Scots Musicians who have been building a movement to save Radio One’s ‘Introducing in Scotland’ will meet with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop today [14th December] at Holyrood.
The young musicians, bloggers and promoters and are raising concerns about the future of the Scottish music industry if the flagship Radio 1 show, hosted by Ally Macrae, is scrapped.
Scots Musicians who have been building a movement to save Radio One’s Introducing in Scotland will meet with the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop today [14th December] at Holyrood.
The young musicians, bloggers and promoters and are raising concerns about the future of the Scottish music industry if the flagship Radio 1 show, hosted by Ally Macrae, is scrapped.
The level of support across Scotland and other nations within the UK is comparable to that which helped save 6 music.
The campaigners will be joined by Carly Connor, who recently supported Paolo Nutini on his UK and European tour and is tipped to be the next big thing to come out of the Scottish music scene.
The campaign has been backed by several successful Scottish musicians
Internationally successful rock band from Kilmarnock, Biffy Clyro, backed the campaign, saying:
“We fully support the campaign and are very much against the axing of the show. Introducing in Scotland is an incredible resource for Scottish bands, artists and the music-loving public and its scrapping would be a huge loss for us all.
“We wish you the best of luck with the campaign and look forward to listening to the show for many years to come.”
Fellow Scottish artist Lou Hickey, who played with Jon Fratelli said:
“Scotland has its own unique and varied musical identity. We need to give our home grown talent all the support we can. We really hope we can have the Cabinet Secretary for Culture’s support for our cause.
“A UK-wide radio show would not offer anywhere near the same amount of exposure and opportunities for emerging Scottish artists. It would be a travesty if the only platform designed specifically to support new Scottish artists is scrapped.”
Frightened Rabbit, an indie rock band from Selkirk, who have supported Death Cab for Cutie, said:
“It would be a travesty if the show as cut from the BBC radio schedule in Scotland. For over 10 years, the slow has been an invaluable and irreplaceable platform for new and established Scottish bands.
“It serves to breed an essential community within Scottish music and scrapping this show would reinforce the popular fallacy that the industry does not exist outside London.”
Joan McAlpine, who has supported the campaign from the beginning, is delighted that the campaign has received such fantastic support from both the up and coming and internationally renowned artists.
Ms McAlpine, member of the Education and Culture Committee and who previously wrote for NME as a journalist said:
“It is really encouraging to see the level of support for the campaign and it is great to have Carly join us for the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary. Carly is an incredibly talented musician who understands the break that Introducing in Scotland can offer to new artists.
“It’s hugely unfair that future generations of musicians are may not receive the chance they need from exposure on such a great platform. The cost of saving Introducing in Scotland is tiny in comparison to the salaries being paid to London executives and presenters. The future of the Scottish music industry must be secured.”
The online petition has received more support per head of the population that the UK-wide save 6music campaign.
The campaigners are set to head to London on the 19th of December to deliver the Scottish petition, ahead of the closing date for the BBC consultation.
