More than 300 artists, writers and arts organisations have signed a new open letter calling on BBC Radio Scotland to pause planned changes to its late-night schedule and to undertake meaningful consultation with Scotland’s music sector and audiences.
This artist-led open letter follows our own open letter to BBC Radio Scotland, published on 27 November 2025 and written by SMIA CEO and Creative Director Robert Kilpatrick on behalf of our organisation’s +6,000 members.
In that earlier letter, we raised serious concerns about the removal of four longstanding late-night music programmes and set out clear asks for BBC Radio Scotland to pause the proposed changes, undertake meaningful consultation with Scotland’s music sector and audiences and publish a clear strategy for how it will continue to meet its public service remit to support Scottish music discovery and development.
Why The Late Night Programmes Matter
The artist-led open letter released on 17 December 2025 responds to BBC Radio Scotland’s decision to replace four specialist programmes airing between 10pm and midnight, Monday to Thursday, with a new programme, Up Late.
BBC Radio Scotland has said the programme will feature a curated blend of well-known music from the 1970s to the present day, with a strong Scottish influence, and has reiterated that specialist music remains a cornerstone of its schedule.
Signatories highlight the vital role that presenter-led, specialist programming plays in Scotland’s music ecosystem, particularly for emerging and independent artists. The letter raises concerns that replacing curated shows with a playlist-led format risks removing “career-igniting” opportunities that cannot be replicated elsewhere, particularly at a time when algorithmic platforms and commercial radio already dominate music discovery.
The letter argues that trusted late-night presenters provide far more than airtime alone, offering context, advocacy and early validation that can open doors to promoters, funders, labels and audiences. It warns that the loss of these spaces would make it significantly harder for future generations of Scottish artists to be discovered, supported and sustained.
Who Has Signed The Open Letter
The letter has been signed by artists spanning multiple generations and genres of Scottish music, including members of Franz Ferdinand, Del Amitri, Glasvegas, Idlewild, Admiral Fallow, Lau, The Bluebells, Frightened Rabbit and Constant Follower, alongside solo artists such as Eddi Reader, James Yorkston, Kathryn Joseph, Karine Polwart, Hamish Hawk, Rachel Sermanni, Fergus McCreadie and Pictish Trail.
Support has also come from writers and cultural figures including Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen, as well as a wide range of organisations working across Scotland’s music and cultural sector, reflecting the breadth of concern about the potential impact of these changes.
The letter calls on BBC Radio Scotland to pause implementation of the changes until meaningful consultation with artists, industry organisations and audiences has taken place, and raises questions about how the proposed changes align with the BBC’s public service remit to reflect, represent and support Scotland’s cultural life.
BBC Radio Scotland Response
The Musicians’ Union has also raised concerns about the impact of the proposed changes, highlighting the ongoing importance of specialist public service broadcasting in supporting independent artists across Scotland.
BBC Radio Scotland has stated that specialist music will continue to be a core part of its output, pointing to a range of existing programmes and initiatives supporting emerging artists, and noting that half of its total music hours remain specialist.
The broadcaster has said the revised late-night schedule is currently expected to come into effect in early 2026.