The Producer’s Blog – Phil Critchlow – Creative Director – TBI Media

I’ve been making radio for over 20 years, the first ten at the BBC and independently now for another 12, including an inspiring run at Unique working for Tim Blackmore and Simon Cole. After four years as Director of Programmes there I decided to start my own ‘thing’.

As a Producer and Exec Producer I’ve always been particularly passionate about music based radio of all kinds. Since beginning the new business we’ve produced symphony orchestras for Classic FM, the BBC Jazz Awards twice and some of the biggest Rock acts in the world for various clients. After helping to make thousands of hours of radio in all genres though, the one question that emerges during the majority of productions (at the very least when someone has to write the programme billing) is ‘what’s The Big Idea’ ? What’s going to separate this production from the others. What’s that simple, easy to communicate element of the programme which will draw a listener in ? And so – TBI Media was born in 2006.

Since then we’ve produced documentary programmes, comedy and music events for the BBC, on-line content for a number of big corporate brands including ‘The Download’ for Yamaha and, I’m very happy to say, music and documentary output for Commercial Radio. Over 10 years of looking after the Pepsi Chart at Unique I made a lot of friends in this important part of the industry and so was delighted when the then almost launched Absolute Radio committed to supporting our growing business by asking for ideas.

Now – I challenge anyone who’s passionate about making radio not to get a kick out of this kind of thing from a listener.

“Hats off to Absolute Radio for the awesome documentary on Coldplay!  Love it and I’m sure all Coldplay fans say the same.  If ya haven’t heard it yet it’s totally worth the listen.  It’s like an Awesome Christmas present from AR.  Thanks Guys.

So – Absolute have secured access to one of the hottest music events in Europe for broadcast way ahead of the rest of the UK. Put simply it’s the biggest band in the world performing, amongst other things, the biggest album of 2008 live in Munich. After much negotiation it comes with a very cool package of extras. Winners on the plane with the band, full broadcast and on line recording permission and the promise of in depth interviews.

All as good as it gets really, and a great highlight in the launch calendar of a new national radio station. But, how do you cover the whole thing in a genuinely different way, using radio to convey the essence of the occasion to the people who couldn’t be there? The concert will undoubtedly be amazing but what’s the best way to get behind the Coldplay machine and truly reflect of the whole experience on air?

Well – first you decide that it won’t be a simple concert relay, it’ll tell a great story that draws the listener through. Then you allocate two and a half hours of the schedule starting with a highly produced audio diary from Christian OConnell to provide context for a full relay of the gig. You plan to mix drama with comedy with ‘reality’ to create vivid pictures, capturing the emotion as it happens and fundamentally putting the listener centre stage throughout. So… thanks to some inspired thought from the extended team on the 1st floor at Golden Sq. working with TBI that’s what happened.

First of all Christian was given a micro recorder and asked to capture everything he did in the 24 hours before and during the event. From the planning, to the trip to Munich, to the afternoon and evening of the show, to the journey home. Then the TBI team took responsibility for making a documentary out of all the material gathered and recording the gig in Munich which, in itself, was actually a bit of a challenge.

Two 96 channel Pro Tools rigs delivered to Germany. 88 individual tracks from the band 8 audience mic’s to give the necessary ‘size’ and 3 days of music mixing, the final day with Viva La Vida album Producer Rick Simpson.

In short we were lucky enough to be able to assemble some of the best ears available to recreate one of the most complex live shows on the international circuit. And thanks to a lot of hard work over a hot SSL desk the live sound for the project has just been nominated for the ‘Live Concert Award’ category in the inaugural Radio Academy ‘Radio & Music Forum’ awards.

Although the concert recording was a big technical challenge, it’s the material wrapped round it which we hope brought the whole thing to life for Absolute listeners though. Once the raw material, including some great interviews with the band had been fully transcribed every scene was pre planned, written and compiled in a detailed script. All the dramatised elements were then assembled in a fairly painstaking post production process. The plan was to make sure every word counted and that the narrative held the listener from beginning to end.

And so, station and indie production company combined to deliver ‘Absolute Coldplay’ which based on audience comments like the one above seems to have gone down well. Particular thanks from me and all at TBI to Will Shapland and Rick Simpson for their help with the mix, Yvan Bing and Paul Sutin at Dinemec in Geneva for their help with the recording and of course to everyone in the Absolute Production and on-line teams who helped with an end result that hopefully made all the effort worthwhile.

So – what’s the big idea – well where do we start?

Phil