BBC Radio 1 Anthems is a British online-only radio stream, owned and operated by the BBC and run as a spin-off from BBC Radio 1. The station launched on 8 November 2024 and plays a wide range of music and acts supported by the main Radio 1 network in the 2000s and 2010s.[1] It broadcasts exclusively on BBC Sounds and will be fully launched on DAB+ in 2025. It is a commercial competitor to Capital Anthems, a Capital spin-off launched on September 12, 2024.
 | |
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom via BBC Sounds |
|---|---|
| Frequency | DAB (in future), BBC Sounds |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Network | BBC Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
| History | |
First air date | 8 November 2024 |
| Links | |
| Website | |
History and launch
editFrom as early as 2019, the Radio 1 Anthems brand began appearing on the main Radio 1 network. This allowed the station to offer a variety of playlist-style shows on BBC Sounds, which was launched in 2018[2] and identified as a strategic priority by the BBC to expand the platform's audience.[3]
The station rebranded its Radio 1's Greatest Hits show (Friday to Sunday, 10-11 am) as Radio 1 Anthems in July 2019.[4] This brought it inline with existing anthems show, Radio 1's Dance Anthems, which had been part of the Friday and Saturday evening schedule in its current inception since 2012.[5] Other playlist shows like Radio 1's Workout Mix were rebranded as Workout Anthems,[6] the Friday edition of Radio 1's Dance Anthems was rebranded as Party Anthems,[7] while Chillout Anthems launched in September 2019.[8]
In November 2019, reports showed that the BBC was considering launching 'spin-off stations' of their popular music stations in order to gain more listeners.[9] The first of these, Radio 1 Dance, launched on 9 October 2020 with Annie Mac, Danny Howard and Pete Tong hosting a 4-hour dance simulcast.[10] Following this, the BBC launched Radio 1 Relax on BBC Sounds in April 2021.[11] Radio 1 Relax closed on 24 July 2024.[12]
Additional Radio 1 Anthems playlists including Pop Anthems,[13] Festival Anthems,[14] Ibiza Anthems,[15] R&B Anthems[16] and Rap Anthems[17] launched on the network between 2020 and 2022.
In February 2024, the corporation announced plans to launch three new spin-offs, pending public consultation and regulatory approval: one from Radio 1 for “music from the 2000s and 2010s, catering to the appetite from young audiences for recent nostalgia”; one from Radio 2, with “a distinctive take on pop nostalgia’ from the 50s, 60s and 70s”; and one from Radio 3 for “calming classical music”. In addition, Radio 1 Dance would launch on DAB+ with expanded programming.[18]
Following regulatory approval from Ofcom, the BBC announced in September 2024 that the Radio 1 strand would be Radio 1 Anthems and would launch on BBC Sounds from Friday 8 November 2024.[1]
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, said: “Radio 1 Anthems is going to be a great nostalgic trip for our young audience, and to make it happen we’re going to be giving some new opportunities to people from across the UK. Radio 1 plays a crucial role in developing new talent for the entire industry, and we can’t wait to bring this new offer for our listeners to enjoy and discover.”[citation needed]
Programming
editProgramming on the stream will be existing on-demand content from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.[19] This includes Radio 1's Workout Anthems, Radio 1's Chillout Anthems and Radio 1's Pop Anthems, and also the extensive Radio 1 archive.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "BBC Radio 1 announces 'Radio 1 Anthems' extension for BBC Sounds". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "New BBC Sounds app aims to woo younger listeners". BBC News. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Controllers for Pop Music, BBC Sounds and Radio 4 have been appointed". BBC Media Centre. 9 July 2019.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1 - First Radio 1 Anthems Show, Old Skool Garage Anthems". BBC. 4 July 2019.
- ^ Deans, Jason (28 February 2012). "Greg James to take drivetime show in Radio 1 shakeup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Workout Mix". 7 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Party Anthems, First Episode with Scott Mills". BBC. 5 July 2019.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Chillout Anthems, First Episode of Chillout Anthems". BBC. 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Is the BBC planning radio spinoffs to get more listeners?". RadioToday. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ "Brand new Radio 1 Dance stream to launch this October". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Brand new wellbeing stream Radio 1 Relax launches on BBC Sounds". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Sian Eleri and Jess Iszatt present the final ever show on Radio 1 Relax!". BBC. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Radio 1's Pop Anthems". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Radio 1's Festival Anthems". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Radio 1's Ibiza Anthems". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Radio 1's R&B Anthems". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Radio 1's Rap Anthems". BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ McIntosh, Steven (7 February 2024). "Radio 2 spin-off among four new stations planned by BBC". BBC News Online. BBC News.
- ^ "Radio 1 Relax Schedule". BBC. Retrieved 22 April 2021.