BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders has spoken about the station’s commitment to new music.
Saunders took over the New Music Show (previously Future Sounds) just over two years ago. He was previously presenter of Radio 1’s Future Artists.
“It’s amazing,” said Saunders of the step up. “It was something that I've dreamt about forever, so to have been able to actually do it… It didn't feel real when Aled [Haydn Jones, station head] asked me, and it really was only that first link [on air] when my feet hit the floor, and it felt like it was happening.”
As one of the key music tastemakers in the UK, Saunders won the Radio Show trophy at the Music Week Awards 2025.
“We just have a really good time in the studio,” he said. “Creative ideas are flowing all the time.”
The New Music Show is the home for Radio 1’s Hottest Record feature, including recent tracks by Syd, Burna Boy & Shaboozey, Hard Life, Muse, Joy Crookes and Four Tet. Guests include Lorde, who was interviewed this week about her first ever UK No.1 album.
Earlier this year, Saunders interviewed Chappell Roan following the US star’s BBC Radio 1 Sound Of 2025 victory.
Jack Saunders and his Radio 1 production team at the Music Week Awards
At a time when streaming platforms drive music consumption, Saunders stressed that the show has a key role to play in the music ecosystem.
“It's an amazing time for music in general,” said Saunders. “It's such an exciting time to be presenting a radio show. The way that radio is consumed by people has changed dramatically, and the way music has been consumed by people has changed dramatically. I find it a really exciting challenge to keep the show relevant in a fast-changing landscape. It's a great time to be out there.”
During a challenging period for UK talent, who face competition from new and established North American superstars, Saunders now has a bigger role in Radio 1’s Brit List initiative for developing domestic acts.
“The Brit list underwent a bit of surgery and was relaunched through the show,” he said. “We’ve got off to an absolute flyer with Lola Young and Myles Smith, who have just exceeded expectations, even beyond perhaps the Brit List. There will be plenty more of that to come. There's a lot brewing with the show that we're really excited about.”
I find it a really exciting challenge to keep the show relevant in a fast-changing landscape
Jack Saunders
At a time when rock is showing a resurgence with acts such as Sleep Token, the Radio 1 show has consistently supported the genre.
“Probablyy the best example of that recently is having Turnstile as Radio 1’s Hottest Record,” said Saunders. “They wanted to release two songs in a day, so we said, ‘Let's do both at the same time’. We believed in the band. They're so important and integral to that scene, and we wanted to make sure that the show is there to properly represent every single genre out there. We might just have to be a little tentative at certain times of the show with what we're playing, but we’ll be there.”
While Radio 1 still commands a listenership of 7.4 million, Saunders stressed that the evening slot allows him more freedom in the choice of records that are played.
“I think one of the most beautiful things when I was asked to take the show was that Aled just afforded me the freedom,” he said. “Immediately, he just put his trust in me and that was such a massive thing. I had thought about doing this show [Radio 1’s evening slot] my whole entire life. So I’d kind of been living it and breathing it and knowing what I’d wanted to do with it.”
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