I get my music in many different ways – promoters and bands send it to me (en mass some days), I get mp3s, I use the BBC Introducing uploader, I use MySpace BUT mostly I make use of 6music.

Not just to discover music that’s just been released but to discover music I might not have heard the first time around for some reason.

BBC 6music is the only station in the country brave enough to let its presenters have a say over what they play.

OK I’m not disputing the fact that BBC 6music have a playlist, they do – in fact they have three, an A, B and C list – but they also give their presenters a free choice over some of the songs they play.

In fact they even have a link to their message boards from the BBC 6music Playlist page giving listeners the chance to discussion, dispute and debate the playlist.

That gives it one of the most diverse music profiles in the world and a selection of brilliant presenters that are interesting to listen to and engage with.

The live sessions on station from some a massively diverse range of musicians and the live music at gigs and festivals and the archive sessions with people like John Peel all make for more than just a DJ led station with the odd tested song.

If you cut BBC 6music you should cut BBC Radio 3 as they’re both as important as each other when it comes to core BBC broadcasting just with different music tastes.

If the BBC gave John Peel a budget, a blank piece of paper and an empty radio station to fill – 6music is what he would have come up with.

Save 6music – please  - for the sake of British music and the next generation of music fan.

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As I approach the marking of my 27th year on this planet I’ve decided to take a look at the signs of growing up I keep noticing as the days steam past me.

I’m going to start with a post about one of the most iconic of British events, a centre piece of the BBC musical calender – an event that covers the summer and is on almost every part of the BBCs output. I’m talking about The Proms.

I love music, I grew up surrounded by music, I’ve always loved music. I don’t care what kind of music it is, what genre style or speed that’s playing – I can appreciate all music as long as its either (or both of) 1) a great song and/or 2) brilliantly performed.

Most of the time I tend to listen to indie/alternative stuff with a bit of punk/funk thrown in for good measure. In fact I present my own weekly music show that primarily plays those genres.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a haunting piece of opera or an inspirational and rousing work by one of the classical greats.

I don’t know nearly as much about classical music – in terms of facts, figures and information – as I do about modern stuff but that doesn’t stop me enjoying it.

And that is the point of this post.

As I’ve got older my appreciation of the classical and alternative (in a ‘different’ sense) has increased year by year.

As I write this post I’m listening to ‘The First Night of the Proms‘ on BBC Radio 3 and I’m loving it – I can’t watch it on television as my wife is catching up on the dozen or so soaps she has on Sky+.

Image via Wikipedia

If I’m right – and it IS possible I’m not – then I’m currently listening to Messiaen La Nativité du Seigneur – Dieu parmi nous – I have NO idea what that actually means but it sounds good.

This is probably the first time I’ve ever actually listened to BBC Radio 3 for anything other than a childish attempt to piss of my wife but this is so much more fulfilling than watching constant re-runs of Top Gear on Dave (or on the BBC TG site).

I still love watching constant re-runs of Top Gear, I still love watching cartoons, I still enjoy kids TV, Simpsons, Family Guy and the BRILLIANT Lab Rats (about time we finally had a decent surreal, stupid studio comedy on TV).

But, as I grow up I find I also have time for The Proms and Radio 3 in my life as well.

I’m going to be keeping an eye on the equally surreal Jon Jacob’s Proms Videos over the next few months as he’s a funny guy and I’m relying on him making my first (from a distance) proms experience a little more accessible.


Maybe next year I’ll actually go to one – after all I’m always in the UK for the last two weeks of July. I wanted to take my daughter to the Doctor Who Prom but by the time I realised it was on – it had already sold out.

So, as a Proms virgin – what should I be listening out for, watching on TV, catching up with on demand this year?

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