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FUN AT WHOSE EXPENSE?

Written by UberB from the blog The Uber Portal on 27 May 2008
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The main focus of media is to inform. One of these sources of media which caught my attention was radio. This morning on the 'No.1 knoxman' show the issue at hand was radio. How far has it come and does it still serve the purpose it used to? Invited were the veterans of the radio field, Bob Mabena and others. Representing the new generation was Mo Flava a yfm dj and of course Sbuda.

This is purely a personal opinion ; radio has become a platform for non-essential issues, gig guides and disc jockeys with huge egos who do not appreciate their listeners who ultimately make or break them. One prime example is Chilli M's show. This show rarely has innovative, informative features instead it peppers it line up with skanky pranks, silly jokes and oh, let one not forget the latest party going down this weekend. Yes, some people love to hear entertaining radio which appeals to their youthful side. But when Yfm first started out, this was not the ideal. The ideal was providing a platform for the youth to be heard, issues affecting the youth to be addressed while providing entertainment at the same time.

There's Metro which combines entertainment with informative matter to make for an interesting listen. However in contrast, below the belt dissing is characteristic of Thomas's breakfast show.
702, Talk radio, may not always appeal to Tom, Dick or Harry but arguably has the best presenters and topics. Topics which stimulate the mind, challenge one's general knowledge and ultimately inform of what is happening around the country and why, what can be done about it.
Everybody has their cup of tea, in terms of favourite stations and they are entitled to listen to what they like.
My only gripe is when a wide reaching medium is misused and the line 'Its going down at' is frequently heard.

What's your opinion of modern day radio?
Am I just being a spoilt sport, or sissy, for expecting more quality radio?

46 Comments

Brown Shuga
27 May 2008 16:16

Nice article Uber B

Your Title: FUN AT WHOSE EXPENSE...
I thought you were gonna refer to the Phat Joe skit/skid (ko kasi re re ke sketche lol) Sbu and his "people" did. NOT FUNNY at all and I agree with that lady who called Sbu.
It's 2008 and they are still making fun of Phat Joe's accent? The same accent he had 10 years ago (or whenever) when he did his TV Show. *sigh*
Why are they busy dissing Phat Joe instead of having fun doing the show?? I'm kinda getting tired of it.
Even Metro FM e mo styleng le yona...heard them dissing Phat Joe too & Lupi saying something about Sbu being delinquent or something like that (eish the ingilishi is running away) bayas'khinyabeza maan...

I loved the way Sbu called his guys out after the Benni McCarthy/ Joel Santana piece though...heheheheh much respect for that! (even though I didn't think it was necessary to "force" them to apologize to the listeners)

<<<<This morning on the 'No.1 knoxman' show the issue at hand was radio. How far has it come and does it still serve the purpose it used to? Invited were the veterans of the radio field, Bob Mabena and others. Representing the new generation was Mo Flava a yfm dj and of course Sbuda>>>
And? I missed that talk, anything interesting mentioned?

BTW: Found some interesting discussion HERE about Y, Radio & Sbu.

<<<Am I just being a spoilt sport, or sissy, for expecting more quality radio?>>> I don't think you're spoilt, it mainly depends on what each person wants really.
In the morning I wanna hear NEWS (Entertainment, Politics, Sport, everything) & honestly I don't care much about the music then. In the afternoons however, I wanna relax, laugh, hear good music so I listen to Glen for the laughter & whenever they play music (ooh Metro's music bathong) I change to YFM & pray that there is a song playing coz I don't like listening to the guy on that shift, it was easier when Dineo was there.

Long ass reply...let me shut up...

Brown Shuga
27 May 2008 16:26

Eish sorry, I obsess about radio these days so here's another interesting forum discussion on the topic
http://www.biz-community.com/Forum/416/59/15790.html

Bra Bizza
27 May 2008 23:23

Listen to Gareth on 5 in the morning....he has a way of discussing important issues in a lighter way....cant stand all these other breakfast shows....and then Fresh in the afternoon.....

Toxic
28 May 2008 00:32

Uber B, i am at a complete loss when someone asks what my favourite radio station is cause that doesn't exist anymore.

There was a time when YFM was the only station i listened to but now i'm such a restless listener that i tune in to every station for a bit of everything:

YFM for the music
Metro- errm skip this. i used to listen to Lupi in the morning but Thomas gets on my nerves so much i can't listen anymo
Highveld-Wackhead's stunts in the mornings
Kaya-the whole wedding thing and i like listening to phat joe (Stevie i can learn to tune out)
5fm-Gareth, Fresh and Anele and Grant

And then if none of the above provide any entertainment, it's CDs or classic FM or any of the other stations that cater for a specific group (Lesedi, Phalaphala, Munghani etc).

So in a nutshell radio is no longer what it used to be and i guess it's a change that's inevitable.

Renegade
28 May 2008 00:54

Guys, I think Sbu is good, so I don't understand why he feels the need to resort to dissing other dj's...I mean honestly.
And those skits of theirs sometimes? Do ppl find humor in those things? Hai.

BS, thanks for those links, interesting reading.
And I have to agree with you here:
It's 2008 and they are still making fun of Phat Joe's accent? The same accent he had 10 years ago (or whenever) when he did his TV Show. *sigh*
Why are they busy dissing Phat Joe instead of having

UberB, nice article, but radio is really something else these days.
Like Tox, I find myself tuning in to everything, after Wackhead's prank, i go to Sbu, who'll irritate me by dissing Phat Joe or somthing, and I'll go to Khaya, they'll eventually play a boring song, then i'll go to Gareth, then Bad Boy, and as soon as BBK starts talkin I get peeved off, and the cycle begins again!

Honeypot
28 May 2008 01:27

Thanx Uber B, very informative.Sbu is good Dj, however I think sometimes he can take things too far and not realise his sense of humour does not humour our senses, Yesterday Somizi Mhlongo aka the Divo called in to tell Sbu that he did not appreciate the skit they did about his court case ruling. He was really upset and Sbu just kept on making fun of him. He has ample talent and the dissing of Phat Joe and Bad Boy T, is so outdated, he has enough talent to hold down the show. I used to listen to P Joe but this 2 strangers and a wedding sort of put me off, and Bad Boy T I listened to him just for Regina's Comments. Radio is all about the listners but somehow other Dj's just love the sound of their voices and forget that there millions of people tuned in to their show, I am all for freedom of speech but some ppl can really take it too far.I mean they just shoot their mouths off as if they are talking to their friends, there is no discretion at all( Bakhuluma amahlazo on live Radio)

UberB
28 May 2008 01:43

I totally agree with all of you. Firstly Dj Sbu's show.
he has the right idea, trying to uplift the community (he tooks goods to the displaced people of Thokoza)and exploring issues which affect society(He has a media watch dog feature) which is all good. But he loses the plot when he does tasteless skits which can be offensive. His dissing of Phat Joe is so unecessary, they used to be colleagues for goodness sakes! To outdo competition petty jokes and dissing is not needed, just focus on giving the listeners what they need.
but somehow other Dj's just love the sound of their voices and forget that there millions of people tuned in to their show
definitely, it seems that reckless comments are the order of the day.

Fluffy Head
28 May 2008 01:57

I actually love the Phat Joe skit,

Sbu and gang: Are you suffering from fat lips
Phat j: No I'm suffering from impandla
Sbu: Are you suffering from fake american accent
Phat: No I can't speak any language
Sbu: There is a new medicine available called memeza.
memeza mama..

Well I bet if u tune in to Kaya or wherever the dude is, he's saying something ridiculous about Sbu...Its actually how things go when DJ's fight over a time slot...Its entertaining.

Fluffy Head
28 May 2008 02:06

belz
28 May 2008 02:31

Nice one Uber B. I actually sometimes shake my head when listening to what crap people talk about. I listen to Gareth every morning, he's funny and he does have a way of discussing important matters lightly, like Bizza has mentioned. Kaya is nice on Sunday afternoons, Highveld is also a good station, Yfm, eish angazi i rarely find myself listening to anything on that station, Metro........ , LOL @ "its going down" i know Uber, i know.

realist
28 May 2008 02:52

In the morning I listen to JR on 702. If he rants and rave about something I am not interested in I switch to safm. I am impressed with Thabiso but she needs to improve on her listening ability. If she does that I am definitely sure she’s going to be the best.

09h00, Listen to either Redi on 702 or Tebogo on safm. This Redi can rant and rave about anything petty. Of the two shows none is my favorite, depends on the topic under discussion. What I like about Redi: she seems to speak her own mind and this is what I like about a talk show host. The problem I have with her, she seems to be struggling with words and as such she cannot express her views eloquently so that it makes sense. On Tebogo’s show, the guy to me is average. Maybe this has got to do with sabc; too lazy to look for talent and they do not allow their talk show host to speak their own mind or they are afraid of being criticized.

12h00, stick with Chris gibbons on 702. When the advert comes switch to safm. Isaac Phaahla needs to improve on his interviewing skills. Is it that they are afraid to speak their own minds or they are too scared to be critisised? Even on Thabiso’s show it is just not worth it to listen to.

13h00, if Jenny on 702 has something worthwhile to listen to I stay tuned. On the other hand Thabiso on safm to me she is mediocre. I tried giving her a chance but nah it is not worth it. The topics she comes up with are just not worth it for me to listen.

As can be seen I am more interested in talk shows. When it comes to music I switch between stations and as long as they play music I stay tuned.

18h00, listen to John Pearlman on Kaya. If the topic under discussion is interesting I stay tuned, if not switch to 702 business with Bruce Whitfield.

When Yfm was still the best I used to enjoy Khabzela on Saturdays when he used to speak to criminals in prison and when house music was the thing. After Khabzela I will listen to Glen mixing his own version of house music. On Sunday I will listen to Oskido doing his own thing with house music. Now I think house music is outdated, I do not bother to listen to any house.

Cnglemother
28 May 2008 03:02

I have become childish when it comes to radio, hip-hop channels for a nice tune, BBK put me off listening to the Lupi&Thomas show completely.

I now religiously listen to Mark Pilgrim's Top 40 on saturday for that 1Gig MP3 i have been trying to win - dont know for how many weeks. Wackehead is my daily dose as my liftclub lady listens to 94.7. I am not so not into radio and very clueless when in comes to YFM but i used to be one of their frequent callers in my younger years.

Radio does not have the same appeal as it used to, dont know if its the recent abundance of other forms of media that have captured our attention.

Realist you listen to a lot of the stations I forgot sometimes they exist (702/SAFM) LOL!.You should see the way I flip channels after realising i have tuned into one of the by error.

lepogo
28 May 2008 03:17

MADENZA
28 May 2008 03:31

guys i dont know if i am the only one but i just dont like DJ Sbu, his ego is so huge, i used like on the Y-lens but not anymore wa mbora staight.

lepogo
28 May 2008 03:35

Sorry bout the hiccup-I am always listening to the radio-always is in fact an understatement-and to tell you the truth I hate the Sbu show passionately.

And sooo many "presenters" are merely thereto feed us their scrambled thoughts and idiotic rumblings-I mean who in their right minds will sit up and think of such a genius and never thought of topic of whether WWE is real or not..Or pseudo intelligent bile frequently spewed by Thomas and his muppet minded friends in the morning???

The only reason I still tune is to drown the monotony of driving alone and the cconstant nagging by my wife-other than that Sbu should stop resurrecting Khaba's show and his antics,he is not him and too "clean"to be such a great character...

And thanks for the great topic.

Miss K
28 May 2008 03:37

I've chosen 5 fm as the lesser of the 2 evils. YFM: i cant stand the DJs, Metro: they really play crap music when they set their minds to it. I'm still waiting for the day when Chilli M's show will start and end withouth him talking about panties, sex, one night stands, cheating, etc. He plays great music but the guy is a sex pevert or maybe im just not his targeted market.....

Cnglemother
28 May 2008 04:49

>>to tell you the truth I hate the Sbu show passionately<< dont let the fans hear you say this LOL! go to Sbu's blog on the YFM site and you will see how he is idolised and worshipped by his loyal listerners. Khaba was a legend, so original.

realist
28 May 2008 05:59

@ cnglemother: You should see the way I flip channels after realising i have tuned into one of the by error

You are kidding!! Lol

nokubonga
28 May 2008 09:25

go to Sbu's blog on the YFM site and you will see how he is idolised and worshipped by his loyal listerners. LOL...uyahlekisa one !!!!

Dimago
28 May 2008 14:50

I hardly listen to Y and I tuned in about 2 days ago, heard Sbu diss Joe, and I thought to myself Sbu should know he's bigger than that and does not have to resort to such tactics. Another reasonable I hardly listen to either metro or Y is bcos I feel the dj's are all about self promotion...So i'm between SA-FM (80% of the time) and 702 (they have way too many ads)

realist
28 May 2008 22:49

I think the dissing of Joe they copied from him when he was still working at Y. Remember he used to diss Penny Lebeyane about anything Penny did. Also he used to have a go at Felicia Mabuza. Personally I like his accent but not his show. This two strangers and a wedding drive me nuts, I just do not see the point for this crap.

talking about panties, sex, one night stands, cheating, etc.
This used to be the order of the day when Gareth was working at 702. Has this guy finally grown up or improved since he moved to 5fm? The religious mob used to bombard 702 management with complaints to get rid of the guy. The BCCSA used to get endless complaints about the show.

Vesa
29 May 2008 00:18

Nice one UberB.....

The below the belt dissing is just whack! I hate it. I find myself not listening to radio much lately.

Gareth also has his moments, there was a time when he kept on ranting about Britney Spears and Mama Jackey for many many days and I lost interest in his show. He just doesnt know when to stop...

tha - bang
29 May 2008 00:24

I think radio stations like Y appeal to a more younger generation,as soon as you start having issues with the radio not giving a voice or a platform for constructive thought and insight.Then its time to move on,cause the people who listen to Y are there for the music, the pranks and the awful bravado.
but generaly radio is dead for me as medium,long live tv.

Fluffy Head
29 May 2008 01:49

A wise person said something very profound once:

Take everything else seriouslly but do not take yourself very seriouslly.

Laugh a little.

Have fun

Its supposed to be a joke, enjoy it_who cares if its dissing someone or whatever....I'ld rather be laughing at stupid jokes than being stressed in traffic..

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 02:00

I tried Kaya this morning for the wedding show but that Steve B is another BBK, sounds like he chewing gum. Thank Gaad the wedding is 2moro and i dont have torture myself anymore. And that Eva woman who wants the tickets drove me nuts.

Vesa i think Gareth had a thing for Britney back in the day, the obsession was just too much.

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 02:06

Fluffy some humor is plain dumb, maybe we have grown old LOL. I must admit there was a time Sbu kinda antics cracked me up but now I am just too old for all that Hoyi-Hoyi, Hola kadah Sbudah! WTF

UberB
29 May 2008 02:09

And? I missed that talk, anything interesting mentioned?
That talk was part 2, part 1 took place last week. They were debating radio and how far it has come, whether or not radio stations have changed compared to Bob Mabena's day(radio Bop) and if modern day radio is hell bent on making revenue other than satisfying content. They all posed their various opinions and no definite conclusion was reached. What was interesting was an email read on air: Arguably there are radio stations that serve the
community by assisting in exposing urgent issues i.e building of schools,
lack of services etc. Sad to say Yfm is not one of them. Yfm is dominated
by opinionated youngsters who only care about the next yfm party .
Sbu took this badly, and urged callers to call in and refute this, at that point it was quite tense and the guests were strangely silent.

Fluffy Head
29 May 2008 02:18

Cnglmom: that's my secret to a stress free life.....Laugh even at a stupid joke....

Miss K
29 May 2008 02:22

Whats with the stunt about him (Sbu) getting arrested while his on air?? How lame! @Cnglmom i think we're really getting old so instead of being irritated with Hoyi Hoyi's lets just change stations :-)

Nonny
29 May 2008 02:27

Can't say much coz I seldom listen to radio, except on Sundays to Paul on Metrofm from 12-3. That's about all the radio that I can stand!!!!

Vesa
29 May 2008 02:29

Vesa i think Gareth had a thing for Britney back in the day, the obsession was just too much......LOL!!! Now I get it

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 02:32

Miss K, i think Sbu can only appeal to his followers only when disguised in that Hoyi-hoyi kinda approach and they all start hollering Hola Knoxman uyiskhokho and hola mfana this that! We are just too old for real for that isht.

And him rambling stuff like nawe Mkhulu lapho elokshini, abantu abadala etaxsini, nawe mama opheka ipapa etaxi rank. Its different strokes for different folks i guess, will stick to yo advise Miss K and change stations ok LOL!

Toodecent
29 May 2008 02:35

I dont wanna say I read this somewhere now back to the topic :-) When Sbu made Skids 2 years ago about Glen Lewis no one complained well if so it was a few, after all the industry is a game stakes are high and you have to know your opponents and weaken them in any other way you can for you to get ahead. Glen always has something to say about Y even when it was the April swapping era he said he was to be on Yfm news bulletin if fired.

I think radio stations like Y appeal to a more younger generation,as soon as you start having issues with the radio not giving a voice or a platform for constructive thought and insight.Then its time to move on,cause the people who listen to Y are there for the music, the pranks and the awful bravado.>>> Well said after all its Youth FM.

mstick
29 May 2008 02:43

i dont care who says wat i love Metro.......period.........and i cant stand YFM.......chilli's voice is snobish.......

Nonny
29 May 2008 02:47

I dont wanna say I read this somewhere.........
Mmmmh interesting TDC!!!!

Toxic
29 May 2008 02:49

Well I bet if u tune in to Kaya or wherever the dude is, he's saying something ridiculous about Sbu...Its actually how things go when DJ's fight over a time slot...Its entertaining.

actually, he doesn't!

And that Eva woman who wants the tickets drove me nuts.

Tell me abt it! That was a prank gone tooooooooooooo long and it lost its flava. Cngle, do you know that i knew that those guys were eating chips this morning but i couldn't get through FAST enough-eish i'd be R15000 RICH.

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 03:09

and pay all your debt Toxy hi-hi-hi ngalo 15G's!

I find PhatJoe a bit mature and listenable than his other opponents at the other two stations. The american twang is not even overdone and its tolerable, to me ngubhuti nje oright. Why is the whole felicia-dissing coming back now, we enjoyed while it was done by Majota (Phatjoe)he would kill me to expose that name back in the day and its over and done with.

I hear you TDC.

Honeypot
29 May 2008 03:20

I agree with some of you on the outgrowing the Y Fm station. I was once driving home and then Mo Flava came on with the top 5 thing, When callers called in and requested some songs I have never heard before and mind you the callers sounded very juvenille, I made a decision there and then not to torture my ears again. But so far I haven't found a Radio Station that manages to keep me tuned in the mornings and in the evenings. Last week i found myself listening to Phalafala Fm even though I don't know the language but the music they played on Sunday was lovely.

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 03:24

where's Bondo? Msizi Shembe? Greg Maloka? Dreshi Pillay?

Miss K
29 May 2008 03:27

Of coz ure right TDC, YFM's targeted market is the chikitas at Wits and the likes hence i said us 'adults' must just change stations if they wanna hear about real stuff like interest rates and hiv stats! So where's it going down this weekend??? tl tl tl

LM
29 May 2008 03:38

And that Eva woman who wants the tickets drove me nuts. I'm with you Tox...she just didn't shut up and listen...n she started threatening to call Ms Deacon n I was like WTF is wrong with you woman?

now religiously listen to Mark Pilgrim's Top 40 on saturday for that 1Gig MP3 i have been trying to win - dont know for how many weeks. He he he he! Cnglma...keep on trying sister. The thing is they hv now changed the way it was done b4, which made winning easier I think; so now instead of bng the first one to sms you need to be the 10th one. I tried entering a couple of times but eish I finally gave up.

In the morning I listen to both Phat Joe and Jeremy and whoever gets me hooked me long enough wins. I no longer bother with Thomas and his crew. Jeremy must just tell Sam to stop chewing and talking at the same time, it's irritating..and she does this 4 out of 5 mornings. Afternoon, it's Alex J and Lawrence (4 music only) but Alex wins most of the time...Take 40SA (Highveld)does it for me on saturdays between 10 and 14:00 and sundays it's Kaya from 06:00 to 12:00 until Paul takes over at Metro, I can't stand Wilson B Nkosi.

Still on Phat Joe's breakfast..am glad that Thando woman left; Nomzamo and Stevie must follow...

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 03:47

thanks LM for correcting me Take40SA not Top40, i was blackerising the whole thing. We will never win then if its the 10th smser. is Alex J gay BTW? what is Mark Pilgrim doing in Venice?

Toodecent
29 May 2008 03:47

where's Bondo? Msizi Shembe? Greg Maloka? Dreshi Pillay?

Bondo - Station Manager Mpower FM(Mpumalanga)
Dreshi - Is in Swaziland she was about to open Online station with us dont know what happened.
Msizi - Is with Gagasi I think(durban)
Greg - Is running his own business but is still envolved with radio somehow. Was on Yfm 3 days ago.

Cnglemother
29 May 2008 03:56

Yo TDC u know yo radio mos, thanks for the update though. Dreshi was a cool chick. last one TDC, Lee Kasumba?

LM
29 May 2008 03:58

@ Cngelmother: is Alex J gay BTW? what is Mark Pilgrim doing in Venice? Maybe he is (you'll never know) but he is married with kids (1 daughter is about 15-16yrs old). Why are you asking Cnglma? I know he is childish but never thought he could be gay. Mark is attending a friend's wedding there.

myname
29 May 2008 04:26

I listen to Metro whether its boring or not. Im so lazy to change tunes so I laugh even if its a stupid joke. Yes these days radio is about dissing, selling new albums & sometimes their music is not appetizing. So I dont take everything serious.

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