A government official has warned that Britain is missing out on tomorrow’s music stars as TV channels have stopped putting new acts on in prime time.
Culture secretary Andy Burnham was speaking at the In The City conference in Manchester when he made the claims. “We need a programme like Top of the Pops again. This was a great thing that was always putting a great mix of new music before the public.”
Top Of The Pops was axed in 2006, with Snow Patrol being the last act to play on the program. Running for 42 years it was one of the most influential music shows in the world.
Expanding on his claims, the official warned BBC News that “I just worry a little that the relationship between prime time TV and radio and the music industry has at times become a little cosy”.
“It’s relying on safe formats and not sufficiently putting out those new names that can then all of a sudden go from the margins right into national prominence.”
BBC and ITV have yet to comment on Andy Burnham’s views.
