Analysis
What do the titles The Surgery and Life Hacks suggest?
- The titles 'The Surgery' and 'Life Hacks' suggest that this is an advice radio show, or perhaps handles controversial or 'heavy' topics regarding life and lifestyles.
How are the programmes constructed to appeal to a youth audience?
- The 'Life Hacks' programme includes key topics that are prevalent in today's zeitgeist, by discussing topics such as money, sexuality and gender as well as being available on demand, which appeals to the dynamic digital age we live in and the growing expectations of a youth audience to have content such as discussions on gender etc. at their disposal.
What does the choice of presenters (Cel Spellman and Katie Thistleton) and Dr Modgil suggest about the BBC’s approach to diversity and representation?
- The choice of presenters suggests this show is diverse and offers a range of representations, through a female doctor, which is a sign of the changing times, to regional representations as you can hear through their accents.
What does this suggest regarding the Life Hacks audience and what the BBC is hoping to achieve with the programme?
- This suggests that the Life Hacks audience has a far more liberal mindset and is attracted to contemporary content from radio shows, this could link to BBC's remit to provide content that suits a range of audiences whilst also informing and educating listeners.
Listen to a few episodes of the podcast and explain how the topics may a) appeal to a youth audience and b) help fulfil the BBC's responsibilities as a public service broadcaster.
- I listened to the 'Choosing a Career', 'Knife Crime' and 'A Gay Kid's guide to life' podcasts and I believe they appeal to a youth audience since within the ten minute slots, in which these topics are discussed [Exc. A Gay Kid's Guide, that was around half an hour] they deal with a diverse range of topics, that are extremely prevalent within a young person's life particularly in England. Young people today are handling University prospects, as well as the sheer density of knife crime upon many of their doorsteps- although 10 minutes is not long enough to discuss the sheer complexity of a topic, it is manageable for a bus ride to school or during a free period without too much commitment, this appeals to a youth audience - in particular those who prefer to listen to something whilst commuting. All 3 podcasts help fulfill the BBC's responsibilities as a public service broadcaster since they all offer an education on important topics, without bias, as well as also being easy to listen to and entertaining through the use of linguistics.
Audience
What is the target audience for BBC Radio 1?
Who is the actual audience for BBC Radio 1?
- The average listener is 30, which falls outside the intended listener age range.
What audience pleasures are offered by Life Hacks? Apply Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratifications theory.
- Surveillance, Life Hacks offers educational talks and advice on contemporary topics, Personal Relationships through celebrity interviews and radio djs as well as Personal identity through national accents and regional interviews within the broadcast.
What points does the reviewer make about Life Hacks and the particular podcast episode they listened to?
- The reviewer mentions that the content is both 'interesting' and informative - he speaks about how the interviews with Stormzy regarding the Cambridge scholarships, and Chelsea Kwakye [a Cambridge graduate] on how race comes into play at institutions such as Cambridge, where the realities of the disparity are hardly known by the young people that are perhaps considering going to university etc. The reviewer suggests that this podcast seeks to educate the audience and help them 'make sense' of the reality that although many deem as obvious, is simply not as explicit as we may perceive.
What are the key statistics to take from this article regarding the decline in Radio 1 audience ratings?
- Radio 1 have suffered a 200,000 listener drop [AUG '18] and it has seen a steady decline since 2011. Breakfast Host Nick Grimshaw, sees an increase of around 300,000 listeners [AUG'18] and reaches 16 million Youtube viewers a week - with the station being the first choice for listeners aged 15-24.
Industries
How does Life Hacks meet the BBC mission statement to Educate, Inform and Entertain?
- Life Hacks is a podcast that talks about all topics 'controversial' and offers information through discussions on 'controversial' topics, they also include discourse with Dr Modgil, who helps fit the Educate part of the remit, there's also a high density of music available which helps fulfill the 'entertain' aspect of the remit.
Pick out three key points in the summary section.
- The BBC provides content online, through the television and the radio.
- The BBC is regulated by OFCOM
- OFCOM is responsible for taking audience's opinions into account and creating the guidelines for the BBC to fulfill - this is what lead to the changes made in 2017/18 regarding Radio 1
Which of these points relate to BBC Radio 1 and Life Hacks?
- The points d, g and h, OFCOM's guidelines and enforcement lead to BBC making changes regarding the radio schedules and ultimately cancelled the Surgery and changed the scheduled times for Life Hacks to be pre-watershed, they also introduced BBC Sounds, which helped appeal to a younger audience and provide content that arguable helped fulfill their remit. They also have Vox Pops and a range of regional accents which help fulfill the final point, whilst also providing a platform for voices that may not have mainstreamed opportunity through BBC Sounds.
What do you think are the three most important aspects in the a-h list? Why?
- Personally, I believe that points d [support social actions on BBC Radio], a [increase requirements around news content] and e [safeguard vulnerable genres] are the most important aspects. Social actions, in particular, is one of the most important aspects, it is a listeners prerogative to engage in social activism, however I believe that the media has a responsibility to provide as much education and information regarding our changing social climate as possible to allow listeners to make educated decisions and involve themselves with much needed changes within the dynamics of our society. Point A regarding news programming is also substantial for similar reasons as above however with a clear focus on widening audiences and reaching a diverse quota of listeners, something Life Hacks has the potential to do. Finally, the safeguarding of vulnerable genres, this links to the media argument of Art vs Commerce quite closely, therefore the importance of this is free for negotiation however I believe that inclusivity within the media will also have major cultural significance, therefore it is the BBC's prerogative to provide a diverse range of genres through their company.
What do Ofcom plan to review in terms of diversity and audience?
- Ofcom plans to review the on-screen diversity of BBC programming, including 'peak time' programmes and ask what audiences expect from the BBC and whether the BBC are successful in fulfilling this approach.
What is Ben Cooper trying to do with Radio 1?
- He wants Radio 1 to be the 'Netflix of Music Radio' and wants to integrate 'phone-first' content with regular traditional radio shows.
How does he argue that Radio 1 is doing better with younger audiences than the statistics suggest?
- Although the traditional radio listener average has gone down, the companies Youtube platform still brings around significant viewing figures, which supports the idea that Radio 1 is doing better with younger audiences despite what statistics show.
Why does he suggest Radio 1 is distinctive from commercial radio?
- Radio 1 plays around 4000 different tracks a month compared to commercial radios 400. They play 'hit music' to 'expose' their audiences to newer tunes and tracks.
Why is Radio 1 increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms?
- As the digital age changes the dynamics of traditional media, establishing a stable social media and digital platform is vital for sustainability within the industry, in particular when appealing to a younger audience, who have grown up with the digital age and became accustomed to digital culture.
In your opinion, should the BBC’s remit include targeting young audiences via Radio 1 or should this content be left to commercial broadcasters? Explain your answer.
- I think that the BBC's remit should be enforced by Radio 1, commercial broadcasters offer content however are mainly motivated by profitability and commercial potential of content, this could impact the education and diversity of content provided to young people, whilst the profitability of Radio 1 is up for debate, running a Radio broadcaster that has to align with certain values and fulfill a remit, allows regulation of content and ensures the provision of quality, informative and entertaining content to a diverse youth audience, as it grows and adapts to the contemporary norm as they do.
BBC SOUNDS
Why does the article suggest that ‘on the face of it, BBC Radio is in rude health’?
- It has 1/2 the national market with dozens of stations reaching 34+ million people a week
What percentage of under-35s use the BBC iPlayer catch-up radio app?
What is BBC Sounds?
- a new app that merges radio and the digital age, offering on demand services and targeted radio shows.
How do audiences listen to radio content in the digital age?
- Through podcasts, and radio shows that deal with their interests rather than the miscellaneous content on mainstream radio shows.
What does Jason Phipps suggest is important for radio and podcast content aimed at younger audiences?
- It has to have a warmer, narrative-led journey. The audience prefers personal anecdotal content, that pushes boundaries and confronts 'uncomfortable' topics rather than informative, scientific less personal stories from a general perspective.
Why does the BBC need to stay relevant?
- In order to fulfill it's remit of providing informative, educational and entertaining content for diverse audiences around the UK.
What content does the BBC Sounds app offer?
- Podcasts, on-demand content and content that deals with unconventional or seldom talked about topics.
How does it link to BBC Radio?
- It offers live shows and content on demand.
What are the criticisms of the BBC Sounds app?
- The search bar isn't 'sensitive' enough and there's not enough options
Two new podcasts were launched alongside the BBC Sounds app. What are they and why might they appeal to younger audiences?
- End of Days, and Beyond Today. They offer information on key events and also niche events that crime enthusiasts would be interested in, younger generations are increasingly interested in true crime stories and with shows such as Buzzfeed Unsolved becoming hits due to educating teens on crimes and events that are before their lifetime, these fit right into the zeitgeist and therefore may appeal to the younger audiences.
ShoutOut Network
What is the ShoutOut Network?
- A London-based podcast network, that offers a platform to BAME and underrepresented voices.
What podcasts are offered by the ShoutOut Network?
- Melanin Millenials [that focuses in socio-political issues for millenials], Mostly Lit [a focus on pop culture and literature], and other art based topics such as comedians Two Fools Talking, music aficionados Artistic State of Mind and sport based podcast Top 4mation.
What audience do they reach?
- 20,000 unique monthly listeners; 92% are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
What are the 2015 statistics on podcast listening in the UK?
- 3.7 million adults listen to podcasts [6.5% of the Adult population] with 57% listening on smartphones with 47% whilst commuting and 34% whilst 'doing nothing'
The article suggests podcasts are ‘picking up more steam’. Do you think podcasts the future of radio?
- I think that podcasts are the future of radio, we as a generation have grown accustomed to personalised content and content that is available at the click of a button. We prefer to find radio shows and content that is topic specific, and specific to our personal interests without added 'fluff' per say. Due to this, and the rise in technological advancements that leads to radios being 'pushed out' of cars and conventional places in exchange for aux chords and podcasts. This evidences the idea that younger audience finds on demand, personalised content more appealing due to it's accessibility and topic specific content that people can choose what they want to hear and when they want to hear it- something traditional radio falls short of.
Media Magazine
What was the budget for Billie Jean? How did this compare with later Michael Jackson videos?
- $50,000 - Later it was $300,000 and then Thriller had a budget of $2 million.
Why was the video rejected by MTV?
- They argued that it didn't suit their 'middle America' target audience
Applying Goodwin's theory of music video, how does Billie Jean reflect the genre characteristics of pop music video?
- The music contains performance from the artist, lip syncing as well as narrative aspects conventional to the mmusic video genre.
How do the visuals reflect the lyrics in Billie Jean?
- This song is about Michael's sons and his experiences with fan girls and the lyrics have an obvious feminine connotation, reflected by the female visuals within the music video
Why does the video feature fewer close-up shots than in most pop videos?
- Michael Jackson's main selling point is his dancing, therefore the video favours less close up shots to make the performance a focal point of the video.
What intertextual references can be found in the video?
- Intertextual references to pop culture and the film noir film genre, as well as spy films and musicals such as Singin' in the rain.
How does the video use the notion of looking as a recurring motif?
- The notion of looking acts as a perspective of surveillance on Michael, with a 'detective' characterisation. This could represent how he acts as a performer, and how he was constantly viewed through an outsider perspective all his life.
What representations can be found in the video?
- Michael Jackson represents a 'godlike' angelic character, with his association with lights and positive impacts on the people he interacts with lives, such as the homeless man he throws a penny in the cup of.
Close-textual analysis of the music video
How is mise-en-scene used to create intertextuality - reference to other media products or genres? E.g. colour/black and white; light/lighting.
- The Black/White colour palette links to the spy/film noir genre, with MJ's costume and the detective perspective that the video is set to, also alludes to the spy/crime genre. The lighting on the floor is an intertextual reference to 1970s disco and perhaps the film 'Saturday Night Fever', The bricolage of the polaroid photos is also an intertextual referencer to pop culture at the time of the music videos release.
How does the video use narrative theory of equilibrium?
- There's a villain on the loose, the villain gets caught and then peace is restored.
How are characters used to create narrative through binary opposition?
- Binary opposition is used to create the classic hero vs villain narrative structure. The colour palette and sharp contrasts help make this binary opposition abundantly clear.
What is the significance of the freeze-frames and split-screen visual effects?
- They slow down the pace of the editing and allow it to match the song's pace. It also modernises the music video and gives it a contemporary feel, apt to the 80s era.
What meanings could the recurring motif of 'pictures-within-pictures' create for the audience?
- It creates the idea that there is a separate reality created by media texts, and that the narratives we see in pictures can be manipulated from the 'truth' creating a post modern interpretation to the music video.
Does the video reinforce or subvert theories of race and ethnicity - such as Gilroy's diaspora or Hall's black characterisations in American media?
- The music video reinforces theories of race and ethnicity, with him being 'under a watchful eye' something Black people experience even today, and could allude to Gilroy's theory of diaspora and how Black people feel like they 'don't belong' or are alienated from a mainstream society. MJ also fits the archetype of the 'Entertainer' of Hall's characterisations, since his dancing and overall performance is in fact for a spectator which fits this theory. However, the 'positive' depiction of Jackson and his beneficial impact on people's lives arguably subverts race stereotypes in 1980s America.
Does this video reflect Steve Neale's genre theory of 'repetition and difference'? Does it reflect other music videos or does it innovate?
- This video set the conventions for music videos, and uses a mixture of post modern aspects and was innovative for the time, however it set the tune for future music videos and repeated ideas.
Analyse the video using postmodern theory (e.g. Baudrillard's hyper-reality; Strinati's five definitions of postmodernism). How does the 'picture-in-picture' recurring motif create a postmodern reading?
- The 'picture in a picture' is an example of Bricolage, which links to Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality, we as the audience lose consciousness of what is real and what is an aspect of the narrative. It also could allude to the fact that the audience may view the realities constructed by the media as reality and further supports Baudrillard's theory. MJ also fails to appear in the detective's photos, which could be a political comment on how the character of 'Michael Jackson' that the media knew and the performer he was is how he was viewed but essentially wasn't real or the 'true him' merely a figment of the media's imagination.
