Much beloved internet only radio station BBC6, which was on the chopping block several months ago, has had a stay of execution after music industry condemnation and public protests while a public consultation was held into its future. The BBC Trust has rejected a management proposal to axe the station which focuses on 25 – 50 year old indie music fans.
The station, which has 1 million listeners a week according to recent surveys, received public support from artists such as David Bowie and Radiohead. In a statement the BBC Trust said “The Trust concludes that, as things stand, the case has not been made for the closure of 6 Music. The executive should draw up an overarching strategy for digital radio. If the director general wanted to propose a different shape for the BBC’s music radio stations as part of a new strategy, the trust would consider it.The trust would consider a formal proposal for the closure of the Asian Network, although this must include a proposition for meeting the needs of the station’s audience in different ways.”
