RECORD BBC RED BUTTON FIGURES FOR RADIO 2 LIVE IN HYDE PARK

25 September 2014 - Press release

This year’s Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park achieved its biggest ever audience on the BBC Red Button - according to data released. 

A huge audience of 1.19million viewers tuned in to watch, almost double the audience of last year, with viewers watching for an average of 73 minutes, markedly higher than in previous years.

The annual event is the highlight of the Radio 2 musical calendar. This year, Jeff Lynne's iconic ELO headlined in front of a crowd of 50,000 people. The impressive line-up of top names also included music legends Blondie, illustrious lead singer of The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde, 80s favourite pop and soul star Billy Ocean, double platinum songstress Paloma Faith, Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist/songwriter Gregory Porter, 11-piece contemporary folk band Bellowhead and 2014 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year Award winner Kacey Musgraves.

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, said:

“These numbers bear testimony to us having secured this broad and distinctive line-up of artists who are bang on target for our audience on air, online and on TV. I’m already thinking how we can follow up and put together an equally unique set of artists for Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park 2015!”

Jeff Lynne said:

“I'm thrilled the Hyde Park Radio 2 show was such a success - it was so inspiring for me.”