Read this: 21/07/2023 Radio 4 Feedback

BBC sounds music Radio podcasts BBC Radio was getting the job.

I would expect it for me Radio 4 programming has become prescribed unpredictable the BBC's annual report was published last week if suddenly bigger than usual but all results any better.

Also are in our vauxbox to chat about comedian Maisie Adam series the beautiful.

I love to recommend this so to you can like breaking down two bars more women in comedy women's football stats double and for many listeners to this year's BBC Proms the northern soul concert came as a very welcome surprise make some of the people on the radio.

I was absolutely related to hear working class culture being.

You like the Royal Albert Hall as it was by other news at the BBC at 240 pages long.

It is a hefty Tome full of statistics on the BBC's performance over the past year but what is it all really mean for the listeners 110 spec that is very clear is the Enormous financial challenges facing the BBC half a million households are paying the life compared to last year director-general Tim Davie has committed to publish in a plan about the future role of the BBC by Christmas and the government licence fee review exploring alternative to fund the BBC will be a night in the autumn here Simon McCarroll head of the department of media and music at Glasgow Caledonian University I think critically.

In the report and for senior management of the BBC are the decline in trust and the Decline and audiences and I think essentially is to do with the public service remit and how is manifested and how that relates to the licence fee Tim Davie says at the House of Lords communications committee that advertising and subscription lead you in a totally different direction from the current model of a licence fee.

Do you think that's true? I think probably that is true.

Yes and then you can either have essentially attacks which we got the moment the Office for National Statistics classifies the licence for using tax you can have advertising or you can have subscription or a mix of the three I think the difficulty the BBC has when you step back and look at it is that

Revenue is substantially down 3.7 billion commercial revenues app and it's doing everything you can to chase commercial revenue therefore difficult to defend the public service remit and if you think about that for the audiences in the UK from where I'm sitting the BBC looks quite expensive is £13.25 a month to the same as NOW TV which is £13.99 a month Netflix and Amazon about cheaper at the BBC has got revenues of 2.1 billion and a reduced licence fee so I think in essence the public service remit is at the heart of the day and how the funding model changes, is is a really big for any question for everybody you mention trust and one of the first things that you see in this report is a large photograph of the chairman, Richard Sharp understatement from him.

He as you know how to

After the controversy over his relationship with Boris Johnson and concerned about impartiality the release of the statement itself was completely overshadowed by the Scandal Edwards last week and the main news story from this report was actually in fact about Gary Lineker still being the BBC's highest paid star despite the tobacco over his and see on social media, so when we look at those figures for trust in BBC News and we see that they are done year on year and they're also done for accuracy and for impartiality.

Do you think that's just bad luck for the BBC or is this a more existential crisis, so it's a real trend the numbers show that and I think it's partly to do with social Force so I think it's partly to do with the atomization of public opinion and the kind of growing different groups across the United Kingdom but we are getting to the point.

Purity the population are going elsewhere for news and current affairs and so that really is a signal that something has to change for the BBC particularly in the world especially and social change through the rapid then.

I think you need to be much clearer about what the values are and how they relate to the public service remit the report says simple goal is public service content and services available to everyone for the good of all and yes the figures don't necessarily back that up.

I think the problem is a wider OneRepublic interest for one audience is partisan for another audience and that's increasingly to my mind makes it more and more difficult to establish the Merciless to the principal for broadcasting and that means that you're definitely not going to please everybody all the time we can clearly see from the figure that the reports that the media Brands by

Show that while 97% of people over 55 use the BBC that falls away with each demographic and when you get down under 16s more engaging with YouTube on the BBC we heard this from Alexandra Kingston in London I've just been the sink back.

I was interested to hear the listening figures are down to BBC eventually when they have no listen, so we'll start listening to the Christmas and keep the not giving them what they want the Relentless pursuit of awoke and young audience is eventually going to be the death of radio for hopefully we can wake up we also had this from Peter cook for me Radio 4 programming has become prescribed unpredictable majority of programs to sumera political agendas.

Race gender climate in criticism was so cool conspiracy theories on content is frequently interrupted by program and podcast trailers and intrusive music backgrounds.

I wonder Simon if you think the BBC is actually alienating a lot of its audience certainly some of our listeners in The Pursuit of a younger demographic if you want ready listening anyway is the danger that this policy just doesn't work.

I think it's a yes and I know you can pick statistics.

I think they really show that there has been really successful branding for young audiences particularly online and so and you can also show that linear television linear programming is dropping away anyway across every single platform and ask Newquay area thinking the last year is that the BBC is comparing itself with the same metrics on reach and so on to other commercial broadcasters and I think it needs to get away.

That's and start thinking about how the understand themselves with perhaps a slightly different set of metrics nice specifically in Scotland and Wales there is the percentage of adults who think the BBC is effective in reflecting people like them that stands at just 50% You're talking to me from Scotland have you got any I don't know why that is if you look right Across The Nation so if it Northern Ireland Wales and Scotland and England actually lesson England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland drop nineteens engagement sale fencing in Scotland this come down the last three years from 77% 68 wheel similar from 76 down 72% of adults in the Northern Ireland with down from 76 to 67% about 10% So there is an issue with programming in the nation.

Of the United Kingdom but I also think there's an issue in which you know the structure on governance issues that relate to that for instance and my own particular bugbear has been art music programming have been harder head.

Yes in the annual report it shows that their 25% down on their prescribed quarter to the Ofcom quotes of broadcasters delivery was 175 hours and they only delivered 131 hours, so that's 44 hours at quarter Dome so the other thing that goes saved as these really significant cuts to the BBC singers to some of the specialist music programming in Scotland but also across the UK go because in the end.

He's our programs that no commercial broadcaster.

Would make one of the areas that has been highlighted as the reality of how the pushchair.

Mine can exclude people who don't have digital and we've seen that very clearly with the proposed changes to local radio the seems to be some mixed messages here because Tim Davie acknowledges listeners have an intimate relationship with local radio presenters.

He called local radio precious, then he also said that it wouldn't be right under his 10-year not to make progress towards online service is really an area for the BBC should be shining because Netflix and Amazon are now or Sky they're not going to make these programs.

You know they're not making local review the BBC absolutely should be in those Communities making this problem and they do of course they do make fantastic programs in local radio Leicester and television absolutely is an area that you can see there's an absolutely clear causal link between the public service remit and local radio and I think yeah that would seem to be the wrong direction if you want to.

Strengthen the argument for the licence for use attack.

No, I'm conscious of this comment from Theresa can you please stop all this negativity of yourself.

I think the main difference between commercial radio stations in the BBC is at the BBC is so so critical I hear Radio 4 constantly young people do not listen to it, but I know plenty of young people who do talk about how many listeners you do have we need you and this means a little bit more robustness and a big TV on your side people do really care about the BBC is doing fantastic things in terms of programming for entertainment for information and education during the pandemic many people would highlight the educational aspects that the Bitesize in other programming had a huge effect and was a hugely valuable part of an

Lights, I think it's you to stay but it is really quite a fundamental moment over the next year so and the bait needs to be a good one in McCarroll thank you if you would like to share your thoughts on anything you've heard on BBC audio.

You can leave us a voice message at 0345 for standard charge landlines and mobiles will apply you can also send us a WhatsApp voice note to the same number or you can tweet us at BBC R4 feedback this of course is promise and the BBC Proms is widely regarded as the world's greatest classical music festival to this they were dancing in.

The Royal Albert Hall and singing and screaming and raising its domed roof with the signs of northern soul classics the music came from the 60s and 70s and had it in Detroit and Chicago but it became cherish to in clubs across the midlands and the industrial north of England the problem was a collaboration between six music and the BBC Concert Orchestra by DJ Stuart Maconie from Berwick-upon-Tweed a listen to absolute joy and a huge smile on my face to the northern soul prom.

I was absolutely related to hear working class culture Dinner venue like the Royal Albert Hall to the Proms the commissioning it because I can't stop being mean I can't stop smiling to hear that music again and to know that people would.

I think there's an absence of talcum powder, but I understand that get being the Royal Albert Hall but bravo everyone concerned I live in South London now have time for many years, but I'm from the northwest tonight.

I can't Show Live at the very end, but then I listen back to it all to Sunday morning whilst cooking my breath far too small to be doing back tops in particularly dangerous when you're cooking bacon, but it was lovely to hear those songs Katie Williams and his collaborators an interesting program.

What is not my fault by someone Radio 3 presentation of music music world music you've always been a big northern soul fan.

Haven't you? Just tell me how you got on from? I'm from that would like to think of myself as a capital of Northern Soul Blackpool in Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester might just be that it was the casino club with the Legendary we consider all night happened and 12-13 I grew up in a time where every cafe every pub jukebox youth club would play this record.

I thought which are an iPhone with big hits and then I went to college university realise I hadn't heard them what happened considered to be in the classics of these people didn't know them so it was a real.

Records flops usually made in America in the mid 60s to the early 70s rediscovered a few years later by generation of kennel club goes and DJ clubs, north and Midlands and became the centre of devoted passionate musical coat centred around dancing and collect at the prom to my great Delight this Proms was a huge hit with our listeners.

Tell us a bit about you can claim my idea.

I mean it's going out of love to do but I think I don't have to be the artistic side of the problems came up with the idea because of the last few years of pop music at the Proms Stuart the Promised but there is a real trans now in you know and orchestra plays Hacienda Classics or indie hits as you've never heard that before.

A little bit cordially sceptical she say about that because I can sometimes that's a bit of a gimmick and in this case don't want it was suggested to me not just because I love northern soul but I can see that there was a solid reason to do this because so many of those original records usual northern soul tunes feature extraction feature strings feature brass feature tuned percussion, but they were made on very low budgets in small studio independent labels in America that people themselves would love to hear them with a proper concert orchestra played in a fantastic venue joy.

They are so full of drama passion romance enjoy the exact sense to do it in this weather and if you were sucking your listeners to Jackie Wickes like that she was so pleased to see working-class culture being celebrated in a venue like the Royal Albert Hall and that really resonates doesn't but I couldn't agree more Jackie that's something really close to my heart.

The original music in this case is good.

It's a sense of kinship between working class black people in the Industrial heartland of America and their counterparts across the water and I'd love that and I also love this is just out from being given the respect it deserves.

I love the problems and blood classical music I like to learn horse riding squeaky Gate like people find them, but I also love popular.

This is great popular.

There's no diminution of quality here at all.

I would be absolutely fine anybody you said you know this is not play this is great music to bring music to Ordinary People at an affordable price and and I wasn't in the street and you know a couple of nights after my prom if I can call you and take ownership Brooks Violin Concerto was played to Great acclaim.

That is a piece of pop.

Tainted Love by Gloria Jones Ibiza popular popular art whatever you want to call it kind of treatment, but the only criticism we've had of this comes from Judy Williams and a few others to why this particular problems wasn't televised would you like to see it on TV brilliant well, that's going to get a good audience then this has been a huge success for you.

Have you got do you know what backstagers that final cause would die in a way that inspiration myself and Joe Dolan the gentleman for the we've got to do this again.

I would love to do it again.

I also don't mean to be a company for the BBC today.

People in that room would not your typical proper a lot of them.

They won't be coming from all over the midlands and the North Pole by consumers of the BBC Radio 3 to a fantastic showcase for those things that the BBC does to answer your question Direct I would love to do more.

I would love to take this to Symphony Hall Birmingham in the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester wherever people would want to listen to it.

So let's do you have a personal highlights from the amazingly well.

Yes, I did with all due respect to speak moments that happen during the evening.

I slipped away into the promise.

Just to get a feel for the last bit of a show and Daryl Smith sang Frankie valli's the night.

And I think a lot of people to hear that voice come out of that frame from Darwen and Salford anything credible and I looked up and I saw that on tier of the Royal Albert Hall and there a lot of them all the way to the top of the building people up and dancing to look at it on the TV is on your success and you can cause listen to the northern soul prom on BBC now.

The women's football World Cup has just kicked off in New Zealand and it's the biggest yet, but women's football as long fought against unequal treatment and unequal access to resources that something that comedian Maisie Adam doesn't shy away from in a Radio 4 series The Beautiful game from AZ football has always been there even when all the signs were screaming at it.

Sport for her rose and America play for the Southeast London team the Deptford ravens, they came into a vox box to listen to The Beautiful game and tell us what they thought of it.

I am from South East London I've always lived there a primary school teacher.

I have been for about 10 years and I'm aka I'm also from South East London I work in the charity sector year is 2006.

You're 12 years old and you and your family have just moved house to a small village in North Yorkshire unpacking your lava lamp inflatable chair and looking for the perfect spot mirror from IKEA that perfect sound a football being booted into Oblivion I really like that kind of the local storage.

You take us along on what it's like growing up as a young girl.

He's really into football I played for local church youth club team but again was the only girl playing alongside was essentially.

Fire boys when you're the only girl on that and then see how that grows being aware gendered sport it was really funny because the comedian.

Yeah, I wasn't really aware of Maisie Adams comedy before listening to this.

I love sound up but I haven't seen you for a while and I really enjoyed the format.

I enjoyed the chronology of it, but she starts as a 12-year old in the first episode and she ends in the present-day right now and it's kind of a journey of her football story the dolly piggy of course in that.

When was the first episode of she spoke about how she ruined every one of the pitch and she really exceeded expectations had she not they might have gone away with girls can't play football and that's really annoying.

Yeah, when we play in the park with train exact every week.

There's always teenagers.

They're saying this and then sport and that's so silly women in our twenties and thirties and quite busy having a great time playing.

I'm still get that is not for you and that was telling the message of episode wasn't it was this isn't for you football match like a Yorkie bar was not for the sexism wasn't blatant there was no gross Logan above the stadium literally spelling out that it wasn't for girls no pictogram of a woman with a red line through it appeared on-screen match of the day.

It was positive in general.

There was something there that she wasn't happy about and we aren't happy about in women's football but overall it was a really do anything with time might say is that as it's her experience as a white woman.

She hasn't kind of address the problems when I seen with Diversity in the women's specially the England team who have an all-white starting 11.

What is the women are doing so well and I don't know if Maze experience addresses all women's experiences football at that you want to pay more about that and maybe is more.

Yeah.

I agree that actually what I was thinking of when I got to the full episode because I assumed it was all these wider issues in women's football the fact that the entire England team is like the majority blonde not even like just wow that was always quite when I move to Brighton in 2017.

I didn't know anyone and so in order to rectify that and to feed my desire to play football again.

I found a local team who now going to the Brighton seagulls seagulls describe themselves as an inclusive Football Club for women and non-binary people in Brighton and Hove and exactly that she's seen how inclusive is she saying it's really interested to the lgbtq plus community and that's really embraced.

The women's football where is like.

I can't 2023 but in the men's game is still very few if

Footballers and it's such a funny contrast it's really shopping cos it doesn't make any sense but you can understand why that's the case because of the very culture me spoken about your 29 years old and you're performing the final episode of a Radio 4 series on women's football you think it's gone well the audience recording at Komedia comedy club in Brighton seem to have enjoyed it inclusive.

I'm kinda wondering and I wonder if you thought this do like who the audience were for this show because she went it was in Brighton and it was a live show you could hear the audience laughing and felt like the audience people that were already found the movie and the people that were already maybe your friends affairs or people that were kind of on the same page with her already because I'd like to feel and see the reaction of this show on people that maybe went because of women's football I hadn't considered when I would like to help that would really speak to them as well, because I love to recommend this show to lots of people I want to recommend this podcast to lots of people like breaking down to women in comedy and women.

Women's football stats double my new face on the amount of healthy women have been on Comedy bills until fairly recently.

I think it's a good parallel for women and football and women in comedy is the football is for everyone no matter who you are.

That's why it's the beautiful game.

Thanks to Rose and and you can listen to Maisie Adam the beautiful game on BBC signs well.

That's all for this week from me.

Thank you so much for listening and for giving us your feedback.

I'm and the producer is Jill Davies and feedback is a whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4 you need a problem with technology mate.

We've made it.

Complicated I mean it's filled with jargon, and buzzwords.

Really doesn't need to be so I am gonna fix it understand tech and AI is a new series from BBC Radio 4 with I've got to get some great guests to help me explain everything from getting online to avoiding the Artificial Intelligence apocalypse, so I'll see you there subscribe to understand on BBC sounds.