7digital’s Smooth Operations producing BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2016
PRESS RELEASE
London, UK, March 24 2016 – 7digital, a leading B2B digital music and radio services company, today announced that it is producing this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Smooth Operations, a 7digital company, is producing the awards for the 17th consecutive year.
Presented by Radio 2 Folk Show presenter Mark Radcliffe and singer and multi-instrumentalist Julie Fowlis, the awards celebrate the exciting folk music scene in the UK and elsewhere. 7digital works closely with the BBC to manage the award nominations process and produce the ceremony itself, including securing world-class performers.
The awards ceremony will take place on 27th April at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Performances on the night will include sets from some of the finest acts from folk music and beyond, including Mark Knopfler, Joan Armatrading, The Unthanks, Sam Lee, John McCusker, Lynched and Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman.
Lifetime Achievement Awards will be given to influential artists Joan Armatrading and Norma Waterson to recognise their extraordinary contributions to music, while the Good Tradition Award will be given to Scottish folk musician, record producer and composer John McCusker for his contribution to the preservation, dissemination and progression of traditional music.
Simon Cole, CEO of 7digital, added: “We are proud to have been commissioned by the BBC to produce The Folk Awards since its inception. This year’s event will continue to celebrate talent from a genre that is both steeped in history and remains relevant to today’s listeners.”
The Folk Awards will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 between 7.30pm – 10pm and will be available to watch online via live stream on the Radio 2 website. It will also be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer and the Red Button at a later date.
BBC Radio 2 Drivetime presenter Simon Mayo will also be broadcasting a special programme live from the Royal Albert Hall on the day of the awards. The interval will feature performances from the nominees for the Young Folk Award 2016.
For more details or to purchase tickets to the awards, visit bbc.co.uk/radio2
7digital has a long history of working in the vibrant folk scene – from producing The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2 to running the Delphonic record label for folk, roots, blues and acoustic music. The company also has a long-running association with the Cambridge Folk Festival, covering the event for broadcast and producing additional high-quality content.
About 7digital
7digital is a B2B digital music and radio services company. The core of its business is the provision of robust and scalable technical infrastructure and extensive global music rights used to create music streaming and radio services for a diverse range of customers – including consumer brands, mobile carriers, broadcasters, automotive systems, record labels and retailers. 7digital also offers radio production and music curation services, editorial strategy and content management expertise.
7digital fosters industry growth and innovation by simplifying access to music for clients such as Onkyo, Guvera, OpenLIVE, and The Overflow. From years of being the largest independent producer of programming for the BBC, launching Radioplayer in multiple territories, and powering services for partners like HMV, Panasonic and ROK Mobile, 7digital is perfectly positioned to lead innovation at the intersection of digital music and next-generation radio services.
7digital PR Contacts:
- Holly Ashmore (UK)
- Tel: +44 (0)207 453 1509
- Email: holly.ashmore@7digital.com
- Anna Siegel (US)
- Tel: +1(917) 322 -9402
- Email: anna.siegel@7digital.com
BBC Radio 2 PR Contact:
- Andrew Francis [Publicist – BBC Radio 2, Asian Network & BBC Music Television]
- Tel: +44 (0)7834 845 545
- Email: andrew.francis@bbc.co.uk
BBC resources: