Call for BBC to give music higher television profile

The BBC should give new music more prominent exposure on television, the man in charge of the Mercury Prize has said.

Geoff Taylor, who is due to step down as CEO of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and his role overseeing the Mercury Prize next year, told Music Week that the BBC has a crucial role to play in supporting British music.

“The BBC has a primordial importance to British music and culture and the BPI and rest of the music sector are strong supporters of its public service role because it allows the BBC a latitude to promote new and innovative music that commercial broadcasters don't always have,” he told Music Week. 

“So our partnership with the BBC around the Mercury Prize is tremendously important.” 

But Taylor argued that it should be given “a higher profile on the main channels”, saying that the prize celebrates “the best British music of the year”.

“If the public service broadcaster can't find space on BBC One or BBC Two for the best British music of the year, then I'm not sure I know what public service broadcasting means,” he said. 

“So we put them under pressure to give it a higher profile.”

The prize ceremony, which takes place on September 8, will be covered live on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music.