Veteran DJ blasts 2FM’s decision to hire social media stars as ‘disastrous’

RTE 2FM‘s head of radio Dan Healy told Radio One presenter Claire Byrne that he has a new “influencer” he’s interested in signing up following the shock departure this week of The 2 Johnnies, Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy.

Veteran disc jockey O’Callaghan, 63, had a massive following at the height of 2FM’s glory days when the DJs enjoyed the same status as rock stars — 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.”

And he says RTE needs to take the radical decision of putting 2FM online replacing it with RTE Gold, which plays the greatest hits.

“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,” Gareth says.

“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.

“Listening to and watching what has been going on over the last few weeks, with four of their primetime presenters deciding to leave, all four of those individuals are on eye-watering amounts of money. But, from what I can gather, they are capable of making far more money outside, which is fine, it’s their entitlement.

“However, the way I see it, there are people now using 2FM as a vehicle to boost their careers. It’s simply a means to an end for them. We weren’t doing it for the money. Back then we were considered well paid, but it was nothing compared to the money that’s being thrown around now.

“When I started in the afternoons on 2FM I was given a three-month contract and my wages back then in 1989 were 340 quid a week (after tax). And that was for doing six days. And you’d supplement that with doing gigs on a Friday in Tralee or Sligo or Waterford or wherever it was.”

So where has 2FM gone wrong? “It all went wrong because I think they tried to make it ‘young people’s Radio One’. It has become talk radio,” Gareth says.

“I think they wanted to keep the idea that it was a music station, but, with a couple of exceptions, there’s no real commitment by people to the music they are playing.”

What’s the solution to save the station? “Ten years ago they should have placed RTE Gold on FM, call it 2FM Gold, and put 2FM on to digital,” he says.

“FM radio means very little to anybody these days under the age of 35.

“So put RTE Gold on to the 2FM frequency. It’ll be huge.”