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Last week, the head of music at BBC Radio One, George Ergatoudis stated that recent releases from Green Day just weren’t good enough to make the Radio 1 playlist cut and that Muse are on a fine line as to whether or not they’ll be playlisted ever again.
But when you think that Green Day headlined Reading & Leeds this year and Muse spent the summer selling out stadiums across Europe does it really matter if they don’t make the Radio 1 playlist?
Radio 1 often come under criticism with their choices of what does and doesn’t make the A list, as let’s face it the majority of the time it’s full of utter garbage that SOMEHOW sells a bazillion records. Saying that however, as you look further down the lists – in particular the C list and the In New Music We Trust playlist, you finally stumble across the alternative newcomers that do rely on airplay to help them succeed. If Radio 1 refuse to play the 'older' bands then surely they should use their time to help boost the struggling non-mainstream acts?
Watch Green Day live at Reading Festival 2013 below:
Radio 1’s target audience is focused around those between the ages of 14-25 so it’s understandable that they choose to play what they feel is going to appeal to the teeny boppers of today. It’s also not a lie to say that, with the likes of Muse celebrating their 20th anniversary and Noel Gallagher fans having grown up with Oasis in the nineties, the people that support their music are also more than likely to be of an age where listening to Radio 1 makes them want to vomit a little.
Ergatoudis also commented that Noel Gallagher's music is much better suited to BBC Radio 2, which yes, it probably is, but is there really a reason to make that sound like a downgrade? Particularly when you have respected DJ's such as Jo Whiley now broadcasting Radio 2, offering opportunities to bands and artists of all levels and ages. Plus, you don't have to sit and listen to Nick Grimshaw, which is always a bonus.
A good example of how pointless the playlist can be at times, is when Robbie Williams made his comeback late last year with single 'Candy'. The song was denied the Radio 1 playlist, but that actually made it to the top of the charts, giving Robbie his first Number 1 in eight years.
While it's agreeable that Green Day's latest music offerings haven't exactly been satisfactory, does being kicked out of the Radio 1 club show the route for all 'stadium rockers' of the future? Are Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys and Biffy Clyro deserving of the same destiny? Does anyone actually still care what Radio 1 think when they can sell out a tour in 10 minutes? Probably not.
Below: 22 awesome shots of Muse and Biffy Clyro live in Amsterdam
