The Eighties: Keeping the Philistines at Bay

Abstract

This Chapter addresses the events of the Eighties and the extent to which the BBC was successful in ‘keeping the Philistines at bay’. It considers the events around the BBC musicians’ strike and its impact. The narrative analyses BBC classical music output in the years up to 1984 and the apex of ILR classical music output over the same brief period, including consideration of audiences, secondary rental and programme sharing. Just as the musicians’ strike was a pivotal time for BBC radio, so the so-called ‘Heathrow conference’—related in this chapter—was a seminal event for all independent radio. The effect of both can be seen in the second half of the decade.

Classical music radio in 1980—BBC musicians’ strike and its impact—BBC classical music output 1981–1984—the apex of ILR classical music output 1980–1984; audiences for classical music on ILR; secondary rental and programme sharing; the ‘Heathrow Conference’—classical music radio 1985–1989.