Today (November 4), the BBC have confirmed that a record 1.6 million viewers tuned in to watch Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park on BBC Red Button this year – it is the best performance yet for the event.
The previous record for Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park on Red Button was held by the 2017 broadcast, which featured a headline performance from Take That and reached and audience of 1.4 million across the day.
The annual Festival in a Day, which took place on Sunday September 15 and was attended by 50,000 music fans featured performances from Simply Red, Kelsea Ballerini, Bananarama, Clean Bandit, Status Quo and Pet Shop Boys.
An official press release stated that the headline set from the Pet Shop Boys – which was also broadcast on BBC Four the same evening – pulled in an audience of 380,000 (consolidated) which is significantly above the average figure for that slot.
The event was also broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
Speaking about the result, Jeff Smith, head of music for BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music says: “It was difficult to follow Kylie Minogue’s long-awaited on-stage reunion with Jason Donovan at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park in 2018, but this year’s Festival in a Day was as memorable as ever. We were proud to welcome another world-class line-up of artists, which brilliantly represented the breadth of music that we play on the station. There was something for everyone, and I’m delighted that this year’s performances, culminating with a stunning set from the Pet Shop Boys, reached a record 1.6 million people on BBC Red Button. I’m already planning next year’s line-up!”
Coverage of Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park on Red Button this year was co-produced by Livewire Pictures and BBC Music Digital.
BBC Radio 2 will host more live music in the coming months, with the BBC Radio 2 In Concert series featuring intimate performances from Stereophonics (November 1), Jeff Lynne’s ELO (November 7), Craig David (November 14), Robbie Williams (November 29) from the BBC Radio Theatre in New Broadcasting House and Dido (December 9) from the BBC’s Maida Vale studios.
Music Week recently spoke to country superstar Kelsea Ballerini about her appearance at BBC Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park – you can read the interview here.
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