Protests continue over BBC Scotland’s axing of jazz, classical and traditional music radio shows
- last year
Protests continue over BBC Scotland’s axing of jazz, classical and traditional music radio shows. Muscians gather outside the Usher Hall in Edinburgh this morning.
There has been anger and dismay among musicians, listeners and broadcasters to the news in early January that BBC Scotland plans to wind up some of its longest running jazz, classical and traditional radio programmes. As reported in The Scotsman the broadcaster has confirmed that its Classics Unwrapped and Jazz Nights shows, hosted by Amie MacDougall and Seonaid Aitken respectively, are being wound up. Traditional Scottish music is also under threat as the number of piping programmes reduced from two to one as part of a shake-up, with the cuts are being blamed on the two-year freeze of the licence fee, as well as a move to focus more on “digital output”.
An open letter against the cuts, organised by acclaimed saxophonist Tommy Smith and signed by leading Scottish jazz, folk and classical musicians, read: “We write to you with extreme concern following news that BBC Radio Scotland plans to axe crucial parts of its cultural musical programming. Recently, BBC Scotland has confirmed plans to wind up shows: Classics Unwrapped, Jazz Nights, and Pipeline. As Alan Morrison. head of music at Creative Scotland, said to The Scotsman: "The loss of expertly curated shows such as Classics Unwrapped and Jazz Nights, and a reduction of piping programming, would be a conspicuous blow to the musical diversity of Scotland's airwaves."
The move comes as Scottish jazz and other genres are enjoying much success in the UK – with pianist Fergus McCreadie receiving a Mercury Prize nomination as well as winning a Jazz FM Award, and singer Georgia Cécile enjoying a breakthrough year with two Jazz FM Awards and a Scottish Jazz Award – while the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra continues to attract major American stars such as singer Kurt Elling and saxophonist Bill Evans. Further musical successes include the Edinburgh International Festival which is at the centre of the global classical music world, and piping is critical to representing national identity at home and abroad
There has been anger and dismay among musicians, listeners and broadcasters to the news in early January that BBC Scotland plans to wind up some of its longest running jazz, classical and traditional radio programmes. As reported in The Scotsman the broadcaster has confirmed that its Classics Unwrapped and Jazz Nights shows, hosted by Amie MacDougall and Seonaid Aitken respectively, are being wound up. Traditional Scottish music is also under threat as the number of piping programmes reduced from two to one as part of a shake-up, with the cuts are being blamed on the two-year freeze of the licence fee, as well as a move to focus more on “digital output”.
An open letter against the cuts, organised by acclaimed saxophonist Tommy Smith and signed by leading Scottish jazz, folk and classical musicians, read: “We write to you with extreme concern following news that BBC Radio Scotland plans to axe crucial parts of its cultural musical programming. Recently, BBC Scotland has confirmed plans to wind up shows: Classics Unwrapped, Jazz Nights, and Pipeline. As Alan Morrison. head of music at Creative Scotland, said to The Scotsman: "The loss of expertly curated shows such as Classics Unwrapped and Jazz Nights, and a reduction of piping programming, would be a conspicuous blow to the musical diversity of Scotland's airwaves."
The move comes as Scottish jazz and other genres are enjoying much success in the UK – with pianist Fergus McCreadie receiving a Mercury Prize nomination as well as winning a Jazz FM Award, and singer Georgia Cécile enjoying a breakthrough year with two Jazz FM Awards and a Scottish Jazz Award – while the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra continues to attract major American stars such as singer Kurt Elling and saxophonist Bill Evans. Further musical successes include the Edinburgh International Festival which is at the centre of the global classical music world, and piping is critical to representing national identity at home and abroad