Stations Launch Digital Dance Services in U.K.

LONDON — Two new dance music services from leading radio broadcasters have launched within days of each other in the United Kingdom. This brings new choice for listeners across digital platforms.

The BBC launched Radio 1 Dance on Friday Oct. 9. Its the corporation’s first new 24-hour stream on the BBC Sounds app and is available worldwide.

The new service is a spin-off of its youth-targeted service, Radio 1, and aims to give younger audiences more flexibility to listen to BBC content. It brings together Radio 1’s dance programs into a dedicated stream on the Sounds app. And offers a second chance to hear Radio 1’s DJs and mixes, including DJ Pete Tong’s show between 4 and 6 p.m. local time.

Historic Moment

“This is a historic moment for Radio 1,” said Aled Haydn Jones, head of Radio 1. “Though the station’s world-leading influence in the dance music scene has spanned decades, we’re now able to stream all of our brilliant shows in one place on BBC Sounds.”

The launch of the new service raised concerns from commercial radio however, with calls for U.K. media regulator Ofcom to review the BBC Sounds platform.

“It’s imperative for the future of the BBC that it provides high quality, distinctive content that warrants its significant license fee income,” said Andy Carter MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Radio.

“I’m concerned about the serious lack of transparency and scrutiny of the BBC Sounds platform. New services like Radio 1 Dance do not appear to meet the important public value tests that the BBC must observe. I hope Ofcom will conduct a thorough review of BBC Sounds as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Capital Dance

Meanwhile last week saw Global, the media and entertainment group, launch Capital Dance on national DAB digital radio and on its Global Player app. The station features former Radio 1 DJ MistaJam on the drivetime show, having joined Global after 15 years at the BBC.

Global is Europe’s largest radio company. It operates a number of well-known brands alongside Capital, including Heart, Classic FM and the speech station LBC.

“Capital Dance is a brilliant addition to the Capital brand,” said James Rea, director of Broadcasting at Global. “This move opens the brand up to a whole new set of music and dance genres, fronted by one of the most esteemed figures in dance music.”

The launch of Capital Dance increases the number of national stations from Global broadcasting in DAB+ on the national Digital One multiplex to 14. With 10 further commercial services broadcasting in DAB+ on the Sound Digital multiplex, including Bauer’s Jazz FM and talkRADIO from Wireless, there are now 24 national commercial stations broadcasting in DAB+ in the UK. That’s more than half of all national commercial digital stations.