FEATURE:
Burn Baby Burn
IN THIS PHOTO: Chris Hawkins/PHOTO CREDITS: BBC
Thinking Ahead to BBC Radio 6 Music’s Twentieth Anniversary
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I am a couple of months early here…
IN THIS PHOTO: Lauren Laverne
when it comes to marking the twentieth birthday of BBC Radio 6 Music. On 11th March, 2002, Burn Baby Burn by Ash was the first song that beckoned in this exciting new station (Phill Jupitus played it on his breakfast show). BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in thirty-two years. Although the line-up of presenters has changed through the years, at the heart of BBC Radio 6 Music is this sense of community and family. Although I was hugely upset that Shaun Keaveny left the station this year (after he was told his afternoon show would not continue), I am glad there have been some positive changes in terms of new blood. Exciting relatively new faces to the station such as Jamz Supernova, Anne Frankenstein, The Blessed Madonna and AFRODEUTSCHE, sit alongside long-standing presenters such as Craig Charles (who took over Keaveny’s afternoon show), Tom Ravenscroft, Marc Riley, Gideon Coe, Chris Hawkins, Lauren Laverne, and Mary Anne Hobbs. I listen to Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson (the BBC Introducing Mixtape is a must-listen) when it comes to looking for new music tips. There is such a range of different broadcasters at the station (the roster is completed by in Amy Lamé, Radcliffe and Maconie, Cerys Matthews, Guy Garvey, Matt Everitt’s The First Time with…, Iggy Pop, Don Letts, Radcliffe and Maconie, Huey Morgan, and Gilles Peterson!). BBC Radio 6 Music do an Artist in Residence: where artists get to stand in as presenters and play music that means a lot to them. At the moment, IDLES are in the chair. My listening day starts with Chris Hawkins on early breakfast. He has been with the station since the first day…and I love how hard-working he is (he worked over Christmas and also did a shift on BBC Radio 2). His passion and commitment to the station is inspiring!
I then stay tuned and hear Lauren Laverne on weekday breakfasts. Another hugely important person to the station, she is someone whose audience figures have kept growing. I stay with the station and catch Craig Charles and Steve Lamacq. Legends like Marc Riley and Huey Morgan are presenters I tune into. There is Radcliffe and Maconie at the weekend alongside Amy Lamé. Even though there have been some changes in 2021, I think this year allows further flexibility regarding presenters and new names. I would love to hear Georgie Rogers, Matt Everitt, Siobhán McAndrew and Claire Crane back on the station more doing music news; Anne Frankenstein getting her own slot, in addition to a broadcaster from another station coming in. Not to say there is staleness but, as the station have made changes in 2021 – apart from the rather ridiculous one to help oust Shaun Keaveny -, it has brought some fresh direction and energy. Ahead of their twentieth anniversary, I do wonder what other changes will occur. Last year, Music Week spoke with the station’s head, Samantha Moy, about the station’s growth and what changes are planned going forward:
“How have you evolved 6 Music in the past year?
“6 Music is still 6 Music. We are a radio station made by music lovers, for music lovers. A year ago I said that I wanted 6 Music to have even more meaning and more relevance to more music fans - representing an even greater variety of musical genres and communities. I feel we’ve come some way in achieving that. On Saturdays, you can now find Jamz Supernova (1pm-3pm) and The Blessed Madonna (9pm-12am) – both are DJs and broadcasters who bring considerable curatorial strength and a defining legacy in club culture to 6 Music and our audience.
“We’ve renamed 6 Music Recommends, our new music strand, to New Music Fix and whilst the format of the show hasn’t changed, we have seen an increase in on-demand listens since the launch of the new title in July. In November last year, we introduced 6 Music’s Artist in Residence, where we welcomed artists into our world, to share some of their favourite music directly with listeners. So far we’ve had fantastic series from Loyle Carner, Arlo Parks, Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Mykki Blanco, Beabadoobee and Wolf Alice. Other new formats and commissions include Lose Yourself With… presented by Nabihah Iqbal, Honey Dijon, Rostam and more, our Loud and Proud season marking Pride Month in June and our recent All Day Raves celebrating the club culture of the 80s, 90s and 00s. We have also just curated our own stage at All Points East festival for the first time. We’re still 6 Music, we’ve just expanded and tried new things and I’m very proud of that.”
Is 6 Music still an alternative station?
“Yes. We are alternative to the mainstream. 82% of the music on our playlist last year was from independent labels. Alternative – as in indie? Yes we are, as well as a myriad of other genres, scenes and specialisms. Truly, we love music of all kinds and we love artists who push boundaries, develop and hone their craft. The last 18 months have been difficult for artists and our audience too - there might have been moments when we are the only voice a listener might hear, so it’s been so important to be the thread which ties us together through our love of music. And in those dark wintry months, we’ve brought a little sunshine through the speakers – celebrating our cut of pop and revelling in nostalgia as we did with 6 Music Goes Pop and 6 Music Goes Back To.”
IN THIS PHOTO: Jamz Supernova
What are your plans and ambitions for the station in the months and years ahead?
“To build on what we’ve achieved so far. We’ll always keep the schedule and our plans alive with brilliant commissions, guests and presenters – and of course music. But one thing that I can’t wait for is getting the gang back together - it’s been a long time since we've all been in the same space. I’m looking forward to the return of the 6 Music Festival – with all our presenters and as many of our listeners we can get there. I love those moments when you see Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley having a chat, or Mary Anne and Steve Lamacq in a studio together, Tom Robinson darting about to as many shows as possible in one weekend or Gideon Coe crate digging for records. It’ll be wonderful to get back to sharing our love of live music together in person.”
Toby L, co-founder, Transgressive Records
“6 Music has become an essential staple for innovative, progressive artists around the world, servicing career-focused acts with a platform that presents their message unfiltered and with unrivalled knowledge and passion. Everybody involved, from presenters to producers, lives and breathes art and music. Every time we see a Transgressive song playlisted, the uplift across streaming, sales and tickets for an artist hits new peaks. And this is true for both brand new artists or returning acts - the engagement and interaction from listeners is consistently immense. The way that the material is contextualised and presented on air is heartfelt, informed and passionate - which is to mirror the beating heart of any defiantly independent artist or music company. It’s undeniable that 6 Music has become part of the fabric of modern British music culture, and the country is all the better for it, too.”
Fred Gillham, UK MD, Concord
“6 Music is an important station for many of our artists. The audience listens to 6 because they simply love music and are looking to the station to introduce them to great artists, regardless of any genre labelling. It’s such a unique platform to have in the UK, there really aren’t any equivalents. That approach is naturally more likely to align with the independent sector and for labels like ours we should celebrate the fact we have such a platform to be able to showcase the diverse and amazing artists we work with. Their support for Nubya Garcia is testament to that and undoubtedly has played a part in introducing a broader audience to her great talent”.
From live sessions and their updated monthly playlists to the great new tracks and the broad scope of sounds, BBC Radio 6 Music remains an essential portal of support, guidance and embrace. Through the pandemic, the presenters have acted like family or friends. They have been there to help us through such a tough time! The station goes from strength to strength. By 2018, BBC Radio 6 Music was the most listened-to digital-only radio station, with an average weekly audience of 2.53 million. I know that we have two months to go, but 11th March marks twenty years since BBC Radio 6 Music took to the air (the station was known as BBC 6 Music until 2011). It was once accused of being dedicated to Indie and guitar music, but the station has broadened massively and diversified through the years. Whilst it is not a perfect station and there is room for improvement, the fact that so many of the presenters remains there after so many years shows how important BBC Radio 6 Music is! My favourite weekday presenters are Lauren Laverne and Chris Hawkins. I love each broadcaster’s style and voice, and I particularly admire how the station does a special day – like their all-day rave or a decade-specific special. I think they are planning an all 1990s day very soon (they are heading back to the 1980s all day on Thursday, 6th January).
IN THIS PHOTO: Mary Anne Hobbs
I do wonder what they have planned for their anniverssary. One hopes that gigs will be back and venues can remain open. BBC Radio 6 Music did not do their annual festival in its usual format last year or 2020. It would be nice to think they could assemble a line-up and do a special festival on their twentieth anniversary year. It is clear that there will be something planned for 11th March. I wonder whether it will be an all-request day or something where the listeners are in charge. For such an important birthday, I hope there is a proper celebration where big musicians do live sets, we get some bespoke shows and archive clips. Only a couple of years into the new millennium, this new and rather unsure station shot onto the air. Although it was almost closed down over a decade back, it has survived and proved itself to be an essential part of the BBC radio family! I feel that we will see BBC Radio 6 Music thrive, conquer and expand in the years to come. I wanted to get in there first and wish the station a happy twentieth anniversary. Many will be looking forward to announcements regarding anniversary events. I do hope that a 2022 BBC Radio 6 Music festival will go ahead. Above all, the presenters and producers who have kept the station going and helped so many people through the years should be congratulated and commended. They have been a foundation of strength and solidity. If you are new to BBC Radio 6 Music and will be settling in shortly before their twentieth anniversary, I would say this is a station…
WORTH sticking with.