UK MUSIC, a campaigning and lobbying group that represents a significant portion of the recorded and live music industry, has recently introduced a campaign called #LetItBeeb in order to maintain BBC’s music services around the country.
The group launched a petition, which currently sits at over 10,000 signatures to protect BBC music services from cuts during the charter renewal.
The BBC is a vital provider in supporting the UK’s diverse music ecosystem. The petition emphasises that the government should not only protect BBC music services from any budgetary cuts, but expand it and be safe from financial cuts or organisational restructuring as part of the review of the BBC Charter. Any potential cuts could have eventual ramifications on the country’s cultural, social and economic sectors.
The Government recently announced through a Green Paper that it was questioning the BBC’s distinctiveness of what is being broadcasted and published. The BBC has prioritised music alongside news and sport in recent years by offering a diverse selection of services that includes 1Xtra, BBC Asian Network, Desert Island Discs, festival coverage including T in the Park and Glastonbury and documentaries. Across every channel, there is a variety of genres for listeners to enjoy – from new music to folk, and classical to grime.
#LetItBeeb is designed to unite fans, artists, songwriters, composers, performers, genres and locations in support of the pivotal and diverse music services that the BBC offers. In 2013, it was predicted that the music sector contributed £3.8 billion to the economy, as well as providing jobs, improving tourism and recognising the UK as a global export.
In order to prevent governmental cuts to the BBC’s programming, the music community has been urged to act upon the Green Paper and sign the petition – which, if it gets over 10,000 signatures, can get a reply from government. If the petition reaches over 100,000 signatures, it can get discussed in parliament.
The petition claims that “any efficiencies made as a result of the recently published Government Green Paper and through BBC charter renewal must not impact on these music services.”
#LetItBeeb had a campaign launch in support of BBC Music at the Houses of Parliament in London last month to promote the initiative. Several musicians including Sam Smith, Jake Bugg and Nick Mason plus broadcast staff of the BBC joined to show their encouragement for the cause.
UK Music is an organisation that collectively represents the UK’s music industry. It covers all areas of music – from artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, to record labels, music managers, music publishers, studio presenters, music licensing organisations and the live music industry. The members of the group are from all important organisations to do with the music industry: AIM, BASCA, BIP, FAC, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music and the Live Music Group.
You can sign the petition here, there is 8 days for the Government to respond to the points made in the official petition. The petition has a deadline of 13th February 2016 to maximise its amount of signatures.
