FEATURE:
Electric 6
ALL IMAGES/PHOTOS: BBC
Marking a Brilliant Year for BBC Radio 6 Music
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I appreciate I have published a few articles…
regarding BBC Radio 6 Music this year and, recently, stated why the station is the must-listen-to brand for 2020. I do think you can never say everything you want about a radio station with a few features and, if anything, one can only reach as many people as possible with repeated investigation. Although this will definitely be my last BBC Radio 6 Music-related piece of the year, I will write about the station next year. I will give a nod to each presenter now because, rather than dissecting various shows and why I listen to them – which I have done a few times -, this is more of a Radio General Election. Whilst BBC Radio 1 and 2 are more popular and listened-to, I feel BBC Radio 6 Music should be added to everyone’s list. It is hard to listen to several radio stations a day because, in most people’s cases, we have our favourite and do not deviate. If you have not checked out BBC Radio 6 Music, then you can listen to them, follow them on Twitter and Instagram; you can keep abreast of all the live performances on the YouTube channel and, actually, that is a good place to start! One of my pledged for 2020 is to listen more to radio in general. I already tune into BBC Radio 2 but, even when it comes to BBC Radio 6 Music, I do not give it as much time as it warrants.
Look at some of the recent live sessions the station has housed – including Iggy Pop from Maida Vale and Sampa the Great delivering a fantastic performance – and there is something very different about the sound and feel, compared to other radio stations. Maybe it is the brick wall with the 6 logo or the intimacy of the studios; I love the feel of BBC Radio 6 Music performances and how they are a lot more stirring and engaging than the ones you find elsewhere. That may seem ridiculous, but there is something about the station that commands big respect. BBC Radio 6 Music, each year, recruits more listeners and various shows are going from strength to strength. I regularly listen to Chris Hawkins and Lauren Laverne in the morning, both of whom are seeing their listenership grow. I also tune in to Mary Anne Hobbs, Shaun Keaveny and Steve Lamacq and, in spite of the fact I have been listening to them for a long while, they get better and better! I can imagine how draining it is presenting a daily show and having to keep the energy levels high. When listening to BBC Radio 6 Music and its presenters, you can feel the passion and commitment pouring out. I think the station is less commercial than a few BBC stations, so that provides a wider remit when it comes to music. I have outlined this before – so forgive some repetition -, but one can get the best elements of stations like BBC Radio 2 on BBC Radio 6 Music.
Inevitably, listeners will grumble when BBC Radio 6 Music plays a song that is not at the cutting edge of cool – they spun a track from Roxette a few days back and that got some people annoyed. One of my biggest hopes for the station is that they diversify a little more when it comes to the music. Right now, the station is very much about music that is, yes, cool and lacks that cheesy sound. I think it is wonderful when a classic Pop track or something a bit left-of-centre is popped into the mix; it shakes things up and means you are appealing to a wider audience. The reason some people are leaving bigger stations and are going to BBC Radio 6 Music is the variation and quality. I like to keep hot with these BBC Radio 6 Music features because I cannot highlight enough how limited some stations are. No station, in my view, offers as varied a diet as BBC Radio 6 Music when it comes to the finest music. Of course, the listeners help contribute to this variation. Whether it is Lauren Laverne’s People’s Playlist or Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie’s The Chain, you can expect anything from Afrobeats and 1990s’ Pop to Metal and a B-side from The Beatles. Mary Anne Hobbs is one of the most eclectic broadcasters and, whilst Lauren Laverne, I feel, is best when it comes to the overall quality and depth of music, each broadcaster does a sterling job.
IN THIS PHOTO: Craig Charles
One can find some Funk and Soul brilliance from Craig Charles, or they can get something more chilled on another show. I think the chemistry and affection between the listeners and the stations is one of the biggest reasons why BBC Radio 6 Music keeps its loyal fanbase and brings in new ears. Listeners are able to contribute to various features, and they are made to feel part of the family. The excellent social media feed also allows followers to have their say; whether that is voting for their favourite album of the year, contribute to one of the shows or answer a poll…there is so much to enjoy! In fact, BBC Radio 6 Music announced their favourite albums of 2019 on Monday morning. Lauren Laverne read out the selected records. Last year, IDLES were crowned kings with their second album, Joy as an Act of Resistance. This year’s top-ten included Nick Cave’s Ghosteen (at ten), Kate Tempest’s The Book of Traps of Lessons (at seven) and Michael Kiwanuka’s KIWANUKA (at three). In the number-one spot is Dogrel from Fontaines D.C. In the top-ten is a blend of Post-Punk and Jazz; there is Rap and Hip-Hop with some Soul alongside it. There is a place on BBC Radio 6 Music for bands cracking through who offer something urgent and interesting. Similarly, legends like Nick Cave are given full support too. I think great radio stations need to have that combination of truly wide-ranging music with popular D.J.s and enough to interest listeners in various demographics.
Another reason I wanted to put BBC Radio 6 Music out there one last time this year is because of what a great year they have enjoyed. So many new listeners are coming there way and, as a loyal listener, I have not felt the need to go elsewhere. I am always stunned by the quality of music played and the new artists I discover through them – this year, I have found Sofia Portanet, All We Are and Rapsody through the station. I have only been tempted to BBC Radio 2 because they tend to play more Pop and older songs that you do not hear on BBC Radio 6 Music. More and more, BBC Radio 6 Music are offering the sonic diversity that trips into areas they haven’t traversed before. Get involved with the station and, if you are someone who does not listen to radio, I would urge you to check out this digital nugget. You can catch up with anything you missed through BBC Sounds, so there is no need to listen live all of the time. It has been a stellar 2019 for BBC Radio 6 Music and I think 2020 will be even better. From all the great producers and music news presenters like Matt Everitt and Georgie Rogers; to broadcasters like Marc Riley and Tom Ravenscroft to everyone who makes BBC Radio 6 Music shine and thrive, this is sort of to them. There is so much passion and focus from everyone who works there, ensuring the true music lover has their daily fix of the best new tunes and classic tracks. If you have not done it yet, get acquainted with BBC Radio 6 Music because, no matter what your tastes and preferences, it is…
THE only station you will need.