Latest news about BBC Radio 3

Next wave of star musicians announced as BBC Radio 3 reveals New Generation Artists 2019-2021

BBC Radio 3 has announced the seven musicians from around the world who have been selected to join its prestigious New Generation Artists scheme from 2019-2021. The musicians joining the scheme are: pianists Eric Lu and Alexander Gadjiev, violist Timothy Ridout, mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska, violinist Johan Dalene, the Consone Quartet, and jazz guitarist Rob Luft.

Musicians lead BBC Radio 3 spring schedule changes as Jess Gillam, Danielle de Niese, Mahan Esfahani and Sean Shibe join station

BBC Radio 3 announces a number of schedule changes and new presenter signings. A revamped Saturday schedule showcases the distinctive BBC Radio 3 musical offering and features a brand new weekly programme This Classical Life, fronted by rising star saxophonist Jess Gillam, who recently wowed audiences at the Baftas and was the highlight of the Last Night Of The BBC Proms in 2018.

Commercial radio ignored in Greatest Radio Shows list

The Radio Times has named what it considers to be the ’30 greatest radio shows of all time’ – but every single one is a BBC programme. The magazine’s new edition contains a six-page feature counting down the shows – from Radio 3’s Private Passions at number 30 to Desert Island Discs at number 1. But the feature has attracted criticism that no commercial radio shows are included. Former radio executive John Myers wrote on Twitter: “I’m sorry, but this is the most insulting and ill informed article on radio I’ve read in a long time."...

Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James increases listeners by more than 300,000

The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James has increased listeners by more than 300,000 in his first full quarter. Latest Rajar data shows since Greg James started on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, there has been an increase of listeners aged 10+ to 5.59m (Monday-Thursday), from 5.28m last quarter. The same period (17 September-16 December 2018) has also seen a record for digital listening, with the proportion of digital listening now at 52.6%...

BBC Radio 3's Late Junction announces first ever festival

This Is Not This Heat, Curl, Hen Ogledd, Gazelle Twin and more to perform. BBC Radio 3’s flagship adventurous music programme Late Junction has revealed details of its first ever festival, taking place at London’s newest venue EartH, in partnership with the Barbican on 28 February and 1 March 2019. The festival will showcase the breadth of the programme’s ear-expanding output, across two days of live music...

Festive Highlights for 2018 on BBC Radio

BBC Radio has today announced its on-air highlights for the festive period. Bob Shennan, BBC Director of Radio & Music, says: “This Christmas BBC Radio will offer an unrivalled collection of programmes featuring the finest DJs, musicians and actors. Across our stations, teams have curated brilliant schedules with world-class talent - all of which are available on BBC Sounds.”

RAJAR Q3 2018: Record share of 52.4% for digital radio

Digital listening share has remained above the important halfway mark and increased from 48.8% to 52.4% in the last 12 months. Total digital listening hours grew by 5.4% year on year, or 27.5 million hours. DAB listening in cars accounted for 11 million hours (or 40%) of all digital listening growth, while listening in home via online/Apps accounted for 13.5 million hours (or 49%) of all digital listening growth.

RAJAR Q3 2018: London and national brands update

Nick Grimshaw left the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with half a million more listeners than a year ago – handing them to Greg James who took over the show halfway through the last quarter. The show now attracts 5.75m listeners (Mon – Fri) and is up 465,000 Year on Year. In London, Capital is back on top with almost 2,100,000 listeners according to Reach in the London commercial radio battle, as Kiss slips back under the 2m listener mark (1,958,000). Magic is in third place (1.5m) whilst Heart comes in 4th (1.4m). But BBC Radio 4 continues to lead the London Reach with 2.4m listeners.

A new autumn season of programmes for BBC Radio 3

BBC Radio 3 Controller Alan Davey has unveiled a raft of new commissions and programmes at the station for the autumn season. New features include the world premiere of a rediscovered Edith Wharton play, a new dedicated Slow Radio slot, the first Radio 3 programme for voice recognition technology, and a focus on young artists across the station’s concert stands.

BBC Radio 3 Announces 'Late Junction' Festival for 2019

Radio 3’s Late Junction programme will be hosting its first dedicated festival in 2019. Alan Davey made the announcement today at the End Of The Road Festival, where the evening show is curating a stage for the second year running. The Late Junction Festival will run over two evenings at a thrilling new venue in East London and will continue the programme’s long heritage of showcasing the best exploratory music from right across the left field.