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Gareth O’Callaghan blasts 2FM for hiring influencers and podcasters

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6 months ago

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Gareth O’Callaghan blasts 2FM for hiring influencers and podcasters

Gareth O’Callaghan blasted the station for pursuing a “disastrous business model” by hiring influencers and podcasters instead of music loving presenters.

Veteran disc jockey O’Callaghan, 63, had a massive following at the height of 2FM’s glory days, but he says it was their passion for the music that won them an audience, and the station a loyal following. He claims hiring social media stars is a folly because their followers have no love for or loyalty to the radio station, and they won’t stick with 2FM when their favourite influencer or podcaster moves on.

He describes 2FM’s clear-out of big names this week as “an avalanche – it’s like the side of the mountain has just collapsed. It’s a listenership wipeout for 2FM”. He says RTE needs to put 2FM online replacing it with RTE Gold, which plays the greatest hits.

Read more: Lottie Ryan takes over RTE 2FM drivetime slot as summer schedule announced

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Gareth added: “Larry Gogan, Tony Fenton and all the other lads loved music and put music first and that was the foundation for the success of 2FM. What you really wanted to do in my day was impress the listeners and you did that by playing great music and having a bit of fun.

“We were a very solid crew and I think our focus was on making sure that the radio station was the priority. We were like a band and I was proud to be a part of that band.

“The joy for us was being on the radio because we were DJs playing music. We weren’t influencers. There was no one to influence.”

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