Cracker: "It says 'Let's b friends', and it's got a b on it"
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Also, some of you would've heard Mike's comments this morning about this thread (yay, we made onto the station we all love!) He referred to it as character assassination, and questioned how some of us would feel if a microscope was placed on us.
As a colleague commented, you hardly need a microscope to notice that Mike is late every day, for instance. A casual glance should do it. And I think generally speaking this thread has been restrained, reasonable, and with views from those who love Mike's show, and those who don't. Mike said this week he isn't someone who "needs smoke blown up his arse." I have my doubts personally, but either way I think it's fair to say he doesn't take criticism well. For the record, nor do I - although I don't read out people's cellphone numbers on the air if I receive a text that's less than complimentary.
I do want to restate what I said originally though - everyone has feelings, and it's hard not to feel hurt when people publicly say they don't like what you do, or the way you do it, etc. Bear in mind the fact that Mike is reading everything being written. Which is not to say you shouldn't say what you think about the changes at bFM, but let's try and keep the ad hominem attacks to a minimum. I think 7 pages and 200 comments into this thread, we've probably said most of what we need to about what we think of the Mike Havoc Breakfast Show.
(If you missed Mike's comments re this thread, you can listen here.)
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at a push push, it sounds like he's trippin out on you :)
...now where's my coat ?
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One hour Wire? That's like a decaf soy latte. Or a 'why bother'. Having three 3 hour shows with only three DJs during the main listening times of the day doesn't seem particularly sensible. Variety is the spice, and all that.
I genuinely felt sorry for Mikey listening to that. There have been some great moments in his Breakfast career, and some even happened over recent years, so why not let him move on without the character assassination, as he puts it? I for one have appreciated his music taste, for the most part*. Anyone who loves Jeff Buckley as much as me is Ok in my book.
Oh, and if they stuff up The Rock n Roll Wire with Troy, then they should get their collective heads read.
*(playing Bon Jovi when John Key didn't turn up was pushing a few boundaries)
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Before we do get off the subject of Havoc's show, I do actually want to blow some smoke up his arse. For me as a total outsider but very loyal listener, he's provided some seriously electric radio over the years. Yes, it may be time for change but I think Mike Havoc is a blindingly good radio talent who manages to serve up a daily mix of passion, politics, intrigue, energy and what-the fuck's-coming-next without missing a beat. He may be a tardy chap but I'm always blown away by his ability to deliver the level of energy he does on a daily basis. I think that shows a level of professionalism that many would punch their mums for.
Obviously, it's good that change is afoot but I'm scared for The Wire and I don't like the idea that four or five drive announcers will lose their shows to make room for one announcer and I wonder why Morning Glory is being expanded - it's not exactly hard-hitting is it? I like Charlotte, she's great but it seems more like bFM's foray into easy-listening. Has bFM softened up and gone smooth?
bFM has always been a place to find new stuff and hear new voices. I'd love to see them put someone new and relatively unknown in Mike's place - since when was b about advertising dollars and dividends? Surely it just needs to break even to justify it's existence? I think Ritchie Hardcore would be an awesome choice. Or the girl who's on before Mike in the morning.
In any case, whatever happens I'll still be listening. The alternatives are unbearable. I heard a show on some station this morning while I was in a shop. The jocks were giggling madly about colonic irrigation. It was hilarious...
It's awesome to see such passionate responses on this thread because it shows how important a station like bFM is. bFM has provided the soundtrack for much of my life over the past twenty years and Mike's been a big part of that so respect to him.
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bFM is a great station and it's provided the soundtrack for much of my life over the past twenty years. Mike's been a big part of that so respect to him.
Absolutely. He has been the biggest on-air influence in the station's history, and he's a special talent.
But I wonder if he's having trouble separating people's qualms about the schedule, and space for new entrants, from himself personally.
The discussion this morning was awkward. I didn't feel it was the right time and place to be having it. But oh well ...
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The discussion this morning was awkward.
That was my impression as well. "I'll kind of agree with you as this isn't the place to start my sentences with 'but...'".
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It's a beautiful piece of radio - it's all in the silences. If you ever get bored of being an undergroud media hero Russell, you could always try the diplomatic core.
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plenty of shows on other stations go from interview to interview.
Of course, as does TV. I guess what I was really grasping for was that The Wire has never been that - talk with no music. Part of what makes it special is that it's never treated music and current affairs as things that live in isolation from each other. On a good day, the music gets woven into the narrative, used to underline interviews or provide a counterpoint. Or for sheer comic value...
I would have hated not being able to play my favourite tunes.
...such as following a review of Nigel Latta's AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL first book (a creepy slasher novel) with XTC's Making Plans for Nigel...
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3410,
If you ever get bored of being an undergroud media hero Russell, you could always try the diplomatic core.
So it wasn't just me thinking that.
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Absolutely Mark, couldn't agree more. It's like the inverse of the music on Nat Rad, in the sense that on Nat Rad it's mostly talk with a little bit of music, but it's the same in that those little bits of music are great when it's a good tune - as it often is thanks to the musical programming of Zen...
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The Wire has never been that - talk with no music. Part of what makes it special is that it's never treated music and current affairs as things that live in isolation from each other.
There's a reason for the local habit of following korero with waiata
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The discussion this morning was awkward. I didn't feel it was the right time and place to be having it. But oh well ...
kinda thought you half knew it would eventuate (re your previous comment about feeling uncomfortable). Think it also shows that people can hurt others without realising how cutting their words can be, and obviously for some it may feel like it is extremely personal when one is a major part of the subject matter. I would have taken this personally if I was Mikey. He may be larger than life (a bit much for some) but I reckon he is the best Mikey Havoc there is. Not perfect though,eh? He has my support for keeping his job. Why should he need to forfeit that which he loves and imo is extremely good at.
Keeping it real, both of you, showed me he was hurt and you Mr Brown, were the ever consummate diplomat. Both showed great skill with the silences. Jus' sayin' :) -
Can't disagree with you, Sofie.
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I struggle to see anything in this thread that's unreasonable, Michael's hurt feelings notwithstanding.
The ego-strokes that performing temperaments seek out tend to come bundled with increased public scrutiny. Part of the deal. No one's forcing anyone to live out their life in front of a microphone or a tv camera.
Mind you, I can't imagine this kind of attention over commercial radio jocks shuffling their slots.
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Mind you, I can't imagine this kind of attention over commercial radio jocks shuffling their slots.
There was a fair bit of this kind of angst when Newstalk ZB (unwisely) axed its Chch morning shows for syndicated Leighton Smith and Mike Hosking. I say unwisely cause it took quite a big ratings hit as a result.
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tend to come bundled with increased public scrutiny.
Yeah and as Damian pointed out..
Which is not to say you shouldn't say what you think about the changes at bFM, but let's try and keep the ad hominem attacks to a minimum.
I merely think most of us have a pretty good idea of how scrutiny can very quickly descend into a gutter, and look how many times the media can drag a "well known" there. Hey, because, everyone is different, can we not accept that some are more sensitive than others. I think it's kinda sweet that so much personal offence was taken. To me that means he cares about what all of us actually do think. But, at the same time, if someone is performing for the public and some of the public don't like it, it often is directed at the individuals personal traits, thus making it personal.(and feel like that,if you actually care about your audience)
I personally am sure the bfm wont suffer too much. Hell we got several shows over 168 hours a week. may all of them be filled with happy, happy, joy, joy, and good issues of the day and of course the best music. innit :) -
This doesn't taste right.
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philipmatthews @ The worst thing of the Newstalk cut, is that it happened in a local body election year.
All we need is another right wing radio personality on the CCC. -
Back to b, and the reformatting of the Wire. If it was an hour, we would have missed hearing the interview with the representative from the Catholic Church talking about the abuse scandal and explaining how the Pope is representing God in a direct line from Peter the Apostle. O'Relly? That was interesting, but where else are you going to have discussion about these topics followed by Joy Division Atmosphere?
The music matters, and by and large the DJs know this.
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I've always listened to bfm by downloading their podcasts (I don't have a radio and the internet stream is very choppy at work). The podcasts I downloaded the most were segments from Havoc's show and interviews from the Wire. Up until this thread I didn't realise the Wire ever played music. So this change isn't going to affect me.
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I grew up listening to bFM through the late 80s and 90s and after living in Sydney for the last 12 years I still choose to listen to b over local stations here. It isn't a nostalgic grasp at my youth but merely down to the great DJs, music and general sense of humour that pervades pretty much everything the station does.
When I first got here TripleJ was pretty good but it has changed (or I have) and the only other contenders are community stations like FBi and 2ser, both operating a similar model to b in terms of specialist shows. Where they fall down (musically they are generally great) is a complete lack of humour, grit and niggle that gives a station its attitude. I'm not aware of any DJs from the community stations that have gone onto other areas of radio or TV.
It is a shame to see Mike getting defensive about the changes (though the only public debate I've seen is here on PA) but I think Drive is the best fit for his music and energy. Enjoy the sleep-ins Mike... I look forward to new legacies being created by new hosts, regardless of age.
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