Open letter to Alan Davey, Controller, Radio 3

20 March 2019 - Press release

Don’t Cut BBC Late Junction and Jazz Now
19th March 2019

Dear Mr Davey,
 
When questions arise as to whether Radio 3 is ‘dumbing down’, our first line of defence as composers is to site those programmes which uphold the BBC’s mission statement ‘to enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain.’
 
This would include Composer Of The Week, Hear And Now, the live evening concerts, Music Matters, Record Review, Private Passions etc. but particularly Late Junction and Jazz Now.
 
Late Junction and Jazz Now are important. They are varied and unpredictable and explore areas that no other programmes do. They provide exposure to some of the most under represented artists and cultures. Late Junction cuts across genres and is gender blind. These last two elements alone are culturally vital at this time and make it a beacon of public service broadcasting.
 
Late Junction and Jazz Now self-evidently ‘inform, educate and entertain’. We are therefore particularly concerned to learn of the BBC’s decision to cut the weekly broadcasts of Late Junction from three to one and that Jazz Now is to be axed.
 
BASCA represents music creators in their totality and no other BBC programmes support such a wide variety of living writers and performers with such consistency and erudition.
 
We respectfully request that you reconsider your decisions.
 
BASCA is supporting the ‘Don’t Cut BBC Late Junction’ online petition and we call on all creators and believers in musical diversity across the UK to campaign to save both programmes.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Gary Carpenter, Chair of the BASCA Classical Committee and BASCA Director
Issie Barratt, Chair of the BASCA Jazz Committee and BASCA Director