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Media
MU publishes open letter in support of axed Radio Scotland show
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 3 May 2012
The Musicians Union has hit out at BBC Scotland’s decision to axe a specialist music show called ‘Global Gathering’. Presented by Mary Ann Kennedy, the MU says the radio programme “has played a fundamental and unique role in the musical life of Scotland for over a decade, bringing together the various strands of Scotland’s musical identity, from indigenous roots to newest innovation, far flung diaspora to welcomed refugee, community movement to the biggest concert stages”.
In an open letter signed by a plethora of musicians, music people and MSPs, supporters of the show say: “Mary Ann Kennedy and producer Sean Purser have been at the forefront of the movement to position Scotland’s contemporary music on a global stage – from KT Tunstall’s earliest radio sessions to the legacy of the programme’s spiritual inspiration, Martyn Bennett; revelling in the successes of Karine Polwart, Lau, Salsa Celtica, thePeatbog Faeries and many others to breaking ambitious new acts such as The Treacherous Orchestra, India Alba and Man’s Ruin”.
They continued: “[Kennedy and Purser] also connect to the grassroots of Scotland’s many communities – from the Balkan diaspora to the country’s long-established Asian community and all points round the globe – a vital human connection promoting understanding through music. Without Mary Ann Kennedy’s ‘Global Gathering’, BBC Radio Scotland will have no music programme which adequately reflects the cultural diversity of contemporary Scotland, no female presenters presenting any of their specialist music strands and no specialist traditional music producers in their Glasgow headquarters”.
Anger has been brewing in the Scottish music community since the BBC first announced its intent to axe the ‘Global Gathering’ show back in February. There was originally talk of the programme ending last month, but it’s still in the schedules at the moment, so presumably the MU hopes that with a bit of pressure from both the musical and political communities, the show can still be rescued.
