Earlier this month, we were delighted to welcome Mark Radcliffe back to 主播大秀 Radio 6 Music.
Mark is a much-loved presenter and his return to share the mic with Stuart Maconie completes the launch of our new daytime and weekend schedule which began six weeks ago.
6 Music is a brilliant music radio station. For many of us, it’s the best on the dial. Over the last decade or so, it has seen steady audience growth and has built a reputation as a network which cares as deeply about music as its listeners. It’s a place to discover artists you simply wouldn’t hear elsewhere on UK radio.
With 2.3 million listeners (RAJARs, Q.4, 2018) it is the UK’s largest digital-only music station. It appeals to people who are passionate and curious about music and we are committed to maintaining and growing an audience of music fans of all ages.
At the heart of 6 Music is our mission to explore music, put it into context, seek out the new and connect it to the past, to introduce, reintroduce and recommend. As music changes and evolves, the network needs to adapt if it is to continue to celebrate alternative spirited icons and eras and introduce and reflect new and emerging alternative artists and genres.
It’s a great purpose and it is mostly delivered by our brilliant presenters who are second to none in terms of their assembled music knowledge and curatorial expertise. The new schedule seeks to build on this strength and continue our crystal clear commitment to music.
The new Weekday and Weekend Breakfast shows are fronted by some of 6 Music’s highest profile presenters, Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe & Maconie. Through these new shows we want to establish even firmer foundations for the station, further enhancing 6 Music’s reputation as the destination of choice for curious music lovers.
More Music on 6 Music
Other changes have extended the volume and range of music played across the day.
Listeners to mid-mornings are getting a deeper dive with Mary Anne’s extensive knowledge exploring incredible music and artists. Recent guests include John Grant selecting tunes and Shabazz Palaces in session. In the afternoons, Shaun Keaveny also puts music front and centre, with live sessions which have so far included sets from Drenge and Steve Mason.
Since the beginning of January, 6 Music has welcomed artists such as The Specials, Obongjayar, Ex:Re, and Songhoy Blues to play live for us during the daytime, with Odetta Hartman and Rozi Plain amongst the many performances featured on Marc Riley in the evening. We’ve enjoyed sessions from emerging artists such as Slowthai and Swindle, and mixes from The Chemical Brothers and The Streets.
We have celebrated alternative spirited icons like David Bowie, created playlists around the anniversary of the Vocoder and Martin Luther King Day, sampled the UK’s vibrant Jazz scene with Gilles Peterson’s show in New York, and Steve Lamacq has been on a tour of UK independent venues.
The new music playlist has contained songs by Anna Calvi, Lizzo, Courtney Barnett, The Sleaford Mods, Chaka Khan, Ian Brown, Bill Ryder Jones and Yak. Listeners may have also caught Shaun playing David Gilmour’s prized Fender Number 1, Mary Anne chatting to Sharon Van Etten, and Lauren Laverne interviewing Jamie Dornan, Neneh Cherry and Steve Coogan. Victoria Wood’s Ballad of Barry and Freda even made a joyous appearance at one point.
Looking ahead on 6 Music
Musician and actor Cillian Murphy’ will bring his love of music to listeners when he begins his new show on Sundays (2-4pm) from 3 March until the Summer, as Guy Garvey takes an extended break to work on his next album.
This week in 6 Music Loves Berlin shows will continue to explore that city’s amazing music heritage and contemporary scene – with Iggy Pop’s Berlin reflections, Mary Anne Hobbs talking to Jam Rostron aka Planningtorock, and Marc Riley exploring the work of Berlin-based composer Kurt Weill and lots more.
On 14 and 15 March, Steve Lamacq will broadcast from SXSW in Austin, Texas where he’ll be reflecting some of the best new music and speaking to some of the key players at the festival. And very soon we’ll be announcing details of the 6 Music Festival 2019. As well as being live on 6 Music this is all available via the 主播大秀 Sounds app.
We appreciate that not every record or session will always be to everyone’s taste, but one of the great joys of 6 Music is the chance of discovering and experiencing new sounds and cultures any time you tune in. We're proud to have DJs with such broad tastes and a deep knowledge of the past, present and potential future of music who can delight, and occasionally bewilder, with their choices as they take us all on an adventure in sound.