LO1 Task 2 'Analysis of Talk and Music Radio Show'

The objective for this task is to analyse a radio show on Sheffield Live, and the radio show I will be analysing in this task is a program known as Spirit of the Wapentake.

A) The purpose of a running order is to let the engineer know when to play/use certain sounds or segments in the radio show as this lets the engineer conduct the broadcast in the correct way so essentially it’s a schedule. For example it lets the engineer know when to play the music, jingle, sound effects (SFX), or even when the presenter(s) comes in or out and in what order they do. The running order is both for the audience and the advertisers/advertisements, as the running order would bring familiarity to the audience, which would create a loyal audience as the audience would be used to the type of order at which the radio show is presented and will therefore be comfortable with listening to Sheffield Lives programs. And as for the advertisements the running order would benefit them by giving them ample space between each other so the audience doesn't get frustrated at the amount of advertisements which often causes you to stop listening to the advertisement, and by giving them space between each advert the listener will stick around and hear the full advert.

The running order of Spirit of the Wapentake is typically the advertisements first, then their jingle (introduction) for their radio show, after which they begin to play songs/tracks, while having a several little breaks in between the songs where they just have a little chat (‘banter/conversation’) with each other and/ or its audience i.e. phone calls/social media/texts from the audience and fans to keep you engaged and interested in the program, they would then typically play some more songs and then take another advertisement break later on and it would typically progress as such throughout the remainder of the episode and the radio show itself.

B) The style in which the radio show ‘Spirit of the Wapentake' is presented is in a very informal and relaxed manner as it consists of the two hosts discussing the show/rock music that is to be played or the two hosts Graham Marshall & Sinead Rankin joking around and having a laugh, the show is presented like this as the audience can then relate to the two presenters and connect to them as people which allows a kind of relation between the presenters and its audience to develop which creates a loyal audience. Another way the radio show appeals to the audience is by how they address the audience, as they talk to the audience as if they are friends and that the audience is with them as they speak (we, us, words which involve the audience) this is used to grab the audience attention and keep it.

C) The radio show uses a lot of slang and ‘banter’ typically associated or relevant with/to the genre of rock, as well as because it’s a rock based radio show it only has rock music on the show. This show is primarily just rock music however it does include media interaction with its audience as well as debates and arguments as stated before ‘banter’ between the presenters.

D) The target audience of this radio show ‘Spirit of the Wapentake’ is between the ages of 14-45 as they play both old and new age rock depending on what day it is so the different episodes (genres of rock) will appeal to different age groups, this would also apply to the gender in which they aim at as the gender may vary depending on the episode playing i.e. whether its old or new age rock however the stereotypical gender will still be male. The spending power that this radio show is most likely to aim at is ABC1 as they would have the money to indulge themselves in comforts such as concerts and music. The lifestyle would again vary as you could have been brought up listening to new or old age rock you’re your parents to your friends therefore influencing your taste in music, you could have even been brought up in an area known for its rock heritage and again been influenced by it.