Anger as BBC decides to axe another Scots music show
Mary Ann Kennedy's show is set to be axed
BBC Radio Scotland is facing growing criticism after confirming it is cancelling another of its popular music programmes.
With anger still mounting over the axeing of Janice Forsyth’s Saturday morning show from the schedules, long-time presenter Mary Ann Kennedy has been told her Global Gathering show is also being taken off-air.
The two-hour showcase for world and traditional music is being removed to make way for a classical music programme.
The show, which was previously called Celtic Connections, has been on the air in various guises for more than 20 years.
It has provided a major platform for folk, roots and world music acts from Scotland, including Martyn Bennett, Peatbog Faeries, Shooglenifty, Admiral Fallow, Treacherous Orchestra and Rachel Sermanni.
The news that the Tuesday night show will be replaced at the beginning of April has dismayed fans and musicians alike, many of whom took to Twitter to voice their disapproval.
Singer Maeve Mackinnon, one of four young musicians to appear on the show with specially-commissioned work recently, said: “BBC Radio Scotland intend to axe the Global Gathering next month. Voice your opposition folks.”
One blogger, Kate Higgins, said: “No show has done more to promote folk, roots and world music with a distinctly Scottish wrap than this programme. The best thing about it is the certain knowledge you will discover something new, something you’ve never heard before.”
Ian Green, founder of Greentrax Records, said: “I honestly feel that some of the people at the top of BBC Scotland have not got a bloody clue about Scottish culture. This decision is absolutely ridiculous.”
Ms Kennedy, a successful singer and record producer, as well as veteran broadcaster, said she had been told the news of the show’s cancellation at the end of last month. She declined to comment further on the BBC’s decision but said: “It’s a privilege to present a show that sits at the crossroads of Scotland’s inspiring musical creativity and cultural diversity at a time when Scots musicians command respect and admiration from right across the spectrum of global roots music.”
A Radio Scotland spokeswoman said: “Global Gathering will be replaced by a new revamped Classics Unwrapped programme – encouraging listeners to both play and listen – bringing the world of classical music in Scotland to a new audience.
“BBC Radio Scotland features a wide range of Scottish and international music – including folk, traditional, and global music – elsewhere in its schedule. The station will continue to offer distinctive music across its evening schedule and is committed to promoting new music and Scottish artists within these programmes.”
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Comments
There are 22 comments to this article
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dannyburn
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:50 PMSeldom in the musical arts has so much been given, to so many, by such a one as Mary Ann. Tireless in her pursuit of sharing her fascination of our Celtic music roots, and in finding the trailblazing, the inspirational and the moving, she comes into our homes to deliver this to us through this well loved program. What folly is in the minds of those who would amputate this nourishment of our musical souls? We want this program. Leave it on-air please.
AndrewJWard
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 10:16 PMI can't believe this....who on earth is making this decision? This is not only one of my favourite radio programs...but there must be hundreds if not thousands of people who connect here. We will take to the streets!
mabilica
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 07:47 PMI'm shocked. I'm stunned. This is a glorious programme that BBC Scotland should be proud of. This is a terrible decision.
JCorrigan
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:03 AMMary Ann Kennedy is as fine a broadcaster as we have at the moment in Scotland. Global Gathering is a unique and exciting programme. In my radio world there would be more programmes that brought us music 'from around the globe and around the corner'. How the Radio Scotland controllers can think that some chocolate box classical programme - I'm assuming it's similar to the one 'gracing' our airwaves on a Sunday at the moment - with a patronising presenter is a better option for Radio Scotland is completely beyond me. Mary Ann celebrates the music of the Scottish Diaspora, unearths the roots music of the UK and gives us the only chance in a Scottish based programme to hear the music from across the world. On last night's show, for example, there was music from Scotland, US, England, North Africa, Georgia, Madagascar, Cape Verde and more, as well as a terrific session from Celtic Connections by Portugal's Ana Moura. A great collection with great guests - like it is most weeks. Why Radio Scotland, so justifiably proud of their links to Celtic Connections, would want to abandon their commitment to world and roots music presented by a committed and knowledgeable presenter in favour of a second rate classical programme is completely beyond me.
scottishtilltheend
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 03:10 AMI see the bbc have gone to the british side of things, just like the rest of the country that are used as British subjects (not people). Whatever bbc are told to do, they'll do it. Mostly because the left have a power they use on most things, oh! & watch out for CO-OP as their making it easy for the Labour party, but bbc are about to find out the hard way. When Scotland becomes Independent, which we will...BBC will ask us, rather than tell us, what to do...that's when we say "no thanks". Wont be that long, try to grin & bare, the outcome will be sweet!!! People that were so high & ...how the mighty fall !!!
Audleycastle
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:19 AMBBC...For starters stands for 'British Broad Casting'....So BBC Scotland is an after thought, to try & keep the Scottish people happy...as they have done the same thing in Wales with BBC Cmryr...& with BBC Ulster...but all these broadcastings still have their roots firmly rooted in London & it is they that dictate what each seperate identies listen too...So, until that changes you will have the English part of the BBC telling everybody else what they have to listen too, & i'm afraid that will never change...the only effective way to get Scottish Culture back on the Radio, will be for the Scottish artists & broadcasters themselves making their own Radio Stations to broadcast what the Scottish people want to hear, & not what some Bureaucrat in London telling the Scottish people what they should listen to!!!
Piobaire
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:13 AMThere is a curious air to watching the current political and cultural scene unfold. I remember being at a wedding in Torbay, back in 1988 and meeting there a Scottish history teacher (and left-wing political activist). Being a very engaging man, we had a wonderful conversation about current and other affairs. We discussed the possibility of Scotland becoming independent, in light of Margaret Thatcher's plan to change society, utterly. He was quite unequivocal about the stance the British state (and all its institutions) would take, if the Scots tried to become independent. He believed that mainstream Scottish media would become more "British" and attempt to change Scots' perceptions of their identity; away from distinctiveness, to homogeneousness. This has been seen with the shifting of the SNP-supporting Ian Anderson from the prime aftrenoon slot, to the graveyard shift, replacing him with the pop music. The introduction of Labour supporter Kaye Adams, a private contractor, whose career relies heavily on her British connections (The Wright Stuff, for one). The same applies to Fred MacAulay, who spends almost as much time on air from London as Glasgow. The removal of Mary Ann Kennedy and also Janice Forsyth shows that London doesn't want anything that smacks of overt Scottishness. They want the annodyne and mainstream, as long as it's "British". Samond likes to play the media but the Calcutta Cup fiasco was the British establishment at its mind-numbing worst. Expect more of the same people. And don't forget, in spite of all the reports to the contrary, you will never be anything without Londion running the show. Forget your culture and identity. Forget Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the rest. Be content. London will look after you.
Charles P
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:29 PMSomeone above refers to the BBC as 'our National Broadcaster!' Check out any political programme for BBC Scotland and you will find it is the English National Broadcasting Company. If you are in Scotland you don't have a say!
DavieK
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:28 PMActually Scottish music has had a massive influence on classical music and many composers from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s were immersed in it, earned good fees arranging it, and created an exchange of ideas across the whole of Europe. Vice-versa, Scottish music was open to wide influences from abroad. BUT what the Beeb calls 'classical' would probably omit any of that, fail to see it, miss the narrative of music which flows in and out of Scotland over a millennium. The celtic-traditional scene can be equally narrow, rarely exploring the local past as thoroughly as it explores the worldwide present. Too many find it difficult to rediscover gems from mediaeval through baroque, to galant, to romantic and beyond and prefer to reinvent for the modern ear. If there's anything missing, it probably isn't either celt-folk-rock-world-fusion, or classical - it's stuff you'll never hear and never even know about.
antiparasite
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 04:13 PMStop funding them ;)
almorr
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:51 PMI say bring back 'Mr Anderson's Fine Tunes' that was a great program during the 1990's, a mix of Celtic and Classical Music.
Scotchmissed
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:10 PMNot another good Radio Scotland programme biting the dust - what's going on?!
David Ban
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:28 PMThis is cultural racism, after all the music which the BBC promotes is founded on an American.English axis which is far removed at times from the pentatonic scales of Scottish-Celtic music which I find has a strong melodic line and rhythm. It could be possible that some of this wonderful Scottish based music has a lot to offer as I have found when I play it abroad. My impression is that people are bored with a lot of the BBS output and they recognise something inspiring and different when music with a Scottish dimension is played. The lefties of the BBC have no idea!
Dave58
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:11 PMShocking decision! How can we as a nation promote Scottish traditional music if our "National Broadcaster" (if we are to believe JBCSSM every night at 6:30 pm?) cuts one of the principal shows for that medium? I agree that the old "Celtic Connections" format was better but Scots trad musicians need a voice, we seehear little enough of them on the broadcast media as it is. The marginalised are being pushed off the page! Watch out Bruce, you'll be next. Ps Does this explain why Iain Anderson's show has gone more global so plays less Celtic music?
mozzy
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:52 AMWhat is wrong with the controllers at BBC Scotland? BBC have a perfectly good classical music programme which listeners in Scotland can listen too if they so wish. Why axe a programme of Scottish music for more classical music. Do the controllers at BBC Scotland think that the population of Scotland will just automatically listen to music (not of their choice) because they axe the ones they like!!! Do think again. I can see that if this goes on the population of Scotland will vote with their fingers and turn to another programme.
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