News

BBC Drops 'Top of the Pops'

The British Broadcasting Corp. announced yesterday (June 20) that it has decided to cancel the influential music television program Top of the Pops. The show's last installment will air July 30, ending its 42-year run.

At its peak, Top of the Pops attracted over 15 million viewers, who tuned in for a weekly rundown of the best-selling singles in Britain, many of which were performed in live -- or lip-synched -- versions by the acts behind them. The show's very first episode, in 1964, featured a performance by The Rolling Stones, as well as a taped performance by The Beatles. In later years, everyone from Nirvana to The Spice Girls made appearances on the program.

Recently, however, Top of the Pops began losing much of its audience and influence to cable television and the Internet. Finally, the BBC decided this year that it was time to put the show to rest.

"We're very proud of a show which has survived 42 years in the U.K. and gone on to become a worldwide brand, but the time has come to bring the show to its natural conclusion," said BBC director of television Jana Bennett in an official statement.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
06.21.06