that post and other posts on this site that the marketplace is supersaturated with a golden-oldies, hits-and-memories and classic hits formats: WS-FM, Smooth, Smooth Relax, 2CH, Fun and Zoo. Even refinements to the 'golden oldies' could extended to MMM's 'classic' DAB station and 2DAY's 'Old School'.
While there may be some differentiation between the abovementioned radio stations' formats there is overlap particularly in the 70s, 80s and 90s. AM music stations despite the presence of FM stations can achieve high ratings as demonstrated by 2CH in the 1980s and 4KQ recently.
What will 2UE, 4BH and 3EE differentiate itself against other classic hits formats? 2CH's selling point is not its AM frequency. Listen to 2CH and you will hear frequent announcements of "2CH in stereo on DAB". Similarly 2UE could frequently announce "2UE in stereo on DAB".
A remark is that 2CH's DAB signal has the best signal quality (I have always said this) at 128kbs while 2UE's DAB bit rate is 70kbs; so too are the RN, ABC-FM and ABC metropolitan. A 70kbs bit rate would have to be the minimum. I perceive a tinge of metallic sound on stations at 48kbs such as those of the ARN and Nova networks.
But the question beckons, given the overlap across all classic-hits type formats particularly in the 1970s and 1980s era, is why would one listen to a classic-hits format when there are already so many classic-hits stations in the market place? That is why listen to 2UE, 4BH and 3EE?
9 Radio's implementation may well be profitable even if it rated 3% compared to a talk format.
I am not suggesting a return to an elevator music format as the old 2CH nor the now defunct SCA's DAB station "Stardust", or even Latin-American covers of contemporary hits.
Going into a classic-hits type format may well exclude newer contemporary talent which is not given any airplay. The success of the music that was released in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s were the contemporary hits of their day. But going into a format replaying music of that era will lock out artists of today.
One has to question whether management has put any effort to consider to include contemporary music. For example, Ray Hadley's country music program rates quite highly and includes a heavy emphasis on contemporary artists.
By "any effort" means considering a music format backed by research and no pre-conceived confirmation bias.
The classic-hits format about to be launched on the established brands is a step in the right direction. It's economical and may well generate positive returns even if the stations rate 3% in the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane markets compared to the labour-intensive talk formats such as MSR and Talking Lifestyle.
But then even if the stations adopt the classic-hits approach, there well may be variation within each of the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne markets. That is something to keep in mind since one size does not fit all.
Thank you,
Anthony of exciting Belfield
While they're saying that this will be a soft launch on February 2, the success of this move will depend on their personality lineups in each city.
Hopefully in Sydney this will see at least one or two major music personalities in key shifts, like Ron E. Sparx in Breakfast.
They've certainly positioned the music in the right era.
Bringing back Magic, that's was lame when it was introduced. Just proves Nine is good at tv.
Love to hear Ronnie back on air, but I don't think so, he retired or was taking a break from Radio.
Rob Duckworth would be good on breakfast locally in Sydney.
Can't afford announcers.... Sorry
Malone is quoted as saying " Not only will there be no local breakfast shows at any of the rebadged AM music stations – there will be no announcers at all – in breakfast, drive or any other daypart."
An interesting and very low cost alternative, at least for Brisbane.
The '70,80,90s AM music formats' anchored by well-known local personalities attract around 9% shares in Brisbane on 4KQ and in Adelaide on Cruise (where they are not up against any significant AM competitors).
Nine's 4BH might eventually attain 3%, by stripping perhaps a third of the existing 4KQ audience who might listen for the music content only.
I wonder what Nine's research has indicated .
Referring to "Madman's" comment about no announcers, it is not the first time a radio station was automated and its ratings increased.
When 2SM was known as "Lite & Easy 1269" between 1988 and 1992, its ratings were low. In 1992, when the station went into 'automation' mode for four months with no announcers and an elevator music format, 2SM's ratings increased.
It may be speculation, one wonders if announcers are necessary. But then if you like the song or album being broadcast and would like a personal copy of the song or album, you would not be wiser.
EVEN on DAB, not all stations avail themselves of utilising the scrolling text facility.
Therefore management of 2UE, 3EE and 4BH who don't intend to use announcers should transmit song/album information on the DAB scrolling text facility.
Lesson from 2SM - don't fix something that works. The decision by 2SM management at the time to abandon the 'automated' elevator music format was a foolish decision since its ratings were higher than when it was "Lite & Easy 1269". If the format works without announcers then continue without announcers.
A diversion on signal quality.
Between 1985 and 1998, 2SM broadcast the highest quality signal I have ever heard for a stereo AM signal. 2SM's signal quality rivalled FM stereo. It's a pity that there were not enough wideband AM receivers available in the market at the time. 2SM ceased stereo transmission on the MW band after a major thunderstorm in late 1998 and according to Mr B of 2SM the CQUAM exciter was destroyed.
Well AM stereo is passe. BUT DAB is better provided that the stations transmit at a rate of at least 70kbs. Don't be like the other stations running at 48kbs and less. You can hear that tinny metallic sound especially where pieces of music have fine details in the high frequency timbre, for example the high frequency timbre produced when cymbals are used.
Thank you,
Anthony of exciting Belfield
I'm not sure when the broadcast obligation changed, but many years ago there was a requirement imposed by the music industry for stations to make announcements regarding the title and artist for music being broadcast.
Different world between 1998 and 2020. More radio and TV choices. Lots of different ways to hear music and music formats. Lots of stations on the web from Australia and the world. These AM, FM, DAB, Web, YouTube, Spotify, etc, etc. These days you need a hook and without one l think Nine will find it tough.
Agree..Aussiecam.
It is a different media world than 22 years ago.
Assuming little operational costs from running the 3 music stations, there could be more financial benefit for Nine by adding the music stations meagre audience stats into their talk-stations' advertising packages, than what Nine would earn on the capital from selling these stations (if buyers could be found).
It appears that 2UE (Sydney) has had its soft launch one day earlier, 01-02-2020. Here are a few remarks:
Signal quality on DAB: excellent at 80kbs. Though every voice over is promoting the 2UE listen anywhere app. Lack of promotion of the DAB signal.
Scrolling text on DAB: BAD! Absence of artist/song AND/OR album information, especially where there are no announcers.
Genre description on the DAB: "Easy Listening".
Format: it is not strictly within the 70s, 80s and 90s. Occasionally can hear music from the 1960s from artists such as Jose Feliciano ("Light My Fire" (1968)), The Righteous Brothers ("Unchained Melody" (1965)).
Why not include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Zombies, Normie Rowe, David Bowie and The Easybeats. For example there are people who weren't born at the time of The Beatles and David Bowie who enjoy their music. I could also say that for The Easybeats.
Good To Hear: Savage Garden ("Moon And Back"), Renee Geyer ("Careless Whisper").
Other Australian Artists: will we hear these artists from the 1970s and 1980s?
* John Williamson, "Under The Bridge", "Unexplored Shadows Of Mine" apart from "True Blue" and "Old Man Emu".
* The Seekers (OK it was the 1960s), in addition there was also in the 1970s The New Seekers, "I like To Teach The World To Sing"
* Hans Poulsen in addition to "Boom Sha-La-La-Lo"
* The Mixtures
* Liv Maessen
* Russell Morris, "Rachel", "The Real Thing"
* Matt Flinders (born Louis Silvan Bonnet) - "Picking Up Pebbles", "All Of A Sudden", "Cup Of Love"
* The Strangers
* Jeff St. John, "Teach Me How To Fly"
* Max Merritt, apart from "Slipping Away", how about "Dirty Work", "Proud Mary" to name a few.
* Kevin Johnson apart from "Rock & Roll I Gave You The Best Years of My Life", try "Kedron Brook", "Child Of Today", "You Never Know Your Luck In A City", "Man of the Twentieth Century". The first song which I like and enjoy is not the only song that Mr Johnson sings. It seems to be the only song that is ever given airplay - A sign of a boring and predictable classic hits format.
* Dragon
* Marc Hunter (solo) eg from the "Communication" album
* Midnight Oil eg "Wedding Cake Island"
* Kandiah Kamelesvaran (known as Kamahl), "Sounds Of Goodbye"
* Pseudo Echo, new wave pop, "Listening" but not "Funky Town"
Why does every song played have to be sung? There are a lack of instrumentals. A break from human voices would be welcome.
Suggestions:
* Hank Marvin, "Sacha" (1970)
* Harold Faltemeyer, "Axel F" (1984)
* MSFB & The Three Degrees, "The Sound Of Philedelphia" (1976)
* The Assembled Multitude, "Overture from Tommy" (1970)
* David Foster, "Theme to the Winter Games" 1988. Used as the theme for the Arch Tambakis (RIP) show.
* UB40 mainly instrumental, "My Way Of Thinking" (1980)
* Haysi Fantayzee mainly instrumental "Shiny-Shiny" (1983)
Would I play instrumentals from these artists even sparingly? Yes
* Bert Kaempfert, "A Swinging Safari" and "That Happy Feeling", popular on 2UE in the 1960s and 1970s. I am not relying on the "Kent Reports" but the music was still heard on the air.
* Ray Conniff, for example "S'wonderful" used as a theme song from a former 2UE program.
* Walter Wanderley - probably because going to a private school and frequent visits to the college chapel (a beautiful chapel) listening to lugubrious organ music, popular South American jazz organist Walter Wanderley was an antidote. This wasn't the case in year 5 when hymn singing was enjoyable especially the hymn "My God Is A Fortress And Rock". By year six, the brother (organist) left the order. It was a downhill spiral after that. Interestingly Walter Wanderley was part of 2CH's elevator music playlist in the 1970s and 1980s.
Definition of music played in the 1990s: Would a format covering the 1990s play these popular artists and/or genres:
* Dance music: Alex Party, La Bouche, Corona, DJ Flavours, Maddison Avenue, Livin Joy, Whigfield, Amber, or are we stuck with "Ace of Base"
* New Wave Pop: Eskimo Joe
* Contemporary Vocals: Robbie Williams including Nicole Kidman
* Contemporary vocals: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
* Contemporary vocals: Seal
* Real Classic Hits: The Three Tenors (Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and Italian Luciano Pavarotti) - unknown by the mainstream audience until the 1990 World Cup.
* Considering that 2UE is playing a little music from the 1960s Would 2UE consider playing contemporary music from the 2000s from artists such Gabriela Cilmi, Vanessa Amorosi and Michael Bublé? How about Mark Vincent, Human Nature, Dami Im and Emma Pask & Tom Burlinson?
Predictability: too short a time period to tell. If you are hearing the same songs after a week, that is the format is on high rotation, then it's another boring and predictable classic hits format.
Classification of music - what fits into a format:
When 2SM was known as "Lite And Easy 1269" between 1988 and 1992, after listening to the station for more than a month, I noticed the same songs were played within a week.
Two hits amongst many that were in high rotation on this "Lite & Easy" format were from Womack & Womack's "Tear Drops" and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".
The station had a request program and callers requesting songs were pre-recorded that afternoon. I had requested the song "Give It Up" by KC and The Sunshine Band. Having a nice chat with the presenter at the time SM(also ex 3MP), said that he was bound by the rules of the format and could not play the song. The "Lite and Easy 1269" was confined to 1500 songs which on average is about 1500*3 = 4500 minutes = 75 hours. This amounts to a repetition of the whole playlist twice (approximately) in week after adjusting for news, commercials and announcements.
Personally "Give It Up" was easier on the ear and upbeat compared to "Tear Drops" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".
Amongst the other parts of the conversation between the presenter and I which did not go to air, the presenter did remark about how pointless the request program is when it does not play what the listener wants. I ended up reluctantly choosing the "Womack & Womack" song. This represented an endless circle of what people did not really want to listen to.
Anyway, that station flopped in the ratings replaced by a higher rating automated elevator music format before new management foolishly changed this successful format.
My thoughts on 2UE (and 3EE & 4BH's) new format
Anthony from thinking Belfield
Hi All,
I'm really excited about the relaunch of Magic 1278 in Melbourne and I was listening to it today on 1/2/20.The music that they're playing on it is great,lots of excellent easy listening tracks that I love.However,I was very disappointed to hear that for now they are still going to play live sports broadcasts on it like AFL and the cricket.i think there's already plenty of live sport being broadcast on the radio and I really hope that when the current sports rights contracts end with Magic 1278,this new station will go back to what the old Magic 1278 used to be like and return to playing music only.I hope Magic 1278 eventually returns to playing jukebox Saturday night and not cricket or football.
I also hope that this station starts playing my favourite song regularly which is a great easy listening song from the 90s called "High" by Lighthouse Family.From Jono and Ben
P.S. If people want to listen to sport I think they should do this on the SEN radio station.
Dear Darren Moss,
Thank you for your reply regarding that 2SM's wideband signal "....above statement which is technically impossible."
It is and was technically possible to broadcast a wideband AM stereo signal. I know what I am talking about having worked in television and radio broadcasting where amongst my time at these broadcasters, was to observe the technical quality of radio and television signals.
First thing to note is that channel spacing of 9kHz has nothing to do with the bandwidth of the audio signal transmitted by the radio station. Signals greater than 9kHz have been transmitted by AM radio stations.
If you are talking about the minimum standards of broadcasting an AM Stereo signal the minimum standard is +-7.5kHz per channel. That is the minimum.
Secondly, the reason for the poor quality sound of AM receivers has to do with the bandwidth of the receiver. In the US there are over 4000 AM radio stations and there is a high likelihood of co-channel interference with the intended received station. Suppose the intended received station is broadcasting at 1000kHz. There is a distant station broadcasting at 990kHz and its baseband signal is 10kHz. On the upper sideband, the 990kHz station is transmitting at 1000kHz. A radio tuned to 1000kHz will have its signal interfered by the 990kHz signal transmitting 10kHz. By limiting the bandwidth of the receiver to +-3kHz reduces the chances of the effect of co-channel interference.
Thirdly, the two main determining factors of bandwidth in an AM receiver are due to the Q factor of the coils and the bandwidth of the ceramic filter in the IF (intermediate frequency) stages of a superheterodyne receiver.
For ceramic filters operating at an IF of either 455kHz or 450kHz or in rare instances at 469kHz (eg the Panasonic RXED50 sold in Australia), they can have a bandwidth of 5kHz, 6kHz, 7.5kHz, 10kHz, 20kHz and 30kHz. The respective bandwidths are 2.5kHz, 3kHz, 3.75kHz, 5kHz, 10kHz and 15kHz. The main manufacturer is Murata and most ceramic filters sold on the market are those of the 6kHz bandwidth.
With some research I have secured a purchase of several 30kHz bandwidth ceramic filters. The resulting bandwidth is 15kHz at -3dB.
Fourthly, in the few years preceding the official introduction of AM stereo in Australia there were articles in the Electronics Australia and Electronics Today International about AM stereo.
I wished I had copies of these articles with me to get the year, month and page numbers. There were many references to the quality of Australian AM stations broadcasting beyond 9kHz up to 15kHz. These were mentioned a number of times in the electronics journals of the time without anybody writing to the editors of these magazines that it was "....technically impossible.." as Mr Moss said.
This was in the 1980s analogue technology not the today's cloud computing, server, networks and datacentric applications.
2SM was no exception and it was technically not impossible.
I wished there was a member of the engineering staff from 2SM in the period between 1985 and 1998 who could verify that their signal was high bandwidth. I stress 2SM only and no other station for verification.
I can only rely on a chat I had with a non-engineering person such as the presenter of the request program on 2SM in 1988. We both agreed that 2SM was the best sounding of all the AM stations.
Fifthly, 2SM's signal "rivalling FM quality" meant rivalling not matching FM. To achieve this "rivalling quality" either meant either boosting higher frequencies and/or allowing a baseband signal to be broadcast up to 15kHz. Remember this is analogue radio. But 2SM's signal sounded very close to an FM station's signal quality, hence the term "rivalling" NOT matching.
In addition, when experiments on FM broadcasting were conducted in Austrlaia in the late 1940s, people could not perceive the difference in audio quality between the simulcast AM and FM signal.
Sixthly, there were wide bandwidth AM radios available on the market in Australia during the 1980s. These were the Australian-made Audiosound wide bandwidth radio http://www.audiosoundlabs.com.au/myweb/about.htm pay attention to the years 1969, 1971, 1977 and 1978. It appears that
What was missing from the webpage was discussion in the Electronics Australia in 1980s. Again I regret not having a copy to indicate the year, month and page. Nevertheless, the radio receiver's bandwidth achieved a bandwidth of 15kHz with a 10kHz/9kHz notch filter. I remember the frequency response with the notch filter engaged.
Audiosound have ceased manufacturing their wideband AM receivers as indicated by the lack of an wideband AM receiver in their product range
http://www.audiosoundlabs.com.au/.
By the way Audiosound made broadcast quality monitoring amplifiers such as the LD40. The output stages had to have matching 2N3055 output transistors whose betas (the DC gain) were very close.
The other wideband AM radio was the Sony STJX220A wideband AM stereo/FM stereo receiver. It is this receiver that I have been listening to 2SM. Note the term I said "rivalling" FM stations NOT matching. The bandwidth at -3dB was 10kHz, NOT 15kHz. Nevertheless 2SM's signal was a pleasure to listen to between 1985 and 1998 until their CQUAM exciter malfunctioned/was destroyed after a severe thunderstorm in late 1998.
Yes, AM Stereo is passe. But the purpose was that in order to listen to a particular radio station requires broadcasting the highest possible quality of signal. At the time 2SM had the best quality signal for an AM station at the time and was a pleasure to listen on my STJX220A receiver, even if the playlist was on a high rotation.
The quality of a signal applies to today's DAB transmissions. Low bit rates at 48kbs and below produces observable metallic sounds especially the timbre of the high frequency components of the baseband signal. This has been the concerns of UK listeners where there are more stations crammed into a particular multiplex.
For 2UE and 2CH, one does not hear these tinny metallic sounds because they are broadcasting at bitrates of 80kbs and 128kbs respectively. For stations owned by the ARN, SCA and Nova networks, their main stations are broadcasting at 48kbs. In this situation, I prefer their FM signal.
In summary, there was wideband transmission of signals on the AM band in Australia during the 1980s. There are wideband ceramic IF filters up to 30kHz (15kHz per sideband) and there were wideband AM radio receivers on the market during the 1980s with the Audiosound wideband receiver having a better bandwidth (15kHz with a 10kHz/9kHz notch filter) than the Sony STJX220A receiver (10kHz). With the latter receiver, the sound of 2SM rivalled an FM station BUT not matched an FM station.
The result is that a station has to transmit their baseband signal at the highest possible quality even on DAB. 2CH and 2UE are the only stations in Sydney doing this. 2CH promotes their DAB transmission over their AM frequency of 1170kHz. 2UE are only promoting only their radio app and not their DAB.
Indeed Darren I am a koala, because I live on branch at the top of the tree observing the trees rather than the forest below. Thank you for reading my comments.
In addition I don't apologise if you think my other points are rants. Perhaps there is some 'anger' at the state of radio programming and my comments are reasoned. If you read my 'rant' about Australian content and comtemporary artists, that a classic-hits/hits-and-memories/golden-oldies format may exclude newer talent outside the 70s,80s and 90s. Even if artists emerged in the 1990s, would they be included in 2UE's playlist? I mentioned "Eskimo Joe" and "Pseudo Echo" to name a few. How about "The Rockmelons" and "Kate Cerebrano" or contemporary artists such as "Ruel", "Jessica Mauboy", "Guy Sebastian", "Nathaniel" and "Isiah Firebrace"?
Services such as Spotify are offering customised audio streams delivering to the customer a wider choice of music in what she/he wants compared to the narrow repertoire of high rotation predictable formats such as the hits-and-memories/golden oldies/classic hits. The very nature of evidence-based research methods used to determine a radio station's format may be "put on its head". The customised audio streams are satisfying the customer and providing user data to the streaming provider instantaneously and more accurately.
With Spotify aiming their customised streaming service with local news to the motorist and possibly the daily commuter, https://radioinfo.com.au/news/spotify-are-taking-radio-fortress-car, there may well be a serious DISRUPTION to incumbent broadcasters whose largest audience may well be the motorist and/or commuter. This may be so if faster IP streaming services are available and data plans getting cheaper. Let's not forget a plethora of other streaming services such as Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube and Deezer. Then the thousands of other radio stations interstate and outside Australia.
Remember that motorists form a large proportion of the radio audience and if this reduces the market share of incumbent radio stations especially music stations of the hits-and-memories/classic hits/golden oldies type then these stations do so at their peril.
I would regret that our historic "institutions" such as 2UE, 2CH and even the higher rating FM stations should fall by the wayside.
Thank you,
Anthony from thinking Belfield
Quoted from Anthony the Koala:
"Between 1985 and 1998, 2SM broadcast the highest quality signal I have ever heard... 2SM's signal quality rivalled FM stereo."
Confirmation you are indeed a Koala.
I often read your posts but geez mate there's 3 massive rants and then the above statement which is technically impossible.
Just wanted to let you know that I think the logo is no good for the new magic 1278 radio station in Melbourne which was launched on 1/2/20.The reason for this is because the logo says "Playing the Best Music and More of it". I think this is too much like the Gold 104.3 FM station in melbourne which has the logo,"Better music and More of it". I don't want Magic 1278 to get in trouble for this and I think they should change their logo to "Best Easy listening Music". This is because the new Magic 1278 is playing great easy listening music and I really hope they keep this up and don't start playing more current day chart music like what so many other radio stations do today.