Radio 1 Following the 2004 schedule changes, the BBC has got the balance about right on Radio 1, with mainstream programming during the day and a wide range of specialist shows in the evenings and at night. However, the daytime music mix would benefit from being a little less repetetive and slightly edgier, particularly at breakfast. A few more cutting edge oldies in both the mainstream and specialist shows would help to educate the younger listeners by putting current music in context, whilst serving those who are older than the station's target audience, but keep listening due to their interest in new music. Radio 2 Radio 2 has the immensely difficult task of serving the age group 30 to death and keeping them all happy. Judging by its ratings, it is doing a very good job of this. However, there is a need for some rebalancing. The mainstream programming caters too much for the younger audience, whilst the specialist shows are aimed mainly at older listeners. Though, the introduction of new late-night programming has helped in the latter case. To cater for as broad an audience as possible, Radio 2's mainstream music mix should range from the mid to late 50s right up to current releases. However, older music should focus on more upbeat selections to avoid alienating younger listeners in the same way as current choices should concentrate on the melodic end of the spectrum to avoid upsetting the older end of the audience. The music mix should also vary with the time of day. On weekdays, the average listener is likely to be older during the middle part of the day than during breakfast and late afternoon/ early evening drivetime. On the specialist side, Radio 2 should certainly be broadcasting pre 1960s music; perhaps more than it does at the moment. The country music shows are among the most popular specialist shows on the network, so they should be lengthened. One hour of specialist black music is not enough - there should be a weekly soul show. There should also be an hour of classic rock in the mould of Alan Freeman's early 90s Radio 1 show. To make room, other shows should be axed or moved. For example, classical music belongs on Radio 3 and Classic FM, while comedy belongs on Radio 4. Maybe the Monday night Jazz programmes should also move to Radio 3 and perhaps the Sunday Half Hour should move to long wave with the other religious programming. Lastly, American hits is not a specialist music format. Radio 3 Radio 3 should remain a largely classical music station. However, there is an argument for increasing the Jazz output with maybe a midnight slot on weekdays and an extension of the Saturday afternoon slot, maybe taking programmes from Radio 2. 1 Xtra 1 Xtra is doing a good job serving an audience poorly catered for by mainstream stations and providing a legal alternative to the pirates. However, its remit is very narrow, leaving much of the black music audience unserved. Some of 1Xtra's schedule should be used to serve an older black music audience and to play African music. Appropriate slots are Sunday morning, when many people appreciate more laid back radio and those times when specialist black music shows are broadcast on Radio 1. 6 Music 6 Music is a station for the serious music enthusiast, essentially a Radio 3 of rock. This is exactly the sort of service the BBC should be providing: supporting new acts, broadcasting live material and music journalism and providing an outlet for more demanding music. However, 6 Music is currently a little too contemporary, attracting a younger audience than originally planned. New music is well catered for on Radio 1 and XFM, whereas classic cutting edge music is poorly supported outside 6. The balance of older material on 6 is also skewed a little too much in favour of the obscure. Therefore, the balance should be adjusted by switching one track an hour from the contemporary playlist to well known cutting edge oldies that would form a listeners' all time top 1000. The music mix should also be broadened out to include a little more classic rock, prog, new romantic and goth. Lastly, there is the problem of the reggae show. An hour a week repeated at three apparently random times across the schedule both irritates regular listeners and poorly serves the reggae audience. It needs changing to a single two hour late evening slot. New stations The BBC should be providing more specialist Jazz, Country, Blues, Soul/R&B, Reggae, Folk and World Music programming. It should also be providing more in the way of nostalgic music programming for the over 60s. These are all audiences poorly served by commercial radio. However, there is not enough space on the existing stations to do this. The BBC really needs at least one, maybe two new music stations. However, the BBC's DAB multiplex is already overfull, compromising sound quality. To properly cater for all tastes in the digital era, the BBC must have at least a share of a new national multiplex.

Ofcom FM licensing 2004 Ofcom DAB and AM 2005 Future of DAB Future of FM Future of AM Features index

Ofcom FM licensing 2004 Ofcom DAB and AM 2005 Future of DAB Future of FM Future of AM Features index