24 May 2010 - The closure of BBC 6 Music would weaken the BBC’s compliance with its Charter requirements, failing current and future generations of British artists by removing a key national outlet for unique alternative music, the BPI’s submission to the BBC Trust’s consultation on the BBC Strategy Review makes clear today.
On behalf of the British recorded music industry, the BPI’s submission sets out a strong and positive case for 6 Music to remain, providing new evidence for the distinctiveness and cultural value of the station and the unique role it plays in the broadcasting of music.
BPI Chairman Tony Wadsworth said, “The BBC’s own Charter makes crystal clear that the Corporation is specifically tasked with stimulating creativity and cultural excellence. It defies belief, therefore, that the BBC is proposing to close a radio station that excels at doing exactly this, particularly when 6 Music’s audience is growing in leaps and bounds and virtually the entire UK music community is united in support of it. We strongly urge the Trust to do the right thing and insist the station is kept on air.”
BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor added, “6 Music is exactly the kind of programming the licence fee is there to support – distinctive, high quality broadcasting that the commercial market would not provide. This is a chance for the Trust to stand up for the rights of the listener, and save a national treasure. Signing its death warrant would not only let down music fans, it would fail generations of British artists who do not get played otherwise.”
Specifically, the detailed defence of 6 Music states clearly that the station has fully succeeded in meeting the requirements set out in its Service Licence and that closure would undermine the ability of the BBC to continue to stimulate creativity and cultural excellence – currently achieved through the championing of Indie label repertoire. The station meets the obligations of the Trust to maintain its quality and distinctiveness, which 6 Music delivers through a diverse offering of genres and a high number of unique tracks.
The response claims that the rationale for closing 6 Music of ‘doing fewer things better’ is not served by the proposal to axe the station, arguing strongly that the role performed by 6 Music could not be achieved elsewhere on the BBC network. Any attempt to yoke 6 Music to Radio 2 would be a mismatch, failing to satisfy either station’s listeners. Moreover, it points out that 6 Music does not ‘compete head on’ with the commercial sector, as the BBC maintains, nor is it driven by the commercial imperatives of audience share or demographic, but by its emphasis on diverse and high quality music.
In comparison with the BBC station Radio 3, which has a near identical remit but with regard to classical rather than popular music, 6 Music provides even better value per listener. Economic theory suggests that public sector broadcasters optimise public value when they deliver diversity and support a range of genres.
The submission points to the massive support 6 Music enjoys within the British music community and the strong and vocal opposition that has been raised by many leading artists against the proposed closure, coining it the clearest demonstration of the value of the asset the BBC. As such, closure risks failing current and future generations of British artists by removing a unique outlet on national radio for new, different and sometimes challenging music to connect with an audience and enjoy the opportunity to go on to radio play and further media interest.
Concluding, the BPI states that 6 Music is the only national radio station whose programming introduces music fans to the full wealth and breadth of popular music culture, mixing new music with historical influences and serving passionate music fans with authoritative, eclectic and highly informed presentation. It is a national treasure which enriches the life of the nation, and it must not be lost.
The BPI’s campaign against the closure of 6 Music - centred around the website http://www.thejoyof6.com - has attracted support from a diverse range of UK artists, including Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, The Ting Tings, The Cure, Delphic, Katie Melua, Kaiser Chiefs, La Roux, Elbow, Doves, Bloc Party, Brett Anderson (Suede, The Tears), Peter Hook (New Order, Joy Division) Duran Duran, Friendly Fires, Editors, Athlete, Sigur Ros, The Zutons, The Courteneers, Bolt Thrower, Peggy Seeger, Isaac’s Aircraft and Patch William.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For further information on BPI, please contact:
Adam Liversage on 020 7803 1326 / 0780 1179032 or email adam.liversage@bpi.co.uk.
Lynne McDowell on 020 7803 1395 / 0776 3619709 or email lynne.mcdowell@bpi.co.uk.
About BPI
The BPI is the representative voice of the UK recorded music business. We are a trade organisation funded by our members - which include hundreds of independent music companies and the UK’s four major record labels. BPI’s members account for approximately 90% of all recorded music sold in the UK, and globally the UK's recorded music market is the third biggest.
The BPI also organises the annual BRIT Awards show as well as the Classical BRIT Awards show. The organising company BRIT Awards Limited, is a fully owned subsidiary of the BPI. Substantial proceeds from both shows go to the BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI that has donated almost £15m to charitable causes nationwide, since its foundation in 1989.