‘A fundamental blow’: anger over threat to BBC Introducing music discovery platform

Fans and bands fear regional network that helped launch careers of Ed Sheeran and Little Simz will be cut back as BBC confirms changes to schedules

It is the nationwide network of weekly regional radio programmes and festival stages that has helped launch the careers of British superstars such as Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, Celeste and Little Simz. But now, the future of BBC Music Introducing is believed to be under threat. For days, social media has been buzzing with reports that the local radio side of what the BBC calls its platform supporting unsigned, undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK music talent" is to be scaled down, with claims that all 32 BBC Introducing presenters across the UK have been put on notice of redundancy.

A source told the Guardian that the plan was to rationalise" the network, with a two-thirds reduction in the number of shows, which would then operate across larger regional boundaries. Such changes would greatly increase competition and reduce the amount of airtime available for individual emerging artists.