Jim Gellatly: joining the campaign to save 6 music
According to an article in The Times today, Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, plans to shut 6 music and Asian Network as well as half the BBC’s website, in an overhaul of services set to be announced next month.
The move has yet to be confirmed though the BBC indicated on its web site that report was so detailed that The Times must have had sight of an internal document which also covered cuts to the BBC's online operation. But while the BBC refused to confirm that any final decision had been taken, the very suggestion has caused widespread outrage, particularly amongst music fans who have taken to Twitter to express their views.
Amongst the thousands of Tweets, one angry music lover wrote: “Earth to BBC. Do not close 6music.”
Scottish Radio DJ Jim Gellatly told stv.tv: “Someone has to pay attention to the amount of outrage online. I only wish Twitter was around when XFM was closing.”
Jim is a passionate supporter of new music, having won the coveted Radio Academy PRS John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio. He is also responsible for giving many Scottish acts their break, incuding The View.
He spoke passionately about the effect losing 6 music could have and said: “any avenue for new music disappearing is a sad thing.
“The commercial sector can’t run a station like 6 music, the BBC is the only station that can.”
Jim knows first hand, through his experience with the demise of XFM Scotland, that commercial stations struggle to fund new music and alternative shows as they do not attract the mass audience figures required to sustain commercial outlets.
He added: “listenership may be minimal but 6 music is vital in promoting new bands.”
Making the point that it’s wrong for the BBC to give up on the show because it only has a small but loyal following, Jim said: “John Peel never had a massive amount of listeners.”
Could the fact these shows are digital be part of the problem? Gellatly believes it could be a contributing factor saying: “twirl the dial in the car and it’s p*sh. I would listen to 6 Music in the car if I could.”
The final report is due to be made public next month but for now, it remains to be seen whether pressure from the public via social networking sites campaigns really can make a difference and save 6 music.
