We go over the radio question (4 marks)
Explain one way that music radio stations can meet the requirements of public service broadcasting (PSB). Use the Radio 1 Live Lounge as an example in your answer.
This question is asking for media industries knowledge and understanding of PSB.
AO1(1a)
PSB requirements stated, for example:
‘Inform, educate and entertain’
High quality content
Innovative and challenging content
Stimulating knowledge and learning
Informing the public
Original British-made programming
Reflecting the UK’s cultural identity
Representing diversity and alternative viewpoints
Distinctive programmes
Explanation of the PSB requirement may be embedded in the exemplification using the Radio 1 live Lounge.
Effective examples from the Radio 1 Live Lounge include, for example:
The promotion of live music in the Radio 1 Live Lounge is distinctive and innovative as commercial music radio channels rely on recordings
The range of artists featured in the Radio 1 Live Lounge brings diversity to the representations on BBC channels and reflects the cultural needs of the channels’ young target audience
The Radio 1 Live Lounge is produced by the BBC in the UK, so is original programming
The requirement on the musicians to play live means that the Radio 1 Live Lounge is ‘good of its kind’ – it is superior popular music programming in a cultural context where live performance is valued over recorded music
Explanation of PSB requirements might include:
High quality content means that BBC programmes, for example,
should be ‘good of their kind’ – they don’t all have to be high art, but
even popular programmes should be well made
Innovative and challenging content means that PSB programmes
should not chase audiences by being conventional and easy to
understand
Stimulating knowledge and learning means that PSB channels must
include information and educational content
Informing the public means that PSB channels must include
information and educational content
Original British-made programming means that PSB channels cannot
simply schedule cheap imports
- Reflecting the UK’s cultural identity means that PSB channels must schedule programmes that address UK issues and reflect UK culture in all its diversity
- Representing diversity and alternative viewpoints means that PSB channels must schedule programmes that reflect UK culture in all its diversity and address UK issues from a variety of viewpoints
- Distinctive programmes means that PSB channels must schedule programmes that are different from those on non-PSB commercial channels
