Waynster

It has been well publicised that Mark Thompson of the BBC has proposed as part of their cutbacks to close down BBC 6 Music. Now for any of you out there that understand even the slightest bit about my love for real music and haven’t come accross 6 Music before you are missing out on probably the most perfect station there is and something that is part of my daily life. I’ll not go into one of my passionate monologues about why this should not happen, but instead will attempt to offer something for the many people out there who are against this travesty to do something constructive.

Now what I will not do is claim credit for any of the first ideas but just iterate them to maybe a new audience – most of this information has been gathered from the facebook page dedicated to the cause set up by Tracy and Jon Morter, so credit to them for starting it and the 100,000 + members who have contributed.

1. State your views to the BBC Strategy Review Comittee or mail them directly
2. Sign the Petition
3. Get all your facebook friends to join the facebook group - visibility of numbers will count a lot and is being reported all the time in the media at the moment
4. Especially if you have never listened before, tune in using your computer to 6 music –  the more people listening, the more the BBC will realise the popularity of the station – plus I hope you will discover this little gem and thank me!
5. Complain to the BBC directly
6. Support the early day motion in parliament

All the above is well and good and will do a lot to help the cause, but I also believe a more visual and well planned demonstration would certainly get excellent media coverage,  gain further support and show how strong we believe that this heinous crime to culture is not permissable. Several people on the facebook group have mentioned this and I believe a couple are planning to demonstrate as early as today, but to make this effective it needs thought and proper planning with the authorities.

Things that need to be considered

1. Timing – We need to pick a day – people have mentioned 6th of June (6th of the 6th) – significant to the cause, but too late – the decision will be made by the trust on the 25th of May. To allow time to plan properly and gain enough participants I suggest the 15th of May – a Saturday and 10 days before the decision is made. Also allows enough people to plan to get there (like me as I have to fly back to the UK for this!)
2. Location – a march to BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Square makes obvious sense, but a small route to march would be better for gaining support. However all considerations should be made for avoiding problems with traffic – we want to win support, not gain enemies
3. Although we are effectively supporting the establishment we need their support too so full cooperation with the Metropolitan Police is obligatory. A form 3175 needs to be filled out and more information can be found at the dedicated page on the Metropolitan Police Site
4. Make placards, banners – there are plenty of resources and pictures available again at the Facebook group for this
5. Absolutely this must be a peaceful protest – any aggro and the station will be dropped and lose valuable support. But I am sure we are all too nice for that!
6. Get Support of musicians and other high profile people – if we can get them to participate, we’ll get more media interest

What else can be done?

1. Your favourite band forum – if you discuss anything musical on the net, post to gain support – especially if its a band you have ever heard on 6 and would never hear anywhere else (and by my reckoning, that’s a shedload of bands).
2. Mail your favourite band members and ask for their support – I wonder if we could even organise a benefit gig to tie in with the demonstration?
3. Flyers – if you have access to print flyers, go hand them out on a Saturday and gather support
4. Badger your local MP to address this in parliament
5. Get all your mates and relatives to sign the online petition – it’s my birthday later in the week and I’ll be asking people to do this instead of buying presents for me – best birthday present I could wish for anyway is 6 music not dissapearing

- and I am sure there are many more things that can be done, but for now I hope this sparks some inspirations in people. This obviously needs discussion and a focal point for it all, and the facebook discussion place is great but may alienate non-facebook members, so maybe an independant discssion forum could be suggested?

Feel free to comment on this page if you think its a good idea, and thanks for reading. And Save 6 Music!!!