Ö÷²¥´óÐã

It is rare that passionate radio listeners overwhelmingly and immediately support the scheduling changes that we makeÌýto aÌýwell-loved Ö÷²¥´óÐã radio station. However,Ìýhaving just announced thatÌýRadio 3 will broadcast live concerts every weekday at 7.30 p.m. for 46 weeks of the year, the reaction has beenÌýalmost universallyÌýpositive. It isÌýwelcomeÌýnewsÌýfor UK performing groups andÌýlistenersÌýwho will enjoy an invitationÌýtoÌýso many outstanding classical performances. What is perhaps less apparentÌýis that it represents aÌýdeliberate move across Ö÷²¥´óÐã radio to keep building the percentage of live output that weÌýair on our stations. For some, this approach may well seem counter-culturalÌýas it comes at a time whenÌýdigital evangelistsÌýcontinueÌýto predictÌýtheÌýmediaÌýwill move inexorably to time-shifted, on-demandÌýcontent. This is true but, paradoxically,Ìýthis very trendÌýis driving the value of liveÌýexperience.

Of course, on-demandÌýdoes offer benefits, such asÌýmaking availableÌývaluable archives like the In Our Time back catalogue,Ìýor a chance to catch-up on recent programmes,Ìýbut surely it is time to declare thatÌýthe appeal of liveÌýradio is not only here to stay but is going to grow. Even beyond radio, live seems to be where the action is. Whether we are watching an final,Ìýthe One ShowÌýor attending a concert, live seems to be a common factor in so many recent triumphs in areas thatÌýhave been consigned by many to a future of inevitable decline. Radio is particularly advantaged by this trend as so much of what makes it successful isÌýtheÌýdrama andÌýimmediacy of live broadcast.

In what some see as a gravity-defying performance, radio listening remains buoyant and in , it was 5 live that hit new record numbers. The thrill ofÌýEngland keeping theÌýAshes combined with a busy news agenda providedÌýa steady flow of compelling live stories. Also, over Christmas we deliberatelyÌýfocusedÌýon ensuring many of our broadcasts remained live rather than playing pre-recordedÌýprogramming while the nation indulged itself.

Behind these successes, there mayÌýlie aÌýdeeper and more enduring need for wider communal experiences. The explosive growth of computers, tablets andÌýsmartphonesÌýhas leadÌýto a huge amount of solo activityÌýwith either no interaction, orÌýcommunication beingÌýrestricted to a small group of friends. LiveÌýbroadcast experiences, although not offering the visceral experience of a live event, still offer a chance to be connected to something much bigger than a social network.

You may be listening alone but you know that thousands of people are connected together in one story. This is nothing new. I remember hearing my neighbours screaming with joy , or looking into another car as IÌýsaw someone as emotionally moved as I was by the story of the collapse of theÌýBerlinÌýWall on the radioÌýnews. For programme makers and presenters,ÌýliveÌýtends to bring out the very best.

It is interesting that while Ö÷²¥´óÐã executives like myself are often thought to beÌýintent on limiting risk and prefer the control of pre-recordedÌýoutput, the truthÌýtends to beÌýthe opposite. This is not to say that the art of pre-built radio in genres such as current affairs and dramaÌýis not to be nurtured as a precious skill, but even in theseÌýareas, live output can play an exciting and growing part.ÌýSo while you will see the radio industry ensuring that it is part of the on-demand revolution, we remain champions of the wonders of live. On May 3rd, we begin our Radio 3 broadcasts. As the musicians begin to play,ÌýI hope that you will be there, at home,Ìýnext toÌýthem.

Tim Davie is Director of Audio & Music at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã

• shows performing live on Steve Lamacq's 6 Music show at the Lowry Centre in Salford in October 2010.
• Edward Blakeman, an Editor at Radio 3, wrote about the station's new committment to live performance on the Radio 3 blog.
• Ö÷²¥´óÐã media correspondent Torin Douglas interviewed 5 live Controller Adrian Van Klaveren about his station's improved RAJAR figures on the 5 live blog.
• Tim responded to the public reaction to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Trust's recent report about Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7 yesterday.