The BBC has confirmed it will cut back its BBC Introducing programme, which profiles up-and-coming grassroots musicians.
The plans will see the loss of 12 BBC Introducing shows, with 20 of the BBC’s 39 local radio stations retaining their own editions.
In January, a coalition of music groups wrote to the BBC expressing “grave concern” the plans to streamline BBC Introducing shows would have an adverse effect on grassroots music in the UK.
In a statement released earlier this week, the broadcaster said the remaining BBC Introducing shows will be broadcast twice as often, to “give up-and-coming musicians a bigger platform and audiences than ever before”.
Each station will also “retain music expertise on site to support the production of the programmes and bring in new talent”, the statement adds.
The Guardian reports the cuts form a wider plan for the BBC’s regional stations to share more shows, in order to modernise local services and save money.