Music and Youth
BBC digital radio services praised
MUMBAI: There is some good news for the BBC following the criticism that its digital television channels got several days ago. An independent review has praised the corporation’s UK digital radio services.
The review, commissioned by the UK department of Culture, Media & Sport, looked at 1Xtra, 6Music, BBC7, BBC Asian Network and Five Live Sports Extra as part of the ongoing Charter Renewal process and said the services went “above and beyond” the conditions laid down by the secretary of state..
For The Asian Network while the report noted that it had made a professional start it was time to step up a gear in editorial ambition and develop a more innovative outlook. The report suggested that it could be relocated to a single site, possibly in Birmingham, to help its transition from regional to national station. It is currently based in Leicester.
Steps should be taken by The Asian Network to tackle the perceived inequality in treatment of different Asian communities. At least one language should be included from South India or Sri Lanka.
The BBC should also look to understand the specific conditions of the Asian advertising market in relations with commercial stations.
As far as another station 6 Music is concerned while there is criticism that the BBC is spending a relatively large amount of money on a station with relatively few listeners the report stated that this should not be a concern if it continues to produce a distinctive, modern public service. It has defined its role with great success.
The station’s brief needs to be more clearly set out and its remit defined by “quantative measures”. The BBC Governors should draft a more detailed remit accurately describing the station’s character.
Regarding BBC7 the report noted its success in attracting an older, upmarket audience and is playing an important factor in people buying digital radio sets.
Its originated children’s programming is a genuine adornment to British broadcasting and one no commercial station would do. However the overall benefits of BBC7 are limited by it being primarily an archive network.
MUMBAI: Mumbai is about to witness something it has never seen before. The Global Youth Festival arrives on 6-7 December at Jio World Garden with 15,000 attendees and 60-plus experiences sprawled across six sprawling arenas. On its sixth edition, this is no ordinary jamboree—it is a carefully orchestrated collision of wellness, adventure, arts, music, yoga and social change.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis will throw open the proceedings with a landmark ceremony, signalling the state’s backing for a movement that has already mobilised youth across 20-plus countries and 170-plus cities. The sheer scale is staggering: 500-plus volunteers powering the machine, 600,000-plus volunteer hours logged across previous editions, and millions of lives touched annually.
The speaker roster is formidable. Diipa Büller-Khosla and Dipali Goenka, chief executive of Welspun India, will share the stage with Malaika Arora in conversations spanning leadership, creativity and culture. Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukhbhai Mandaviya will also attend, reinforcing GYF’s reach into the corridors of power.
But this is not mere talk. The Solaris Mainstage promises concerts from renowned Indian artists. Innerverse delivers a 360-degree LED spectacle of art, technology and sound. The Love and Care Arena houses hands-on projects spanning women’s empowerment, child education, rural upliftment and animal welfare. India’s largest outdoor sound-healing experience awaits. An inflatable obstacle course, neon drifter karts and open-sky bouldering cater to thrill-seekers.
Some have branded GYF the “Coachella of Consciousness.” Others call it “India’s Largest Sober Festival.” Spiritual visionary Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, who inspired the festival, will deliver the Wisdom Masterclass. Every rupee goes to charity.
After Mumbai comes Kolkata on 14 December. New York looms next year. For one weekend in December, Mumbai becomes the epicentre of youth-driven change—and nothing will be quite the same after.
Tickets available on BookMyShow. Visit youthfestival.srmd.org or follow @globalyouthfestival on Instagram.
