Here is a copy of the open letter sent by English Folk Expo’s CEO Tom Besford to James Purnell, BBC’s Director of Radio and Education, calling for a confirmation of the BBC’s commitment to support the presence of folk, roots and acoustic music, and specialist music as a whole, in the BBC’s music programming, as a vital element of the BBC’s role in supporting our cultural heritage through and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural sector has been catastrophic. For folk music and other specialist parts of the music industry, we feel the pinch even more so. Many musicians are living relatively hand to mouth in the best of times. One of the most important factors which sustains their music making, keeping our traditional music alive has been the valuable support of the BBC, in turn supported by the license fee payers. 

However, during the pandemic, the BBC have made the decision to merge large swathes of their output and this has seen the cancelling of many regional folk music shows across England. Similarly the Folk Show on Radio 2 has been moved back in the schedules twice; once pre pandemic from 7pm to 9pm, reducing audience figures significantly, and now temporarily during the pandemic to 11pm. In addition, we still have no announcement on a BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards this year. 

Folk music relies on the support of the subsidised BBC. Musicians need the air play not just for profile, not just to keep audiences engaged with specialist music, but for the financial return from music licensing. Many also fear that once we come through this crisis back towards normality, there is a risk that much of this valued and loved content may never return. 

English Folk Expo calls on the BBC to play their part in supporting specialist music, reinstate the axed shows, return the main national show to a more prominent time slot and make announcements on the annual Folk Awards (or equivalent replacement). It is during a crisis such as this that the license fee payers expect the BBC to provide cultural leadership, not remove support from an industry already brought to its knees. 

Tom Besford

CEO English Folk Expo

English Folk Expo (EFEx) is a Sector Support Organisation for English folk, roots and acoustic music and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.  It offers a range of services to music audiences, artists and industry representatives including presenting Manchester Folk Festival, Rochdale Folk Festival and the annual industry event English Folk Expo Showcase, as well as running a number of initiatives to support the sector including the EFEx Artist Mentoring Programme, the online information and networking tool EFEx Digital, the EFEx Industry Training Programme and more.  EFEx receives funding support from Arts Council England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and PRSF Open Fund. 

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, EFEx has launched the Lockdown Live list of online performances by folk, roots and acoustic artists, the Folk Talk series of short information and advice videos from representatives across the sector, an opportunity for artists to advertise their online teaching activities for free on the EFEx website, and has commissioned two video series, ‘How To Produce Video Content At Home’ and ‘How To Do Digital’.  In July EFEx will host a one day online conference, Folk Talk Live, discussing positive responses to current challenges.

For more information contact:

Terry O’Brien, English Folk Expo

terry@englishfolkexpo.com / 01953 850 810 / 07932 720 058