Radio X have released a list of the top 100 British artists.

[Fitzsimmons]

charts.radiox.co.uk/2018/

There's a common theme...

There was an interview with Viv Albertine in the Graun the other day, and most of the BTL comments were terribly misogynistic. Men just can't cope with women doing stuff they consider to be 'their' domain.

There was an article I read about how the music industry over the years had discouraged women across the board, from music magazines limiting female journalists or covering female fronted bands, record labels expecting sexed-up looks and pop-friendly songs, and generally the attitude amongst music fans that if an artist (male or female) had a predominantly female fan base that meant they weren't a serious musician, they were pop or commercial.

Radio X rebranding as XFM is just a continuation of the spectrum - when I occasionally tune in I notice that their choice to appeal to men aged 15 - 35 has accompanied a reduced variety of music, increased repetition of popular songs, and a real lads culture that seems purposefully anti-women. Thank goodness for Spotify and small indie labels but I'm sad if not surprised that there's such a lack of female talent coming through.

This is a radio station pitched at men. Why would they put in any minimal effort to play female musicians?

Because men listen to female musicians too.
Like you I went to a lot of gigs, especially back in the 90s.
I went to L7, Babes in Toyland and Hole gigs and the audience was, oh I don't know - 80% men?
So men do listen to female musicians, but some producer at this station must have decided they don't.

Yes but they went for more mainstream rock playlist. The whole point is its not about music first. Its advertising. They went for the lowest common denominator as playlist policy.

Plus its supposed to be 'laddish', hence the choice of Chris Moyles as lead DJ.

Chris 'I don't like Reggae' Moyles. I used to DJ in a pub he frequented, made sure I played lots of reggae

As a teen I was massively into music - listened to a wide variety of genres and eras. It was very apparent to me that music and certain bands/genres were seen as a male preserve. Totally get Red’s reference to being equated with a groupie! Hated it then and hate it now.
There were some amazing female bands and artists around in the 90s which I actively sought out. Nina Simone is one of my all-time favourites though - my dad had a couple of her LPs which I ‘borrowed’.

I mostly ignore these sorts of lists as it’s the same names which always crop up - nothing to really challenge anyone to broaden their horizons.

Very angry thread from when they rebranded here

I posted in a previous username. Me and my friends tuned in when it started in London >> boys and girls with a shared love of alternative music. Then they take it and they announce this is not for girls. Fuck Them. I don't listen any more but it was quite upsetting - being told that something that was a really memorable thing from my late teens amongst my friendship group was Not For Me. Because I've got a cunt. Huh.

There are only about 10 bands on that list.

So it's for boring ageing fattening men who idolised Oasis and haven't really moved on at all.

Sadly this seems to be quite a big market.

""The station's roots are in pirate radio. In 1992, Xfm launched RSLs in the Camden area of north London. In 1996, Xfm was awarded the final London wide FM licence, beating Capital Gold."

And however many years later they issued a massive fuck you to all the women who tuned in in 1992 and had tuned in ever since.

I was properly genuinely angry about that. I took it off all the cars and work vans and never put it back. Not that they give a fuck.

As far as I'm aware this was a vote by listeners. Are you trying to dictate what music listeners should like.

Liam Gallagher recently said something like, 'The Jam, Stone Roses, Beatles, Stones, Bowie, that's my record collection done'.

Horrendously racist and sexist, and unsurprisingly common amongst music 'fans'

What utter nonsense. What is in his record collection is entirely up to him.

I have no Jam, Beatles, Bowie or Oasis; equally I have no Madonna or Beyonceé , I have very little music of black origin and out of the small amount of MOBO no reggae, hiphop or rap. I have no jazz by any artist.

So it's for boring ageing fattening men who idolised Oasis and haven't really moved on at all

Sadly this seems to be quite a big market

What a horrible comment. Music is so personal. I can't stand Oasis but that is a really nasty, sexist comment.

6 Music is a much better station with some 'indie' but a much more Catholic range of records, both old and brand new. It's rendered XFM obsolete.

If Joni Mitchell was a man she'd be lionised like Dylan

She is. She is regularly fawned over in adoring tones in Mojo/ Uncut/ Q (magazines largely written by and aimed at men over 40/50) She was on the front cover of Uncut a couple of months ago.

So it's for boring ageing fattening men who idolised Oasis and haven't really moved on at all

It's true, though, in the same way that most Cliff fans are relatively old ladies now I'm a bit of a fan

I wish there was a radio station that just played women only/women led bands. That would be amazing

There are loads of American stations such as KEXP, "Little Desk Performance" or "Morning becomes Eclectic" who have live performances of up and coming artists and established indie artists. They are not exclusively female but there is a good mix.

You will find them on YouTube although I have listened to them on intetnet radio.

Try searching for artists like Courtney Marie Andrews or Anais Mitchell or Margo Price or Rhiannon Giddens on You Tube they will take you to the type of stations I am referring to.

*Liam Gallagher recently said something like, 'The Jam, Stone Roses, Beatles, Stones, Bowie, that's my record collection done'.

Horrendously racist and sexist, and unsurprisingly common amongst music 'fans'.*

Wow, who would have thought your taste in music determined whether you were racist and sexist

Am I supposed to say I prefer the Cranberries to the Foo Fighters just because they're female so that I'm not accused of being sexist? I really have heard it all now.

I find the music is very middle of the road since the awful rebrand. Alienated a large female audience and went for mainly men that fancied they were still 'lads'. The music is boring as are the presenters.

It wasn't a rebrand really - was the end of a good station and the start of a really shit one.

Liam Gallagher recently said something like, 'The Jam, Stone Roses, Beatles, Stones, Bowie, that's my record collection done'.

Horrendously racist and sexist, and unsurprisingly common amongst music 'fans'.

I’m no fan of Liam (dickhead) or Oasis (shit) and it’s annoying to have to appear to defend him, but that is a ridiculous thing to say, Shack.

Thanks for the heads up Lass - always good to have recommendations for lesser radio stations.

"So it's for boring ageing fattening men who idolised Oasis and haven't really moved on at all

Sadly this seems to be quite a big market

What a horrible comment. Music is so personal. I can't stand Oasis but that is a really nasty, sexist comment."

But what they did isn;t sexist at all.

Right, whatever.

So, when women are told that something they have listened to since it's inception is not "for them" - that's fine.

Looking at that playlist it is quite apparent who the market is - they booted all the more interesting people and are indeed left with men who idolise oasis.

Is this your "scene" lass? Was it your scene? You seem to think you know a lot about it. Did you tune in when they launced in N London in 1992 with all your mates, and listen avidely, and support them, only to be told a couple of decades later to fuck off? That's fine is it? But identifying the cohort of middle aged Oasis followers who listen now as being that is wrong in some way?

Fucking hell they TOLD women not to listen - middle aged women who are probably fattening too, who had been there since the VERY START and yet these women are told that is it US who are sexist.

Christ on a bike.

By the way I know quite a few ageing fattening men who worshop Oasis, I don't think they'd be upset or surprised to be called that, but rather proud that is the whole POINT of that genre, you are who you are, and fuck everyone else, and if they don't like you, punch them in the face (or maybe these days glare at them a bit because you've got the kids with you after all).

xfm rebrand

gah, radio x. Mainly seems to be aimed at middle aged men who still want to be Damon Albarn circa 1998 and who very much like the sounds of their own voices... I wouldn't give much credence to any list made by them tbh.

At the end of the day, it’s just a list not the law.

Let a demographic like what it likes.

And write your own list.

Dukes You made a nasty, sexist and ageist comment about all male Oasis fans.

So, when women are told that something they have listened to since it's inception is not "for them" - that's fine

Who told "women" that? Or do you mean some idiots on a discussion board told you? And that then justifies your sweeping generalisation?

Looking at that playlist it is quite apparent who the market is - they booted all the more interesting people and are indeed left with men who idolise oasis

And so what? They have found their market and cater for it. It is a bit like me listening to Radio 1 and complaining they don't play opera , switching to Radio 3 and complaining I never hear any Emmylou Harris.

There are loads of ways of finding new music (Mojo et al are a very good one with sampler cds/ links to web-sites ) ; loads of you tube channels and internet radio.

Definitely a certain demographic: male Xennials.

They definitely don't want to be Damon Albarn though; it's all Oasis.

And Damon lovers moved on as he did.