FEATURE:
Sidetracked
PHOTO CREDIT: Sound On/Pexels
A New BBC Sounds Podcast, and The Question About ‘Respectful Criticism’
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I made a pledge that…
IN THIS PHOTO: Former BBC Radio 1 colleagues Nick Grimshaw and Annie Macmanus are hosting a new BBC podcast, Sidetracked/PHOTO CREDIT: Stephanie Sian-Smith for The Guardian
when I started this blog nearly twelve years ago, I would use it as a way of promoting great new music and being as positive as possible. I only review tracks from artists that I really like. I have had moral quandaries in the past when I have contributed to other websites. When reviewing an album that is perhaps not that good…having a bit of an underwhelmed attitude left me stressed. I think that it is important to be honest with music criticism. Music is subjective, so what one person likes, the other may not. One can debate the value and merit of music reviews on that point, though I feel it is important that music criticism continues. I always hated having to review an album I disliked! It is quite a slog listening to it but, not wanting to be cruel, having to express dislike made me wonder what that artist would think. Is it constructive giving that sort of feedback?! Would they take it too heart and get upset?! I keep things positive with reviews now, so I avoid artists and albums I really don’t want to cover. The radio game very much relies on positivity and keeping any negative views out of the way. Recently, broadcaster and D.J. Arielle Free was pulled off air and briefly suspended from her BBC Radio 1 show for criticising a track played on Charlie Hedges’ show. Live from Ibiza, Free was a special guest on Dance Anthems.
IN THIS PHOTO: Arielle Free
Giving a new meaning to ‘free speech’, it seems that the BBC ethos and bottom line regarding expressing opinions about tracks is to keep it positive. Any negativity, it seems, is reserved for private. I can appreciate how stations would not want to offend artists and give themselves a bad reputation. After all, that station is playing that song – so why would they do that for a D.J. to slag it?! It is those in higher positions that are ultimately responsible for whom gets played on which station. I regularly listen to BBC Radio 6 Music and, through their schedule, they feature new tracks. I like most of those new songs, yet there are some I can’t stand. Of course, the remit is really the same here. Broadcasters are really obliged to be positive or not say anything at all. I feel for artists trying to get their stuff heard, so getting into a playlist is a big thing. It would seem a bit of a kick in the teeth if their song was highlighted as being bad by a broadcaster. There are singles review shows on some stations where guests can be a bit more free. BBC stations especially are keen for their talent not to express political views. It is about impartiality. When it comes to the music, it is very much about positivity. Even when it comes to older tracks, the vibe really does need to be positive. There have been cases when a broadcaster has had a slight dig or sighed after a song has been played. That is rare.
PHOTO CREDIT: Freepik
This takes me to the point of this feature: a new BBC podcast, Sidetracked. Available on Sounds from 28th Septrember, it sees broadcaster and old friends Annie Macmanus (Annie Mac) and Nick Grimshaw (Grimmy/Grimmers) unite to have a fresh and almost no-holds-barred look at the week in music. It is a take on the new music and events coming about without the filter and restrictions imposed by their BBC Radio 1 (both used to work for the station). Mac does occasionally broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music. Both still D.J. They have a great chemistry. With decades of radio experience between them, the podcast is a new venture. With the trailer launched yesterday (21st September), this is a podcast that I would recommend. Grimshaw and Macmanus spoke with The Guardian this week about their new venture and what one can expect:
“For both it’s a way of stepping back into radio without any of the usual restrictions. “Music has been work for such a long time so I like the idea of this being from the perspective of a fan,” says Macmanus. “All of the things I didn’t miss about having a radio show – being part of someone else’s agenda, the time involved, and all of the things that started feeling a bit too much – this is the opposite of that. It’s not attached to any network or any radio station specifically. We will talk about, say, Kate Bush. It’s not just youth music.”
“Hey, come on now,” laughs Grimshaw, “we’ve heard of Ice Spice!”
What would they talk about if they had to record an episode today? “It’s the Mercurys this week,” says Macmanus, “so something on that. But it could be anything: from Adele going off at a security guard at her gig, to Beyoncé becoming a mayor of Santa Clara, to Grimmy going to the Proms and having a re-evaluation of his whole life.”
Grimshaw is less specific: “All that stuff that my dad was like ‘it’s a waste of time’, that’s all I want to talk about. Just stuff.”
I witness how an episode could quickly spiral as Grimshaw suddenly remembers getting stuck in the BBC building’s revolving doors with soul newcomer Berwyn. This then leads to a whole section on getting stuck in places with musicians (Macmanus got stuck in a car park in Austria for two hours with Brazilian drum’n’bass legend DJ Marky), before winding up at A$AP Rocky. “He refused to go through the revolving doors and I love the phrase he used,” teases Grimshaw. “He said: ‘I don’t want to go through them because they’re corny.’ Isn’t that fab?” They start thinking about what other mundane things A$AP Rocky might not do. “This is what we’d investigate [in the podcast],” laughs Grimshaw.
“Really important stuff,” adds Macmanus.
The pair are chatty in the way long-term friends are, often finishing each other’s sentences, and while they refer to Sidetracked as indulgent, they’re also aware of the pitfalls of famous-people podcasts and how boring they can become when people just agree and think everything is amazing. “‘Oh, St Barts, eh, remember?’” Grimshaw says in a mock luvvie voice. “I think Annie is always honest, especially about music. Quite a lot of the time we don’t always have the same view. I’ll say: ‘I love this, don’t you?’ And Annie will be like: ‘Not really.’ That makes a good chat.”
“On Radio 1 we haven’t been allowed to … ” starts Macmanus, before remembering that they had a playlist to stick to and so positivity was key, but Grimshaw interrupts.
“I would do a flushing toilet sound over a song if I didn’t like it,” he says.
Macmanus adds: “What I hope will make people interested in the podcast is the transparency and the honesty. If you think something’s terrible you have to be able to say it, in a respectful way”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Artem Sherstnev/Pexels
I wanted to highlight the podcast, though there was also that thing about constructive criticism. I don’t think it is useful or necessary to attack an artist or pour acid on a song. Music is subjective. You can’t mandate a song is worthless or has no place on radio. That said, there is a rather bright veneer across stations. Tracks are always considered to be great! I don’t think all broadcasters across stations feel that. Some songs are a little weak or in need of improvement, yet they cannot have too much flexibility to express anything constructive. The case of Arielle Free recently proved stations do not tolerate one of their own – or guests even - dumping on a track. Even when it is warranted! It does seem a bit of a shame! I sort of think I could not be a broadcaster as I would not hold back in some cases. It is a tough line to follow. I think that it is vital people are open and honest when it comes to music. You do not need to be cruel at all. There is scope to point out anything that can be improved. Or say you don’t like a track. Radio is a great medium for music discovery, yet there is no real challenging or discussion around tracks. Broadcasters do need to be professional in that sense. Keep things respectful to the degree of not daring to annunciate any disapproval. Maybe there is some wiggle room, but there is less freedom and flexibility in that sense than there was decades ago. Perhaps, in a social media age, this is a good thing. I do like when people can challenge one another and have differing opinions on an artist or track.
PHOTO CREDIT: drobotdean via Freepik
In terms of music news and events, again, the line is to leave the news to the news presenters and not really mention anything controversial in a show. Maybe if an uplifting news story comes around regarding music, then that can be integrated into a show at some juncture. There is so much new music around, it is impossible to like all of it! Indeed, reflecting what is written in the music media, it would be better and more honest if some of that was mirrored on radio. Again, without attacking an artist or being needlessly harsh, having that constructive approach. Stretch that to stories. Having a little more reign to debate or candid. Radio can be too restrictive and afraid of causing a storm. I do feel like there can be respectability with more balance and opposing views. A little more than mere niceness or skipping over something altogether. Such a powerful and influential medium, there are big music news stories and events that, at times, do need calling to attention and getting spotlighted. Maybe something controversial or troublesome, how often are broadcaster allowed to have their say?! Full respect and admiration to radio. It is such a precious medium. I am looking forward to seeing how Nick Grimshaw and Annie Macmanus develop the Sidetracked series and what comes up. Its pitch and prospects did get me thinking about the strictures regarding personal expression when it comes to a track or music story – particularly when it comes to offering anything less than glowing. A topic that could do with expanding and discussing more, is radio a little too constrained and sanitised?! Is it best to keep it that way?! What Sidetracked will provoke is…
PHOTO CREDIT: Shalom Osezua/Pexels
SOME interesting questions.