- Glastonbury 2023 on the BBC has damaged data, with the latest figures revealing that protection of the competition has been streamed 65 million instances on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, with 23 million tuning in on the BBC’s TV channels
- This autumn, BBC Two presents model new documentary, When Blondie Came To Britain – exploring Blondie’s relationship with the UK
- Female artists take centre stage on BBC Two this season: the return of Later…with Jools Holland is accompanied by Later… specials celebrating Amy Winehouse and Women of Hip Hop and Soul; the channel dedicates a night to solo feminine performers together with Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Britney Spears, and new …on the BBC compilations highlight artists resembling Lulu and Mary J. Blige
- BBC Four brings viewers reside protection of Mercury Prize 2023 with FREENOW: Album of the Year
This 12 months’s Glastonbury Festival reached a record-breaking 23.1 million folks on BBC TV (together with the 30 day catch up interval), up 8% on final 12 months’s determine of 21.4 million, with 8.6 million folks tuning in to Elton John’s Sunday night time efficiency on BBC One over the identical interval. Other high-performing units included Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, in addition to Blondie, Rick Astley, Fred Again.., Foo Fighters, Becky Hill and Lewis Capaldi. Glastonbury 2023 content material on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds has now been streamed 65 million instances, greater than any earlier 12 months and up 54% on final 12 months’s determine.
Following a recent multi-year extension, the BBC is Glastonbury Festival’s unique, multimedia broadcast companion. This 12 months there was extra reside protection than ever earlier than with a report variety of hours on BBC One and extra programming within the lead up, together with an up to date model of Glastonbury: 50 Years and Counting, plus additional content material to find on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer, with scale and discovery is on the coronary heart of the BBC’s Glastonbury protection. The BBC delivered over 40 hours of protection throughout it’s TV channels, 85 hours of reside radio broadcasts, content material on BBC Sounds, and a rise in scale and accessibility on BBC iPlayer, with much more themed and reside streams. And for the primary time, the BBC streamed the Pyramid Stage performances reside in British Sign Language, making our protection extra accessible than ever earlier than.
Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music says: “This was an unimaginable 12 months at Worthy Farm and I’m proud that we efficiently matched the ambition and spirit of this iconic competition with our intensive protection of it. It’s fantastic that report audiences found and loved our Glastonbury output on TV, Radio and on-line, as I do know the groups throughout the BBC and BBC Studios labored across the clock to carry extra performances and content material than ever earlier than to folks at home. A particular due to Emily and Michael Eavis for permitting us to share the enjoyment of Glastonbury with so many individuals throughout the UK.”
As autumn approaches, BBC Pop Music TV will proceed to maintain music lovers of all tastes entertained with a wealth of programmes celebrating music from many various eras and genres.
Jonathan Rothery, BBC Head of Pop Music TV, says: “This autumn, I’m delighted to carry the music and tales of a few of the world’s most influential and best-loved artists to our viewers. From Wise Owl’s exploration of Blondie’s relationship with the UK, to nights of programming devoted to solo feminine performers and Motown, plus the return of Later…with Jools Holland, this autumn’s eclectic slate is certain to resonate with music followers of all generations.”
When Blondie Came to Britain on BBC Two delves into Blondie’s symbiotic and enduring relationship with Britain. This charming documentary reveals how one of the vital iconic bands in international music historical past left an indelible mark on British popular culture, while additionally highlighting how the UK was instrumental in catapulting Blondie to stardom. Produced by Wise Owl Films, the documentary traces the band’s early footsteps throughout the nation – from their first UK gig on the Students’ Union in Bournemouth in 1977, to their ground-breaking tv debut on Granada TV, courtesy of the legendary broadcaster and label proprietor, Tony Wilson. The narrative culminates with Blondie’s electrifying efficiency on Glastonbury’s esteemed Pyramid Stage in 2023.
Featuring within the programme are new interviews with band members previous and current together with Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Gary Lachman AKA Valentine, Jimmy Destri, Frank Infante and Nigel Harrison. There are additionally contributions from musicians and producers together with Jools Holland, Johnny Marr, Mike Chapman, Pauline Black and Don Letts.
Debbie Harry says: “When I feel again about all of the instances we’ve been to the UK, it’s been an incredible affect on studying my craft – it’s been a giant affect on us. I really feel such a kinship to the British and the UK that once I don’t go there regularly, I miss going. I just like the tradition. It had a deep impact on me.”
Speaking about touring Britain within the early days of Blondie, Chris Stein says: “I keep in mind the physicality. Everybody went loopy and was pogoing and going nuts. We had been all greatly surprised, it was very thrilling. I at all times do not forget that fondly. In New York there was actually no rock dance happening.”
Clem Burke says: “That was the ultimate for us, to be on tour within the UK. It couldn’t have gotten any higher in my thoughts. The music scene was taking off. It was a significant catalyst for the success of Blondie […] by the point we acquired to Top of the Pops I used to be like ‘yeah, this is success’.”
This new documentary follows 4 different …Came To Britain movies made by Wise Owl for BBC Two: When Bob Marley Came to Britain (August 2020), When Nirvana Came to Britain (September 2021), When Tina Turner Came to Britain (December 2022) and When Motown Came to Britain (January 2023). The latter two can be found on BBC iPlayer.
On Thursday seventh September from 9pm on BBC Four, Lauren Laverne will host reside protection of this 12 months’s Mercury Prize Awards Show from the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London in Mercury Prize 2023 with FREENOW: Album of the Year. The shortlist for 2023, which was introduced reside on BBC Radio 6 Music in July, contains twelve albums which mirror the varied nature of British and Irish music over the previous 12 months and canopy a variety of latest genres. All of the shortlisted albums shall be celebrated by reside efficiency, culminating within the announcement of 2023’s total winner. The winner is chosen by an esteemed panel of judges, comprised of earlier winners and business tastemakers. The panel contains musicians and broadcasters together with Anna Calvi, Hannah Peel, Jamie Cullum, Jamz Supernova and Mistajam. The chair of the panel is Jeff Smith, Head of Music for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.
BBC Radio 6 Music can even be bringing listeners reside protection of the Mercury Prize Awards Show on Thursday seventh September, 7pm-12am. Matt Everitt shall be reside from the Eventim Apollo, interviewing this 12 months’s nominees, with Tom Ravenscroft and Deb Grant reside within the studio, enjoying out performances from the ceremony.
Later in autumn, BBC Two presents a model new collection of Later…with Jools Holland, which returns to the historic Alexandra Palace. The earlier collection of Later, in spring 2023, featured performances from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Jessie Ware, Gaz Coombes, Alison Goldfrapp and Gabriels. This collection will carry extra distinctive performances from the eclectic mixture of artists the present is famed for.
Two particular compilation episodes of Later…with Jools Holland can even air this autumn on BBC Two: one devoted to Amy Winehouse, which shall be broadcast on Saturday ninth September (9pm), simply earlier than what would have been Amy’s fortieth birthday, and can function her debut efficiency on the present of Stronger Than Me (2003); and one showcasing the Women of Hip Hop and Soul, together with traditional performances on the present from Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, India Arie, Jorja Smith, Kelis, Little Simz, Mary J. Blige, Ms. Dynamite and Stefflon Don.
Other upcoming highlights embody:
- An evening celebrating solo feminine performers, together with Alicia Keys on the BBC which options performances of hits together with Girl on Fire and Empire State of Mind, and one other probability to see Britney on the BBC and Rihanna at Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend in 2012 (BBC Two)
- A Motown themed night, together with Smokey Robinson Live in Hyde Park in 2014, Stevie Wonder captured in 1995 performing a lot of his best hits in A Night of Wonder, and Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux in 1980 (BBC Two)
- More …At the BBC specials on BBC Two celebrating Stock Aitken Waterman, Lulu and Mary J. Blige
- Disco: Sound of a Revolution – a landmark new three-part collection celebrating the sound of Disco. It options contributors together with Ana Matronic, Nicky Siano, Honey Dijon, Jake Shears, Jessie Ware, DJ Hollywood, MNEK, Nona Hendryx, Kim Petras and Thelma Houston (BBC Two)
Recent BBC Pop Music TV highlights embody: headline units from this 12 months’s Reading and Leeds Festival from The Killers and Billie Eilish; Northern Soul on the Proms, recorded on the Royal Albert Hall in July and created by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Stuart Maconie; Shania Twain on the BBC; an evening devoted to blur, that includes their recent Radio 2 in Concert efficiency on the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, London and blur on the BBC, which incorporates archive performances of fan favourites resembling Country House, Parklife and Girls and Boys; an evening celebrating woman bands, that includes Bananarama on the BBC, a Girls Aloud live performance recording, captured on their Tangled Up tour reside from the O2 in 2008, in addition to specials from the BBC archives together with Labelle in Concert, Spice Girls on the BBC, I’m in a Girl Group! and Top of the Pops 2: Girl Groups; highlights from this 12 months’s Wireless Festival which happened in London’s Finsbury Park and featured a few of the largest stars of rap, hip-hop and R&B; performances from Glastonbury 2023; The Trouble With KanYe, which sees award-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar journey to the United States to attempt to uncover how one among America’s most celebrated artists grew to become a megaphone for hate and division; an evening devoted to the late Tony Bennett together with Tony Bennett: BBC Sessions, an intimate BBC session within the setting of LSO St Luke’s; Reel Stories: Pet Shop Boys, through which Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe sit down with Dermot O’Leary to observe again the twists and turns of their profession; George Michael: Live in London, which captures the previous Wham! Frontman at his remaining two concert events at London’s Earls Court Arena in 2008 in entrance of 40,000 followers; and Prince and The Revolution: Live, a Grammy-nominated live performance movie of the Syracuse Carrier Dome present from Prince’s 1985 Purple Rain tour.
When Blondie Came To Britain is a 1 x 60 minute documentary for BBC Two, commissioned by Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Music TV, produced and directed for Wise Owl Films by Kate Siney with Mark Robinson as Executive Producer.
JM7
