Ellie Goulding, Tom Walker, and The 1975 will join to celebrate 15 years of BBC Music Introducing, a platform which transformed the UK music industry and changed lives.
Presented by Dean Jackson, the special two-hour programme which broadcasts across BBC local radio on Monday 29 August at 12pm, will feature many of the artists who had their first big break on Introducing.
BBC Music Introducing was launched in 2007 in order to unearth new talent from across the country. Ed Sheeran, Celeste, George Ezra, Arlo Parks, Raye, Sam Fender, Mabel, Lewis Capaldi, Ellie Goulding, Nao, Loyle Carner, Wolf Alice, The Shires, James Bay, The 1975, Tom Walker, Florence + the machine are just a handful of the Introducing’s success stories.
Pop-Rock band The 1975 – famous for tracks like ‘Chocolate’ and ‘The Sound’ – first got their music played on BBC Music Introducing in Manchester. Speaking of the platform, Mathew Healy, lead singer for the band said: “Basically, we couldn’t get arrested! We couldn’t get signed or anything. Then we got a little bit of play on Introducing, then Zane Lowe started playing it. And then that was it!”
Rock-folk singer Tom Walker rose to fame after tracks like ‘Leave a Light On’ and ‘What a Time to Be Alive’ and had his music played on local BBC radio on the BBC Music Introducing programme in Stoke and Manchester. Speaking about his music, he said: “A massive shout out to BBC Introducing for all the amazing things they’ve done for me in my career and for all the artists who are thinking about sending their music in, I would really suggest that you give it a go.”
Celeste, the Soul and R&B singer who was named the 2019 BBC Music Introducing artist in London said: “It magnified everything really quickly all in one go, from having no exposure to having a lot of attention. I think it’s great that they’ve remained present in my career.”
Kelly Betts, Editor, BBC Music Introducing: “Over the last 15 years our sole purpose has been to push forward a new wave of undiscovered and under-the-radar UK talent & we are so proud to have given new artists, rappers, producers & DJ’s their first opportunities on BBC radio & television, as well as the chance to perform at major festivals & international showcases. There’s now 800,000 plus tracks uploaded to BBC Music Introducing which includes early tracks from Loyle Carner, Celeste, ChVrches, Aitch & Sam Fender.”
Chris Burns, Head of Local BBC Radio says: “We are delighted to be celebrating 15 years of BBC Music Introducing. What started as a platform to find new unsigned talent, has turned into a crucial cog in the UK’s music industry. Local BBC Radio has been able to change lives and provide opportunities to some amazingly talented people – here’s to the next fifteen years.
