 |
| Adam and Joe - No more shows on 6music... sob! |
It was leaked in The Times last week that as part of a wide-ranging strategic review, the BBC is set to close digital radio station 6Music. This rather depressing news was confirmed this week.
For someone who started really getting in to music in the mid 90's, and would spend the final years of that decade on a diet of The Evening Session and the John Peel Show, tuning in as I sat in my bedroom as I did my GCSE and A-Level homework. 6Music seemed like a godsend. Here was a radio station that was like those two late night shows combined, but on during the day! I started University in 2001, with 6Music starting to broadcast 6 months later in March 2002, and this was the first time I had a (free!) internet connection in my bedroom. This meant that I could hear music that was usually played during the unsociable night time hours during the day as well. Remember that this was before the days of iPlayer, kids...
Here was a radio station that was dedicated to not only playing the alternative stuff that broke through to the mainstream, but would also dare to play music that was very much on the fringes and had never had a chance to get airplay on a national radio station before. They wouldn't bat an eyelid at playing The Clash followed by Can with maybe The Killers sandwiched in the middle at one in the afternoon. Show's like Tom Robinson's 'Introducing...' provided a rare opportunity for the unsigned and unsung heroes to have their music on radio, and for the listener to uncover some hidden gems that you would never normally get the chance to know about. 'The Freak Zone' out of all the 6Music shows probably sums up what the whole station is about the best, bringing obscure record labels, weird soundtracks, odd French folk and everything in between to the ears of the nation. I swear that 99% of the songs on that show have never been played on any radio station before. The station is like the Evening Session and the John Peel show rolled in to one, and you can tune in during the day time.
 |
| Steve Lamacq - No more shows on 6music... sob! |
It also has got presenters who are not only interesting and articulate, but actually care about the music they play (let's for the time being ignore the fact the George Lamb was hired). You couldn't say that Chris Moyles was any of these things. From the very first moment that Phil Jupitus' dulcet tones welcomed the world to 6Music the roll-call of people who have fronted a show is impressive. It has always been a mix of comedians, musicians, and well-respected broadcasters. And the roll-call is impressive. Just quickly off the top of my head I can think of Steve Lamacq, Marc Riley, Bruce Dickinson, Bob Dylan, Russell Brand, Huey from the Fun Lovin' Criminals, Andrew Collins, Gideon Coe, Tom Robinson, Jarvis Cocker, Stuart Maconie and Adam & Joe to name but a few.
It is this mix of challenging, left-of-the-centre, and underground music, mixed with presenters who you actually like and respect that makes 6Music such a wonderful radio station.
Let's not forget that due to its focus on 'the other stuff' the radio station was a big champion and supporter of small independent labels and bands, giving them a platform that Radio 1 or commercial stations never would or will. I can recall times when I've listen to 6Music and have heard Nottingham artists such as Fists, Felix, Swimming, and Yunioshi to name but a few. It's not since the days of the John Peel show that acts like these from our own city, plus many others up and down the country, get the chance to be played on a big national radio station.
 |
| No more shows at all on 6music... sob! |
So why is it being closed? Mark Thompson, the BBC Director General has suggested that it's because the BBC is getting too big and it needs to reign itself in, and that 6Music "competes head on for a commercially valuable audience", which frankly doesn't hold. It’s highly doubtful that a commercial radio station would have such a far-reaching playlist as 6Music does and be willing to take as many risks. The cutting costs argument doesn't hold very well either. If this is a cost-cutting exercise due to audience figures, then surely Radio 3 would be going too.
It seems that this is the first signs of the BBC giving in to pressures from the commercial sector, such as BSKYB who for a long time have felt that the BBC is getting too big. And maybe it is also a bow down to the right-wing, Daily Mail brigade and the Tories who look likely to win the next general election, who for a long time have wanted to see the BBC broken down.
Personally, I don't want to see any of the BBC go. Even though I don't watch BBC3, listen to Radio 3 or The Asian Network or flick over to Cbeebies, I do believe in the public sector and understand that there is an audience for those things, even if that person isn't me. I'm willing to have some of my licence go towards those services, because they offer something to someone. This goes for 6Music too. It is a superb platform for challenging, interesting, and diverse music. And in a world where John Peel is sadly missed, 6Music is a place that supported and celebrated music that wouldn't necessarily be given a chance.
Love 6Music website
Read the BBC Director General's proposal here.
What can you do?
The proposals have to be approved and considered by the BBC Trust before any cuts are made. So there is still time.
- You can email the trust on srconsultation@bbc.co.uk
- Download the BBC cover letter before you send your email
- You can fill out the consulatation questionnaire
- Email Mark Thompson, the BBC Director General on
Markthompsonandpa@bbc.co.uk
- Sign the petition
- You can also join the Save 6Music Facebook group
Read comments and make your own
Comments