Annie Mac Opens Up About “Tokenism” All through Her Multi-Decade Radio Profession
On July thirtieth, legendary voice of BBC Radio 1 Annie Mac will step away from her present position after a distinguished 17-year run.
The announcement, which Mac delivered in April, was met with shock. Nonetheless, she rapidly certified her intent was to not retire from music, and even from radio essentially. “I might be coming again to radio broadcasting when the time is true,” Mac mentioned on the time.
In newer feedback to Radio Times, Mac articulated an identical sentiment. “I like the BBC and hope sooner or later I can come again,” she mentioned. “It’s not strolling away from radio, it’s simply strolling away from that slot.”
As for why she is departing, Mac attributes the transfer to a confluence of things, however primarily suggests she’d favor to have the time to deal with her household life and her two sons.
In the identical interview, Mac, reflecting on her close to 20 years of expertise within the business, famous that she had felt tokenized to various levels all through her profession. She was usually acutely conscious, she mentioned, of the truth that she was the lone distinguished feminine voice in her work atmosphere. She says she has been happy with the latest shift to raise feminine professionals all through the music business, however notes there’s nonetheless a lot progress to be made.
As for her ideas on BBC Radio 1’s position in that motion particularly, Mac appreciated the truth that the corporate determined to backfill her position with one other feminine expertise, Clara Amfo. “I’m very inspired at Radio 1 with the dedication they need to girls. Clara getting the present that I’m leaving is probably the most wise and impressed selection,” Mac mentioned. “It’s nice, however there’s nonetheless an extended solution to go.”
Amfo will take over Mac’s position in internet hosting BBC’s Future Sounds starting in September.