It is truly sad to hear that local talent and music platform BBC Introducing has been axed from our airwaves, many Northern Irish, Scottish, English and Welsh bands and musicians will be struggling to say goodbye to the show that has given many great opportunities to many great acts.
Despite many protests and online petitions the BBC has said farewell to the music show but maybe replacing it with a UK wide music show (not yet confirmed). Listeners and music hopefuls worry about the effect that the axe will have on the local music scene. The show has been one of the greatest ways for bands to have their music listened to by many avid listeners the show was theperfect link to not only the BBC but the UK music Capital London.
The BBC released a statement to the press about the cancellation of the BBC introducing shows:
“The BBC faces a 16 per cent reduction in its budget and, as the current BBC Introducing show costs around five times the amount the new show will cost, we believe that we can make significant savings while maintaining our support for new British music.”
This may save the BBC money for their tight budget but one of the many worries is what about the financial and promotional needs for the bands that are struggling with funding. Many music acts like Snow Patrol have expressed their love for the Radio One show. So will it be difficult for Irish and Northern Irish bands to get the success with one of their main lifelines cut off?
Well not according to music professionals.
People within the music industry say that online promotion is the way to go to get your music listened to via YouTube, Band Camp and Last FM. Will these suggestions compete with BBC introducing? Major big name bands like And So I Watch You From Afar, Two Door Cinema Club and General Fiasco are just a few bands that have gained success from the music show. With so much online competition and acts this could make it harder for bands and musicians to break through.
Don’t let the axe dishearten any of you musicians and bands, this could be the opportunity for you to push yourself into the online market which is a more personal and intimate way to get to know and contact your fans and new listeners. Get yourselves on the biggest social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter and engage with artists like yourselves. To help spread your music go to bandcamp and soundcloud. There are many websites to help struggling and new artists – so just take a leap into the World Wide Web.
Gerry Norman of A Plastic Rose and contributor to the recent campaign to avoid the axe of the show told the press:
“We’re not just losing a radio show; we’re losing a direct link to London, financial support for bands, clubs and festivals, and, simply, a reason to record music”. “It’s taking away a bit of the magic from the very special music scene we have here” Like many I have my fingers crossed that the BBC do decide to go along with the rumoured UK wide show, it is said that the show will give bands a “first play” of their single on a show that will air once a week. Even though the weekly hour long show is a major cut back it could attract a bigger listenership and new fans.
Many cut backs from the BBC have devastated listeners, family and friends of the employees in each region and station but BBC Introducing is a big loss for the much loved Northern Irish and UK music scene. The show that has given us many brilliant bands will be dearly missed.
Farewell BBC Introducing!
