Radio 1 holds event of Olympic proportions

BBC Radio 1 have this week announced they’re to organise their ‘biggest and most ambitious’ live music concert. The event, called “Radio 1 2012”, will be part of celebrations in the London Festival 2012 – part of the Cultural Olympiad celebrating London hosting the 2012 Olympics.

Radio 1 is no stranger to hosting live music events with the ‘BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend’ becoming a stable in the music festival calendar – where two days of UK and international artists, bands and DJs take over small towns and cities across the UK. Last years event took place in Bangor, North Wales and Sunderland, Dundee, Preston, Maidstone and Swindon have also hosted Europes biggest free ticketed event.

The Big Weekend was a development of the One Big Weekend and One Big Sundays, which started each and every Sunday during July and August from 1999. The Live Lounge, BBC Electric Proms, 1Xtra Live, New Years Eve, Radio 1 Presents, Chris Moyles Rallyoke, Notting Hill and Leeds carnivals, the Student Tour and coverage of summer music festivals have also appeared in the Radio 1 and 1 Xtra events portfolio within recent years, as the BBC continue to bring the concerts, sessions and artists to their audiences.

The London Festival 2012 is a new event described as “chance for everyone to celebrate London 2012 through dance, music, theatre, the visual arts, film and digital innovation and leave a lasting legacy for the arts in the UK.” Radio 1 2012, as part of the festival, will see a two day music festival held within the East London Olympic site.

It is believed that Absolute Radio and Global Radio (as a collective of their radio brands) had also put in requests/bids with LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) – to host music events as part of the festival. However, the BBC has received the opportunity.

The event will be lead by Jason Carter, who has recently been appointed as Event Director: London 2012. Jason current is editor of BBC Radio 1 and 1XTra’s Live music events – as well as heading up BBC Introducing, which he will continue to do alongside his new role. Neil Wyatt, the current Executive Producer of the networks Live Music events will step up to Editor. Neil has previously had senior positions with GCap Media and Metropolis Music. Neil and Jason will take up their new roles from next month.

Andy Parfitt, Controller, BBC Radio 1 & Popular Music described the event as ‘ambitious’ and ‘special’. He adds “Radio 1’s music event for London Festival 2012 is going to be our biggest and most ambitious event and Jason will bring all his vast experience and knowledge to delivering something extremely special to the young audiences that live in the boroughs surrounding the Olympic site”.

Planning is already in progress for an extensive programme of activity across East London with the major flagship concert across two days.

“This will be the biggest and most ambitious popular music large scale show that the BBC will have ever put on. Content will be broadcast across BBC platforms and we will hope to deliver some very special artist moments at the main event, to be broadcast on other networks including Radio 2.”

More details about the event will be announced in the coming months.

Images: BBC / LOCOG / Robert Parry Jones

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