From 5th January 2013 every BBC Local Radio station across England and the Channel Islands will broadcast a BBC Introducing programme from 8pm on Saturday evenings.
BBC Introducing is a music programme dedicated to supporting unsigned, undiscovered and under-the-radar musicians. It gives local bands a platform to get their music out to a wider audience, supported by presenters who have a strong local knowledge and are passionate about the new music scene.
BBC Introducing has had a number of successes over the years in terms of bands finding mainstream success, most recently with Jake Bugg who topped the charts with his eponymously titled debut album.
Jake gained early exposure on BBC Radio Nottingham’s BBC Introducing programme, presented by Dean Jackson – who has presented BBC Radio Nottingham’s local new music show The Beat for over 20 years.
Dean’s passion and commitment to his local music scene has not gone un-noticed; Billy Bragg in his recent John Peel lecture at the Radio Festival in Salford credited Dean as having given Jake Bugg his first break on radio.
Speaking about BBC Introducing Dean says: “Presenting new, emerging artists is as exciting as it is rewarding. To see musicians with whom we've worked prior to their fame now selling out massive tours, climbing the charts and getting mainstream airplay is a real thrill. On my programme, for example, we had a good deal to do with the likes of Jake Bugg, Kasabian, Coldplay, Muse and Ed Sheeran well before they found mainstream success.”
Dean continues: “It isn't necessarily all about 'making it' in a high-profile sense. The BBC Introducing Masterclasses have helped hundreds of artists take the next small step, offering them inspiration from top experts in all fields of musicianship, developing their musical skills as well as sparking creativity.”
Other bands that have come through the BBC Introducing system include The Ting Tings, Florence and the Machine, Two Door Cinema Club and Chipmunk to name a few.
BBC Local Radio has BBC Introducing shows on all its stations waiting to hear new music and give great exposure to the freshest artists. Every week, they broadcast tracks by unsigned and under the radar artists throughout the country.
The local BBC Introducing presenters recommend the very best tunes from their local scene to specialist and daytime DJs on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC 1Xtra, BBC 6Music and BBC Asian Network, in some cases leading to exposure on national radio and appearances on the BBC Introducing stages at festivals.
Another way for musicians to get their tracks heard is via the BBC Introducing Uploader, where any aspiring, unsigned bands and musicians can upload their music via the online application. Upwards of 1,000 tracks are submitted each week, with over 85,000 artists already registered. For more information on uploading your music visit: www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/uploader/
David Holdsworth, Controller, BBC English Regions, says: “Our audiences value the showcase that BBC Introducing offers to local emerging talent. Having all the programmes on at the same time means that we will be able to give the Introducing programmes on each of our 39 stations a higher profile which in turn will benefit the local acts.”
Jason Carter, Head of Live Music & Events & BBC Introducing, believes this re-launch is a great time to celebrate all that BBC Introducing has achieved so far.
Jason says: This new dedicated Saturday night timeslot for all the BBC Introducing shows is great news and means that music fans, wherever they are, know when to tune into BBC Local Radio to discover the latest new music in their area with one single appointment to listen each week across networks. The change across the local Introducing shows underlines BBC Introducing’s continued commitment to supporting unsigned artists and under the radar talent.”
He continues: “It’s great to see these shows right at the heart of BBC Local Radio, continuing to build on the successful relationships with network radio, sharing new talent with Radio 1, Radio 2, 1Xtra, 6Music and the Asian Network, bringing them to a wider audience.”
Further information on the BBC Introducing strand and how to find contact details for your local BBC Local Radio station visit: www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/
