THE GUARDIAN / Dave Simpson
It is the nationwide network of weekly regional radio programmes and festival stages that has helped launch the careers of British superstars such as Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, Celeste and Little Simz. But now, the future of BBC Music Introducing is believed to be under threat. For days, social media has been buzzing with reports that the local radio side of what the BBC calls its “platform supporting unsigned, undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK music talent” is to be scaled down, with claims that all 32 BBC Introducing presenters across the UK have been put on notice of redundancy.
A source told the Guardian that the plan was to “rationalise” the network, with a two-thirds reduction in the number of shows, which would then operate across larger regional boundaries. Such changes would greatly increase competition and reduce the amount of airtime available for individual emerging artists.
A BBC spokesperson said that a forthcoming change to local radio schedules would “not compromise the essence of BBC Introducing. We’re committed to maintaining dedicated support for discovering and sharing the work of new talent at each of our 39 local radio stations. Local radio will continue to celebrate local artists and be an entry point for talent.”
The spokesperson added that the BBC needed “to acknowledge the changing listening habits of audiences”, and that the intention was “to reach even more people”. Every local radio station has a place on BBC Sounds, which has a fixed Introducing slot featuring prominently with more content than radio schedules could ever accommodate. We also regularly feature Introducing tracks and artists on breakfast shows and that will continue too.”
‘A fundamental blow’: anger over threat to BBC Introducing music discovery platform
Fans and bands fear regional network that helped launch careers of Ed Sheeran and Little Simz will be cut back as BBC confirms changes to schedules
Ed Sheeran makes a guest appearance on the BBC Radio 1 Introducing stage during the Reading festival in 2011. Photograph: Andy Sheppard/Redferns
Dave SimpsonWed 18 Jan 2023 12.58 GMTLast modified on Sat 21 Jan 2023 08.45 GMT
It is the nationwide network of weekly regional radio programmes and festival stages that has helped launch the careers of British superstars such as Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, Celeste and Little Simz. But now, the future of BBC Music Introducing is believed to be under threat. For days, social media has been buzzing with reports that the local radio side of what the BBC calls its “platform supporting unsigned, undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK music talent” is to be scaled down, with claims that all 32 BBC Introducing presenters across the UK have been put on notice of redundancy.
A source told the Guardian that the plan was to “rationalise” the network, with a two-thirds reduction in the number of shows, which would then operate across larger regional boundaries. Such changes would greatly increase competition and reduce the amount of airtime available for individual emerging artists.
Career credit … Little Simz performs at the Music Industry Trust awards in London last year. Photograph: JMEnternational/Getty Images
A BBC spokesperson said that a forthcoming change to local radio schedules would “not compromise the essence of BBC Introducing. We’re committed to maintaining dedicated support for discovering and sharing the work of new talent at each of our 39 local radio stations. Local radio will continue to celebrate local artists and be an entry point for talent.”
The spokesperson added that the BBC needed “to acknowledge the changing listening habits of audiences”, and that the intention was “to reach even more people”. Every local radio station has a place on BBC Sounds, which has a fixed Introducing slot featuring prominently with more content than radio schedules could ever accommodate. We also regularly feature Introducing tracks and artists on breakfast shows and that will continue too.”
When asked for clarification on what this meant for the future number of BBC Introducing programmes, and whether they would broadcast on local radio or move to BBC Sounds, the spokesperson said: “There will still be programmes and these will go out on Thursdays and Saturdays but the exact locations, format and line ups haven’t been confirmed yet.”
Presenters have taken to social media to urge musicians and fans to share their positive experiences of the network. BBC 6 Music DJ and musician Tom Robinson – who hosts the BBC Introducing Mixtape podcast – has set up an “appreciation” page on his independent blog, urging: “If you’ve appreciated our network of local BBC Introducing shows across England and the Channel Islands over the last 15 years, here’s a chance to say so.”
Robinson said the response had been “astounding – and a little tear-jerking. They’re arriving at the rate of one every few minutes. We’re up to around 4,000.” A comment left by Catherine Coleman summed up the feelings of many listeners: “BBC Introducing introduced me to some great bands I would potentially have never come across.”
BBC Introducing was established in 2007 to support local grassroots music via a series of programmes that air every Saturday night. Emerging artists submit tracks for consideration via an online platform that receives between 4,000 and 5,000 tracks each week. Lucky hopefuls receive airplay on their regional programme – without having to pay for a radio plugger – which can lead to broadcast interviews, live sessions and slots at leading festivals: Ed Sheeran’s 2011 Glastonbury debut was on the festival’s BBC Introducing stage.
In 2012, the unknown 18-year old singer-songwriter George Ezra, based in Bristol, uploaded his songs to the region’s BBC Introducing in the West. The subsequent airplay attracted Columbia Records, which released his 2014 debut, Wanted on Voyage. The album reached No 1 and became the UK’s third best-selling of the year; it went multi-platinum, as did his 2018 album Staying at Tamara’s.
As well as providing a platform for future pop superstars, BBC Introducing is also credited with nurturing the UK’s independent music talent. “The regional presenters and producers are doing the job that A&R types would have done in the past in discovering new talent,” said Lanterns on the Lake singer Hazel Wilde. The Newcastle band’s album Spook the Herd was nominated for the 2020 Mercury prize, but Wilde thinks they wouldn’t have got there without initial exposure from BBC Introducing in the North East.
After the station played their early demos, Robinson played the group on 6 Music and invited them to perform in London – their first gig in the capital. They subsequently played on the initiative’s Glastonbury stage. “We were this little band from Newcastle with no connections or money and got vital exposure,” said Wilde. “Without these regional champions the music scene would be a lot poorer and less diverse. It would become even more overrun by artists with big money and connections.”
Danni Brownsill at SJM Concerts, one of the UK’s biggest live promoters, underscored BBC Introducing’s importance to regional artists, labels and listeners. “I used to promote gigs at the Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent, a deprived area of low cultural engagement,” she said. “The artists from there are a little marginalised anyway, but if it wasn’t for BBC Introducing in Stoke – representing all of Staffordshire and Cheshire – they might not have the willingness to try and make music. The attitude might be: ‘There’s just no point.’”
