Greg's time on breakfast

[Jono]

Was John Peel’s inheritance safe in Radio 1’s hands, as promised after the broadcasting legend’s death in 2004? It’s hard to identify Peel’s spirit of adventure in the trend-chasing Nick Grimshaw, who holds the 10pm slot, although Huw Stephens and Rob Da Banks explore more left-field offerings.

Andy Parfitt, Controller of Radio 1 and 1Xtra, has posted a blog expressing his lifelong awe and humility at working alongside the great man www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcmusic/.

Parfitt argues that the BBC Introducing site, www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/ in which aspiring artists can upload their music direct to radio producers, is helping keep Peel’s commitment to new music alive in the digital age. Indeed 20,000 artists have submitted tracks since the site was launched last Summer.

But friends of Peel are uncomfortable that Parfitt is wrapping himself in Peel’s legacy. They recall that the long-standing Controller appeared a little impatient with Peel’s continuing dominance of the late-night airwaves. Peel was moved to a later slot, although the decision was taken with his agreement.

Parfitt’s blog has also prompted angry comments from listeners who spot the flaw in his Introducing scheme. The best of the hopefuls will be aired during a special BBC Introducing week from Monday. On Radio 1, 2, or perhaps a BBC One special? No, of course it’s a job for 6 Music where Tom Robinson, Steve Lamacq et al will devote live sessions and interviews to the new crop.

One comment asks: “How can you promote 6Music and invoke the memory of John Peel when you are complicit in the Strategy Review proposal to close 6Music? This is hypocrisy of the highest order.”

Parfitt is the big winner from the strategy review – with 6 closed and the sparky R2 Saga-ised, he will be the controller of BBC Radio’s sole back-to-1967 ”popular music” network.

Perhaps a web submissions strategy, democratically open to all listeners, will replace Peel and stand-alone stations altogether? But with the whole web at their disposal, do bands really need the paternalistic stamp of a BBC producer and the opportunity to appear on a BBC-branded stage at a festival?

Parfitt is due to reply to the response his blog has prompted. But the Beeb was probably more accurate than many realised when it described Peel as “irreplaceable” in the immediate aftermath of his death.

http://www.beehivecity.com/music/2564321/

[MrDoovdeHaxorz]

Sadly this kind of comment from him doesn't surprise me anymore... time for someone else to take over his job now?

[yorkieboy]

Sadly this kind of comment from him doesn't surprise me anymore... time for someone else to take over his job now?

I don't think it would make a difference. There's so much pressure on radio one to get viewing figures that they need to put low risk people on like Huw and Nick Grimshaw (not saying that's a bad thing, just their style).