National Album Day is celebrated by BBC Radio 2 with vote to find UK’s Ultimate British Group

Date Published: September 16, 2024 — From Monday 16 September until 4pm on Friday 27 September, listeners can vote for their five favourites to find Radio 2’s Ultimate British Group to mark the annual all-day celebration of the album format. A British group is any band of 2+ members that is made-up wholly or the majority are people who were born, live or hold British citizenship.

A star-studded panel, including Radio 2 presenters, have voted from a long list of nearly 100 bands to produce a final list of 54, which spans the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s. The list has been compiled from the timeless melodic music that is played on Radio 2 and the Most Successful British Groups on the Official Albums Chart.

The Top 30 most popular will be revealed in a countdown show with Mark Goodier on Saturday 19 October, 1-3pm, to coincide with National Album Day 2024. The programme will be available on BBC Sounds from Friday 11 October as part of a National Album Day Collection, alongside a selection of other programmes as part of the celebration – find it on the BBC Sounds Homepage. An additional show, Your Ultimate British Group: The Extras, will be available in the BBC Sounds collection, which will feature (in no particular order) the bands which are voted in position numbers 31-50 in the chart. Both shows are BBC Audio productions. Plus, all music played on Radio 2 on National Album Day will be from Great British groups, from Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn (6-8am) through to Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton (10pm-midnight).

The chairman of the panel who have selected their favourite groups to create the list of 54 to vote on is Radio 2 and 6 Music’s Head of Music, Jeff Smith, who is also the chairman of the Mercury Prize judging panel. Also on the panel, were Radio 2 presenters Jo Whiley, Sara Cox, OJ Borg, Vernon Kay, Scott Mills, Trevor Nelson, DJ Spoony, and Owain Wyn Evans.

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2 said: “The UK has produced so many globally loved bands over the past seven decades, so I’m looking forward to finding out who our listeners will vote their favourite group.”

Jo Whiley said: “Such a tough decision to choose my favourite British groups of all time! Looking down the list, it was literally the soundtrack to my life – from the first music I ever heard on my mum and dad’s stereo, to being a teenager and saving my pocket money to buy my own records, and then so many groups I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing on my own radio shows, some of them from when they were unknowns to now being on this list of the best British bands!”

The full list of groups to vote for are:

10cc
All Saints
Arctic Monkeys
Bananarama
The Beatles
The Beautiful South
Bee Gees
Blur
The Clash
Coldplay
Culture Club
The Cure
Depeche Mode
Duran Duran
Elbow
Electric Light Orchestra
Erasure
Eurythmics
Fleetwood Mac
Florence + the Machine
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Genesis
Girls Aloud
The Human League
Imagination
The Jam
The Kinks
Led Zeppelin
M People
Madness
Manic Street Preachers
Muse
New Order
Oasis
One Direction
Pet Shop Boys
Pink Floyd
The Police
Pulp
Queen
Radiohead
The Rolling Stones
Simply Red
The Smiths
Soul II Soul
Spice Girls
Stereophonics
The Stone Roses
Sugababes
Take That
UB40
Wham!
The Who
Wings

In addition to Radio 2’s battle of the bands, there is further programming to celebrate the success of Great British Groups:

Johnny Marr’s Great British Groups is a beautifully curated four-part playlist series in which Johnny takes listeners on a captivating journey through Great British bands, spanning from the 1960s to the contemporary era – on BBC Sounds on Friday 11 October and Radio 2 on 13, 20, 27 October and 3 November, from midnight-1am. Focusing on artists who have not only resonated with him, but have also left an indelible mark on the music scene, Marr reflects on the enduring legacy and cultural impact of British guitar bands worldwide. He delves into their influence on subsequent generations of musicians and their enduring popularity, offering insights into their significance in shaping music and society.

Johnny said: “The nice people at Radio 2 have invited me along to play some music by British bands from albums that I really like and maybe a couple of albums I’ve been involved in myself! I’ll be choosing all kinds of things from long-players by British bands of all kinds, as long as they go around at 33 revolutions per minute. Part of wanting to be a great group is wanting to be as good as the people you think are great and not necessarily just copying or being in those shadows. All of the great bands that I know of and that I love have all managed to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people who came before them. The stuff I like has a certain kind of quirk to it – everyone I can think of that I’ve been playing either has an unusual lead singer or a very identifiable guitar player or a very identifiable songwriting partnership.”

Renowned as the guitarist and co-songwriter of The Smiths, Johnny Marr played a pivotal role in shaping the musical landscape of indie and guitar bands not only in the 1980s but far beyond. With a distinct style that eschewed clichés yet remained firmly entrenched in British pop, Marr’s influence reverberated through generations. His musical journey extended beyond The Smiths, as he became an indispensable member of several other iconic British bands, including Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Kirsty MacColl, and The Cribs, while also carving a successful path as a solo artist.

Marr’s fascination with the guitar began at the tender age of five, sparked by a toy in a Manchester shop window, and blossomed into a lifelong obsession. While he ardently followed guitar culture and bands, Marr was selective in his admiration, dismissing the notion of mere virtuosic displays as outdated within pop music. Instead, he gravitated towards bands that embraced creativity and artistic innovation, particularly those of British origin. A Listen production.

The Great British Groups That Broke America is a four-part series – on BBC Sounds on Friday 11 October, and all four parts will be broadcast on Radio 2 on Saturday 19 October between 1-3am – showcasing British groups that found success in the US. From The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 60s, Led Zeppelin and Supertramp in the 70s to Queen and Genesis in the 80s and Radiohead and Spice Girls in the 90s, this programme delves into the music, stories, and cultural impact of these iconic GB groups as it reveals how these bands conquered the US charts. A Bengo Media production.

Episode 1: The 60’s The First Invasion, hosted by Sounds of the 60s presenter Tony Blackburn, looks back at the decade that saw the birth of the British Invasion, highlighting the groundbreaking success of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Yardbirds to name a few as they took America by storm. Through interviews with Jack Savoretti, Kathy Sledge, Deniece Williams and Chesney Hawkes and more, this episode delves into how these bands conquered the US charts and airwaves, revolutionising the music scene across the pond. Tony explores the cultural impact, fan reactions, and the songs that paved the way for these groups’ American success.

Episode 2: The 70’s – Stadium Rock Arrives hosted by Sounds of the 70s presenter Johnnie Walker, focusses on the 1970s which was a decade dominated by rock giants like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac. This episode explores how these British bands continued the legacy of the 60s, solidifying their presence in the American music market. Through interviews with musicians and DJs from both sides of the Atlantic, including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Paul Gambaccini, Johnny examines the factors that led to their widespread appeal, including their groundbreaking albums, innovative sounds, and unforgettable live performances.

Episode 3: The 80s – The Second Invasion hosted by Sounds of the 80’s presenter Gary Davies explains how bands like Duran Duran, Bananarama, Culture Club and others led the charge in this decade, dominating the American charts with their infectious pop tunes and iconic music videos. The episode discusses the rise of MTV and how it played a crucial role in catapulting these bands to fame Stateside. Through interviews with UK and US contributors including Kim Wilde and Michelle Visage, Gary delves into the strategies behind their success and the songs that became American anthems. The programme offers a vibrant look at how these bands shaped the sound of the 80s and left a lasting legacy in the US music scene.

Episode 4: Sara Cox, The 90s – The Challenging Years hosted by weekday teatime host Sara Cox who shows how guitar bands like Radiohead and Bush, and global superstars Spice Girls, left a significant mark on the American music scene. This episode delves into the unique challenges and triumphs these groups faced as they went Stateside, and features contributions from Shed Seven and Chicane. Sara explores how Bush, with their grunge-inspired sound, resonated with American rock audiences, while Spice Girls became pop culture icons.

Hosted by Scott Mills and Rylan, Pop Top 10 is a brand new 10-part podcast for BBC Sounds launching on Wednesday 18th September, and also filmed for BBC iPlayer. This addictive new show from Radio 2 brings long-time friends and music fanatics Scott and Rylan back together to rank the biggest tracks, artists and iconic moments in pop culture.

In each new episode the duo are joined by a special guest, including Natalie Cassidy and Denise van Outen, to debate a Top 10 on a different musical theme. Covering everything from Ultimate Chart Battles to Soapstars turned Popstars to Christmas Hits, each episode will build to a rundown and reveal of what’s made the No. 1 slot in their personal take on what that week’s Top 10 should be. New episodes will drop on BBC Sounds each Wednesday. A Listen production.

In the first episode, to coincide National Album Day, Katherine Ryan joins Scott and Rylan to debate their Top 10 Greatest British Girlbands… Cue memories and strong opinions on iconic groups from All Saints to Mis-Teeq to The Saturdays as the trio rank their iconic music and pop culture moments! Also, who knew Katherine was such a Honeyz expert?

Rylan said: “Scott and I will be talking about the best of the best in pop music from over the years – what more could you want? Well, we might even treat you to a special guest once in a while too…”

Scott said: “I’m so excited I’ll be getting to discuss me and my Euro-husband’s fave subject – all out POP – for the first time away from Eurovision. If you enjoyed us on the Semi-Finals, just wait till you hear this… Rylan is the only person who can make my ribs hurt from laughing!”

Chatting to Scott and Rylan, Katherine Ryan said: “I was heavily influenced by Britney and Christina [Aguilera], but then when the girl band swept in and it was led – I know I’m a controversial guest being Canadian – but the British girl band is King.”

In celebration of National Album Day Sophie Ellis-Bextor handpicks an hour of her all-time favourite Great British Groups for a Kitchen Disco special, featuring Eurythmics, Oasis, Faithless, The Last Dinner Party and The Darkness (on BBC Sounds from Friday 11 October). A Listen production.

Following the very first National Album Day in 2018, subsequent years have had a specific theme which the BBC has reflected in its content and programming – Celebrating the 90s (2023), Celebrating Debut Albums (2022), Celebrating Women in Music (2021), Celebrating the 80s (2020), and ‘Don’t Skip’ to encourage fans to discover albums in full as a complete body of work (2019).

Now in its seventh year, National Album Day celebrates the creativity and artistry which goes into making an album, the continuing cultural and social importance of this much-loved music format, and encourages us to discover great new albums and to fall in love again with classic records. Radio 2 is the broadcast partner for National Album Day.

BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.3 million (RAJAR Q2, 2024) and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show is the most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with 6.4 million listeners (RAJAR Q2, 2024). Vernon Kay (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-12pm) hosts the biggest radio show in the UK. The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Mark Goodier, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans.

At the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards, also known as the ARIAs, Scott Mills won Gold for the Best Music Entertainment Show, 21st Century Folk won Gold for the Best Music Special, Windrush 75 won Gold for Best Coverage of an Event, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show won Bronze for the Best Music Breakfast Show. Plus, Cerys Matthews won the Best Blues Broadcaster Award for the third time at the annual UK Blues Awards so she has now been elected into the UK Blues Hall Of Fame.