Mouthpiece

Stewart Smith condemns the decision of BBC bosses to slash hours of regular and vibrant music content from its Radio Scotland schedule. Without them, we may never find the next Fergus McCreadie or Lewis Capaldi

In January, BBC Radio Scotland announced plans to cut its jazz, classical and traditional music programming. Pipeline, one of the station’s two piping shows, is to be axed, alongside Jazz Nights and ClassicsUnwrapped BBC Scotland claimed the decision was in response to the licence-fee freeze, insisting the nation’s ‘vibrant jazz and classical communities’ would still be reflected in their schedules. But that’s no substitute for dedicated programming. Ominously, the BBC added that those who enjoy this music could continue to access it across the broadcaster. In other words, go and listen to Radio 3, you weirdos.

The plans have been met with dismay across Scotland’s cultural sector, with saxophonist Tommy Smith organising a petition and protest on the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall steps. Why cut now, when our jazz, classical and traditional music scenes are flourishing? SAY Award winner Fergus McCreadie is among the new generation of Scottish musicians given a platform by Jazz Nights. The piping scene is equally exciting, with musicians like Brìghde Chaimbeul and Malin Lewis pushing traditional music in experimental new directions.

Scotland is also home to several world-class orchestras and ensembles, as well as the cutting-edge Tectonics festival. I don’t quite buy the argument that executives at Pacific Quay are engaged in a unionist plot to put down Scottish culture, but there clearly is a lack of vision about what the national station can be. Scottish artists and audiences deserve better.

It’s worth noting that such cuts are not exclusive to Scotland. Local radio programming across the UK has faced major ‘restructuring’ over the past few years, with specialist arts programming often being first in line for the axe. BBC Introducing, which gives emerging musicians the chance to be heard on their local BBC radio station, and sponsors a stage at Glastonbury, is facing cuts to its scheduling. The 32 regional shows currently on air could be slashed to 11. If BBC Introducing, which gave Lewis Capaldi his first radio exposure, is deemed expendable, what hope do shows covering non-mainstream genres have?

It’s not all doom and gloom. Plans to drop local radio programmes catering to Black and Asian audiences in England have been shelved following a campaign by the Black Equity Organisation. And it’s heartening to see Scotland’s musical community come together with a similar sense of urgency. Here’s hoping that their campaign forces bosses at Pacific Quay to think again.

Stewart Smith is a music journalist and researcher who can be found on Twitter @Stewfsmith; Tommy Smith’s petition against the cuts is at change.org/p/please-save-bbcradio-scotland-s-jazz-nights-from-being-axed