Comments on: Sharp Intake of Breath by Clive Dickens

By: fran Bird

fran Bird — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:52:08 +0000

I’ve been with VR since the very beginning, i stayed through the Penk debacle because of the music, (touch n go there though!) Stay true to the listeners please “no rap no crap” Good luck and keep us laughing.

By: Elg

Elg — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:21:17 +0000

I wonder which is going to be the new commercial direction of the radio and if that will influence in the way the radio will be in the internet or not. I mean, ppl living outside Uk, will still be able to listen VR in the internet?
Cheers.

By: Kaz

Kaz — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:45:30 +0000

I have been a VR listener for about 5 years now. Have entered many competitions, have even been a lucky winner and visited Golden Square to watch the Plain White T’s in the Zoo. I have made many many good friends on here, who are no longer virtual friends. I am proud to be part of the VR community, and lets hope the changes are for the better of the radio station and all it stands for.

By: laura

laura — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:40:52 +0000

Im somehow scared… maybe its because Ive been following Virgin for so many years….
Will there be space for us… meaning peeps from abroad… many times there are pall prices and things and we can never take part on them

what about the name,,, do u have it?

By: SHIRLEY

SHIRLEY — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:39:10 +0000

Hello its me again…….I just wanted to say I reckon you have chosen the BEST VIP to represent us all… I havnt personally met Big Al aka ZIPPY but I reckon he is fab……Look forward to the podcast!! Im so excited about all that is going on…..good luck for tuesday! x

By: Cat Hughes

Cat Hughes — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:10:51 +0000

Hello Craig and all @ Virgin,
first, may I wish you every bit of luck with the re-branding of the staion/company. No easy task I’m sure. People being as they are, are subject to the frailities of humankind… we are sceptical and fearful of change in the main; even when change represents a positive thing. I think that will be your biggest primary challenge ith respect to your audience. Its excellent that you’re inviting listeners to comment but its also vital that listeners FEEL they are being valued and their views taken on board. Many companies may purport to ‘care’, when its merely ‘lip service’ and no action. I agree with many of the comments I’ve read; ie. if it aint broke, don’t fix it… so yes, keep the bits that are good and have proven positive responses. Dare to be different too… that’s what has always set virgin apart from other media enterprises; they push the boundaries and chellenge constantly. That’s brilliant. I think as many do, a broader range of music and maybe no repeatworkday would be great. Another feature you never hear on ANY station, which one northern radio presenter did for a while a few years back was this… (and one of my favourites to be honest- ever!) You do the rock football yes? Well, this presenter I’m referring to used to do an excellent slot on a sunday eve for two hours called urban mix or something like… it consisted of a a famous person narrating one of the classics (literary) condensed down for the 2 hour slot, whilst music was interwoven to suit the unfolding storyline. The DJ used to do his own mixes too which were genius! So you had something like ‘ Fall of the house of Usher’, being narrated by say, Edward Woodward, Michael Caine, with music interludes and in the background from a variet of genres ranging from Trance to soft rock, metal, Garage even choral. It was mindblowing!!! Abd different! On totally different topic, I think the competition winnes seem to be too ‘samey’; you have some fabulous prizes being won. However, it always seems to be a person with a vaguely ‘posh’ generic, southern/home counties accent, who conjures up an image of being pretty middle class, white collar and well able to afford the prize they’ve won therefore, their reaction at winning is often dead-pan and bland which doesn’t make for inspiring listenng. Personally, I’d be in seventh heaven and the nation would know it through the airwaves too!!! Instead you’re hearing, ‘Steve, you’ve justwon a luxury trip to necker island, a bungalow in Surbiton and 50,000 a year for life…’ to which you’ll hear the generic accent say, ‘Yeah, thanks. Bye’. Maybe targeting a broader spectrum of possible winners from differing regions/socio-economic groups etc would make for more interesting listening. Thats just my thoughts tho and maybe I’m slightly biassed as I’ve never been lucky enough to get through to a comp, let alone win one of your fab prizes.. even tho I’e been subscribed for ages and a listener for 15 years… you still hear someone whose just won on air say how they got through first time of calling and no, hadn’t been a dedicated listener but just signed up ten minutes ago!!! Thats kind of pants to hear for us who have been loal for years abd never get a look in… or am I being over sensitive? Ok. enough of my musings now. Thanks for taking the time to read this if anyone actually does read it without getting bored before reaching the end… Lotsaluv and every best wish from a vintage listener ( in terms of virginradio listener, not my chronological years….;- / ho-hum! CatXXX

By: David

David — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:38:57 +0000

I agree with all the above, a larger variation to the playlists would be greatly appreciated, perhaps mix the Classic Rock and Xtreme playlists together with the main staion, to heat Ida Maria, Coldplay and then G’n'R would be fantastic. Also when I first started listening to Virgin we had double shot Tuesdays, 2 songs from the same artist made hearing new music better.

Looking forward to the new look station.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:50:47 +0000

Marty from new yawk,
August 27th, 2008 at 9:45 pm:

cojones=testicles

Actually it’s Balls!

By: Chris Williams

Chris Williams — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:32:44 +0000

Good luck with the rebrand guys. I haven’t really listened to Virgin for a while but the news of the rebrand has got me a bit excited :D. On the new station I hope there is more variation in the tunes and that a bigger playlist is introduced. Also, I hope thata you change the imaging/jingles to something less boring. Was on the Virgin website the other day and found some great imaging from around 2000 on there, try and get that sound back again. Good luck and i’ll be listening.

By: sarah campbell-law

sarah campbell-law — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:41:23 +0000

A few years back virgin radio had the no repeat 9-5, It was great not to hear the same songs repeated hour after hour sometimes it seems like the playlist is put on random repeat hourly, but the great dj’s keep me tuned in.
I am a lover of the music on virgin radio but do find all the repeats just to predictable.
Keep the music, just ditch the constant repeats.
Geoff is a legend, his banter is what keeps me tuned in every night, but repeats are too much.
please listen to the listeners, we are pleading with those of above, more music variety and more comps on the website would be cool.
Am i asking for too much.????
x x x