BBC dismantle John Peel's legacy

[Imagine]

BBC Radio 3 have axed the 'Mixing It' programme.

Since the death of John Peel, "Mixing It' has been one of the few UK radio programmes to broadcast experimental and alternative music. The programme is now being cancelled and there will be no replacement.

With the loss of 'Mixing It' and the recent relegation of Radio One's 'specialist' music shows to the early hours of the morning, the BBC seem intent on destroying the legacy of John Peel by further marginalising non-mainstream music.

If you're a regular or occasional 'Mixing It' listener or if you value radio programming 'outside the mainstream', please email [email protected] and give them your support - they will forward your message to the Controller Of Radio 3.

Thanks.

 

[DJ Squelch]

Shame on them. on the odd occassion I have caught Mixing it its always been a top listen.

 

[mwgdrwg]

I remember tuning in just to catch an Aphex Twin interview many moons ago and discovering lots of other stuff on the way. Damn shame.

Just sent off an email.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

I'm not sure Mixing It on R3 was ever really anything to do with John Peel. It was more about late 80s broadening of tastes and has been going on for years in rather smug fashion. So long as they keep other like minded shows not sure i'll be sad to see it go. I'm quite a fan of late junction, hope that's still.

 

[psycherelic]

Email sent

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Mixing it was great. Even my dad used to listen to it sometimes to see what the 'youth' were listening to

 

[mrkikiet]

mixing it on listen again while whiling away hours between classes kept me sane last year.

 

[Dubversion]

I never really liked Mixing It much - mostly due to Flip Flop Sandall, who is an irritating arse and a dreadful presenter

 

[fear-n-loathing]

never really listened to it, but I'm really into obscure music and it really annoys that the shows I listen too on radio 1 are on at 1 in the morning

 

[Ranu]

If they've axed it, who's going to be reading the emails?

 

[Imagine]

If they've axed it, who's going to be reading the emails?

There are two shows left.


Apparently Radio 4's 'Feedback' programme will be covering the demise of 'Mixing It' on this Friday's programme. It might be worth dropping them a line at [email protected]

 

[DJWrongspeed]

If it's any consolation, (i'm sure u can see this coming), ResonanceFM has just redone transmitter & antenna with a much improved reception in central London. Still on the web of course. Whatever 'Mixing It' did we go alot wider/broader/louder/quieter 24hrs a day.

 

[stavros]

I haven't listened to radio music shows since the demise of the great wrongspeeded one. Radio 1 seems to be suffering from Channel 4-itis, with Moyles replacing McCall.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

If it's any consolation, (i'm sure u can see this coming), ResonanceFM has just redone transmitter & antenna with a much improved reception in central London. Still on the web of course. Whatever 'Mixing It' did we go alot wider/broader/louder/quieter 24hrs a day.

Is it available to overseas listeners?

I know a lot of stations are now banned from broadcasting on the web abroad for some reason

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Is it available to overseas listeners?

I know a lot of stations are now banned from broadcasting on the web abroad for some reason

no i'm pretty sure we're still worldwide, stream page even if we did have to stop i'm sure someone would independently restream it anyhow, so it's a dumb law.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

And that Saturday morning show with Fi Glover that took the Home Truths slot is total crap as well.

John Peel used to talk to people and ask questions like he was talking to someone down the pub, whereas Fi Glover in her attempts to effect conviviality just comes across all forced and fake, like a broadcaster carrying out an interview trying to be matey. Excruciatingly awful.

 

[stavros]

I liked how, for two hours a night, it felt like you lived at Peel Acres with JP, The Pig and all the family. He was so welcoming as he cued up reggae and drill & bass back to back. And, most importantly of all, not talking over the records.

 

[fear-n-loathing]

And, most importantly of all, not talking over the records.

God it pisses me off no end when DJ's talk utter crap over records

 

[stavros]

Especially when it's egotist wankstains in the Moyles vein. We need some kind of satirical slant on them to destroy them, in the way Partridge did with DLT et al.

 

[Imagine]

The last 'Mixing It' will be broadcast tonight at 10.15pm.

 

[rollinder]

fuck forgot missed it

 

[Imagine]

If you missed it, the final programme is available on 'Listen Again' until next Friday.

'Mixing It' presenter Mark Russell has posted the following on his website:

MARK RUSSELL
FORMER MIXING IT PRESENTER 10th FEB 2007

Last night our final edition of Mixing It was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Afterwards i read the many hundreds of emails and messages of support. I had no idea that the programme meant so much to so many. And most listeners wanted to know why Mixing It was going. In the absence of any official explanation from Radio 3 I’ll tell you what I know.

Last November Roger Wright (Controller Of Radio 3) took Robert & I into the DG’s office at Broadcasting House in London for a short meeting (5 minutes max). His exact words were, and i remember them vividly because they puzzled me briefly, ‘I’m giving Mixing It a break and I have no plans to bring it back’. He offered no explanation other than to say it didn’t fit into his new schedule. He said he wanted Mixing It to fade away quietly - no publicity or big fanfares - he wanted his new schedule to get all that. You’ll notice that no press or BBC publicity mentioned the final edition of Radio 3’s longest running show with the same presenters. (16 and a quarter years if you’re counting). We weren’t to make a fuss of it on air - other than towards the end mention it in a factual way. Some listeners wondered why Robert & I didn’t make a statement - and the reason is because it wouldn’t have been broadcast.

We recorded our final show yesterday a few hours before it was broadcast. A BBC Senior Editor sat through the whole thing. I can’t ever remember that happening before.

My main concern is for the fringe music that we’re so passionate about. Music that falls between the cracks. Although Radio 3 say most of it will be covered in Late Junction and Hear & Now of course it won’t. Unsigned bands, Experimental Noise, Improvisng Animals? Oh yeah?

Radio 6 expressed an interest in taking Mixing It but decided not to. We looked into Podcasting it under the name ‘Maxing It’ (Roger Wright never replied to the email asking if we could take the original name with us). But the rights issues made playing the music too expensive in a Podcast. So, reluctantly, Robert & I decided to knock Mixing It on the head.

Many of you have asked what we’ll do next. Well Robert & I are both busy in other fields (Robert’s a journalist and i’m a musician). We have no particular radio plans together - but we both agree that Mixing It has been the most enjoyable and worthwhile phase of our careers.

Contrary to some listener speculation Robert & I are good friends. I have a recording studio in London where we both work from so if you want to correspond just drop us an email to :

[email protected]

Thanks for listening and keep kissing those frogs.

Mark Russell

http://web.mac.com/mjrussell2/iWeb/Site/Mixing%20It.html

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

I can't believe the resolutely shitty and outright sinister treatment this show has been dealt. It will be sorely missed.

I give up. Yet more evidence that the BBC has gradually fallen into the hands of philistine fuckwits and avaricious cunts.

 

[chio]

<edited: probably best to ask such things via PM!>

 

[grosun]

I can't believe the resolutely shitty and outright sinister treatment this show has been dealt. It will be sorely missed.

I give up. Yet more evidence that the BBC has gradually fallen into the hands of philistine fuckwits and avaricious cunts.

quite.. They're doing less & less in my eyes to justify the poll tax that is the license fee.. what exactly do most of their media outlets offer that commercial/subscription stations wouldn't (other than no ads)?

 

[grosun]

oops double post

 

[Imagine]

Some great news from 'The Radio 3 Boards':

MIXINGIT on Resonance FM
« posted on: 19:29:08, 22-02-2007 »

Hello,

I've just delivered our first MIXINGIT for Resonance FM. Robert & I were overwhelmed by listener support and decided to carry on. I'll let you know when our first show is to be broadcast. I'm posting to thank everyone for kind emails and messages of support. And also to ask for help. We have a vast backlog of Playlists dating back to 1995. We need a website. Is there anyone out there who could help us set up/design a simple website which would house these playlists, host potential podcasts and keep everyone up to date with news, music etc ?

Our email address : [email protected]

Many thanks,

Mark Russell

http://r3ok.myforum365.com/index.php?topic=359.0

 

[Imagine]

The first show is this Wednesday at 11pm

http://www.resonancefm.com/

 

[tangerinedream]

Mixing it was terrific - Ok, so it was smug and all that, but it played a right old mixture of things and stuff that was far more experimental than Late junction - delighted to see it is continuing and gives me more reason to listen to resonance.

Don't agree that Sandall is a dreadful presenter, might be an arse though! I liked it when they obviously disaproved of each others choices and also the little reviews they gave of each track.

Still, more cross about Colin Murray in the evening though - still not listened to R1 since then I don't think. Was enjoying 'onemusic' and then discovered it was going to be replaced by some sub steve lamacq 'journalist-presenter' cunt.

Still as you should have discovered by me repeatedly posting it, you can't beat http://otwradio.blogspot.com/ - really it is supremely fantastic radio. Also was once nearly axed and Mr Peel was involved in saving it according to legend.