London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks is one of the world’s most watched annual live celebrations, bringing millions together in a shared moment broadcast across the UK and internationally. It combines fireworks, lighting, drones and music into a single city-wide experience at midnight.
For the 2023/24 celebrations, the show was built around the theme “London: A Place For Everyone”, reflecting on defining moments from the year – including the Coronation of King Charles III, the 75th anniversary of the NHS, 75 years since the arrival of the Empire Windrush and a decade since the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
ON THE SLY worked alongside lead creative agency Identity as music directors and soundtrack producers alongside Kojo Samuel, marking our fifth consecutive year shaping the music for Europe’s largest annual fireworks display.
Music and sound design were central to the show’s narrative, providing the foundation for how each section connected emotionally. Once the creative theme was established, the soundtrack was developed to balance reflection and celebration — carrying key voice moments and cultural references while maintaining the energy of London’s biggest New Year party.
The 2024 edition once again integrated fireworks, large-scale lighting and a drone light show across the Thames, with music acting as the structural backbone that unified the visual storytelling.
Working closely with creative, technical and broadcast teams, ON THE SLY delivered a soundtrack that brought together commercial music, narrative voice content and the wider visual elements of the show. The result was a live, broadcast spectacle that marked the transition into 2024 through a shared civic narrative.
ON THE SLY has delivered music direction and soundtrack production for multiple editions of London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, helping shape one of the world’s most widely watched annual live events.
This project forms part of ON THE SLY’s work creating soundtracks for fireworks and drone shows around the world.
CREDITS
Agency: Identity
Broadcast: BBC One
Musical directors: ON THE SLY Audio Production & Kojo Samuel
Creative director for Identity: Dan Colborne
Project director for Identity: Jamie Beeston
Pyrotechnics: Titanium Fireworks Ltd
Lighting: Tim Routledge
Drones: SKYMAGIC Drone Shows
Client: Mayor Of London’s Office / Greater London Authority
BROADCAST
Worldwide
