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Country music is in the midst of a grand renaissance. The genre - whose popularity was previously confined to the American South - is now climbing the charts, grabbing the attention of Gen Z audiences, and changing the perception of what it means to be a country listener. Streaming of the genre in the US rose by nearly 110% in the five years to 2024. And it’s taking over markets all around the world. In the UK, the genre more than doubled its share of the singles market in two years. And Austral...
One of the world’s largest airline groups has told Business Daily that airspace closures, due to war zones, are now forcing substantial rerouting of flights. Lufthansa says the ban on using Russian and Ukrainian airspace is having a measurable cost impact on its long haul network, with typical detours of one to two hours. A recent Conflict Intensity index report shows that areas affected by armed fighting have grown by 89% over the past five years, that is one and a half times the size of the Eu...
When Lew Frankfort joined Coach, it was a family run, wholesale handbag business worth six million dollars. He spent 35 years at the company, from opening the company's first shop to growing the business now valued at over five billion dollars. We find out what led Lew to an unlikely career in fashion and how a chance meeting with a US president sparked his social consciousness. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Ed Butler Pr...
Forty years ago Japan made more than half of the world's semiconductors. Today, it produces just over 10%. But the country has big ambitions to turn that around. We hear from the CEO of a company at the centre of the government's high-stakes gamble to revive its semiconductor industry, and more broadly, its tech power. And we'll learn how the island of Hokkaido is now the site of billions in investment to turn what has long been an agricultural powerhouse into a global chip manufacturing hub. If...
When Slovakia was part of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the cars it made were noisy, thirsty and slow by western standards at the time. But when Volkswagen bought the car-maker Skoda, that was the beginning of a major change. Now, Slovakia makes almost a million cars a year and with Volvo opening a factory here in 2027, it’ll be a quarter of a million more. Extraordinary for a country of five million people. We visit a factory and find out why this small nation is attracting so much car i...
In the second of two programmes, we look at Donald Trump's record on the economy one year into his second presidential term. Today, we are asking is the United States still facing a cost of living crunch? Its economy - the largest in the world - is still growing faster than most others and the stock markets are hitting record highs, yet many Americans say they are still struggling to make ends meet. What's going on? We get the view from our North America business correspondent, Samira Hussain; a...
Twelve months into Donald Trump’s second term as President, we examine what it’s meant for the US workforce. For government workers it has been a year of cuts, sackings and Elon Musk’s now disbanded DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency - group. Some sections of the workforce have felt their rights under attack. Meanwhile, many Republicans feel DOGE has been a success. Has the past year also provided opportunities for those switching to the private sector? If you'd like to get in touch with...
We meet retail turnaround expert Joanna Reynolds, the woman behind the revival of the Folio Society, one of Britain’s oldest publishing houses. Ten years ago, the company was losing money and facing an existential threat from the digital revolution. Joanna explains how she transformed the business from a failing book club to a profitable, employee-owned publisher. If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Davi...
Festive celebrations at Christmas and New Year often involve increased alcohol consumption in many parts of the world. For some, that’s followed by a decision to take a break from drinking. It's become widely known as Dry January. However, data shows that more people are choosing to reduce their alcohol intake all year round. Alcohol-free drinks only make up about 1% of the total industry, but their popularity has risen quickly, and the vast majority is beer. How influential is Dry January reall...
Outrage has been growing in Iran over the country's struggling economy. Any growth this year or next looks unlikely. Protests starting in the capital have spread around the country, driven by mounting economic pressures, sanctions and rising consumer prices. They've been met with a violent crackdown by the government. More than two thousand people are reported to have been killed since the protests began and Iran remains under a days-long internet blackout. In this edition of Business Daily, we ...
The power of the global bond market seems to have grown in recent years, to the extent that it can now dictate government policy and even topple political leaders. How much clout do the debt markets actually have and should they be reined in? Many rich nations are more indebted than they have ever been in modern times, meaning that some are spending more simply on servicing their debt than on schools, hospitals or military defence. In the second of two programmes on the bond market, we ask, how ...
We explore how the world became so dependent on bonds, those IOUs from governments and firms that helped build the modern economy. Bonds are often dismissed as a dull corner of finance, but behind the scenes they have played a central role in major economic dramas around the world. We hear about their history, how they have shaped companies and countries, and why some fear the bond market could trigger the next global meltdown. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address ...
We hear from a man who is immersed in the world of startups, innovation, venture capital, and the work of policymakers whose job it is to strengthen Europe's standing in all those fields. He's also a Prince of the Netherlands and the brother of the Dutch King. Constantijn van Oranje has worked as a business consultant and at the European Commission. He is now a champion of the Dutch tech sector through his organisation, Techleap, set up to support the founders and startups hoping to shape the fu...
The United Arab Emirates has become the largest state investor in Africa. It's spending billions of dollars across the continent; building ports, power plants and renewable energy projects. We look at why Emirati companies are expanding so rapidly, and find out how much this investment is reshaping economies. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Sameer Hashmi (Picture: General view of Berbera Port and Bebera city...
Business Daily explores the future of technology in 2026, analyzing the unprecedented investment in AI and questioning its sustainability. The discussion covers the global AI arms race, including the rise of Chinese open-source technology and the US's assertive stance. Experts also predict mainstream adoption of new gadgets like advanced robots and smart glasses, while examining big tech's strategic moves into content and the evolving role of figures like Elon Musk and NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang.
We explore how economies and companies rode out the tariff-driven economic storms of 2025 and hear how many continue to forge new partnerships in a changing world of global trade. Asia business correspondent, Suranjana Tewari, and India business correspondent, Arunoday Mukharji, join us from Singapore and Delhi to discuss what the year might hold for the region's biggest economic players. If you'd like to contact the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Will Bain Pr...
After American forces arrested and removed the leader of Venezuela, Rahul Tandon looks at what the future might hold for the world's largest oil reserve, and what can we learn from the country's past. Many US companies were forced out of Venezuela when the oil industry was nationalised in the 1970s. The type of oil found there is also hard to reach and complicated to refine. We look at its difficult history, where the oil it produces now goes to, and whether US oil companies will want to spend t...
Tariffs and trade wars dominated 2025, but what does the year ahead have in store? And what about the prospect for rising prices we’ve seen around the world? The BBC’s Deputy Economics Editor, Dharshini David, and North America Business Correspondent, Michelle Fleury, pick through what we learned last year and explore the trends likely to shape the global economy in 2026. If you would like to get in touch with the programme, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Ma...
Doorstep delivery services boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic and they're still popular in many parts of the world: ordering hot meals, or groceries, via a mobile app to your door at the click of a button. For the customer, it's a fast and convenient service. For the rider, it's flexible work, but there's no guaranteed income, the work is physical and the hours are often antisocial - especially during major holidays like Christmas and New Year. Why, then, do so many people do it? We speak to ri...
With 250 years of brewing history behind his family, Arthur Edward Guinness was discouraged from taking on the responsibility that the men of his family had for centuries. Now Ned, or Lord Iveagh, grows crops, brews beer and is in pursuit of being able to pour the perfect pint in one of the two pubs he owns in the rural east of England. He tells Leanna Byrne about the extraordinary family history he sees as his legacy, and talks about how the famous brewery at St James's Gate in Dublin, Ireland ...
We're in Santa’s grotto – sort of - a Chinese city that some call the Christmas capital of the world. With 75,000 traders, across 50,000 stores, Yiwu offers the world’s largest wholesale market across a labyrinth of arcades. But at a time of growing trade tensions with the US, who’s actually buying the tinsel this year? If you'd like to send us an email, our address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: David Cann Additional production: Victoriya Holland (Picture: Crowds of p...
This episode unwraps the secrets behind iconic festive advertising, examining why Christmas is the "golden quarter" for brands. It delves into the cultural differences shaping campaigns worldwide, from the narrative-driven UK ads to Japan's unique KFC tradition. The discussion also highlights the shift from traditional media to social platforms, the challenge of engaging audiences instantly, and innovative approaches like using coffee cups or shock advertising, emphasizing creativity and strategic gift-giving to consumers.
Festive spending habits are changing, with many, especially younger shoppers, predicted to cut back. We look at what’s driving the shift, the impact on retail, and how artificial intelligence is starting to shape the way shoppers choose gifts and search for lower prices. Plus - we hear from members of the World Service audience on what their holiday spending priorities are. You can get in touch with the programme - our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sa...
As millions of households around the world put up their Christmas trees, we hear from the founder and CEO of US-based company Balsam Hill - one of the world’s biggest artificial Christmas tree retailers. Mac Harman tells us about his journey as an entrepreneur, how he's addressing sustainability concerns, and how the company's managing the pressures of tariffs. If you'd like to contact the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: David Cann Correctio...
You might be familiar with the term "ghosting" when it comes to dating. One minute you’re talking to someone, the next they disappear. The same thing is now happening in the job market, with employers not responding to candidates or posting roles that never existed. It’s a problem thought to affect millions. In this programme, we hear why "ghost jobs" have become so common, look at the new rules meant to curb the practice, and hear directly from job seekers about how it makes them feel. You can ...
We return to Peru’s mega port - the Chancay Port. This $3.5bn project is a joint venture between China’s state-owned shipping company Cosco Shipping and Peruvian mining company Volcan. It’s already starting to have an impact on local businesses. We find out what’s giving it the edge, how local fruit producers are particularly benefiting, and what obstacles still need to be overcome, both politically and logistically. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is business...
It’s transforming the world of road haulage, but has the recent ‘Uberisation’ been good news for truckers? From Nanjing to Nairobi, we discover how digital freight matching platforms are changing the way drivers access work, plan routes and the impact it’s having on the climate. But with driverless trucks on the horizon, what does the future hold for truckers and trucking firms? If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Sam Gruet Pr...
Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan in October following sporadic fighting between the two countries. Since then, the movement of goods has stopped, and lines of trucks have been waiting to cross. We look at the impact of this key trade route being shut and what it means for livelihoods and businesses on both sides of the border. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Hannah Mullane (Picture: Lorries a...
We meet the real estate developer who’s been tasked with turning Saudi Arabia into a global tourism hub. It is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision for the Kingdom, diversifying the economy away from oil. Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano has managed massive development projects including London's Canary Wharf, a luxury holiday resort in the Bahamas, and now, a tourism mega project on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Coast. We hear about his career to date and why he likes an ambitious project. ...
More countries are considering selling state-owned postal services - many have failed to make a profit for years. As businesses and people send fewer letters, there's also strong competition from global package delivery companies. We hear about the challenges facing postal services in Ireland, many of which have been in business for more than a hundred years. And we look to the US, where President Donald Trump favours privatising the national mail service; while in India, the state-run post offi...
