BBC Radio 1 reduces live music output - and revamps the chart show

BBC Radio 1 is dropping the number of live music sessions from 250 to 160 and the number of live events that BBC Radio covers will drop from 25 to 10. Expensive outside broadcasting is being cited as one of the reasons for the cull, which will impact on the range of live music events and festivals aired on the Beeb. The Trust has agreed to the cuts to enable savings – it has also agreed to narrow Radio 1’s quota for coverage of major live events and festivals so that it excludes special editions of live sessions, and includes only BBC and third-party major live events.

The BBC Trust's review of BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, 6 Music and Asian Network found that the stations perform a vital role in the development and promotion of UK music. With specific reference to the BBC’s coverage of live music events, the Report addresses concerns from commercial operators, but said that it found no evidence of disadvantage despite comments from the commercial radio sector that said that while 6 Music is capable of providing exemplary coverage of live music and festivals, such as Glastonbury, its coverage of major events may affect its ability to cover smaller events and that it distorts the market, by preventing commercial operators from gaining a foothold but the Review said "we have seen no evidence that the live market is being unnecessarily distorted by BBC events or coverage.”

And Radio 1's 'Official Chart Show' is moving to Friday. The move follows a global agreement by the music industry to release all new albums and singles on Fridays.
It means the chart will now be compiled on Friday mornings, with Radio 1 the first to reveal the latest number one. From July, the big top 40 countdown will air between 4-6pm on Friday afternoon. Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper confirmed the new show would be an hour shorter than the current incarnation, airing from 16:00 to 18:00 GMT, allowing the Dance Anthems slot to remain on the schedule saying "That means we will not be playing every single record in the Top 40," he said. "We will be a little bit more choosy about the records we play in those two hours."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32019327