New musical identity for BBC World Service

The BBC World Service has introduced a new musical identity for the first time in over seven years.

The global radio station commissioned musician David Lowe - who has composed news music for use on the BBC's domestic and international television channels - to work as composer-in-residence at Bush House, home of the World Service.

"We felt it was about time we gave the BBC World Service a contemporary and easily recognisable musical identity," said BBC World Service editor Steve Martin. "We commissioned David Lowe and he worked very closely with journalists in the newsrooms and broadcasters heard on air everyday. Together they produced sequences which are a perfect fusion of David’s music and our presenters' familiar voices.

"We commissioned David Lowe and he worked very closely with journalists in the newsrooms and broadcasters heard on air everyday. Together they produced sequences which are a perfect fusion of David’s music and our presenters' familiar voices."

Lowe's compositions are played out at the top of the hour and during signature programmes such as The World Today and World Have Your Say. However, broadcasts of 'Lilliburlero', long a theme identified with the World Service, will continue at least six times a day.

Listen
Click play below to get an audio preview of the BBC World Service's new sound.