The under threat radio stations BBC 6Music and the Asian Network might still see the light of day after picking up numerous Sony Radio Academy Award nominations.
BBC 6Music will be competing with commercial stations such as Radio 1 under the categories of music radio personality of the year, music broadcaster of the year, best comedy, specialist contribution and station imaging. Presenter Lauren Laverne has been nominated for music radio personality of the year and will go up against the likes of BBC 1’s Chris Moyles and Scott Mills.
The Asian Network has been nominated for best speech programme and best news special.
The proposed closure to the two much loved stations was announced by BBC general director Mark Thompson on 2nd March as part of the channels remit. The decision has however faced both public criticism as well as negative responses from the likes of David Bowie, Lily Allen and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien.
In an article published in The Guardian on the day the proposed closure was announced, Lily Allen wrote: “It will be awful if they do decide to close BBC 6 Music and I hope that they backlash they’ve received so far will make them think twice.”
BBC 6Music presenter Adam Buxton also got his opinions heard on Channel 4 news, when he confronted Mark Thompson. In the interview manned by Jon Snow, Buxton jibbed to the BBC boss: “Mark ‘Tommo’ Thompson, I’m inviting you for a fight. I could take you. I’ve been practising.”
The Sony awards will be presented on 10 May in London. Former Radio 1 DJ Chris Evans will host.
