Interesting that (a) the BBC will essentially put Radio 1 Relax on ice, and (b) the Radio 2 extension is pretty much the initial pitch for 6 Music but with less focus on alternative.
Good analysis. As someone who used to be a fan of Radio 2 but has recently started listening to Greatest Hits, I would say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s not surprising the Beeb wants to find a home for 50’s, 60’s and 70’s music, which is being gradually siphoned off - apart from the specialist weekend shows - the main station. There’s more than enough music to spread around but I do wonder just because the Beeb can do this, should they? The 55+ market is one the BBC has in recent times appeared to welcome shedding so what’s changed now. I think we know! Obviously more classical choice of any kind is welcome and the Radio 1 companion station makes a certain sense, although that risks ending up replicating some of the output now on Radio 2 since its weekday realignment. I agree the Beeb’s portfolio can’t be frozen in aspic but I’m not sure the Radio 2 spin-off can be justified on public interest grounds, given the range of choice available elsewhere. Maybe best kept to Sounds…
The BBC have been very vocal in saying they are short of money and/or need to save money. Yet here they are, proposing to spend more money from licence payers. While they may not be hugely expensive to run, with names such as Gambo and Wright being bounced around, they won’t be cheap either.
I think it is only a matter of time before the BBC announce that the local radio audiences have dropped to an extent where there clearly isn’t a large enough audience to justify the expense. I give BBC local radio no more than five years, tops.
Meanwhile, we are to expect BBC Radio 1 Xtra-Xtra (read all about it) aimed at a young audience who listen to less and less radio. You couldn’t make it up.
For me it's "relaxing music" that is already well catered for. And R3 main is already going that way anyway, with its DJ style morning shows and "fun" competitions. The commercial stations do all that, but much better. R3 audiences may be small by R2 and R4 standard, but they are huge compared to live classical music concert attendance. All the really valuable stuff it does (that nobody else does), like commissioning new music, running orchestras, supporting the Proms, education, drama, giving space to music genres otherwise completely unheard - is under threat from the BBC management itself. R3 was - and still is for now - unique in the world. But an automated, lowest common denominator playlister station endlessly replaying our 100 best tunes may be all we end up with.
The R2 audience has grown up listening to Johnnie, Tony, Ken, Simon...etc., so they are unlikely to be attracted by a "curated, deep dive". We've made the move to Boom or GHR and this is too little, too late.
The press release is classic PR gobbledygook, full of buzz words and phrases. Well done guys!
Specifically on the BBC Radio 3 spin-off, there's just no need for another "relaxing music" station - if the audience does want that from the BBC there are already multiple playlists on Sounds. What would work, and be very welcome, would be a "R3 Extra" channel along the lines of Radio 4 Extra - R3 has an extensive archive of great value - old Composer of the Week, Building a Library, Private Passions episodes would form an easy bedrock of programmes with room in between for classic drama, documentaries and interviews with musicians from the past. Now that would be great!
Interesting that (a) the BBC will essentially put Radio 1 Relax on ice, and (b) the Radio 2 extension is pretty much the initial pitch for 6 Music but with less focus on alternative.
Good analysis. As someone who used to be a fan of Radio 2 but has recently started listening to Greatest Hits, I would say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s not surprising the Beeb wants to find a home for 50’s, 60’s and 70’s music, which is being gradually siphoned off - apart from the specialist weekend shows - the main station. There’s more than enough music to spread around but I do wonder just because the Beeb can do this, should they? The 55+ market is one the BBC has in recent times appeared to welcome shedding so what’s changed now. I think we know! Obviously more classical choice of any kind is welcome and the Radio 1 companion station makes a certain sense, although that risks ending up replicating some of the output now on Radio 2 since its weekday realignment. I agree the Beeb’s portfolio can’t be frozen in aspic but I’m not sure the Radio 2 spin-off can be justified on public interest grounds, given the range of choice available elsewhere. Maybe best kept to Sounds…
The BBC have been very vocal in saying they are short of money and/or need to save money. Yet here they are, proposing to spend more money from licence payers. While they may not be hugely expensive to run, with names such as Gambo and Wright being bounced around, they won’t be cheap either.
I think it is only a matter of time before the BBC announce that the local radio audiences have dropped to an extent where there clearly isn’t a large enough audience to justify the expense. I give BBC local radio no more than five years, tops.
Meanwhile, we are to expect BBC Radio 1 Xtra-Xtra (read all about it) aimed at a young audience who listen to less and less radio. You couldn’t make it up.
For me it's "relaxing music" that is already well catered for. And R3 main is already going that way anyway, with its DJ style morning shows and "fun" competitions. The commercial stations do all that, but much better. R3 audiences may be small by R2 and R4 standard, but they are huge compared to live classical music concert attendance. All the really valuable stuff it does (that nobody else does), like commissioning new music, running orchestras, supporting the Proms, education, drama, giving space to music genres otherwise completely unheard - is under threat from the BBC management itself. R3 was - and still is for now - unique in the world. But an automated, lowest common denominator playlister station endlessly replaying our 100 best tunes may be all we end up with.
The R2 audience has grown up listening to Johnnie, Tony, Ken, Simon...etc., so they are unlikely to be attracted by a "curated, deep dive". We've made the move to Boom or GHR and this is too little, too late.
The press release is classic PR gobbledygook, full of buzz words and phrases. Well done guys!
Specifically on the BBC Radio 3 spin-off, there's just no need for another "relaxing music" station - if the audience does want that from the BBC there are already multiple playlists on Sounds. What would work, and be very welcome, would be a "R3 Extra" channel along the lines of Radio 4 Extra - R3 has an extensive archive of great value - old Composer of the Week, Building a Library, Private Passions episodes would form an easy bedrock of programmes with room in between for classic drama, documentaries and interviews with musicians from the past. Now that would be great!