For the first time ever, radio and music lovers will be able to download BBC radio programmes in full, to their smartphone or tablet for free, listen to them offline, and keep them for up to 30 days on the BBC iPlayer Radio app.
The update, rolling out this week, means fans can listen to BBC radio programmes anywhere, regardless of the availability of wi-fi or a 3G/4G signal - so that's on trains, on planes, at the top of mountains, or on board a submarine.
"These downloads will embrace the entire BBC radio network"
As long as the programme is downloaded in the UK, it will remain on the device for a month and will include all the music, and third-party content, from the original broadcast. These downloads will embrace the entire BBC radio network, including programmes such as the BBC Proms, Radio 1’s Essential Mix, Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show, and a host of Radio 4 drama, comedy or documentaries.
What's interesting here, is the sight of the BBC moving substantially into the download sphere, just as iTunes owner Apple, jumps onto the broadcasting bandwagon.
About a month ago, Apple Music was launched. The headline service was a full-on rival to Spotify - essentially a subscription-based music streaming library, which is not quite the same thing as broadcast radio. However, underpinning this, is something Apple are calling 'the world's local radio station': Beats 1.
"This is where Apple is really parking its tanks on the BBC's lawn"
This is where Apple is really parking its tanks on the BBC's lawn - not to mention the territory occupied by commercial music stations. Beats 1 is a youth-oriented radio station, broadcast from California, New York and London, and featuring well-known names as DJs, including the former Radio 1 presenter, Zane Lowe. It seems the concept comes from Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Raznor, but it's likely it has actually been brought to fruition by a host of Apple executives and developers.
Some would argue this isn't strictly radio, as the station won't appear on any traditional radio receiver carrying DAB or FM. Instead, it will be available as a real-time stream on tablets and phones. Oh, and it's a paid-for service. The first three months are free, then you're looking at £9.99 a month for the whole Apple Music platform.
"Everybody is playing in everybody else's sandpit."
The whole thing kicked off with a touch of controversy when it was revealed that artists wouldn't receive royalties during the trial period. It took the might of Taylor Swift to overturn that bit of sharp practice.
So, where does that leave us? As it stands, everything is up in the air. As the BBC struggles with a significant fall in licence fee income, and a renewal of its charter next year, an American computer company moves forward with a rival radio station. Viewed from the other end of the telescope, we see a world-renowned broadcasting organisation making its audio content available for download, to be absorbed on demand. Not unlike iTunes. Musical entertainment hasn't seen this sort of flux since the advent of the gramophone. Everybody is playing in everybody else's sandpit, and exactly who'll succeed and where won't be clear until much blood, sweat, tears and money has been expended. Watch this space - or at least listen.
Magnus Shaw is a copywriter and blogger.
