Ahead of the BBC Music Awards 2016 on Monday December 12 , Radio 2, which with 15.14m listeners is the biggest radio network in Europe (RAJARs, Q3, 2016), has today revealed the full shortlist for BBC Radio 2 Album of the Year: a new award for this year’s star-studded ceremony celebrating the best albums of the past twelve months.
The BBC Radio 2 Album of the Year Shortlist voted for by the Radio 2 Playlist Committee chaired by Radio 2 and 6 Music Head of Music, Jeff Smith:
25 – Adele
A Head Full of Dreams – Coldplay
Alone in the Universe – Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Love & Hate – Michael Kiwanuka
50 – Rick Astley
Every day this week BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce, who presents the second most popular radio show in the country reaching over 8.48 million listeners every week (RAJARs, Q3 2016), has been announcing the shortlisted albums which have all featured as Album of the Week on his weekday program this year (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-12pm).
Ken Bruce says “We’ve had some fantastic Album of the Weeks this year and this stellar shortlist features new talent, established artists and very welcome comebacks. I can’t wait to find out who wins.”
The winner will be crowned at the BBC Music Awards 2016 hosted by Fearne Cotton, Claudia Winkleman and Gemma Cairney at the ExCeL London on Monday, December 12 from 8.30PM to 10 PM. The show will be broadcast live on BBC ONE and bbc.co.uk/music with additional coverage on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2.
Now in its third year, the BBC Music Awards 2016 will feature five awards: BBC Music British Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year, BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Performance of the Year and BBC Radio 2 Album of the Year. Performers on the night will include Kaiser Chiefs, Craig David, Lukas Graham, Zara Larsson, Emeli Sandé, Robbie Williams and The 1975.
The shortlists for Radio 1 Live Lounge Performance of the Year, BBC Music British Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year will be announced shortly. Public voting for the Song of the Year award will take place on Wednesday 7 December.
On the day of the Awards, Radio 2 will present the Steve Wright Show Music Awards Special between 2 and 5 PM, with live inserts from the dress rehearsals at the ExCel London. Radio 1 joins the party between 4 and 7 PM as Greg James broadcasts live from backstage and the Red Carpet with exclusive interviews and sessions. It’s then back to Radio 2 from 8 to 10 PM as Jo Whiley continues the exclusive programming from backstage, giving listeners a sneak peek behind the scenes whilst the Awards are broadcast on BBC ONE.
The BBC Music Awards will premiere in the US on BBC AMERICA on December 14th.
The BBC Music Awards take place on Monday, December 12 between 8.30 PM and 10 PM. Tickets are now on sale, and are priced from £42 to £62 (plus booking fee). Visit bbc.co.uk/music for full details.
