RADIO COMMISSIONING FRAMEWORK Commissioning Brief Commissioning Brief No.: 20232 BBC Radio 2’s Weekday Evening Music Show Talent: Jo Whiley From November/December 2020 BBC Radio Popular Music Networks - CONFIDENTIAL CONTENTS SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY ...................................................................................... 3 1. The Opportunity ........................................................................................................................ 5 2. Editorial Strategy ...................................................................................................................... 5 3. Editorial Objectives .................................................................................................................. 5 4. Music Policy .............................................................................................................................. 5 5. Key Deliverables ....................................................................................................................... 6 6. Success Measures ................................................................................................................... 6 7. Social Media / Digital/Extra deliverables .............................................................................. 6 8. Risk Management .................................................................................................................... 6 9. Additional Information / Requirements .................................................................................. 6 SECTION B: PROCESS, ASSEMENT, EVALUATION .............................................................. 8 1. The Five Stages ....................................................................................................................... 8 2. Assessment Criteria ............................................................................................................... 10 3. The Evaluation Team ............................................................................................................. 11 SECTION C: THE COMMISSIONING TIMETABLE .................................................................. 12 SECTION D: FULL PROPOSALS ...................................................................................................... 13 1. What We Need From You ..................................................................................................... 13 2. What To Expect From Us ...................................................................................................... 14 3. Important Points To Note ...................................................................................................... 16 APPENDIX 1: EXPERIENCE QUESTIONNAIRE ....................................................................... 17 2 of 18 BBC Radio Popular Music Networks - CONFIDENTIAL SECTION A: EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY Commissioning Brief : 20232 – Weekday Evening Music Show Commissioning Owner Robert Gallacher Commissioning Contact Robert Gallacher [email protected] Commissioning Brief Title Weekday Evening Music Show Network Radio 2 Guide Price £800 - ‘Guide Price’ does not include presenter fees, which will be paid directly by Radio 2. Genre Music Duration One year with two separate options for the BBC to renew for a further year on the same terms after both the first and second years (1+1+1) No. of Episodes 200 per year Transmission Period From November/December 2020 Slot Day Monday to Thursdays Slot Time 1900-2100 Production Location London All proposals must be submitted via Proteus and go through Production eligibility checks first. Please make your short proposal using no more than 250 words. Important Notes: • Short Proposals and your responses to the Production Questionnaire (see Appendix 1, page 15), must be submitted via Proteus before the deadline at noon on Thursday 9th July. • The incumbent does not need to complete either the Production Experience Questionnaire or the Short Proposal. They can go straight to preparing their Full Proposal. • During Stage 1 of the process we will first evaluate the responses given in the Production Questionnaire. We will then assess your Short Proposal. • Shortlisted suppliers will be asked to submit a Full Proposal. This should not exceed two sides of A4 when printed using Arial font, size 11. • These suppliers will also be invited to a Zoom pitch with the Commissioning Team, where they can use a power-point, but we request that they don’t play any video content. 3 of 18 BBC Radio Popular Music Networks - CONFIDENTIAL • Producers are not permitted to contact on-air talent, without prior approval of the commissioner. • Any producer found to be in breach of this will be excluded from the commissioning process. • The BBC reserves the right at any time prior to the award of a commission, and without incurring any liability to the affected suppliers, to accept or to reject any proposal, or to annul the commissioning process rejecting all Full Proposals. More information relating to all commissioning briefs and rounds, regardless of Networks can be found on the Pitching Ideas page of the Radio Commissioning Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4fC4NcVXqkZntJv8ZHpClD8/pitching- ideas We strongly advise you to submit your Proposals in good time to avoid the possibility of difficulties caused by unforeseen network or transmission problems. No late submissions will be accepted BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a distinctive, mixed music and speech network, broadcasting to a broad audience which aims to appeal to all age groups over 35. The network offers entertaining, popular and specialist music programmes alongside speech-based content - including news, current affairs, documentaries, religion, arts and social action. The station boasts an award winning team of top name presenters including Zoe Ball, Steve Wright, Sara Cox, Trevor Nelson, Graham Norton, Jeremy Vine, Ken Bruce, Paul O’Grady, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Craig Charles, Claudia Winkleman and Tony Blackburn. Network Strategy The network is aiming to grow reach and listening hours amongst the 35-54s, whilst retaining its already very broad audience appeal. Radio 2 will deliver great content to listen to, look at, and share, across all platforms, to drive digital take-up across social platforms and BBC Sounds, and will present the broadest mix of popular and specialist music hosted and curated by the nation’s best loved musical experts. We will place distinctive programming at the heart of the schedule, reflecting the diversity of the UK, whilst maintaining our reputation as the home of the biggest entertainment stars. 4 of 18 BBC Radio Popular Music Networks - CONFIDENTIAL 1. The Opportunity Jo Whiley: Monday–Thursdays 1900-2100 Following on from the broad mainstream Sara Cox Teatime offer, this daily two-hour show should be targeted at 35+ mainstream Radio 2 listeners, including music fans and those interested in popular culture. The show should be a warm, informative, inclusive and entertaining programme, highlighting new releases and classic tracks, which lean towards the younger end of our 35+ audience. The programme should feature live and pre-recorded session music as part of Radio 2’s live music remit and celebrate the best of popular culture, with a specific UK focus. 2. Editorial Strategy This programme provides a hand-curated playlist, highlighting the importance of having a trusted tastemaker like Jo Whiley at the helm. The new artists should seamlessly blend with the mix of classic tracks and everything should be contextualised – a major point of difference to streaming services. We should celebrate Jo’s heritage relationships with artists and ensure these interactions punch above the weight of the slot. We are open to discussion about how a specific live music property might work within this programme but any such element would need to add heft to Radio 2’s commitment to discovering the new pop establishment and celebrating some iconic artists (eg“modern nostalgia”). This show should be driving audiences to explore BBC Sounds, cross-promoting complementary shows/playlists from the BBC Radio portfolio. This show should present popular culture in a way distinct to mainstream shows across the rest of the network, and seek ways to engage with specialist shows that follow it. 3. Editorial Objectives • To create one ‘peak’ moment per quarter – giving the rest of the network a reason to talk up the programme. • To punch above the weight of the slot in terms of editorial ambition • To act as an important showcase for live music • To deliver audiences to BBC Sounds for both live listening and on demand propositions 4. Music Policy The programme production team should deliver a mix of gold (“modern nostalgia”), new music, and find a way to connect with the daytime music policy via support for the Radio 2 playlist and New To 2. The show should extend the breadth of well- known gold tracks on Radio 2 by appealing to the younger end of the 35+ audience so more of a focus on gold from 90’s onwards, and there should also be a focus on new music from a broader range than just those tracks which are added to the Radio 2 new music playlist. This show’s production team should have more input into the creation of the music running order than most daily shows on the network, but will be subject to regular reviews from Head Of Music. 5 of 18 BBC Radio Popular Music Networks - CONFIDENTIAL 5. Key Deliverables • A new and exciting live music