BBC Radio 1Xtra is marking its 15th anniversary today (August 16) with programming including an hour dedicated to music from each year since the urban station launched in 2002. Special guests Chip, Tinchy Stryder, Professor Green and other 1Xtra artists are doing in-depth interviews to mark the birthday this week.
Trevor Nelson has spoken to Music Week to share his thoughts on how the station changed the music business. 1Xtra's weekly audience now stands at 1.08 million, compared to 331,000 in the early days. To celebrate, Music Week looks back at 15 of the station's greatest on-air moments.
By Zoë MacLellan
1 Kanye West Q&A (13 Aug 2007)
2 Kelly Rowland co-hosts the 1Xtra Breakfast Show with Trevor Nelson (August 2008). Other Breakfast guest presenters included Usher, Ashley Walters and Ms Dynamite
3 The Nelson Skank – track written in honour of Trevor Nelson (Aug 3, 2009)
4 1Xtra Live, Coventry (2008) The station’s inaugural live event features Craig David, Akon and Kelly Rowland.
5 BBC Radio 1Xtra’s World Record Breaking DJ Relay (Jun 7, 2010)
6 Harry Shotta, Skibadee & Mic Righteous – Fast & Furious Freestyle (Aug 15, 2011)
7 UK Female Allstars perform Rock The Mic at BBC 1Xtra Live (Dec 1, 2011)
8 Chaka Demus & Pliers – Murder She Wrote (Live at Tuff Gong Studios celebrating Jamaica’s 50th Independence) (Aug 6, 2012)
9 Rudimental – 1Xtra Live 2013 (Oct 2013)
10 SixtyMinutesLive - Dizzee Rascal, BBK, Lethal Bizzle, Tempa T, Fekky, Footsie & General Levy (Aug 8, 2014)
11 Bugzy Malone’s Fire In the Booth (Mar 14, 2015)
12 Grime Symphony at The Proms (Aug 12, 2015)
13 Seani B at Notting Hill Carnival with Machel Montano & Protoje (August 2015)
14 1Xtra Live Lounge with Soul II Soul – Trevor’s 20th Anniversary at the BBC (August 2016)
15 Stormzy Live Lounge Special with Ghetts, J Hus, MNEK and Wretch 32 (Mar 27, 2017)
