Why are there no real DJs on the radio now?

[Glitterbiscuits]

I was wondering why that most of the DJs now are TV presenters and the like.
Is it to bring in ratings as they are already known?
What happened to the old route of hospital radio and local radio and working your way up to the graveyard shift on national radio and hoping to be promoted to a daytime slot.
Are there still hospital radio stations?
I think radio is a special medium and it's all getting very samey.

I don't know, but they got rid of all the old favourites on my local radio station and now it's some sort of syndicated crap fronted by young people who shout a lot, or do throaty laughs at each other and talk in infuriating mockney accents, all glottal stops and nonsense. No local knowledge or references at all it seems to me, except for the breakfast show.

I have returned to Radio 2 and really don't mind the TV presenter thing.

video killed the radio show i guess

I think it's sad we aren't getting any fresh talent
It's well established names. And sometimes with no knowledge of music

The only thing I listen to on Radio 2 is Sounds of the Seventies with Johnnie Walker, who started on the pirate ships. His holiday stand in is Whispering Bob Harris who used to present the Old Grey Whistle Test. When they go, I go too. The trails that R2 inserts into SOTS for some of their other shows don't make me want to try them out. I'm not interested in a presenter that makes the show all about them. I want decent music and someone who knows what they're talking about to introduce it and do the odd interview. Johnnie interviewed Mark Knopfler yesterday and it was an absolute joy.

Radio X has real radio DJs.

My husband listens to Boom Radio sometimes, mainly the Nicky Horne show, because we used to listen to Nicky Horne on Capital Radio in the 80s. He says the adverts are all for prepaid funerals, life assurance with no medicals, mobility scooters and other things the advertisers clearly think will be pressing concerns for boomers.

Yes, I love Sounds Of The Seventies too, also Tony Blackburn's Sixties programme on Saturday morning. Real DJS, Johnnie and Tony!

Scott Mills started on Hospital Radio

And Smashey and Nicey

Greg James and Clara Amfo on R1 came up via radio. Arielle and Danny are still proper club DJ's.

I don't mind most of the cross over types tbh.

I grew up with the likes of John Peel, Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq and, to really give away my age, 'Tiger' Tim Stevens on Radio Clyde!

The best DJs ATM are, IMO, on BBCR6: people who are passionate about music and communicate it well, but I agree with the OP: so many of them are well-known names already, so I don't know where the new talent is coming from.

I don't really listen to any commercial radio anymore - TBH, very little radio full stop outwith the main BBC channels - so perhaps there are up-and-comers in smaller commercial or regional stations?

Happy to hear of any recommendations, btw!

I really like Charlie Hedges on radio 1, she’s a proper DJ and is quite passionate about it.

Simon Mayo on Greatest hits is the only one I try and catch these days. And I don't mind a bit of Tony Blackburn, he's sweet

Johnnie Walker really loves music and is a natural broadcaster. Whispering Bob too. Blackburn used to annoy me but lately I've warmed towards him. Not many Everetts or Peels coming along alas.

with Johnnie Walker, who started on the pirate ships.

Good Lord, that takes me back. Duane Eddy, Because They're Young, was his theme tune. When he did the evening show on Caroline, people used to drive down to the seafront at Frinton and sit there with their headlights on because (supposedly) he could see them fom the ship.

I didn't know he was still going!

Kenny and Cash (Kenny Everett and Dave Cash) on Radio London were the best double act.

The pirate stations were the best.

Jordan North has just become the new host of capital and he started in uni radio. I think loving from tv is the exception not the rule eh Zoe ball, Graham Norton etc (though I think he's great on radio!)

Heart Radio gave all their regional DJs the boot and then made their breakfast show national with Amanda Holden. I relied on the regional show for it's local traffic news, but I've stopped listening now.

Many radio stations are trying to attract the "yoof" audience now. Look what's happened to Radio 2.
I moved to Greatest hits when Ken Bruce got kicked off his show, I only listen to Pick of the pops on radio 2 now.
I mourn the demise of the local radio stations that all seemed to get bought out and are now syndicated. It's a shame, even though they could be a tad "twee",
They were a mine of info for the local towns and surrounding areas..

He should have stayed there, too.
Absolute charisma vacuum, obsessed with bubble gum pop.

6Music has DJs who are passionate and knowledgeable about music. Many of them are successful musicians themselves: Guy Garvey, Iggy Pop, Marc Riley, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Lauren Laverne, Don Letts to name just a few.

In the 'old days' there was a lot to learn in terms of pushing the right buttons, putting the right carts into the right bits etc, there was a lot more tech skill involved other than the actual talking. Now, it's become a lot more seamless, so the principal skill has to be about resonating with the audience. Those with experience on tv or podcasts will naturally be better than a young lad who's just done a stint on hospital radio.

Agree about Scot Mills, add in Vernon Kay...they oth just prattle on stupidly through the show...just play the dam music.

I love Radio X!

Very few seem to be capable of coming up with their own content. All they drip on about are celebrities. Radio 2 is like a audio version of the DM showbiz pages.

They are a very far cry from Everett Wogan and the like.