BBC Music launches with simulcast of The Impossible Orchestra's 'God Only Knows' across all BBC properties
BBC channels from BBC One to BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC iPlayer and all BBC outlets have joined forces this evening for a pan-channel broadcast of ‘God Only Knows’, a reworking of The Beach Boys classic, officially marking the launch of BBC Music.
The reworking of God Only Knows sees 27 internationally acclaimed artists from across the musical genres – including One Direction, Kylie Minogue, Pharrell Williams, Dave Grohl, Jamie Cullum and Nicola Benedetti – come together to form ‘The Impossible Orchestra’.
“This is an exciting moment for BBC Music as we launch to a global audience. With the 80-piece BBC Concert Orchestra at its heart and comprising an array of iconic music stars, from a wide range of musical genres, this “impossible” orchestra is a celebration of all the talent, diversity and musical passion found every single day throughout the BBC,” explained Bob Shennan, director BBC Music.
“Our audiences are very clear in their passion for music and that’s why BBC Music exists: to create, curate and celebrate music – for the love of it.”
At the heart of BBC Music is digital, from live and on-demand music programmes on BBC iPlayer to personalised and curated playlists in BBC Music Playlister, launched last year. A newly designed and responsive homepage, updated artist pages and more curated music content when signed in will give fans a personalised experience with recommendations for programmes, clips, tracks and artists based on their own personal preferences.
New artist pages make it easier to find tracks and information with exclusive BBC content, broadcast information on BBC channels and stations as well as upcoming artist events and gigs, thanks to a partnership with Songkick, showcased on BBC Music pages,
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the BBC Music Playlister Pharrell Williams’ Happy has been revealed as the most popular track of the last year with Clean Bandit, Duke Dumont, Sigma, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran and Calvin Harris all appearing in the top 10.
The Impossible Orchestra's reworking of God Only Knows, which features the song's original writer and creator Brian Wilson,will be released as a single in aid of BBC Children in Need and will be available to download from midnight.