The British Library has an unparalleled collection of over 200,000 hours of radio content spanning back to the 1930s, including more than 200 individual radio collections in both analogue and digital formats. This collection provides access to on-site materials and online access to the BBC archive, tracking the changing voices, accents, attitudes, and cultural life of Britain through various radio broadcasts over the decades.

1. Semantic Media @ British Library
RADIO
COLLECTIONS
Paul Wilson, 23 September 2013

2. Sicknotes
Resonance FM, 12 Feb 2011

3. Onsite collection of over 200,000 hours

4. 4

5. More than 200 individual named radio collections

6. Analogue and digital challenges
2,000 hours of analogue audio (rear)
Vs. 50,000 hours digital (hard drive)

7. Dual service provides access to on-site British Library collections…
…and on-demand listening access to BBC Archive content

8. Unparalleled collections
of British music radio
back to 1930s

9. Radio content relevant to
vast range of research
subjects

11. Fig. 1: UK Radio transmission for year to Feb 2012
Chart represents estimated total licensed UK radio transmission excluding student, hospital and stations operating on
restricted service licences

12. Fig. 2: Proportion known to be permanently archived

14. Collections track changing voices, accents, attitudes, national interests, cultural life…
Cashmere Bouquet Trio: Radio Luxembourg, June 1935