Save BBC 6 Music : Consultation

As many of you will be aware Digital radio stations BBC 6 Music and the Asian Network are facing closure as part of a shake-up of the BBC. This proposal has caused general outcry amongst musicians and music fans alike, as the suggestion to remove a station that has a devoted following resonated understandably badly particularly when everyone who listens and is involved in the stations felt they were a great success.

As one of the only true stations dedicated to music of every kind, it would be a devastating loss to a music industry that sinks even more into the depths of depravity every day.  It’s tired, overrun, misdirected and bland and if it wasn’t for the likes of 6 Music keeping the passion ignited then we would all be, basically fucked.

The BBC Trust has conducted a public consultation beginning in February and ending at 5pm on the 25th May.  In it was a 12 point review which was open to the public to offer their views so that before the Trust made any defining and final decisions they would base them on what would be in the best interests of the public.  From this a final view on what the future strategic framework for what the BBC ought to be will be made.

Just because I thought it might be of interest to some people out there and because I feel strongly about saving BBC 6 Music, I thought I would publish my answers to the main points relating to this cause.

1. The BBC’s strategic principles 

The Director-General has proposed five high level principles which would set the future direction of the BBC. These are: 

• Putting quality first, including five areas of editorial focus for all BBC services 
• Doing fewer things better – including stopping activities in some areas 
• Guaranteeing access for all license fee payers to BBC services 
• Making the license fee work harder – being efficient and offering better value for money 
• Setting new boundaries 

The Trust agrees that the BBC should have a set of published principles and, when these are agreed, we will ensure that the BBC is held to account for them. 

Some of proposed principles are in response to challenges the Trust has set the BBC – such as focusing on high quality programmes and considering whether the current range of services is too large. We endorse these five principles, although we have not yet agreed to the specific proposals in each area.

Do you think these are the right principles?

In essence these principles are strong and as a license fee payer are what I would expect from a service that I feel is severely lacking.  My main concern is the principle of stopping activities in some areas.  Yes please do, BUT only where appropriate.  6 Music is an excellent source for music for all genres, eras, ages and of course for giving new artists a platform in which to exist.  Without it I fear there is nowhere credible for people/listeners to get this as commercial radio leaves so much to be desired and unfortunately most stations are controlled primarily by their playlists.

Radio one; for example, caters mainly for the commercial/mainstream market.  Its niche practices are limited to late night shows and the weekend, whereas 6 Music provides its listeners who are seeking alternatives this all day and night.  Whether you are an avid daily listener, someone who likes a particular show or someone who likes to dip in and out, BBC 6 music has maintained a consistent standard of excellence that is revered amongst the British industry, music buying public and of course music fans of all generations.

It is essential for continuing the practices started by revolutionaries like John peel, who lets not forget made his name on the BBC and who was one of the original pioneers of giving diversity, emerging talent and alternative music a home.

The BBC consistently commissions tv programmes that reportedly cost excessive amounts of money, yet are insignificant in terms of quality and viewing figures and it is these areas that I believe need to be redefined.  Perhaps less tv channels dedicated to bad comedy, reality television, poor writing and ego massaging is a far more reasonable way in which the BBC can cut costs instead of removing a digital presence that is legendary for its brevity in content, knowledge base, passionate presenters and the continuation of support for a music industry that sadly is itself currently floundering.  It is here that you will therefore meet the rest of your “strategic principles” without compromising one of your services that in itself “sets new boundaries” and “puts quality first”.

Should the BBC have any other strategic principles?

As a license fee payer I feel completely removed from the BBC as an institution.  It does not cater to my needs in the main and where it does you are actually considering removing these services.  I would like the BBC to have a principle that relates to the people they have created the services for and so by that I mean I would like it to be a far more open and representative BBC than it currently is. We should be allowed to voice out opinions more frequently, the only reason this consultation has become available to our opinion is because of the outcry surrounding the axing of 6 Music.  Should that kind of reaction really be necessary before the BBC actually takes the time to enquire as to what their viewers/listeners actually want?

3. Offering you something special 

The Trust believes that the BBC needs to do more than offer high quality programmes and services. 

We know from our previous research that your expectations of the BBC are that it offers something special to you – something distinctive and better than other broadcasters. For example, the BBC should offer you thoroughly independent and impartial news, it should introduce you to new talent in drama and comedy, and its radio stations should play pop music that other radio stations don’t. 

The Trust knows that you think the BBC could do more to be original and different in some areas.

Which areas should the BBC make more distinctive from other broadcasters and media?

It should be the primary source for news – yes, of course the BBC news should be impartial and independent, but it should also be delivered well and made factually interesting, without becoming too glossy.  I fear this is already becoming the case.

The BBC has its pick of writers, actors and presenters, yet often I feel popularity is given preference over talent.  When the BBC do drama well, it is usually exceptional.  But this has been lacking in your programming of late.  It is a broadcaster associated primarily with programmes like Eastenders and I do not think that is good enough.  Especially because we don’t all relish in an evenings activities that revolve around soap operas, bad sitcoms and Christine Bleakley.

One thing that is important is your representation of music through your tv programming is lackluster to say the least.  Coverage of festivals like Glastonbury is exceptional, but that is where it ends.  Programmes that were considered institutional themselves like the beloved Top of The Pops have already gone and the superb Later with Jools Holland has its place lurking deep down in the evenings scheduling.  It does not make sense that you have the platform, scope, finance and opportunity to bring music to the masses yet you fail to do this at most opportunities.

Your radio broadcasting is excellent in its scale, content and variety.  This is what I feel the BBC does best.  Niche areas are covered through specialist shows, presenters or even stations if you take into account BBC 1Xtra as an example of how quality RnB and Hip Hop is represented alongside what is classed as more mainstream music within this remit that often gets play listed.  It’s the one area that I don't believe cuts should be made and I say this not just because I am a music fan.  The simple fact is that given the choice over tv or radio now, it would be radio every time.  6 Music is my primary choice and if that was not available to me I would not necessarily head to Radio 1 unless it was in the evenings.  You have a distinct edge over any other radio broadcasting or media in this remit already, for example alternative or specialist stations like XFM or on a smaller scale NME, So for that reason I fail to see why you would make the suggested cuts to part of your radio broadcasting that is held in high regard and viewed as some of the most influential and aware station programming out there, not to mention diverse.

4. The five editorial priorities 

The Director-General has proposed that all BBC services should be focused on some or all of five editorial priorities. 

• The Director-General’s proposed editorial priorities are: 
• The best journalism in the world 
• Inspiring knowledge, music and culture 
• Ambitious UK drama and comedy 
• Outstanding children’s content 
• Events that bring communities and the nation together 

The Trust thinks that the proposed editorial priorities fit well with those things you have told us are important to you in our previous research but we want to consider how these priorities should be delivered to you in the future

Do these priorities fit with your expectation of BBC TV, Radio and online services?

My priority is accessing music; be it new music, old music, alternative music, folk music, or mainstream pop music.  It’s about being presented it by passionate and learned people.  It’s about 6 Music; the people involved genuinely have a priority that concerns inspiring knowledge, music and culture:  My expectations are basically already being met.  Don't axe 6 Music.  It really is that simple.

5. Proposed principle: doing fewer things and doing them better 

The Trust believes that the BBC must offer the highest quality programmes. We have previously told the Director General that we think that the pursuit of higher quality may mean doing less overall. 

The Director-General has proposed some areas where the BBC could reduce or stop activities altogether. The suggestions are to: 

• Close Radio 6 Music and focusing the BBC’s pop music output on Radio 1 and Radio 2 
• Close Asian Network as a national service and aiming to serve Asian audiences better in other ways on other BBC services 
• Change BBC local radio stations, by investing more in breakfast, morning and drive time shows, but share content across local stations at other times of the day 
• Close the BBC’s teen zone, BBC Switch 
• Close the teenage learning offer Blast! 
• Make the BBC’s website smaller, with fewer sections. (We do not yet have the details of what will be cut) 

We can assure you that decisions have not yet been taken in any of these areas and that we will consider each one very carefully before doing so.

We welcome your views on these areas

What is the justification behind the proposals to close Radio 6 music and focus on pop?  Pop is not the only music accessible to people. Pop is not the only music that people want to necessarily listen to.  Of course you have a core audience, mainly made up of teens to early twenties who listen to Radio 1 and an older target audience for Radio 2, but this does not encompass the bigger picture.  Radio 6 music is specialist in the sense that it targets all music without any bias towards genre, era or popularity.  It’s about showcasing the best talent, about giving people a chance to have their music aired and most importantly it’s about supporting the music industry as a whole.  No other station strives to do this in such a manner.

Personally speaking and as a music lover and music writer, I look towards people who created this ethos, the most important person that springs to mind being John Peel, who significantly  changed the attitude towards giving new and emerging talent a platform. Subsequently people like Huw Stevens, Lamaqc and Zane Lowe have picked up the baton and continued this trend, rather brilliantly I might add.  However 6 Music goes further than this.  It is a constant reminder of the wealth of superb music available and through its programming which incorporates some of the most passionate and interesting presenters around, you have a station that services everyone and anyone who wants something a little less “banter” driven than the often banal delivery of Radio 1.

It is undeniable that the sweeping suggestion to get rid of this station has not been thought out, nor have you considered the actual listeners who given their own passion for music are hugely upset and angry about this.  The proposal to take away what is a highly thought of, successful connection to the music world is offensive; do you honestly feel that the entire radio listening, or music buying public would be satisfied by the single minded offerings of radio 1 and 2?  If so, then you are either severely out of touch or perhaps you have a far lower opinion of who you are broadcasting to as a whole, which brings into question who exactly it is you are talking to to come to these conclusions.  Are we just talking about the beer swilling, Sun reading, Chris Moyles fan?  I think you will see from the petitions that are being posted and the general disgust as this proposal that you should be thinking more specifically “outside the box” in terms of listeners and what the BBC will be offering in the future as part of its radio broadcasting and stationing.

8. Proposed principle: making the license fee work harder 

One of the Trust’s priorities is to ensure that the BBC offers excellent value for money, by being efficient and by making effective use of its income. We think that it is right that you expect this of the BBC. 

The Trust welcomes the Director-General’s proposals to ensure that the BBC offers value for money and, specifically, we support the aim to maximise the proportion of the license fee that is spent on programming. However, we know that there is more do to, in order to achieve this. 

If you are concerned about the BBC’s value for money, please tell us why.

I am extremely concerned.  How do you justify the salaries of some of your highest paid "stars"?  Jonathon Ross, Chris Moyles, Christine Bleakley, Anne Robinson...to name just a few.  Perhaps if the money was not spent on so called golden handshake deals for substandard presenters then the BBC would have decidedly more money to spend on the assets they have to entertain.  Ultimately we, as license fee payers, are paying for these people, and whilst I am not adverse to them being paid well, I think at a time like this when a powerful institution like the BBC is struggling and trying to make cuts within its business, maybe the cuts should be related to their salaries and not our services.

9. Proposed principle: setting new boundaries for the BBC 

The Trust has asked the Director-General to consider where the BBC could be clearer about the limits to its activities as we know there is considerable demand for this from other broadcasters and media companies and the BBC has a responsibility to consider its competitive impact on others. 

The Director-General has set out a list of proposed limits to BBC activity. These are: 

• Reducing the BBC offer in pop music radio by closing 6 Music, 
• Closing niche services for teenagers: BBC Switch and Blast! 
• Reducing BBC expenditure on programmes bought from abroad (eg. American films and dramas) 
• Limiting BBC expenditure on sports rights 
• Not offering any more localised services than the BBC already does – eg. new services for individual towns or cities 
• Making the BBC website more focused on particular areas. 

The Trust has carried out work in some of these areas already and we support some of these limits: making the BBC’s website focused and distinctive and setting limits to the BBC’s local media offer. 

In many other areas, we recognise there are trade-offs. For example, buying a US drama can mean that viewers are offered a high quality programme at lower cost than would be possible with a new British programme. 

The Trust has not taken decisions in any of these areas and we will consider each one very carefully before doing so.

Do you think the BBC should limit its activities in these areas?

No. Save BBC 6 Music. For all the reasons stated in my previous answers.  And while you are at it, Save BBC Switch and Blast.  What else is on offer niche or otherwise for teenagers? Granted most teens (apparently) are going to go out and get drunk, get pregnant or get an ASBO; but for those who actually do want to learn, do want services such as Switch and do want something they can relate to on tv or radio through its presenters or content, then why would you close this avenue for them?  Makes no sense whatsoever.

Your proposed limits to BBC activity frankly should be addressing other more pivotal areas of the organisation, which include the over payment of presenters, the over payment on commissioning bad tv and the misguided decision making that is being allowed to destroy the BBC as a whole.  Your reputation is already severely damaged, this is making matters much much worse and inevitably you are going to lose even more support.

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