Last waltz for 6 Music

Steve Sanders

News that the BBC is to wield the cost cutting, sorry, saving axe has led to a raft of negative publicity about the corporation in both traditional and new media.

The two highest profile casualties are BBC Radio's 6 Music and Asian Network.

I can only talk in any confidence on 6 Music which has expertly filled the hole in national radio broadcast for those who no longer find Radio 1 palatable but are still far too young to make the graduation straight into the leather elbow patch and corduroy world of Radio 2.

6 Music has built a strong following based on using DJs who meld credibility with musical knowledge (Mark Riley & Jarvis Cocker), surrealism with entertainment (Adam & Joe) and celebrity with passion (Craig Charles & Bob Dylan).

Add to that a range of documentaries, live performances and a trip down a musical memory lane and you'd be forgiven for thinking the BBC had a winning formula which informed, educated and entertained.

Sadly for me and 694,999other people, the station is going to the big Bakelite wireless set in the sky - but not before the end of 2011.

As Auntie Beeb wrestles with providing unique programming which does not encroach on what commercial broadcasters are doing, it seems the suits had to make a gesture to appease those who would do away with the whole shebang.

Surely this could have been achieved by putting BBC3 TV out of its misery and preserving 6 Music.

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