Does Global boss Stephen Miron listen to his own stations?

The Radio Festival is one, which means it's just about time for Global Radio to complain that the BBC is too good for them. Rather than improve their own output, they prefer to demand the BBC enshittifies itself below their level. With the time the BBC is having at the moment, the worry is someone might take them seriously.

Hilariously, Global's Stephen Miron. is convinced the BBC is copying his channels:

Miron said: "Radio 1 is squarely up against Capital, Radio 2 is right up against Heart, Radio 3 against Classic."

Capital is currently playing some chart records. Radio One is hosting a 1xtra themed concert in Manchester.

Heart has just played Beyonce; Radio 2 has got Diana Krall playing a piano session.

Classic FM are soothing listeners with a bit of Chopin; Radio 3 are playing Artie Shaw.

You'd have to have a tin ear to think the stations nearly identical. Mind you, having a tin ear might explain the Global playlists...

Radiobit: Michael Bukht

Michael Bukht, who helped launch two wildly successful radio stations, died last week.

Although his face was more familiar as part of the team on proto-foodie BBC2 portmanteau grub and guzzle show Food And Drink - where he worked as Michael Barry - it was as a broadcast executive that he really made his name.

He was the first programme director of Capital Radio in 1973, shaping a station which would remain more-or-less on the same lines until the Thatcher-driven competition era led to frequency splits and format screw-downs; in 1992 he co-founded Classic FM and remained there until 1997.

Michael Bukht was 69; he had been unwell for some time.

Rick Shaw pulled along by XFM

Back in our distant past, we were around Radio City at the time when the then-management told a new presenter he was going to be known as Rick Shaw on air. So successful was the not-quite-relevant punning name at rebranding him, we can't for the life of us remember what he was called before that.

Now, still with humorous name in place, Rick has joined XFM to take over the drivetime programme in London. In the meantime, he's been at Kerrang Radio, so this is something of a step up. He was always a thoroughly nice bloke, and we wish him well. "Well" might include something better than the broken XFM.

In other radio news, Classic FM has announced Barbie is going to be a presenter on the network over Christmas. The station says it doesn't see anything wrong with having a small chunk of plastic most people dimly remember from their childhoods doing a show, pointing out it already has Simon Bates in the line-up.

Alex James follows Myleene Klass and Simon Bates

Alex James has signed up to present a programme on Classic FM, the radio network which is a bit like being put on hold during a phone call to a company which considers itself a bit blue chip.

James is going to present a programme which is an important addition to its schedules and not simply an invention designed to allow Classic FM to promote themselves off the back of. It's called 'When Classic Meets Pop':

When Classic Meets Pop will feature classically inspired songs such as Barry Manilow's Could It Be Magic, Eric Carmen's All By Myself and The Farm's Altogether Now.

If they hoped hiring Alex would give a breath of fresh air to the station and help break down the impression that classical music fans are a bunch of haughty snobs, they might be a little worried:

"Why would I want to listen to Hard-Fi piffling around when there is Rossini?" said James. "Bring me cellos. Bring me French horns. Bring me a choir. And some cannons, maybe, for the end."

The question might equally be phrased "Why would I want to listen to the man who helped create Naughty Christmas (Goblin In The Office) detailing what music is and isn't acceptable to enjoy", of course.

We feel this is a vindication, but we're not sure of what

As soon as Mark Goodier announces the number one this Sunday, he's off to Classic FM.