Commissioning Brief - BBC

‣ DOCUMENTARIES & MUSIC FEATURES continued
Recent highlights have included…
Music In The Air: History Of Music Radio
Paul Gambaccini presented a six-part history of music radio in the UK and USA.
His essays took in key themes such as…
Broadcasting Has Come to Stay - The opening programme of the series revealed that the first
piece of music ever played on radio was Handel's Largo - the aria Ombra Mai Fu from the opera
Xerxes. Reginald Fessenden featured a recording of this music during a broadcast from the coast of
Massachusetts on Christmas Eve 1906. And Paul traces the developments made by the early radio
pioneers from this moment, to the end of the Second World War.
The Moondog Kingdom - The second programme traced developments from the end of the
Second World War, to the early 60s. The war had demonstrated the central role of radio in the lives
of listeners. And in post-war America, large companies wished to remain part of that relationship
with sponsored network shows.
Good Night to You and Good Morning - The third programme traced the developments that led to
the start of the BBC's first dedicated channel for pop music - Radio 1 - in September 1967.
God Bless You, Music Lovers - The fourth programme traced developments in the UK from the start
of BBC Radio 1 in September 1967, to the late 1970s. In America, a new style of music presentation
was heard on FM radio.
It's All Happening at the Zoo - The fifth programme traced developments from the late 70s to the
beginning of the 90s.
It Always Brought Such Comfort - The final programme traced developments from the early 90s to
the present day.
Continued…
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