Dicko & Dave depart Classic Rock
DMG has continued the shake-up of its Classic Rock stations, axing Melbourne breakfast show Dicko & Dave ahead of a consumer campaign to promote the new station.
The departure of Ian “Dicko” Dickson and Dave O’Neill puts the Melbourne station in line with Sydney, where DMG axed its breakfast team late last year before Vega was relaunched as Classic Rock.
However, the timing of the move appears to have come as something a surprise to the Dicko & Dave team which only yesterday uploaded a video poking fun at their dislike of early starts.
Did Vega axed their management team when they rebranded into Clasic Rock? I only ask because I remember reading that the station’s DJs all seemed to think that Vega’s format was fine – the station’s problem lay in management’s… management.
If management hasn’t changed since the Vega days, then it will be curious to see how if the new station is plagued by the same problems.
Fired because of the video? It is pretty bad.
Commercial radio…
Full of hacks, play lists and demeaning advertising. Nuff said really.
Anonymous, you have hit the nail right on the head with that comment. There was nothing wrong with Vega except the marketing which again falls on management. Its very sad to see the talent shafted and the management that have not performed since the station began holding their jobs when ultimately the problem is them.
Vega’s original broad range of classic rock along with a good spattering (more than half ) of quality new from the last 25 years or so was fantastic….management are ones that should be shown the door……with camel dung thrown in their general direction.
how stupid to axe the two people that made this station worth listening to.
If you think this is progress then think again.
I hope all your listeners show their support to dicko and dave and find another station to tune into. disgraceful
the only reason I listened to your station was because of these two guys. I hope another station gets their hands on them and every one tunes into that station. I wont be listening to yours again.
the only reason i listen has now left the building. Vega gone. now dicko and dave?? hope they get back on air so I can follow them…..commercial twits. treat your punters like idiots..
Finally, someone made a sensible decision on a radio station.
Sure D&D were amusing, but how repetitive, not only did they play their own stuff two or three times each morning, they were repeated throughout the day.
It’s a breath of fresh air to hear music in the morning.
Now if only the station would get rid of Coza the station would be perfect!
He’d be alright if he had a more rounded sense of sports and an unbiased focus on football but until then, he can go.
Outrageous. Dicko and Dave were the only reason we listened to Vega. Will find another station.
Why would a station that is lacking in ratings sack the 2 best on air talents they have and not replace them. I like a bit of fun in the mornings and will wait for Dicko & Dave to turn up somewhere else, until the Triple M sounds good for a change. Steve from Narre Warren.
Well boy has Classic Rock Pissed me off!
Dicko and Dave were HILARIOUS in the morning, I used to drive to work in bliss! And laughed all the way to work…………..now I listen to Bridgette Duclo and some guy on Mix FM (I think… I got it from searching stations).
I will also from now NOT listen to Classic Rock!
YOU annoyed me taking Pink off the station (she is awesome), then you changed from Vega (which I loved), got rid of Chrissie Swan and NOW Dicko and Dave.
In the words of Julia Roberts in pretty woman
BIG MISTAKE, BIG BIG MISTAKE……….HUUUUGE!!!!
Its’ obvious it’s ‘management’ if that ‘s what they call themselves. Sack Chrissie on the back of Eddie’s ‘honeymoon’ period. Try to make their playlist the same as MMM when they didn’t need to. Now what’s left of the best morning radio program that could easily be capatilsed on with the young-at-heart almost middle agers. I say ‘Dicko and Dave’, go and kick butt and stick it up them like Chrissie has with her success. Go where you will be appreciated.
We appreciate how the removal of the Dicko & Dave show is disappointing to some listeners, some of whom who appear to access Mumbrella. Personally, and I know I speak for those at DMG involved in the decision, it wasn’t one we took any joy from, it was very difficult.
However the reality is, our listeners message was clear. It was on 2.3 %.
Irrespective of how good we may have felt it was, ultimately the show had a 2.3% share, the lowest in the market (aside from MTR), that figure was it’s lowest in nearly 2 years, and it was well beneath station average.
We felt it deserved better, but the cold hard facts were that the listeners didn’t agree, and thus the decision.
We are very strongly committed to the Classic Rock stations, the format is right, the marketing is right, the early response the the music position is very positive, and for the first time in many many years there is a pure Classic Rock station on the air in Sydney and Melbourne and that clarity and purity of position is very exciting.
We don’t expect everyone to necessarily agree or like the decision, however we hope that you understand the rationale.
Dan Bradley
DMG Radio Australia
Gee Dan, sounds familiar. I seem to recall the same words when you axed Chrissie Swan and renamed the station, same “this is the right decision”. If I recall back then your ratings were around the 4-6 mark, bet you wouldnt mind them now. Your new station has no announcers its like the “No Name Brand Station”
Look forward to seeing the new figures, and I believe if the ratings drop any lower you Dan and the rest of DMG management responsible for the last year of decision making should be marched out of that place, by Clare Marshall, Chrissie Swan, Dicko & Dave.
I do not agree with the decision. I think the Vega/Classic rocks problem is not the morning presenters. They are the main reason I listen in the morning to hear Daddy Dave Care and Un zipped. There is really nothing to listen to in the morning as it is some music, mostly add’s and the odd news which we hear every 15 minutes repeated.
Even before the the demise of Dicko and Dave it was all commercial and now it’s worse. Don’t get me wrong I get the financials of it but I really am not interesed in being bombarded by adverts all morning with the odd song thrown in.
Oh and while im at it, you are “Classic rock” it would be great to hear some other classic rock songs and not the same mainsream one’s that are played. I enjoy queen, John Melloncamp, Sting and so on but how about some lesser none but equaly cool music from the likes of Foghat, George Thorogood, Bit of David Lee roth without Van Halen (great stuff). Variety!!! know what I mean
Anyway, thats enough whining for the morning. Hope you do something to fill the huge gap left.
Regards
Derek
Couldnt have summed it up to Dan better myself Lm. Its infuriating to see the lives of great talent placed in the balance while the high paid management save their own behinds and pass the buck. Bad decision after bad decision. The talent were doing eaxactly what they were paid for, management is clearly not.
I missed the balance and perspective that Chrissie Swan brought to the morning program in the past, but stuck with them because I enjoyed the friendly banter between Dicko and Dave, especially the Un Zipped and D&D ad agency skits.
I don’t consider the current playlist to be pure Classic Rock and I have a feeling that the 2.3% may end up being the station’s benchmark figure. Advertisements are boring and repetitive, the news segments are rushed and Coza remains as unpopular as ever.
a lot of people with strong opinions here. Shame they dont understand that a radio show that rates 2.5% hasnt got a snowballs chance of surviving on any radio network, frankly dmg gave it longer than I thought it deserved.
ratings speak louder than anything. you don’t rate, you die. simple. If you dont like it get a puppy.
Yes I was another avid listener of D&D as I found them the better of the same old copies of each other ‘morning crews’
I realise that removing Dicko and Dave was a commercial decision and to be honest it was better when Chrissie was there which was reflected in the fact that the ratings didn’t improve after she was dumped.
I think the biggest mistake has been the totally restricted ‘Classic Rock’ playlist. You can’t go a day – probably an hour without Kiss, Cold Chisel, Hunters & Collectors, or Queen – I think you have 30 bands you choose from and that’s it. All fine musos but not when repeated ad-nauseum. It is not your presenters I am tired of, it’s your repetitive music selection. You’ve lost me as a listener.
Thank God they are gone. Dicko and Dave were OK but my god how many times a day did they have to repeat their skits. Give us more fantastic classic rock.
Won me.
To Dan of DMG,
If you guys are continuing to monitor what is being said here, here’s my 2 cents worth.
As a 40 year old what I want is a good mix of rock that includes classic as well as decent pop/rock from 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and today. Coldplay, Pink, Robbie Williams, Creed, Kings of Leon etc. Gutsy songs not the fluff. LOVED Dicko, Dave and Chrissie for breakfast.
Want to know what killed it? Format NOT the hosts. Repeating skits too often. Repeating the same songs too often. And I know it couldn’t be helped with Dave’s injury earlier this year, and as a rule I like Cal Wilson but she was crap when on with Dicko. No life in her and no chemistry with Dicko. I know many others won’t agree with this, but I HATE live music recordings played on radio. If I’m at the concert, FANTASTIC. On the radio, CRAP.
Until someone comes up with a format I like, I’ve got nowhere to go. 20+ years of listening to the radio and for the first time, I feel like I’ve got no options.
Think I’ll go and buy that puppy now…
Oh Fiona you hit the nail on the head with that comment!
I am now listening to Mix FM, even though I don’t like Bridgette Duclo!
I miss VEGA. Class Rock has sucked since the axing of Chrissie swan and the new name and format and now the axing of Dicko and Dave as much as I like Joe It really needs Dicko and Dave
Good luck with it all though DMG………..really hope your ratings improve!
shame guys. I liked the Vega of old, new stuff and old stuff, that was a good mix… the other stations aren’t much better… think i’ll start using my ipod more
Well, well, well…here we go again.
DMG did the same in Sydney. Its a real shame. The breakfast show may have been rating just a 2.3% Mr Bradley but what support, marketing and direction did management show them other than change formats every 6 months or so on all presenters and eventually a name change. I for one was getting very confused listening to vega in Sydney about what they were really about regarding their playlists.
The first six or so months were fantastic. I was hearing lots of things I hadnt heard for ages or ever on radio (even Polythene Pam from The Beatles – Fantastic!!) plus NEW stuff from really cool artists or classic artists. Then it changed almost over night. The music was still good but then six months later it changed once again…and again….and again. FIRE…AIM….READY!!!!!
I never saw any real marketing campaigns for the station (probably because they didnt know who they were themselves). I may be wrong but given half the opportunity to develop over a minimum two year period with ONE FORMAT and with proper support and managerial direction with original formats maybe you guys missed the boat.
And something that you should also consider, the likes of U2, INXS, Cold Chisel, AC/DC, Sting, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eagles, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen etc etc etc (your staple artists I bet) are still relevent today because they are still performing and releasing new material. I would like to know what year the cut off year is for Classic Rock? If it’s mid 90’s well there’s a lot of music from these artists which aren’t being played. There’s more to U2 than the Joshua Tree, more to Springsteen than Born In The USA and the list goes on. If I go to one of these artists concerts I dont want to just hear what they released pre 1995.
I’m sure the talent weren’t making the decisions on the format or direction of the station. I’m sure management were showing the support, motivation and direction required in both Sydney and Melbourne. If this is the case then the talent were projecting the direction and focus provided by management. So, the management direction and focus didnt work not necessarilly the announcers. Are all the management that have made these decisions over the years still there? I bet they are. They’re probably the only ones that are still there!
I actually miss Dickos dry sense of humour and i also looked forward to unzipped at least he talked about what happens in relation to real people So Melbourne once again is in competition with Sydney don’t people in Melbourne count . What happened to a mix of old and new who are you trying to be 104 well as far as I’m concerned you have lost me as a listener you used to be a great station why change something that was working oh right I forgot Sydney again, funny I thought I lived in Melbourne.
D&D were a great start to my day. Now I feel like I have sleep through the alarm and just can’t get my day back on track. I don’t know why the ratings are so low ‘cos I can’t find any competition out there in radio land. (I have even searched the AM stations, that’s how lost I feel)
When Chrissy was dumped I didn’t like it but I stayed tuned. When you changed from Vega to Classic I didn’t like it but I stayed tuned. When I heard a song for the third time in one day I didn’t like it but I stayed tuned, but this time you have gone too far.
I am not opposed to change, but surely by now you can see that you are making the wrong changes. Melbourne & Sydney are NOT one city. Please treat us as individuals.
I will still be listening occasionally, but only when flicking through stations and you happen to be playing something that I want to hear.
Well I can’t wake up properly now as I don’t know the voices and there is nothing that triggers me to wake up. Music just makes me sleep. Even the corney jokes and funny comments helped wake me up. I miss all the games and the format too.
Also Cal was great when she was on and I think they should have considered keeping her on permenantly with the boys as a nice balance.
Mathew Lewis….yes all the same management are still there and they still cant figure out what keeps going wrong!
Changed our dial to Gold last night. I think they need to realise we are not Sydney.
I think what pisses me off the most is the way this was done. Dicko & Dave finished on the Friday as usual then told to get out. Giving us all (and D&D) a weeks notice could have eased this for everyone. Are you (management) so insecure with this decision that you couldn’t look them in the eye for another week. I think D&D have shown they are the better men.
I have been a LOYAL listener since the station was a few months old. I have heard many changes over the years. Some great, some good and some not so good. If I wanted to listen to “more music” in the morning I would put on a CD.
Why don’t you try making Sydney follow Melbourne for a change. Maybe that will be the boost you need because it sure as hell isn’t working the other way around.
Well I enjoyed listening to them and have already switched stations so thats one less listener.
Hey happyflower! I’ve been enjoying Gold too. Grubby and DeeDee are pretty good for a laugh as well. Enjoyed their conversation the other day about eating placenta. Couldn’t help but think of Dicko and Dave and what they’d say on that..
Do you get it yet DMG that the best people to ask about improvements to the station is the listeners??? Oh, that’s right, it’s still the same management. No point.
The music has gone to shit and without D&D the station is not worth listening to!!!!
I used to love Classic Rock when it was Vega. Loved the mix of songs, great classic rock with a smattering of more recent stuff and stuff from the past 20 years. Now it’s like another version of Triple M. The playlist is now horrid. My only reason for still listening was Dicko and Dave. Now that they’ve gone too, I’ll be tuning into another station. Very dissapointed about this.
I should perhaps point out that the pattern of comments on this post is unusual.
It’s unusual to have such a large series of consumer comments on a single post when we’re generally a more industry-facing site.
And it’s also unusual that in these consumer comments, the language used seems very knowledgeable about the likes of playlist policy and the subtle differences in positioning between various radio brands.
Considering the low audience share for the show it’s all a bit odd that there should suddenly be so many anonymous vocies rising up in its defence.
But of course, I’m happy to give it the benfit of the doubt…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Hi Tim from Mumbrella,
Don’t underestimate people just because they’re not “in the industry”. People are informed. This is the site that came up when I initially Googled Dicko and Daves’ axing and took the opportunity to watch and contribute. Your comments come across patronizing.
Hi
After returning from overseas I am so disappointed to find out Dicko and Dave have been axed from the breakfast show, as I was driving to work of a morning they used to make my day and have a laugh along the way, now my drive has turned into a dull boring one.
Not happy listerner, will have to give 91.5 the flick now.
No Offence Tim from Mumbrella, I think the similar responses are a reflection of general unhappiness of former listeners and the bad management decisions
made by Vega/Classic Rock. The general outrage may also have alot to do with the surprise of just finding out one day that D & D are no longer there.
As a 40 year old female I now have really have no station to listen to. I do like the new stuff but dont want it all to be pop. Vega was a great station. Now listening to MMM and signed up for Music Jury, now there is a novel idea, how about asking the listeners????? Vega had a niche, it was different to all the other Melb stations.
it’s seems like every single listener they had has commented here.
Tim – Mumbrella…
If you don’t like people opinons, don’t have a comments section…………………..
I don’t know what you meant by…
“it’s all a bit odd that there should suddenly be so many anonymous vocies rising up in its defence.”
The people have spoken… Dicko and Dave will be missed… and Classic FM have made a terrible mistake…
With all due respect Tim, I hardly think that 30 odd people from an estimated 234,000 cume for vega/Classic Rock in Melbourne wanting to comment is unusual. All survey information is readily available from the Nielsen website. Information regarding particular radio station demographics, playlist and anything else you would like to know about each radio station is also readily available from the station themselves as well as internet. Each station will unashamedly tell you their positioning just in their marketing. You make us sound like ignorant dimwits within your post. I think there are many comments here because apart from just tuning out altogether this is a great forum for them to share their grievances knowing that those making the decisions will read them. We were all excited about vega when it launched. It was new, exciting and promised to offer something different. They let us down. If you don’t wish to have comments from people, whether they be consumers, industry insiders etc etc, then don’t provide the opportunity! But who would visit your site then? Just be thankful people are perusing your site.
Hi Mathew,
Everyone’s welcome to comment. Nonetheless, the pattern of comments on this particular post are unusual, and the listener comments makes them sound like anything but ignorant – I’d almost go so far as to say that it makes them sound like informed insiders – particularly when it comes to talking about station management.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Well Tim, if they are informed insiders they dont sound very happy with it all and they would know better than most about the direction of the station as well as management decisions. And if they are informed insiders so what??? Maybe this is the only forum where they can air their grievances without the threat of dismissal. Is the real reason you mention this because you are concerned that the likes of DMG, Austereo and ARN may not continue to support Mumbrella? I dont understand however whet you mean by “particularly when it comes to talking about station management”…What was said other than the questions of whether they are still there? It’s quite obvious that these were management decisions so who else are we suppose to comment on or complain to?