BBC Radio 6 Music

2025-10-06T14:30:31Z

2A0A:EF40:27B:7401:65CC:A691:D027:377F: astra 2b is no longer used

{{Short description|British national alternative music radio station}}
{{For|other stations known as Radio 6|Radio 6 (disambiguation){{!}}Radio 6}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = BBC Radio 6 Music
| logo = [[File:BBC Radio 6 Music 2022.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2022
| caption = BBC Radio 6 Music logo used since 2022, in line with the BBC's other radio stations
| city = [[London]], [[Salford]] and [[Cardiff]]
| area = United Kingdom
| airdate = {{start date and age|2002|03|11|df=y}}
| frequency = {{ubl|[[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 12B [[BBC National DAB]]|[[Freesat]]: 707|[[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]: 707|[[Sky UK|Sky]] (UK only): 0120|[[Virgin Media]]: 909|[[Virgin Media Ireland]]: 912|[[Astra 2E|Astra 2E (28.2°E)]]|[[Intelsat 901|Intelsat 901 (18°W)]]}}
| language = English
| format = [[Alternative rock|Alternative]]/[[Indie music|indie]]
| former_names = BBC 6 Music (2002–2011)
| owner = [[BBC]]
| licensing_authority = [[Ofcom]]
| operator = [[BBC North]] (Salford)<br>[[BBC Radio]] (London)
| sister_stations = [[BBC Radio 2]]
| coordinates =
| website = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_6music BBC Radio 6 Music] via [[BBC Sounds]]
}}
{{BBC Radio sidebar}}
'''BBC Radio 6 Music'''<ref>BBC, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0100t3c "BBC Radio 6 Music Programmes – Radcliffe and Maconie, With Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews and Jarvis Cocker"], 4 April 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.</ref> is a British [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom|digital radio station]] owned and operated by the [[BBC]]. It primarily plays a wide range of [[alternative music]], from established and emerging artists and bands. In 2002 it was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_6music BBC 6 Music pre-release website] – archived website from 15 February 2002. "Stand by for the BBC's first new national music radio station in 32 years"</ref> It is available only on digital media: [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB radio]], [[BBC Sounds]], [[digital television]], and throughout northern and western Europe through the [[Astra 2E]] satellite.

BBC Radio 6 Music has been described as a "dedicated alternative music station".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/what-went-so-right-for-the-bbcs-6-music-7466494.html |work=The Independent|title=What went so right for the BBC's 6 Music? |author=Charlotte Philby |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> Many presenters have argued against the perception that the main focus is indie guitar music.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/mar/10/fall-and-rise-bbc-6-music |title=The fall and rise of BBC 6 Music |author=Alexis Petridis |date=10 March 2012 |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> The station itself describes its output as "the cutting edge music of today, the iconic and groundbreaking music of the past 60 years and access to the BBC's wonderful music archive".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2npRwYyM4pC1Cg76Xcq8MCr/about-bbc-radio-6-music |title=About Radio 6 Music |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 June 2024}}</ref> Its format resembles [[eclectic radio]] as seen in other countries, as while there is a programmed playlist there is a wide range of music genres played on the station with [[Pop music|pop]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Electronic dance music|dance]], [[Electronic music|electronic]], [[Indie rock|indie]], [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Punk rock|punk]], [[funk]], [[Grime music|grime]], [[Heavy metal music|metal]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[Ska music|ska]], [[House music|house]], [[reggae]], [[jazz]], [[blues]], [[World music|world]], [[techno]], [[Experimental music|experimental]] and many other genres played regularly on the station. Added to this is a greater degree of presenter choice in relation to the programmed playlist in comparison to other BBC radio stations but particularly compared to [[Commercial broadcasting|commercial radio.]] Since 2014, an annual music festival, 6 Music Festival, has been held in different cities around the United Kingdom and broadcast live on the station. Beginning in 2023 the 6 Music Festival will be held only in Greater Manchester every year with a more scaled back event.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Tim|title=BBC 6 Music Festival, Bristol, review: 'could become one of Britain's greatest'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/bbc-6-music-festival-bristol-review-could-become-one-of-britains/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/bbc-6-music-festival-bristol-review-could-become-one-of-britains/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=15 February 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2023 returns |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/bbc-radio-6-music-festival-returns/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Bbc.com |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2010, the [[BBC Trust]] announced it had rejected a proposal by the BBC to close 6 Music to provide commercial rivals more room.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8544150.stm|title=BBC 6 Music and Asian Network face axe in shake-up |date=2 March 2001|work=BBC News|access-date=2 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100303054531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8544150.stm| archive-date= 3 March 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The trust commented that the station was "well-liked by its listeners, was highly distinctive and made an important contribution".<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/interim_conclusions.txt
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801180437/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/interim_conclusions.txt
|archive-date=1 August 2014
|title=BBC Trust Strategic Review Interim Conclusions
|work=BBC Trust
}}</ref> In 2018, 6 Music was the most listened-to digital-only radio station, with an average weekly audience of 2.53 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php |title=Quarterly Listening |website=Rajar.co.uk|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref>

According to [[RAJAR]], the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 2.7 million with a listening share of 2.5% as of December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|title=RAJAR|website=Rajar.co.uk|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>

== History ==
BBC 6 Music was proposed in October 2000 as a "digital-only" radio station with the working title "Network Y".<ref>BBC, [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1766405.stm "Launch date for BBC digital radio"], 17 January 2002.</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-plans-to-spend-pound313m-on-digital-radio-and-tv-channels-703005.html] {{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>BBC, [http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5E924D0D-7CFA-4AA8-97C9-D14C247F5098/0/bbcnewserviceadd.pdf "BBC Proposed New Services"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325122941/http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5E924D0D-7CFA-4AA8-97C9-D14C247F5098/0/bbcnewserviceadd.pdf |date=25 March 2009 }}, 2001.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/info/news/news272.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001023180125/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/news/news272.htm |archive-date=23 October 2000 |title=BBC News Release, "Licence payers consulted on new BBC radio and television services", October 2000 |access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref> ("Network X" became [[BBC Radio 1Xtra]] and "Network Z" became BBC 7, now named [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]]).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010913041218/http://www2.bbc.co.uk/info/report2001/review/future.shtml BBC Annual Report & Review 2000–2001]. Confer section on Future Plans: Introduction & New Services. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626084556/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/report2001/review/future.shtml |date=26 June 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Plunkett |first=John |date=2011-02-08 |title=Call for investigation into BBC Radio 7 rebranding |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/feb/08/radio7-rebrand-investigation |access-date=2023-12-15 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

[[File:BBC 6 Music launch logo.svg|200px|right|thumb|The BBC 6 Music logo at the time of its launch, used from 11 March 2002 to 22 October 2007]]
The station opened at 7 a.m., Monday 11 March 2002, with a show presented by [[Phill Jupitus]]. At the start-up, presenters included [[Liz Kershaw]], [[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]], [[Tom Robinson]], [[Gideon Coe]], [[Janice Long]], [[Chris Hawkins]], [[Gary Burton]], [[Craig Charles]], [[Stuart Maconie]], [[Brinsley Forde]], [[Suggs (singer)|Suggs]], [[Clare McDonnell]], [[Bruce Dickinson]], [[Tracey MacLeod]], [[Sean Hughes (comedian)|Sean Hughes]], and [[Bob Harris (radio)|Bob Harris]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/presenters/ |title=BBC 6 Music website list of presenters in 2002 |date=5 September 2002 |access-date=23 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020905162248/http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/presenters/ |archive-date=5 September 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first record played was [[Ash (band)|Ash]]'s ''[[Burn Baby Burn (song)|Burn Baby Burn]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01d8tvw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105140941/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01d8tvw|url-status=dead|title=BBC Radio 6 Music – Cerys Matthews, 6 Music Celebrates 10 Years live from Maida Vale|archive-date=5 January 2016|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

6 Music attracted criticism for changing daytime schedules during late 2007 and early 2008, notably including replacing Gideon Coe on the mid morning slot with [[George Lamb]].<ref>{{cite news|author=John Plunkett |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/18/bbc.radio?gusrc=rss&feed=media |title=Lesley Douglas defends 6Music changes |work=The Guardian |date= 15 February 2008|access-date=23 May 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080917135057/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/18/bbc.radio?gusrc=rss&feed=media| archive-date=17 September 2008| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ro Cemm |url=http://thelineofbestfit.com/2008/02/29/6music-leading-the-fight-or-losing-its-way/ |title=6Music: Leading the fight or losing its way? |publisher=Thelineofbestfit.com |access-date=23 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120083936/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2008/02/29/6music-leading-the-fight-or-losing-its-way/ |archive-date=20 November 2008 }}</ref> In response, [[Lesley Douglas]], Controller of [[BBC Radio 2]] and 6 Music at the time, said that the changes were intended to attract more female listeners. She claimed that "men tend to be more interested in the intellectual side of the music, the tracks, where albums have been made, that sort of thing".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/18/bbc.radio | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Lesley Douglas defends 6Music changes | first=John | last=Plunkett | date=18 February 2008 | access-date=13 September 2017}}</ref> This in turn brought on more criticism of perceived sexism on Douglas' part.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/feb/20/womenmenmusic | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Women and men do not listen to music differently | first=Dave | last=Simpson | date=20 February 2008 | access-date=13 September 2017}}</ref>

[[File:BBC Radio 6 Music Studio, MediaCityUK, Manchester.jpg|thumb|A BBC Radio 6 Music studio in Salford]]
In March 2006, BBC 6 Music moved from [[Broadcasting House]] to new studios in the adjacent [[Wogan House]] (then called Western House) to allow the regeneration of Broadcasting House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/about/westernhouse/ |title=BBC site about Western House |work=BBC News |access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref>

In 2011, BBC Radio 6 Music started the process of moving some of its presenters, staff, and shows from London and elsewhere to the new studios at [[MediaCityUK]] in [[City of Salford|Salford]] near [[Manchester]]. The studios are located on the ground floor of Dock House.<ref>[http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-broadcasting/bbc-6-music-moves-to-mediacityuk-20111114100955902 "BBC 6 Music moves to MediaCityUK"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828014143/http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-broadcasting/bbc-6-music-moves-to-mediacityuk-20111114100955902 |date=28 August 2012 }}, ''How-Do'', Monday, 14 November 2011</ref><ref>Slade, Jane, [http://dailyexpressproperty.co.uk/articles/view/4/847 "Weather girl tunes in to better life in the north"], ''[[Daily Express]]'', Property, 29 February 2012</ref><ref>[http://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/11/bbc-6-music-teams-move-into-mediacityuk/ "BBC 6 Music teams move into MediaCityUK"], ''Radio Today'', November 2011</ref> Among programmes broadcast there are ''[[Radcliffe & Maconie]]'', ''[[The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show]]'', and [[Marc Riley]]'s and [[Mary Anne Hobbs]]' shows.

=== Proposed closure ===
[[File:BBC Radio 6 Music.svg|220px|right|thumb|The BBC Radio 6 Music logo, 22 October 2007–14 January 2022]]
In February 2010, in anticipation of a review by the BBC Trust, newspaper reports suggested 6 Music might be axed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/10/bbc-radio |title="Pass notes No 2,727: BBC 6 Music. Is there any truth in the rumours that the BBC may axe 6 Music." Retrieved 22 February 2010 |work=The Guardian |date= 10 February 2010|access-date=23 May 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100418172417/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/10/bbc-radio| archive-date= 18 April 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The review stopped short of recommending closure but noted that only one in five UK residents were aware the station existed, and that it lacked presenters with credibility as music experts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett |first=John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2010/feb/15/radio2-6music-organ-grinder |title="How can Radio 2 get its older listeners back – and who should 6Music hire." Retrieved 22 February 2010 |work=The Guardian |date=15 February 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100420051026/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/feb/15/radio2-6music-organ-grinder| archive-date= 20 April 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' claimed that [[Mark Thompson (television executive)|Mark Thompson]], Director General of the BBC, proposed closure as part of a bid to scale back BBC operations and allow commercial rivals more room.<ref name="timesonline1">{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article7041944.ece|title=BBC signals an end to era of expansion|work=The Times|first=Patrick|last=Foster|date=26 February 2010|access-date=11 August 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100920022419/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article7041944.ece| archive-date= 20 September 2010 | url-status= dead}}</ref> A high-profile campaign to oppose closure of the station attracted media attention and led to "#SaveBBC6Music" quickly becoming a trending topic on Twitter. A leading voice in the campaign was [[Jarvis Cocker]], the lead singer for the British band [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]] who presented his own show on BBC 6 Music, ''Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service''.<ref name="sunday">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ptsjd|title=Jarvis's Sunday Service|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 March 2012}}</ref> A Facebook group set up to oppose the proposed closure gained nearly 180,000 members.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2010/jul/05/bbc-6-music-saved|title=BBC 6 Music: Is its reprieve a triumph for social media?|first=Steve|last=Busfield|work=The Guardian|date=5 July 2010|access-date=27 July 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100708151256/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/jul/05/bbc-6-music-saved| archive-date= 8 July 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> A campaign was launched to get the song "[[Joy Division Oven Gloves]]" by [[Half Man Half Biscuit]] to No. 6 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] on 12 April 2010;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/article/991853/6-music-supporters-push-half-man-half-biscuit-song |website=mediaweek.co.uk |first=Maisie |last=McCabe |title=6 Music supporters push Half Man Half Biscuit song |date=22 March 2010 |access-date=26 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/07/6-music-half-man-biscuit |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |title=Campaign to save 6 Music takes the Biscuit |first=John |last=Plunkett |date=7 April 2010 |access-date=26 February 2016 }}</ref> it entered the Singles Chart that week at No. 56 and the [[UK Independent Singles and Albums Charts|Independent Singles Chart]] at No. 3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20100411/7501/ |website=Official Charts |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100: 11 April 2010{{ndash}}17 April 2010 |access-date=26 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20100411/130/ |website=Official Charts |title=Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50: 11 April 2010{{ndash}}17 April 2010 |access-date=26 February 2016 }}</ref>

''[[The Sunday Times]]'' reported that following the public outcry over the proposed closure, 6 Music would be rebranded as Radio 2 Extra, retaining a similar playlist but broadcasting for only 12 hours a day<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article7094301.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615130421/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article7094301.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2011|title=Axed radio station BBC 6 Music returns to life|work=The Sunday Times|date=11 April 2010|access-date=12 April 2010}}</ref> but [[Tim Davie]], head of audio and music at the BBC, denied this was a possibility.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/14/6-music-tim-davie|title=BBC 6 Music 'will not be rebranded as Radio 2 Extra'|work=The Guardian|date=14 April 2010|access-date=14 April 2010}}</ref>

Five months after rumours of closure first emerged, the BBC Trust announced that it was not convinced by the BBC Executive's plans and that the station would not be closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/july/strategy_review.shtml|title=Lyons sets out initial conclusions on future direction of the BBC|work=[[BBC Trust]]|date=5 July 2010|access-date=5 July 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100708194920/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/july/strategy_review.shtml| archive-date= 8 July 2010 | url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/05/bbc-6-music-saved|title=6 Music saved from closure|work=The Guardian|first=James|last=Robinson|date=5 July 2010|access-date=5 July 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100707041531/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/05/bbc-6-music-saved| archive-date= 7 July 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=Trust>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/interim_conclusions.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207225006/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/interim_conclusions.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2012|title=BBC Strategy Review: Initial Conclusions|work=BBC Trust|pages=33–35|date=5 July 2010|access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref>

In the first quarter of 2011 some BBC radio services, including 6 Music, were part of an efficiency review conducted by [[John Myers (radio executive)|John Myers]].<ref name="tel-nov2010">{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Andrews |date=28 November 2010 |title=BBC enlists commercial sector help to shake up radio |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8164936/BBC-enlists-commercial-sector-help-to-shake-up-radio.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8164936/BBC-enlists-commercial-sector-help-to-shake-up-radio.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |access-date=12 March 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His role, according to Andrew Harrison, the chief executive of RadioCentre, was "to identify both areas of best practice and possible savings."<ref name="tel-nov2010"/> ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' suggested that this was due to 'commercial sector criticism'<ref name="tel-nov2010"/> whilst ''[[The Guardian]]'' cited a [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] report.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/feb/05/bbc-should-keep-radio-costs-down|title=BBC could do more to keep cost of radio shows down, says report|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=5 February 2009|access-date=20 March 2011|location=London|first=Mark|last=Sweney}}</ref>

[[BASCA]] was actively circulating petitions challenging the BBC's plan to close down 6 Music.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/responses/basca.txt |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730142135/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/review_report_research/strategic_review/responses/basca.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |title=Petition to BBC |access-date=4 February 2012}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
In 2020, Paul Rodgers, the senior head of commissioning for 6 Music left the station, and was replaced by Samantha Moy as the Head of Station. Moy has made a series of schedule changes, presiding over an "undeniable culture shift at the station".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Wray |first=Daniel Dylan |date=2023-08-08 |title=From weird nostalgia to weak formats, 6 Music is having an identity crisis |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/08/bbc-6-music-radio-station |access-date=2023-09-01 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Some music executives{{who|date=September 2023}} have questioned the overall strategy at the digital station since 2020, raising doubts about initiatives such as all-day pop programming, stating it to be "more typical of a commercial network rather than a BBC station",<ref>{{Cite web |title=How 6 Music's evolution is helping to represent a 'greater variety of musical genres & communities' |url=https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/how-6-music-s-evolution-is-helping-to-represent-a-greater-variety-of-musical-genres-communities/084107 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Musicweek.com |language=en}}</ref> with listeners commenting that themed days are "a sign that they're running out of ideas".<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 August 2024 |title=From weird nostalgia to weak formats, 6 Music is having an identity crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/08/bbc-6-music-radio-station#comment-163890872 |access-date=8 August 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

In 2021, [[Shaun Keaveny]] left after 14 years of presenting, saying he was "forced out onto the ice floe like an elderly Inuit relative".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Helen |date=2022-11-06 |title=Shaun Keaveny on leaving the BBC: 'I was forced out onto the ice like an elderly Inuit relative...' |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/shaun-keaveny-leaving-bbc-forced-onto-ice-like-elderly-inuit/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Due to audience complaints, the BBC issued a statement that "Radio networks always evolve over time".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yeates |first=Cydney |date=2021-09-24 |title=BBC 6 Music speaks out after Shaun Keaveny's exit sparks complaints |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/24/bbc-6-music-speaks-out-after-shaun-keavenys-exit-sparks-complaints-15309062/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Metro.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, long-serving presenters [[Gideon Coe]] and [[Marc Riley]] had their hours cut to make way for a new evening programme called ''New Music Fix Daily'' with [[Deb Grant]] and [[Tom Ravenscroft]], reducing the hours of new alternative music on the BBC weekly from 20 to eight. [[Stewart Lee]] described the move as "a land grab on the sound and attitude that have given the station credibility and purpose",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Stewart |date=2023-04-16 |title=Britain is a dying nation in need of new curators |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/16/britain-is-a-dying-nation-in-need-of-new-curators |access-date=2023-09-01 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> with insiders stated the move would 'rip the heart out of' the station.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Sherwin |first=Adam |date=2023-04-04 |title=BBC 6 Music DJs Gideon Coe and Marc Riley to have airtime slashed in radio schedule shake-up |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/media/bbc-radio-6-music-dj-gideon-coe-marc-riley-schedule-2236345 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Some listeners believe the station changes are due to "ageism" and a drive to win younger listeners,<ref name="auto"/> and despite the BBC's service review of 6 Music suggesting more might be done to attract older listeners,<ref name=":1" /> the current network strategy is aimed at growing audiences aged between 25 and 44.<ref name=":0" /> Some listeners who campaigned to save the station in 2010 believe the changes are "completely at variance to what we campaigned for, both musically and in its general tone".<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 August 2023 |orig-date=18 August 2023 |title=BBC Radio 4 - Feedback |publisher=BBC |type=Radio |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001pmt2 |access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>

In September 2023, [[Steve Lamacq]] announced he was to step down from presenting the daily drivetime programme but would return in January 2024 with a Monday drivetime programme. [[Huw Stephens]] took over Lamacq's slot on Tuesdays to Fridays.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Amy |date=2023-09-02 |title=Steve Lamacq to step back from BBC Radio 6 Music show |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/02/steve-lamacq-to-step-back-from-bbc-radio-6-music-show |access-date=2023-11-13 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 11 February 2024, 6 Music broadcast from Wogan House for the final time after 18 years, with [[Gideon Coe]] sitting in for [[Cerys Matthews]]. The station has now returned to new studios inside [[Broadcasting House]].

In January 2025 [[Lauren Laverne]] announced that she would be moving to the mid-morning slot, with [[Nick Grimshaw]] replacing her as the new Breakfast Show host. Grimshaw had already been covering for Laverne on the Breakfast Show for 4 months following Laverne's [[cancer]] diagnosis.

==Statistics==
===Ratings and listenership===
In February 2010, 6 Music was reported as showing growth in its audience, winning an audience of 695,000 listeners over the first quarter, up 12.3% year-on-year.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/04/rajars-jazz-fm-6music-radio-7 "Jazz FM, 6Music and Radio 7 are bright spots amid digital radio's gloom"] Retrieved 22 February 2010</ref> However, in the quarter to December 2009, its "reach" (proportion of the adult population who listen for at least five minutes in the course of an average week) was 1%, and Total Survey Area share (of total listening time) was 0.4%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|title=Quarterly Listening, All Individuals 15+ for period ending December 2009|publisher=Rajar}}</ref>

According to the BBC's service review of Radio 2 and 6 Music, published in February 2010, the average age of 6 Music listeners was 36, which led the authors to suggest more might be done to attract older listeners, considering the station played a broad range of music from the 1960s to the present day. The review also claimed that the deficiency in appeal to female listeners apparent in 2007 was still in existence, and that there should be changes to attract more listeners from ethnic minorities and lower income groups.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/our_work/r2_6music/r2_6music.pdf|title=Service review of Radio 2 and 6 Music|publisher=BBC}}</ref> However, the review did not give details of the scale of these issues.

Following [[#Proposed closure|the proposal]] to close the station, online listening figures rose significantly. The number of weekly unique online listeners rose to an average of 133,653 in March 2010, up 50 per cent on the previous March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/30/bbc-6-music-audience-rise|title=BBC 6 Music's online audience soars|last=Plunkett|first=John|author2=agencies|date=30 April 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 May 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100503214309/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/30/bbc-6-music-audience-rise| archive-date= 3 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> When the [[RAJAR]] listening figures were released in May 2010, it was revealed that 6 Music had an average of 1.02 million listeners in the first three months of the year, compared to 695,000 the previous year.<ref name="rajar3q2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/may/13/bbc-6-music-chris-evans-rajars|title=BBC 6 Music's audience rises 50%|last=Plunkett|first=John|work=The Guardian|date=13 May 2010|access-date=13 May 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100516182439/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/13/bbc-6-music-chris-evans-rajars| archive-date= 16 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In 2011, 6 Music had a total audience of 1.3 million listeners in the three months to 27 March, up from 1.14m in the previous quarter, according to the latest data from the Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) board. Buoyed by shows from high-profile DJs such as Jarvis Cocker, Huey Morgan and Lauren Laverne, 6 Music has also grown its audience from 1.02m in the first quarter of 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a319089/bbc-6-music-attracts-record-audience.html|title=BBC 6 Music attracts record audience|last=Laughlin|first=Andrew|work=Digital Spy|date=12 May 2011|access-date=11 June 2011|location=London}}</ref> The station broke more records in 2012, with a total audience of 1.62 million in the third quarter of the year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/25/chris-moyles-radio-one-today|title=Chris Moyles' swan song beaten in ratings by Today programme|last=Plunkett|first=John|work=Media Guardian|date=25 October 2012|access-date=6 November 2012|location=London}}</ref> For the last month of 2012 RAJAR reported 6 Music listening figures had overtaken [[BBC Radio 4 Extra]] to become the most-listened-to digital-only radio station in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php|title=Quarterly Listening, All Individuals 15+ for period ending December 2012|publisher=Rajar}}</ref> The same report also showed that 6 Music had surpassed BBC Radio 3 in listening share, an increase of 31% from the year previously.

In 2014, a report was released stating that BBC Radio 6 Music had overtaken [[BBC Radio 3]] in numbers of listeners per week for the first time. The digital station's weekly average was 1.89m listeners (up 5.5% on 2013) while BBC Radio 3's average weekly listenership was 1.884m.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28567752
| title = BBC 6 Music overtakes Radio 3 for the first time
| publisher = BBC
| date = 31 July 2014
}}</ref>

In 2018, BBC Radio 6 Music was the 10th most popular radio station as measured by weekly reach – between [[Talksport]] and [[Absolute Radio]] – and the 6th most popular as measured by listener hours – between [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and [[Kiss (UK radio station)|Kiss]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php
| title = RAJAR Listener Figures | publisher = RAJAR | date = 8 June 2018}}</ref>

Listener figures peaked at 2.8million in 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio 6 Music and Lauren Laverne reach a record audience |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/rajar-radio-6-music-lauren-laverne-record-audience |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> with figures in 2023 down slightly to 2.7 million,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=RAJAR Q1 2023: Radio is booming according to the latest figures |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/05/rajar-q1-2023-radio-is-booming-according-to-the-latest-audience-figures/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}</ref> remaining at 2.7million in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A record 50 million people in UK listening to radio as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 5 Live see boost in Q2 following Radio 1 Big Weekend and start of the Men's Euros |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/record-50-million-people-in-uk-listening-to-radio-rajar-q2 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Press coverage==
===Nominations and awards===
Several of BBC 6 Music's presenters and shows have won [[Sony Radio Academy Awards]]. In 2006 presenter [[Marc Riley]] won a Silver award for The Music Radio Personality of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radioawards.org/winners06/win06.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908133028/http://www.radioawards.org/winners06/win06.htm|url-status=dead|title=Sony Radio Academy Music Awards 2006|archive-date=8 September 2006}}</ref> In April 2008, comedy duo [[Adam and Joe]]'s 6 Music [[Adam and Joe (radio show)|Saturday morning show]] won the [[Broadcasting Press Guild]] award for Radio Programme of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/?p=176 |title=1975 |publisher=Broadcasting Press Guild |access-date=23 May 2010}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> [[George Lamb]] also won the Sony 'Rising Star' award. In May 2009, Adam and Joe won three Sony Radio Silver awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adamandjoe.com/2009/05/12/adam-and-joe-scoop-three-silvers-at-the-sony-radio-awards/ |title=Adam and Joe scoop three Silvers at the Sony Radio Awards |publisher=Adamandjoe.com |access-date=23 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111000610/http://www.adamandjoe.com/2009/05/12/adam-and-joe-scoop-three-silvers-at-the-sony-radio-awards/ |archive-date=11 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the announcement that 6 Music was to be closed, Adam and Joe won the best comedy prize at the Sony Radio Academy Awards in May 2010, with [[Jarvis Cocker]] winning the rising star award, voted for by listeners, for their 6 Music shows.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/may/11/bbc-6-music-sony-radio-awards|title=BBC's 6 Music and Asian Network win hat-trick at Sony radio awards|last=Plunkett|first=John|date=11 May 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 May 2010 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100514114305/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/11/bbc-6-music-sony-radio-awards| archive-date= 14 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Two years later, the station was named UK Station of the Year at the Sonys, with the judges citing its "confidence across its schedule that not only reflects a real passion for music but also a firm understanding of the audience they are broadcasting to."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioacademyawards.org/winners/2012/station-awards/uk-station-of-the-year/ |title=Sony Radio Academy Awards 2012: UK Station of the Year |publisher=The Radio Academy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519072224/http://www.radioacademyawards.org/winners/2012/station-awards/uk-station-of-the-year/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 }}</ref>

===Controversies===
In 2007 BBC 6 Music was in the press because of scandals over rigged competitions. It emerged that in 2006 the ''Liz Kershaw Show'' faked a competition by using producers and their friends as "competition winners", leading to the firing of a junior producer.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1563617/BBC-staff-face-sack-in-cheat-inquiry.html | author=Andrew Pierce and Andrew Porter|title = BBC staff face sack in cheat inquiry | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | location = London | date= 20 September 2007 | access-date=25 September 2009}}</ref> On 20 September 2007, it was announced that the Head of Programmes, Ric Blaxill, had resigned.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |last2=Sherwin |first2=Adam|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/bbc-radio-6-chief-quits-over-new-breaches-cdc9wdk6xpc|title=BBC Radio 6 chief quits over new breaches |access-date=23 May 2021|newspaper=[[The Times]]}}</ref>

In May 2008 [[George Lamb]] was reprimanded for using his programme to back Conservative candidate [[Boris Johnson]] for [[2008 London mayoral election|London mayor]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/may/13/bbc.radio1?gusrc=rss&feed=politics | author=Paul McNally | title = 6Music's Lamb warned over Boris gaffe | newspaper=The Guardian | location = London | date= 13 May 2008 | access-date=20 May 2008}}</ref>

==Events==
===6 Music Festival===
In January 2014 the BBC launched 6 Music Festival, a new music festival featuring artists that "share the alternative spirit of the network".<ref name=bbc6musicfestlaunch>{{cite news|title=Damon Albarn to headline BBC 6 Music festival|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25830443|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[BBC News]]|date=21 January 2014}}</ref> The festival takes place in a different city each year, with the first edition held in Manchester in February 2014 and headlined by [[Damon Albarn]].<ref name=bbc6musicfestlaunch /> Tickets sold out in six minutes for the event, but Albarn's headline set was criticised and it was claimed that the festival "just didn't work".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hall|first1=James|title=6 Music Festival, Manchester, review|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10669849/6-Music-Festival-Manchester-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/10669849/6-Music-Festival-Manchester-review.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=1 March 2014|quote=The two-day event's 8,000 tickets sold out in just six minutes. ... Damon Albarn's a brave man for playing his unreleased solo album for the first time, live on radio, during a headline slot on a Friday night in Manchester. The Blur and Gorillaz frontman was justifiably nervous as he played all of Everyday Robots with new band The Heavy Seas. The music was by turns haunting, funky and warming. It rarely wasn't beautiful; no-one does sublime melody like Albarn. But it was too subtle and failed to connect. Although he played Gorillaz's On Melancholy Hill, Albarn didn't help himself. With hundreds of Blur songs to choose from, the one he played was a B-side to Beetlebum. Someone should remind him that there is a difference between having nothing left to prove and giving the audience what they want.}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=guardian1415>{{cite news|last1=Pidd|first1=Helen|title=Cheap tea, daring polo necks, top tunes: 6 Music Festival Tyneside|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2015/feb/22/6-music-festival-tyneside-saturday-review-helen-pidd|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=22 February 2015|quote=The inaugural 6 Music festival was held in the Victoria Warehouse near Old Trafford, former home to the Warehouse Project nightclub. It just didn't work – the volume was so low in the main room that everyone talked through Damon Albarn's headline set and there was a dehumanising one-way system to queue for the skanky loos.}}</ref>

6 Music Festival returned in 2015 in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and [[Gateshead]], with performances including [[Maximo Park]], [[Neneh Cherry]], [[Royal Blood (band)|Royal Blood]], [[The Charlatans (English band)|The Charlatans]], [[Mogwai]], [[Sleater-Kinney]] and [[Hot Chip]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Denham|first1=Jess|title=6 Music Festival 2015 line-up: Neneh Cherry and Hot Chip among confirmed performers|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/6-music-festival-2015-line-up-neneh-cherry-and-hot-chip-among-confirmed-performers-10005424.html|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[The Independent]]|date=27 January 2015}}</ref> The festival was praised as a "triumphant celebration of the left-field",<ref>{{cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=Dave|title=6 Music festival review – a triumphant celebration of the left-field|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/23/6-music-festival-revew-tyne-and-wear|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 February 2015}}</ref> and compared favourably to the 2014 event.<ref name=guardian1415 /> The 2016 event was held across three venues in [[Bristol, United Kingdom|Bristol]] with performances from [[Foals (band)|Foals]] and [[Bloc Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Maine|first1=Sammy|title=Foals and Bloc Party help bring 6 Music Festival to a roaring close in Bristol|url=https://www.nme.com/news/foals/91512|access-date=10 July 2016|work=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|date=15 February 2016}}</ref> The daily capacity was 5,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2017 |url=https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/6music/2017 |website=[[eFestivals]] |access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>

The 2017 edition took place in March of that year (unlike previous festivals, which took place in February) in [[Glasgow]], and included major sets from [[Future Islands]], [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[The Shins]] and [[Belle and Sebastian]]. It again included evening gigs, daytime gigs, talks and screenings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e368gw|title=6 Music Festival 2017|website=BBC Music Events|access-date=1 August 2017}}</ref> No festival took place in 2018. However, the station did curate the Belfast event of the [[BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend#2018|Biggest Weekend]].

The 2019 edition of the festival took place in [[Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06x46l6 |title=BBC Radio 6 Music – The 6 Music Festival, 2019 |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref> It ran for three days across four different venues and included sets from [[The Good, the Bad & the Queen]], [[Anna Calvi]], [[John Grant (musician)|John Grant]], [[Idles (band)|Idles]], [[Fontaines D.C.|Fontaines D.C]]. and [[She Drew the Gun|She drew the gun]].

The 2020 edition was held at the [[Roundhouse (venue)|Roundhouse]] in [[Chalk Farm]], [[London]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title=New Sounds (playlist)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJ6mcpK7uj6INFipYhq6PfkbVV8KCDKa
|author1=[[BBC Music]]
|website=6 Music Festival 2020
|access-date=13 April 2022
|via=[[YouTube]]
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Hear Her (playlist)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJ6mcpK7uj4gfY9WTdaf-GDdrz5GL2gc
|author1=[[BBC Music]]
|website=6 Music Festival 2020
|access-date=13 April 2022
|via=[[YouTube]]
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Icons Only (playlist)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJ6mcpK7uj6ueH9Glg_vBz98GUy0_SJ7
|author1=[[BBC Music]]
|website=6 Music Festival 2020
|access-date=13 April 2022
|via=[[YouTube]]
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Hometown Heroes (playlist)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJ6mcpK7uj4rBJGfsMVdHMf16FnhrhvV
|author1=[[BBC Music]]
|website=6 Music Festival 2020
|access-date=13 April 2022
|via=[[YouTube]]
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|title=Best of (playlist)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJ6mcpK7uj5bEdurMUbCqlmlg4TwPEvP
|author1=[[BBC Music]]
|website=6 Music Festival 2020
|access-date=13 April 2022
|via=[[YouTube]]
}}
</ref>

The 2022 edition took place in [[Cardiff]].<ref>
{{cite web |author1=[[BBC Music]]
|title=6 Music Festival 2022 (playlist)
|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJ6mcpK7uj6R6LBZ_t7dV0Yi4_CnGo6o
|website=6 Music Festival 2020
|access-date=13 April 2022
|via=[[YouTube]]
}}
</ref> [[Róisín Murphy]] headlined the Saturday night event.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The 2023 BBC Radio 6 Music Festival<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.musicweek.com/live/read/bbc-radio-6-music-festival-returns-march/087432 | title=BBC Radio 6 Music Festival returns March }}</ref> was held in Manchester - now its permanent home - at [[Victoria Warehouse|the O2 Victoria Warehouse]] (headline acts), [[Band on the Wall]] (BBC Music Introducing showcases) and RAMONA (DJ mix show). Acts taking part included [[Tim Burgess (musician)|Tim Burgess]], [[Christine and the Queens]], [[Hot Chip]], Lava La Rue, Phoebe Green, Antony Szmierek, Afflecks Palace, [[Arlo Parks]] and [[the Big Moon]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/Qngtd8QxbXMCN65Fz2MtZq/all-you-need-to-know-about-6-music-festival-2023 | title=BBC Radio 6 Music - 6 Music Festival Live - All you need to know about 6 Music Festival 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ewwn5v | title=6 Music Festival 2023}}</ref>

The 2024 edition took place at Victoria Warehouse, Band on the Wall and new venue YES. Headliners were [[Young Fathers]], [[Gossip (band)|Gossip]] and [[The Smile (band)|The Smile]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ecb84f/performances | title=6 Music Festival 2024}}</ref> The headliners in 2025 were [[Ezra Collective]], [[Mogwai]] and [[Kae Tempest]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/6musicfestival/whos-performing-2025 | title=6 Music Festival 2025}}</ref>

==Presenters==
{{Div col}}
* [[Afrodeutsche]]
* [[Craig Charles]]
* [[Gideon Coe]]
* [[Matt Everitt]]
* [[Guy Garvey]]
* [[Deb Grant]]
* [[Nick Grimshaw]]
* [[Chris Hawkins]]
* [[Mary Anne Hobbs]]
* [[Steve Lamacq]]
* [[Amy Lamé]]
* [[Lauren Laverne]]
* [[Don Letts]]
* [[Stuart Maconie]]
* [[Cerys Matthews]]
* [[Huey Morgan]]
* [[Gilles Peterson]]
* Emily Pilbeam
* [[Iggy Pop]]
* [[Mark Radcliffe (radio broadcaster)|Mark Radcliffe]]
* [[Marc Riley]]
* [[Tom Robinson]]
* [[Sherelle]]
* [[Huw Stephens]]
* [[Jamz Supernova]]
{{Div col end}}

===Stand-in presenters===
{{Div col}}
* [[Sudan Archives]]
* [[Ólafur Arnalds]]
* [[Gemma Cairney]]
* [[DJ Paulette]]
* [[Ezra Furman]]
* [[Jayda G]]
* [[Vic Galloway]]
* [[Nubya Garcia]]
* [[Nabihah Iqbal]]
* [[Michael Kiwanuka]]
* [[Annie Mac]]
* [[Cillian Murphy]]
* [[Róisín Murphy]]
* [[Nemone]]
* [[Bill Nighy]]
* [[Katie Puckrik]]
* Tarsza Williams

{{div col end}}

==Station management==
===Current===
* Samantha Moy – Head of 6 Music, 2020–present
* [[Bob Shennan]] – Network Controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music, 2009–2016<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7853040.stm "Shennan becomes head of Radio 2"], BBC News, Tuesday, 27 January 2009. "Bob Shennan has been appointed the new controller of BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, succeeding Lesley Douglas who resigned over the Russell Brand affair."</ref>
* James Stirling – Head of Programmes, 6 Music, 2012–<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/6m-celebrates-velvet.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420085757/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/6m-celebrates-velvet.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2013 |location=London |publisher=BBC |title=Lou Reed brings his New York Shuffle to Radio 6 Music |date=26 September 2012}}</ref>
* Jeff Smith – Head of Music, Radio 2 and 6 Music<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/26/jeff-smith-radio-2-6music |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Jeff Smith |date=26 May 2011}}</ref> / head of the weekly playlist meeting<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.themusicvoid.com/2009/10/tmv-video-interview-jeff-smith-head-of-music-bbc-radio-2-6-music/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301192138/http://www.themusicvoid.com/2009/10/tmv-video-interview-jeff-smith-head-of-music-bbc-radio-2-6-music/|url-status=dead|title=TMV Video Interview – Jeff Smith, Head of Music – BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music |THE MUSiC VOiD|archive-date=1 March 2012}}</ref>
* Lorna Clarke – Controller of Pop (Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, 6 Music, Asian Network) 2019–present, Head of Production, Radio 2 and 6 Music, 2017-2019 and Network Manager, Radio 2 and 6 Music, 2010–2017<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jul/19/lorna-clarke-radio-2-6-music "Lorna Clarke appointed Radio 2 and 6 Music network manager"] ''The Guardian'', Monday, 19 July 2010.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lorna Clarke |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/whoweare/lorna-clarke |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

===Former===
* Paul Rodgers – Head of 6 Music, 2016–2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2016/11/new-heads-of-6-music-and-radio-2-under-bbc-radio-restructure/|title=New heads of 6 Music and Radio 2 under BBC Radio restructure|website=Prolificnorth.co.uk|date=28 November 2016|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731190925/https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2016/11/new-heads-of-6-music-and-radio-2-under-bbc-radio-restructure/|url-status=dead}}</ref> previously Editor, 2008–2012, and Head of Programmes, 2013–2016
* [[Lesley Douglas]] – Network Controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music, 2004–2008
* [[Ric Blaxill]] – Head of Programmes, 2004–2007

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{BBC Online|6music}}
*{{BBC Online|id=schedules/p00fzl65|title=BBC Radio 6 Music programme schedules}}
*[https://instagram.com/bbc6music BBC Radio 6 Music] on [[Instagram]]
*{{Facebook}}

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