Assignment 1- analysis of a radio station

Kerrang radio is a National station belonging to the Bauer Media Group locally broadcasting in the UK on digital radio platforms and online with the rest of the world. The station specialises in playing a range of rock, punk and metal depending on the time of day (playing classic rock and mainstream rock with one or two heavier songs mixed in during the day and playing heavier metal and punk in the evening).

   Kerrang uses of the programs that would be found on a mainstream radio station such as Radio 1 but with the appropriate spins when necessary such as the Kerrang Chart Show in that uses the same system as the more popular UK TOP 40 but on a smaller scale of 20 songs using the aforementioned genres. Programs such as the breakfast shows and evening shows follow a similar pattern e.g. The breakfast show (presented by Kate Lawler) is upbeat, chatty and often comedic as with many stations but using the mentioned genres and a slightly altered sense of humour.  The station also broadcasts news bulletins approximately every two hours.

   Kerrangs primarily consists of a working to middle class audience of males aged from the age of 16 to 30 with an interest in at least some form of rock punk or metal. From regularly listening to the station, listening to the texts received and from viewing social networking posts there is a link between the posts and the demographic though many users contacting the station via social network are female going against the average listeners gender.

   Kerrang uses mixed production styles though mostly live productions running from 7 am to 10 pm when the station goes off air and plays music continuously until the station goes on air again at 7 am.

Assignment 1- analysis of a radio program

Johnny Dooms show is the last live show on the popular Kerrang radio station. The program features the heavier side of rock punk and metal and features artists such as Asking Alexandria, The Browning and Five Finger Death Punch. 

Normally opening with two songs played consecutively the first being a more mainstream and daytime friendly with the second being heavier and more akin to the rest of the program. This may be to allow newer listeners to gradually ease themselves in from whatever they have just been listening to for most of the day. From this point on the program is relatively random with no weekly features and as little chat as possible.

Johny doom (center left) and other  Kerrang DJ's collecting for long time
partners Cash for Kids.

The program follows a fast paced structure of playing most songs in batches of two or sometimes three with the presenter (Johnny Doom) stepping in to talk about the last two songs, giving the listener some basic information about what album the song was on an if they are on tour as well as some light hearted banter about the song relating to any recent events they or the presenter attended. Over all the program has an informal, upbeat mode of address.

The music in the program is used to promote and entertain audiences as well as to introduce to them some new artists or songs that they may not have heard about. Adverts largely consist of promotions for kerrang’s weekly magazine and TV channel as well as albums and events with a few general adverts you’d hear on any other radio station. Competitions often finish by the time the program is aired but are still advertised in order to promote the competition as well as to promote the prise e.g. a film.

The audience for the program is slightly smaller than the general audience of the station as the show plays a lot of current music  that most people from ages 16 to the early thirties would be interested in. The program appeals mostly to working class men with an interest in the darker side of music. The program also appeals to film fans as the station in general often relates it’s competitions to resent film releases most recently the release of The Wolverine on DVD.

The programs host while being popular with fans of the station is not as popular as some of the daytime DJ's such as Kate Lawler who featured in a number of popular television shows including Big Brother in 2002 as well as working with and being featured in a range of magazines from The Sun to the monthly lads mag Front. Despite all this Johnny Doom is widely regarded as the voice of Kerrang featuring in many adverts and promotions for the station.