ANNIE MAC THROUGH THE YEARS
In honour of Annie Mac’s final show on Radio 1, we’ve rounded up some of the reasons why the DJing legend is such a role model to so many.
Back in April, the broadcasting legend Annie Mac announced she is to leave Radio 1 with her last show going out on July 31st. Joining Radio 1 as a production assistant a whopping seventeen years ago and working her way up the ranks mainly in dance music, Annie went on to famously take over Zane Lowe’s evening show in 2015. Music fans quickly came to recognise that this was the show to find new music, or importantly the place to go to hear well-researched, balanced, and enthusiastic opinions from Annie.
As many female and non-binary fans may know, the music industry as a whole (or even having an opinion on the industry) can sometimes seem extremely intimidating. Annie Mac was one of the first figures in my teens I looked at and thought: “I want to be like her!”. Not just a broadcaster but also an extremely talented DJ, it’s likely most of us as music fans have grooved away to her mixing skills at big festivals such as Bestival, Glastonbury, and Lovebox to name a few. As an icon in the British music scene, and a role model for many, join us as we take a look at the radio Queen’s best moments throughout the years.
Starting out!
Annie Mac started off as a fresh-faced 20-something producing behind the scenes at Radio 1 for the likes of now Radio 6 legend Mary-Anne Hobbs. Hobbs helped inspire Mac into making a show of her own, starting with the demo ‘Breezeblock’ show back in 2003, which is where it all began!
On Air Pals
How can we mention Annie Mac without her friendship with fellow Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw? Their chats in between shows made you feel like you were in the studio laughing with friends. Before Mac’s own music focused show, these two presented ‘Switch’ - a show dedicated to silliness and listeners in the prime time noughties era. She later went onto do the ‘musical hot water bottle’ with guest appearances from Grimmy, providing sollace to hungover souls on late night Sunday evenings.
IBIZA!
The part of summer I always looked forward to on the radio, Annie Mac has gone B2B at R1 in Ibiza with some of the world’s biggest producers and DJs including Mark Ronson, Disclosure, and Kolsch. A specialist in dance, Annie’s voice had a habit of making you feel good, whether you were ‘Ravin or Behavin’.
Conversational Interviews
Being interviewed by Annie Mac isn’t a chore for artists; they want to be interviewed by her. Her passion for music shines through in the conversational, intelligent, well-researched, thoughtful questions she gives to her interviewees, which help her bring out some of the best answers from huge names including Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Billie Eillish, and Elton John.
Her Influence Of Women In The Music Industry
Where to begin with Annie Mac’s influence on women in the radio world? Firstly, she created her own festival and brand, AMP, made up of a female-led team, proving our capabilities as women in the male-led industry. She also consistently calls for change in the music industry and makes her voice heard about the lack of diversity in radio, festival lineups, and the industry in general. Just recently she talked about how much has changed since she began her career in an Instagram post, saying: “When I joined Radio 1, the gatekeepers of mainstream music and alternative music on the radio were mostly men. It was lads lads lads! Chris Moyles was at the helm, who generally seemed to use women (and anyone who wasn’t cis male) as props for jokes.” “
For me personally, Annie Mac has unknowingly inspired me in so many ways; whether that was gaining the confidence to contribute my opinions about music in a group of boys at the pub, championing DJ and club culture, inspiring me to invest in some decks and give DJing a go, or encouraging me to continue to be unashamedly music obsessed. However, the real standout quality I admire about Annie over the years is the total lack of ego and pretense she brings with her; she just really knows her stuff and that shines through. Thank you Annie Mac for being a radio legend - Will miss you and your legacy!
