Bowie Backs 6music After Bbc Bombshell

Popular musics and aftershocks...

David Bowie has released a brief statement expressing his dismay at the proposed axing of the BBC's 6music digital station.

Here's what he had to say: "6music keeps the spirit of broadcasters like John Peel alive and for new artists to lose this station would be a great shame.".

His comments follow a front-page report in today's Times newspaper in which it is alleged the BBC will close two digital radio stations, (6music and Asian Network) shut half its website and cut spending heavily on imported American programmes in an overhaul of services to be announced next month.

Regular readers of BowieNet news will be aware of the mutual admiration which exists between 6music and David Bowie.

A couple of weeks ago the station made A Reality Tour live it's Album Of The Day (02.12.2010 NEWS: A REALITY TOUR LIVE IS ALBUM OF THE DAY ON 6MUSIC) and just last night (Thursday 25th) Marc Riley kicked off his show with the title track of Station To Station in its entirety...you can listen to the full show here.

But perhaps even more important than the station's continued patronage of David Bowie's music is the point that DB suggests in his statement: the exposure for new bands by the line-up of informed and intelligent DJs, unsurpassed by any other radio station.

And though Marc Riley would never suggest he could personally fill John Peel's shoes, to my mind he is the closest thing we have to him broadcasting today.

It seems there is already a groundswell of protest against the proposals following DB's comments, a protest that I'm sure is bound to get louder over the next few days as more concerned music lovers learn of the plans.