BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra controller Ben Cooper has revealed that MistaJam will cover Annie Mac’s 7-9pm weekday new music show on Radio 1 when she takes her maternity leave in January 2017, at the MUSEXPO Europe conference in London.
MistaJam joined Radio 1Xtra in 2005 to present an overnight Thursday night show and currently presents 1Xtra’s weekday evening Monday-Thursday, 7-10pm show. As well as being involved in Radio 1’s annual Ibiza showcase to highlight the station’s specialist music output, MistaJam has hosted 1Xtra Live, presented the TV coverage of Red Bull’s Culture Clash and Channel 4’s Future Sounds, and in May 2016 performed a live set at Leicester City Football Club’s victory parade.
Danny Howard will cover Mac’s Friday night 7-10pm Radio 1 dance show. Since his first DJ set at Radio 1 in Ibiza in 2011, Howard has become a key member of the Radio 1 dance family, becoming the host of Radio 1’s Dance Anthems (Saturdays, 4-7pm) in April 2012.
Meanwhile, DJ Target will stand in for MistaJam, hosting 1Xtra’s 7-10pm Monday-Thursday new music show. Target currently hosts 1Xtra’s 7-10pm Friday night show, a 1Xtra Homegrown new music show, Sundays, 4-7pm, and presents Radio 1 and 1Xtra's 1-4am simulcast Saturday night into Sunday morning show.
MistaJam, Danny Howard and DJ Target will continue to host their other shows on the stations.
MistaJam said: "Having grown up listening to the show since the days of it being the Evening Session, I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to look after 7-9pm on BBC Radio 1. While Annie's off bringing new life into the world, I'm really excited to be able to share my passion for exciting new music regardless of genre with the Radio 1 audience."
Cooper commented: “You need to tune in or search online as these DJs' energy and enthusiasm at a festival, in the club or on the radio just makes you smile.”
Cooper also announced 25 hour-long downloadable ‘phone first’ music playlists a week for Radio 1 and 1Xtra, themed around the stations’ mainstream playlist and specialist music programming. Commissioned by Radio 1 and 1Xtra with mobile as the primary platform, the content will be available to stream and download via the BBC iPlayer Radio app. Examples include Radio 1’s Most Played Records of the Week - a Top Ten chart which will also be broadcast during the final hour of Cel Spellman’s show (Sundays, 4-7pm), while each Friday, to mark Radio 1’s New Music Friday, there will be a chance to hear all the new singles released that day - also broadcast during Radio 1’s Early Breakfast Show with Adele Roberts (4-6:30am). Furthermore, every Monday The Most Played Specialist Songs of the Week list will give listeners the Top 10 specialist tracks they need to hear that week. This will be broadcast between 9-10pm.
“This is fantastic - you can download and stream great new music, with your favourite DJ, and listen when and wherever you want on your phone,” Cooper said.
