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Thursday 02 October 2014 | Music news feed

Radiohead, Keane and Will Young unite against plans to close 6 Music

Radiohead, Keane and Will Young were among a group of musicians who threw their weight behind a campaign to save the BBC's digital radio station 6 Music.

Radiohead :  Radiohead, Keane and Will Young unite against plans to close 6 Music
Radiohead are part of the campaign to save the BBC's digital radio station 6 Music Photo: GETTY

Actors including Martin Clunes and Michael Sheen are also among the latest supporters of the digital station who have voiced concerns about the proposed axing of the station as part of the BBC's strategic review of services.

The Asian Network would also close under the plans, and spending on the corporation's internet services will be slashed by a quarter.

But it is the proposed closure of 6 Music which has provoked the biggest backlash, with supporters mounting a campaign to lobby the BBC Trust, which is putting the proposals out to public consultation.

Ed O'Brien, the Radiohead guitarist, has written to the Trust about what he called the ''ludicrous decision''.

He wrote: ''I, along with a vast number of other musicians, music industry types and real music fans, are completely shocked and baffled by this news.

''I wonder if those who made this decision are actually aware of the hugely important role that 6 music plays in fostering and promoting new bands, as well as still playing the likes of the band that I am in. It literally is the radio lifeblood for music outside of the mainstream.

''Please realise the impact and severity of closing this station down.

He added: ''From what I can gather about it's annual budget of £6m, it surely punches way above it's weight in terms of cultural relevance and importance.''

Keane, the chart-topping band, have devoted the home page of their website to mobilising fans into protesting about the cuts. The band said: ''If the station does close, it would be a huge blow to the British music scene.

Will Young, the pop star, is another supporter of the station. He said he found it ''hard to fathom'' the logic behind the BBC's reasoning.

''For me BBC 6 music is an essential and vital place to hear up and coming music as well as older records. Many a time I have heard a band or singer long before they hit the mainstream radio stations and this is the way it should be," he said.

''6 music allows the listener to become interested and attached to new and old music with impeccable and eclectic taste. Not only this, it covers national and international cultural events from smaller gatherings to the Edinburgh festival.

''How all this will be accounted for into more mainstream stations I find hard to fathom. I urge all music lovers to join the crusade – it's a slice of digital Britain that is essential in my opinion.''

Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, was meeting union bosses today over the staffing implications of the review.

Union chiefs – who oppose the cuts – said the move threatened up to 600 jobs and warned of strikes to fight any compulsory redundancies.

They will meet Mr Thompson later to tell him they will oppose the cuts which would divert nearly £600 million a year to higher quality content.

Martin Clunes voiced his concerns about 6 Music – which costs £9 million a year to run – and said: ''Why are they doing it? Why don't they just shrink their pensions? It's just a shame. I'm sure there are other ways to save money. The licence fee hasn't gone down. They've got the money.''

Michael Sheen, the actor, who is a regular listener to 6 Music, urged his fans through his Twitter feed to show their support: ''We must all do whatever we can to save BBC 6 Music, my favourite British music radio station,'' he said.

This morning Lily Allen hit out at the closure describing the corporation as going through a ''dire phase'' and saying: ''You can't help but feel that they are scared of taking risks''.

Writing in The Guardian, Allen said: ''I hope that the backlash they've received so far will make them think twice ...

''If they close 6 Music, instead of acts like Seasick Steve and presenters like Lauren Laverne, it will be the Pussycat Dolls and Fearne Cotton on Radio 1.''

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