Musicians criticize BBC Radio Scotland’s decision to cancel specialist night shows | music

Musicians including Eddie Reader, Nadine Shah, Hamish Hook and members of Franz Fernanand, Del Amitri, Idlewild and others have voiced their disapproval at the planned changes to BBC Radio Scotland’s late-night programmes, claiming the changes will damage Scottish artists’ “career ignition” prospects.

The BBC has announced that it will replace four programs currently broadcast between 10pm and midnight from Monday to Thursday, and will either remove or reallocate their presenters. These shows will be replaced by Up Late shows, which the BBC says will “feature a curated mix of popular classics from the 1970s to the present day. The music will highlight the strong Scottish influence, showcasing Scotland’s most popular musicians and up-and-coming talent.”

But the open letter, signed by the above musicians and dozens of others across the creative industries in Scotland and beyond, says the personal choices of current DJs are invaluable.

“A trusted broadcaster is playing our song and saying our name on national radio for the first time,” the letter read. “Listeners’ ears, and previously closed industry doors, begin to creak. This single play announces to promoters, financiers, labels and audiences: this is someone worth paying attention to. BBC Radio Scotland is the only station in Scotland with anything approaching this level of career-igniting influence. And within BBC Radio Scotland, it is the late-night curated shows that provide that space where exciting new music can be discovered, introducing new artists to Scottish listeners.”

The letter calls on the BBC to “pause the implementation of these program changes until meaningful consultation with Scotland’s music sector (including artists, industry organizations and audiences) takes place,” echoing an earlier call from the Scottish Music Industry Association.

The Musicians’ Union also criticized the plans, with Caroline Sewell, regional convener for Scotland and Northern Ireland, saying: “We urge BBC Scotland to reconsider, and work with the music community to protect opportunities for Scottish musicians – not contribute to the continued destruction of opportunities for our wonderful musicians who continually enrich our lives and communities.”

Introducing the open letter, BBC Radio Scotland said in a statement: “It is not unusual for radio stations to undergo changes, especially in an increasingly competitive audio market, and while we understand that some audiences may feel disappointed, it is important that BBC Radio Scotland continues to listen to audience feedback and develop its offering.”

The station said it “remains proud to showcase the full range of Scottish musical talent, from established artists to the next generation of artists, across its schedule. Specialist music remains a cornerstone of BBC Radio Scotland’s music policy. Half of our total music hours are specialist.”

BBC Radio Scotland previously stated: “The existing programs are ending after a buyout in which the existing independent production companies making those shows did not bid for the work.”

However, organizers of the open letter said no such bids were made because BBC Radio Scotland called for a new and vastly different style of show, which would include, according to a publicly available document inviting companies to bid for the shows, “more mainstream and easy-listening tracks”.

Lynn Hogan will present Up Late, replacing veteran presenters Ian Anderson, Billy Sloane, Roddy Hart and Natasha Ruskin Sharp. Hart will continue to present on BBC Radio Scotland in two new shows on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and Ashley Storey will continue to present the same time slot on Friday evenings, although the other three presenters will be removed from the schedules at the end of 2025.

The letter continues: “The Playlist doesn’t give you an enthusiastic, universally respected quote that you can use on tour posters, press releases or the cover of your debut album. The Playlist doesn’t go to small gigs by little-known bands, or offer encouragement and advice to up-and-coming young artists… No, it’s very passionate music fans, who have spent their working lives within the Scottish soundscape, who do these things… These are the trusted voices on our late-night radio. We don’t want to lose them.”

Billy Sloan, in a social media post, said he was leaving his role “reluctantly” after 11 years, and added: “I can honestly say – hands down – that I’ve never played a single record that I didn’t think was great. But it seems that in the new format that has been introduced – which the press has reported is more than just ‘easy listening/widespread appeal’ – that’s no longer what’s needed.”

Folk musician James Yorkston was among others who objected to this planned shift in emphasis. “I love laid-back evening pop as much as I love the upcoming Pfeiffer, but there are actually a lot of places to hear it,” he said. “Sometimes things have value beyond listening numbers or the fear of confusing someone. The decision to lose those shows will be reversed.”

Defending its decision, BBC Radio Scotland pointed to a range of other specialist music programs including Traveling Folk and The Quay Sessions, and said it remained “firmly committed” to supporting specialist music. It also highlighted the ongoing BBC Awards for Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Young Scottish Classical Musician of the Year and the BBC Scottish Act of the Year award.

The new suite of programs is currently scheduled to begin in the first week of 2026.