Bayerischer Rundfunk plans drastic reduction in his CD archive

Bayerischer Rundfunk plans drastic reduction in his CD archive

The Bavarian Radio (BR) is faced with a fundamental change: On July 11, 2025, it became known that the BR is planning to significantly reduce its areas in downtown Munich. In the future, the broadcaster will only use 20 percent of the previous area. This decision follows a partial move to Freimann and affects not only the physical presence of the BR, but also its extensive archive, which will be put to the test in the coming weeks.

like Süddeutsche.de are currently underway which stocks of the archive can be reduced. The focus is particularly on the recordings, including CDs and records. The rumors condense that the BR could begin the destruction of its CD archive next Monday, which is described in emails by employees as "horror scenario". There is talk of a number between several ten thousand and up to 220,000 CDs that cover various music styles.

valuable stocks in danger

The concerns among employees are great: Many of them fear that valuable recordings that can no longer be found elsewhere in Germany could be lost irretrievably. An official statement of the BR, on the other hand, assures that the digitization of the archive stocks already gives some protection and that the reduction in surfaces can be mastered well, even if the final decision about the CD archive is still pending.

on Monday, according to the BR press office, no quick action is planned. The possibility of handing over the CDs to institutions or collectors is considered as an alternative to breaking up. There are also legal questions in the room, since many of the sound carriers have been provided with the BR of music publishers, which requires legal clarification.

The role of the historical archive

The historical archive of the Bavarian Radio is not just a regular archive, but a facility that has been dedicated to the history and development of the BR since 1922. It manages, secures, arranges and opens up a variety of materials that are indispensable for research and comprehensive documentation of the radio. In this archive there are not only 130,000 paper -related files, of which 90,000 are classified as worthy, but also 400,000 digital documents as well as numerous historical photos and posters. According to Br.de , the archive can also provide advice and organizes events and exhibitions on the company and program history.

A look at the archive stocks shows the enormous diversity: emails, manuscripts, audiovisual media and programs have been collected since the 1950s. However, many stocks from 1924 to 1945 must be considered lost. The stocks of the BR are available in both analog and digital form, which gives them a high priority, especially for the programs and contributions of the radio and television programs that cover topics such as politics, economy and culture ( ard.de ).

The BR sees itself in a crucial phase that not only affects the internal structure, but also on the cultural landscape of Bavaria. It remains to be seen which decisions will ultimately be made and how they can preserve the rich legacy of the Bavarian Radio in the digital age.