BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British radio station, specialising in popular music aimed at a young audience (children, teenagers and young adults). Radio 1 was launched at 7am on September 30, 1967 as a direct response to the popularity of illegal pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline.
History
The first DJ to broadcast on the new station was Tony Blackburn, whose (sometimes sickeningly) cheery style won him the prime slot on what became known as the "breakfast show". The first record played on Radio 1 was Flowers in the Rain by The Move. The breakfast programme remains the most prized slot in the Radio 1 schedules, with every change of presenter exciting considerable media interest.
The initial rota of staff included the legendary John Peel (still with the station) and a gaggle of others, some hired from pirates, such as Ed Stewart, Terry Wogan, Jimmy Young, Dave Cash, Kenny Everett, Pete Murray, and Bob Holness.
Radio 1 initially broadcast on mediumwave only (it was the only station without an FM frequency). In the 1970s and early 1980s it was allowed to take over Radio 2's FM transmitters for a few hours per week. Eventually it acquired its own national FM network on 97-99 MHz in 1988, and its old mediumwave frequencies were reallocated to commercial stations in 1994. In the 1990s it also began broadcasting on Sky Television's analogue satellite, initially in mono and later in stereo. Today it can be heard on DAB, Freeview, Sky Digital and the internet as well as FM.
Music
Radio 1 is notable for the range of music it plays. While most commercial stations concentrate on a particular theme, such as 1980s music or 'classic rock', Radio 1 plays a diverse mix of current songs, including independent/alternative, rock, house/electronica and rap.
Due to restrictions on the amount of commercial music that can be played on radio in the UK (the so-called "needle time" limitation) the station has recorded a great many live performances and studio sessions over the years, many of which have subsequently (and perhaps ironically) found their way onto commercially-available LPs and CDs. There have also been innumerable rockumentary shows and interviews. Although this type of programming arose from necessity it has given the station some much-needed diversity.
In recent years, Radio 2 has taken over Radio 1 as the mostlistened to UK radio station, with an audience of slightly older people (over 25), using a style that Radio 1 had up until the early 1990s.
Presenters
Current presenters on this station still include the timeless John Peel as well as Steve Lamacq, Zane Lowe, Mary Anne Hobbs, and Mike Davies, who all host their own respective rock and indie orientated shows. Also in the station's stable are R&B;, garage and rap supremos such as Tim Westwood, The Dreem Teem and Trevor Nelson. Club DJs Pete Tong, Judge Jules, and Seb Fontaine, amongst many others all present their own weekend dance shows. With these music specialists presenting in the evenings, the daytime schedules are mostly taken up by less specialised, more mainstram shows primarily hosted by Chris Moyles at breakfast (0655-1000 hrs), Jo Whiley (1000-1300), Colin and Edith (1300-1500), Sara Cox (1500-1800), Scott Mills and Dave Pearce (1800-2000).
Shows
Aside from the daily scheduled programmes, Radio 1 also broadcasts a number of special programmes throughout the week. One of these is the The Official UK Chart, broadcast on Sundays from 5-7PM.
See also: List of BBC radio stations