Shaun Keaveny – presenter

Where does one begin? It is a gift of rare beauty to be asked to present at Radio 6 Music, and it's a highlight-rich environment. The mischievous genius of the listeners always delights, as does the constantly awesome music – but aside from that memorable day in July 2010 when the sword of Damocles was officially removed from the back of our collective necks, I would have to invoke an afternoon with my ultimate hero as a stand-out moment.

It was December 2009, and it was decided it was high time for a two-hour documentary about the BBC sessions performed by my favourite band, Led Zeppelin. Due less to my journalistic prowess and more to my ceaseless pleading, I got the opportunity to sit in a studio with Jimmy Page for three hours while I watched him air guitar to songs such as Whole Lotta Love and regale us with tales of hammers and gods.

Gideon Coe – presenter

When I get asked to name a particular moment my mind responds by going blank. Then, usually in the dead of night, things come back to me. Some of the live music sessions have been spectacularly loud and, therefore, unforgettable. Blurt were probably loudest – ie they got the biggest complaints from management – followed by a tie for second place between Jim Jones Revue, Led Bib and the Archie Bronson Outfit. Sufjan Stevens was probably the quietest.

Guns N' Roses's Duff McKagan struggling to get the tea and coffee machine to work in our luxurious green room was also memorable – but something that stands out for me happened during a broadcast from Glastonbury in 2010. For reasons best known to myself I decided to present the programme wearing an ill-fitting sunhat and a shocking pair of cheap shades I'd bought in "Babylon" (the main market place on site). Jack White spent the whole interview looking at me with a slightly raised eyebrow and I can't blame him.

The moment I'll always remember was when I'd interviewed Johnny Marr, then with the Cribs. At the end of the interview he shook my hand and said "I listen to the programme, good to meet you." It was quite a revelation to discover that he was one of our listeners. Not that he's any more important than the rest of them! I think I responded by taking off my hat and murmuring some sort of thank you. I kept the shocking shades on.

Gary Bales – executive producer

It's hard to look past 5 July 2010, the day Radio 6 Music was saved. I was producing Lauren Laverne's show and we were given the news just before we went live to air at 10am. It was a tough show in many ways – we couldn't announce anything until 11am I remember, so for the first hour we got on with the job of playing brilliant records. At 11, Lauren simply and humbly read out a short statement, said thank you and then launched into AC/DC & Daft Punk (Digital Love … geddit?) . The reaction from the listeners that day was utterly astonishing, with many writing in to tell us they were in tears at the news.

I remember feeling exhausted during that show and the rest of that week. All of the emotion & adrenaline that came with that period of uncertainty was replaced with utter relief. A magical day a magical period.

Liz Kershaw – presenter

When I was at Leeds University in 1977, the Clash came to town and after that, all the guys I knew wanted to chop off their long lanky Greaser locks and look more punk. One of them got me to cut his hair and gave me an album in return. I'd never heard it before but immediately loved it for life. It was Led Zeppelin IV. I never dreamt that little me would ever meet those rock gods.

I was broadcasting live from Glastonbury for 6 Music in 2002 when I spotted some long blond locks backstage. The tall adonis in a white kaftan was Robert Plant. I just had to grab the chance to nervously say hello. A few months later I found myself sitting with him in a pub clutching my old LP and a microphone. We chatted for an hour or so and that was broadcast as a special on Christmas Day that year. The best bit of being a radio DJ is meeting the people whose music you love. I'm just a fan basically.

In 2010 I was watching icebergs go by on a cruise ship round Greenland. Suddenly the broadcaster Henry Kelly came panting into the observation lounge. He'd just heard news from the UK. "It's 6 Music ... It's been saved!" A huge cheer went up and it was gin and tonics on the rocks all round. I was so surprised and thrilled.

Mike Hanson – assistant editor

I've been at 6 Music since it was still "Network Y" so picking one highlight is difficult, if not impossible. Everything from getting the official go ahead from the government to launch 6 Music, to that first day on air, to the moment when Lauren read out the statement from the BBC Trust that the proposal to close 6 Music had been rejected. That whole period was an amazing time to be a part of the network. But I don't think there can be a better moment than when we found out our audience had gone above the 1 million mark for the first time. I ran around the office calling everyone "millionaires" that day. There had been times in the past when I thought we'd never get there.

I've been really proud of the programmes 6 Music has made, whether I've produced or commissioned them, or simply listened at home. If one event helps to sum up that pride, I would say it was Glastonbury 2009. It was stressful but exhilarating planning and executing more than 40 hours of live shows. I produced the last show with Steve Lamacq, taking Blur's headline Pyramid Stage set live to air. We finished with The Universal, Lammo delivered one of those perfectly crafted links, and we were done. There were tears of pride – and relief – in my eyes as we signed off.

• Radio 6 Music has a range of celebratory programming across the weekend and all next week. More details – bbc.co.uk/6music