BBC Radio 3 trials an easy-listening channel

Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music, yesterday launched ‘digital extensions’ for radio music channels.

These are the official expectations of Radio 3-plus:
– The Radio 3 extension will play peaceful favourites to ethereal choral music, and soothing orchestral textures to minimal and neoclassical sounds, including newly-released pieces and performances of classic works as well as new compositions. The station will champion music by living composers including the new generation of artist-composers who receive a limited amount of airplay on other UK stations. Live and specially-recorded music will feature across the week.
– It will reflect mood-based repertoire from the BBC Orchestras and Choirs across the UK, the BBC’s New Generation Artists and BBC Introducing acts. The station will also support the BBC Proms through curated music mixes that feature Proms performances, bringing these unique musical moments to a wider UK audience.
– The schedule will feature popular on-demand titles such as the Mindful Mix, and artist-led shows like Ultimate Calm, as well as new commissions. It will also include simulcast content from Radio 3 such as Night Tracks, and music specifically selected to aid focus.
– The extension will include shows that lean into the mindfulness, wellbeing and sleep space with unique and compelling combinations of speech and music as heard in BBC Sounds titles like The Music & Meditation Podcast, Tearjerker and The Sleeping Forecast (a combination of Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast and classical music from BBC Introducing artists).
– Drawing from a library of around 8,000 tracks, it will combine more music from a broader range of classical and contemporary composers than other UK stations to create a consistent, calming listening experience unlike anything in the market.