KaRYoke • BBC Radio 2
with
Cold Glass Productions
role
Digital Producer,
BBC Radio 2 Saturdays
category
Transforming a static studio segment into engaging social content that could hold its own against bigger budget productions.
When KaRYoke launched in 2019, it was shot with fixed studio cameras – functional, but not particularly dynamic for social media.
The challenge: create something that felt like a mini TV studio performance, working within the constraints of a live radio show environment and delivering edited content within 90 minutes of filming.
Oh – and one take only, no do-overs!
The approach
I completely reimagined how we captured the segment.
Instead of static cameras, I introduced a multi-camera setup using two iPhones (one self-operated on a roving gimbal) alongside studio cameras.
Bold lighting in a dedicated performance area with custom KaRYoke branding helped give this fun sing-song with a special guest some approachable and laid back sparkle.
The multi-cam approach allowed me to direct this like a traditional music performance – with dynamic angles, movement and energy as seen on bigger budget performances.
I also created an easily editable graphic template in the KaRYoke branding that could be quickly customised for each artist and song.
The biggest technical challenge was the turnaround time:
I had just 90 minutes from filming to final publish. This meant rapidly editing multiple camera angles in Premiere Pro, syncing audio, adding the branded graphics, and delivering broadcast-quality social content on an incredibly tight deadline – to go out while the show was on air.
An insight into the method behind the madness…
A special KaRYoke KyRYoke with *the* Kylie Minogue!
A view into a successful camera move well done –
with no rehearsals or runthroughs.
The results
The format has become a signature part of Rylan on Saturdays and a social media success. Over 40-50 episodes have featured major artists including Kylie Minogue, Anastacia, two-time Eurovision winner Loreen, Mika, Jessie J, Sam Ryder, Alexandra Burke, and Katherine Jenkins – to name a few!
Performance has been consistently strong:
- Average 500k views within two days of posting
- Multiple episodes have hit or approached 1M views (Kylie Minogue, Anastacia, Katherine Jenkins at 740k and climbing)
What was an in-studio fun singalong has been given some social sparkle to impressive results.