BBC Radio 3 Controller “only just getting started” as he refutes ‘dumbing down’ accusations

BBC Radio 3 Controller “only just getting started” as he refutes ‘dumbing down’ accusations

As a seasoned critic with years of immersion in the dynamic world of classical music and radio broadcasting, I find myself deeply impressed by Sam Jackson’s transformative leadership at Radio 3. Having witnessed the ebb and flow of various stations throughout my career, it is refreshing to see such a bold and visionary approach.


This article first appeared in TopMob magazine.

In April 2023, Sam Jackson assumed the role of Radio 3 controller. After a year, he made adjustments that reinforced the reservations some people had about the former head of Classic FM. Jools Holland was granted a Saturday lunchtime slot and Radio 2’s less formal Friday Night Music Night was reinstated for the station. Critics accused Jackson of simplifying things too much. However, this allegation still irked him when we last spoke in April. “It’s an absurd phrase,” he said then. “An insult.” Furthermore, the elitism directed at him missed the mark; Radio 3 had fewer than two million weekly listeners and was on a downward trend.

After a highly triumphant 18 months following the Proms season and now comfortably settled in his Broadcasting House office, Jackson feels validated. Fresh radio audience ratings indicate that the station’s listener base has surpassed two million again, and Holland’s show holds an unprecedented post-pandemic audience record for its time slot. As for accusations of dilution, Jackson counters by stating that it is uncommon to find Charles Ives playing on other stations during afternoon hours. Furthermore, he highlights the upcoming 40-part series on modernism as a testament to their dedication and commitment to this genre in the coming year.

Furthermore, listeners who used to tune in to their long-standing station, the commercially oriented Classic FM, are experiencing a decline. One might imagine him wanting to exclaim, “I told you so.” However, he responds, “Stay humble.” He continues, “Radio is an incredibly intimate medium; it’s there with you in the bath or the shower. When someone like me comes along and changes it, the immediate response is often, ‘What have you done? I liked it how it was.’ People tend to forget that what’s currently there wasn’t always there. It’s more about a sense of anticipation – ‘I thought we’d reach this stage,’ rather than gloating over being right.

The figures are “brilliant”, but what really cheers Jackson is Radio 3 reporting the highest average listening hours in its history. He wants us to spend as much of our time as possible with his station and, if our stressed-out lives make that tricky, then he’ll supply a space on BBC Sounds to help out. The newly launched Radio 3 Unwind is a 24-hours-a-day music stream that, we’re told, will “promote focus, help listeners unwind, de-stress and find escapism, guided by expert presenters”.

1) Mentioned among others is Dr. Sian Williams, who is a registered psychologist specializing in mental health trauma within the NHS. According to Jackson, she possesses extensive knowledge on the subject. The upcoming program, “Unwind,” aims to delve deeply into the concept of unwinding and safeguarding one’s mental wellness in a manner reminiscent of the Reithian approach.

In today’s context, one might question whether Lord Reith, the founding father of the BBC, would advocate for focusing on personal energy centers, or chakras. Instead, he may have preferred to emphasize the significance of providing information that promotes self-care, using music as a tool to boost mental health, given the current fast-paced life and our excessive screen usage. As Jackson explains, this modern approach reflects the essence of what it means to be the BBC in today’s world.

But isn’t great music art, rather than a mood- enhancing adjunct to yoga and herbal tea? “Radio 3 Unwind is a core classical music station,” he says. “You will hear, far above anything else, classical music, both historic and new. It will back British composers and artists and shine a light on an underperformed, underrepresented repertoire.”

Jackson exudes a confident air, fueled by the positive Rajar figures. He expresses a clear vision for Radio 3’s future, stating, “I have a firm idea of where I want to guide Radio 3. There are numerous more thrilling possibilities we could explore, both at Radio 3 and the Proms, to strengthen classical music’s role in our nation’s cultural fabric. It feels like we’re just getting started.

BBC Radio 3 Controller “only just getting started” as he refutes ‘dumbing down’ accusations

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2024-11-05 03:35