BBC Radio 2 bosses have spoken about the power of the station’s festival across multiple platforms.
Radio 2 In The Park, their flagship annual live music event, takes place at Moor Park in Preston from September 6-8 as the festival season ends.
As well as headliners Pet Shop Boys and Sting, the line-up includes Manic Street Preachers, Craig David, Sugababes, Pixie Lott, Gabrielle, Shaznay Lewis, Travis and Snow Patrol.
The 35,000-capacity event marks the festival’s second year outside the capital following 2023’s edition in Leicester. A third day has been added this year with DJ sets from Radio 2 presenters.
“The further up the country you go, the more enthusiastic the audience is,” said Radio 2 head of station Helen Thomas. “We really felt that in Leicester last year, and we know that the audience from the North West is going to be amazing.”
Last year’s edition featured Tears For Fears and the timely booking of Kylie Minogue, who had just scored a hit with Padam Padam. The Radio 2 In The Park headline performance was a key part of her campaign launch for the No.1 album Tension.
“It was a great success and the numbers were incredible,” said Jeff Smith, head of music. “We saw a tremendous response on social, iPlayer and BBC Sounds. It worked really well for the audience in the crowd and [listening via] the radio station.”
“We are really conscious of the fact that even though we’re performing to 35,000 people in a park, there are millions of people listening at home,” added Thomas. “We work really hard to make sure that they feel included and excited by what’s going on throughout the weekend.”
Radio 2 In The Park delivered an increased reach for the BBC last year with more than five million on-demand audio and video requests, as well as 1.2m live streams of the festival on BBC iPlayer.
“They are significant numbers and that has an incremental effect for the record labels and the artists,” said Smith.
Sting’s performance features his new touring trio, while Pet Shop Boys will present their Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live production.
“They are absolute core artists – legendary, iconic – and they also have the most amazing repertoire,” Smith told Music Week.
“These are artists that literally cut across the generations,” added Thomas. “There is something for everyone in their incredible repertoire. There’s been a level of excitement from our presenters, and the Pet Shop Boys in particular have been all over Radio 2 in the build-up to the launch.”
Both headliners will air on BBC TV, while the whole festival will be available on BBC iPlayer, Sounds and Radio 2.
Ahead of the festival, BBC iPlayer will feature classic sets from previous Radio 2 in the Park performers. There will then be a livestream from Radio 2 In The Park on September 7-8, with performances available on-demand after the festival has finished.
From Monday, September 9 a separate highlights compilation will be available on demand on BBC iPlayer and Red Button.
These are artists that literally cut across the generations
Helen Thomas
Returning to long-term label home Parlophone, Pet Shop Boys hit No.2 with the LP Nonetheless in May (30,979 sales – Official Charts Company).
As well as promotional opportunities for new music, Smith underlined the potential for catalogue with support on the network. The station’s Eras format, which celebrates artists’ careers with a documentary series, focused on Kylie Minogue for last year’s festival. Radio 2 will cover Pet Shop Boys and Sting in the run-up to this year’s edition. A countdown show of PSB’s biggest tunes aired recently and is on BBC Sounds.
“The feedback I get from repertoire owners in the major labels and beyond is that this is a significant factor in bringing life back to the repertoire, to the back catalogue,” said Smith of the network’s wider support for festival acts.
As well as Eras documentaries ahead of the event, BBC Sounds will also feature Radio 2 In The Park playlists.
“Whenever we do a big event, we want to build the excitement and anticipation,” Thomas told Music Week.
In the weeks following the festival, live tracks will be seeded into the daytime schedule.
Radio 2 In the Park is part of an Ofcom requirement to air 68 hours of live or specially recorded music a year. Other initiatives include Piano Room and Jo Whiley’s Sofa Sessions.
“In terms of live music, you’ve got our landmark moments but there’s all sorts of stuff we do across the piece that is really important, whether it’s covering country music at C2C or our recent partnership with Love Supreme Festival around jazz,” said Smith.
He works closely with labels and artist managers on Radio 2 In The Park bookings.
“It needs to represent the timeless and melodic music policy in its broadest sense, but it also has to be family-friendly and as broad and diverse as possible,” explained Smith.
While acts on the bill may be familiar, Radio 2 still needs an advance insight into campaigns.
“It’s really important for the industry to know that we can only do that by hearing the music up front, because I’m not going to commit to something that I don’t believe will work for the station musically,” said Smith. “We believe in all the artists [playing this year’s festival], and we will continue to support them.”
With the event still establishing itself outside the capital, the line-up has consisted of popular Radio 2 acts. But Smith is confident that new talent will become part of the festival in future.
“I think we will develop that concept over the next few years,” he said. “So I’d like to have conversations with the industry about what more we can do with that.”
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