BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio Launches “1Xtra Rave Show” With Jeremiah Asiamah
BBC Radio 1 has launched the “1Xtra Rave Show,” a new program hosted by U.K. presenter and DJ Jeremiah Asiamah. According to Asiamah, the show, which champions Black dance culture, serves as 1Xtra’s first official home for electronic music. Listeners can expect to hear music in genres such as jungle, Afro house and amapiano, among others, as well as tracks that spotlight promising artists on a global scale. “The 1Xtra Rave is all about shedding light on incredible dance music from around the world,” Asiamah tells EDM.com. “BBC Radio 1Xtra being a Black music station, it was time to also represent dance music with a full show of its own, as its integral to Black music and culture.” “Regardless of ethnicity, this show is for ever...
Rewind: On This Day In 2010, Avicii Debuted “Levels”
On this day, 11 years ago, dance music history was made with Avicii‘s “Levels” debut on one of the biggest public platforms in EDM: BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix. Avicii may not have known it at the time, but this mix would include the one of the earliest versions of arguably his most iconic work. Listening back on the near two-hour performance is like opening up a sonic time capsule. At the outset, Pete Tong delivers a goosebumps-inducing introduction of Avicii: “He’s the 21 year old Tim Bergling from Stockholm, who’s enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame,” Tong said. “He only released his first tune “ManMan” two years ago.” To add further context, Tong goes on to praise Avicii’s recent work in “My Feelings ...
Listen to Swedish House Mafia’s BBC Radio “Dance Weekend” Mix—With 4 Unreleased IDs
It’s safe to say Swedish House Mafia are back in full force—and arguably stronger than ever. The group recently appeared at BBC Radio 1’s “Dance Weekend” celebration, a 70-hour takeover comprising mixes from a bevy of high-profile DJs. None were more momentous, however, than the iconic trio’s electrifying 30-minute set. Swedish House Mafia masterfully cycled through a litany of their biggest hits, such as “Greyhound, “Antidote,” and “Leave The World Behind.” They also managed to interweave tracks from a few of their legendary electronic music contemporaries, such as Daft Punk’s “Burnin'” and Axwell’s remix of Eric Prydz’s “Slammin’.” The mix also contains fou...
Annie Mac Opens Up About “Tokenism” Throughout Her Multi-Decade Radio Career
On July 30th, legendary voice of BBC Radio 1 Annie Mac will step away from her current role after a distinguished 17-year run. The announcement, which Mac delivered in April, was met with surprise. However, she quickly qualified her intent was not to retire from music, or even from radio necessarily. “I will be coming back to radio broadcasting when the time is right,” Mac said at the time. In more recent comments to Radio Times, Mac articulated a similar sentiment. “I love the BBC and hope at some point I can come back,” she said. “It’s not walking away from radio, it’s just walking away from that slot.” As for why she is departing, Mac attributes the move to a confluence of factors, but mainly suggests she’d prefer to have the time to...
“Diplo & Friends” is Leaving BBC Radio 1
It’s the end of an era for Diplo‘s long-running “Diplo & Friends” show on BBC Radio 1. The iconic national radio station has announced that it will no longer broadcast the show after a decade on the air. “Diplo & Friends” had aired from 11PM to 1AM on Saturday nights. For years “Diplo & Friends” has represented a career launchpad for emerging electronic music artists. Guest mixes on the show were considered to be coveted and the artists who secured them often went on to become lynchpins in the industry. Many DJs and producers took to social media to bid adieu to the show, such as Willy Joy, who called it a “rite of passage.” “My @diplo & friends mix on BBC was one of the very first things I got to do tha...
Iconic DJ Annie Mac is Leaving BBC Radio 1 After 17 Years
Iconic music producer, podcaster, and DJ Annie Mac is officially hanging up her headphones after announcing the end of her BBC Radio 1 residency. Since joining BBC Radio 1 back in 2002 as a broadcast assistant, she was eventually given her own show in 2004 before rising to become one of the iconic national radio station’s most prominent voices. “It’s all about time really. I need more time to see my kids in the evening now they are both in school,” wrote Mac about why she decided it was time to leave. “I would like more time to write fiction and to create podcasts. I also love the idea of leaving the party (and make no mistake working at Radio 1 does feel like a party) with a huge smile on my face, when I’m still having the most ...
BBC Radio 1 Announced Prince Philip’s Death in the Middle of a Techno Song—And TikTok Had a Field Day
Since this is 2021, when news is force-fed down our throats like ipecac syrup, odds are you heard about the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The passing of the storied prince at the age of 99 sent ripples throughout Europe, as many mourned his death while others bemoaned his checkered past. Regardless, the BBC abandoned its entire slate of programming to dedicate blanket coverage of the news, slashing its TV and radio schedule and drawing a staggering 110,000 complaints from the public. Apparently the news of Prince Philip’s death abruptly invaded each channel like a targeted coup. During Radio 1’s “Classic Dance Anthems with Charlie Hedges” show, dance music fans were raging to Alan Fitzpatrick‘s techno banger “We Do What We WantR...
“Songs are Forgotten”: Danny Howard Says the Pandemic Impacts Longevity of Music Releases
As the pandemic continues to wreck havoc throughout the US and Europe, the nightlife industry is finding it difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Public health restrictions including lockdowns have left clubs and industry professions in distress, with limited direction on how to move forward. BBC Radio personality Danny Howard added color to the dire picture and implored government officials to share their estimates as to when the nightlife scene could safely reopen. Howard is calling on the government to be more transparent with their return to normal expectations so organizers can plan accordingly. The renowned DJ and music producer called the financial measures taken thus far to support the industry as “papering over the cracks.” In 2019, the UK nightlife s...
Phoebe Bridgers Covers Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” in a Church: Watch
In addition to releasing one of the year’s best albums so far, Phoebe Bridgers has spent the summer months covering a number of iconic artists. In June, she shared her official recording of John Prine’s “Summer’s End”, which she then followed up with a rendition of Gillian Welch’s “Everything is Free”, done in collaboration with Courtney Barnett. Now, Bridgers has taken on an alt-rock classic in “Fake Plastic Trees”. The indie folk artist’s Radiohead cover came as part of the BBC Radio 1 program Phil Taggart’s Chillest Show. And chill it certainly was. Bridgers recorded her delicate version of The Bends original inside of a church with help from rising R&B star Arlo Parks, who provided icy piano accompaniment. Bridgers previously covered “Fake Plastic Trees” live in concert in 2017, as...
Miley Cyrus Covers Billie Eilish’s “my future” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Month: Watch
Miley Cyrus for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Month (photo by Vijat Mohindra) and Billie Eilish (Amy Price) Days after taking the virtual stage for the 2020 MTV VMAs, Miley Cyrus is back with another pandemic performance. Today, she helped launch the latest edition of BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Month with a four-song set that included covers of Billie Eilish and Eagles. Cyrus and Eilish really couldn’t be more different as pop stars, with one known for delivering literal Bangerz and the other for her hushed, alternative pop structures. Perhaps it’s unsurprising, then, that Cyrus’ rendition of “my future” is far more full-throated than the original. Yes, it’s still a delicate piano ballad with a grooving break, but Cyrus ups the defiance in the vocals considerably. Speaking to Live Lounge ...
BBC Radio 1 Xtra Hosts Black Lives Matter Special with Seani B and DJ Ace
On Tuesday, June 2nd, the music industry participated in a sweeping blackout to align with the Black Lives Matter movement in light of George Floyd’s death. Whether they completely halted operations or paused activity on their social media accounts, nearly every company and brand in the industry implemented its own procedures in solidarity. BBC Radio 1 Xtra took their support a step further, though, by hosting a special program featuring Seani B and DJ Ace. The episode featured the London DJs facilitating a candid discussion about Floyd’s death and the protests that ensued, as well as music about Black empowerment. The station also invited guests to call in and share their own experiences, taking to Twitter to encourage listeners to get involved. “We know so many...
Annie Mac Is Launching a New Podcast About Overcoming Challenges and Navigating Change
Iconic Irish DJ and BBC Radio 1 host Annie Mac has announced the launch of a new podcast called “Changes With Annie Mac.” Mac, whose eponymous radio show has grown to be one of the most esteemed in all of dance music since its 2004 inception, is set to debut the podcast this Monday, May 4th, 2020. “Changes With Annie Mac” will examine the central motif of change, and its overarching effect on the way we choose to embrace it. Change can either define you or derail you, and the dichotomy between the two represents an absorbing topic of dialogue considering the harrowing times contrived by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show will feature in-depth conversations with illustrious singer Robyn, Syrian activist and filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, and aut...
