BBC announces plans for BBC Radio 6 Music “Indie”

A new round the clock indie music stream will be added to BBC Sounds as an extension of BBC Radio 6 Music later this year, if approved.

The new service will be dedicated to indie rock and pop from the 1980s through to the 2010s, drawing heavily on UK artists and positioning itself as a continuous destination for fans of the genre within the BBC Sounds app.

Alongside a broad music playlist built around familiar tracks, the stream will include newly made programmes and archive material from the BBC, using historic interviews and live sessions to explore the development of independent music across the UK.

Programming will also reflect regional scenes and the role of independent venues, with space for emerging British artists to be introduced to a wider audience.

Listeners will be able to dip in and out of themed music mixes designed to suit different moods, while selected indie playlists previously broadcast on 6 Music will be made available again. The stream will also carry a simulcast of the station’s flagship indie programme Indie Forever, airing on Fridays between 9pm and 11pm.

Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, said: “Since its launch in 2002, 6 Music has evolved significantly to embrace and champion a wide range of alternative music genres. This extension aims to honour 6 Music’s beginnings and apply the station’s curious spirit and storytelling strength to a sound and scene that is loved by so many.”

The project forms part of the BBC’s wider plans for BBC Sounds, including new commissioning opportunities for independent radio producers. The launch is planned for the summer, subject to an ongoing regulatory process.