The Sixties: Simple and Conservative Tastes

Abstract

The Sixties are the subject of this chapter, which deals with how BBC radio sought to provide for the ‘simple and conservative tastes’ of those whom it perceived as its non-elite listeners. Beginning with a review of the state of classical music radio in 1960, the narrative goes on to assess the impact of William Glock as Controller of Music at the BBC, the developing output in the first years of the Sixties and then the institution of the Music Programme, a daytime service of classical music radio which seems largely to have vanished from historical consciousness. The chapter continues with an examination of the later years of the decade, before considering the report, Broadcasting in the Seventies, which changed the whole BBC approach to the provision of radio, including a move to a genre-specific Radio 3 for classical music alone.

Framing the Sixties—classical music radio in 1960—the impact of William Glock—classical music radio 1961–1964—the Music Programme—classical music radio in 1965—classical music radio 1966–1969—‘ Broadcasting in the Seventies’.