Tomorrow, Friday 30th April at 3pm, 6 Music will hold a debate on the future of music.

Just a week before the General Election BBC 6 Music, whose whole future has been put under threat by a review by the Corporation, will host the hour long programme which will see contributions from Conservative culture select committee chairman John Whittingdale, Labour’s minister for culture and tourism Margaret Hodge and the Liberal Democrat shadow culture secretary Don Foster.

UK Music CEO Feargal Sharkey will also take part in the debate which is expected to cover issues such as piracy, copyright, licensing, and future investment in music.

It will also feature contributions from bands including Doves and Reverend and the Makers, and Glastonbury Festival’s Michael Eavis.

6 Music editor Paul Rodgers says, “The music industry is incredibly important to millions of people and 6 Music is the natural home for a debate that gets under the skin of the matters that affect both the day-to-day industry and music lovers throughout the UK.”

The BMF were invited to contribute in advance of the debate and BMF Chair Matt Booth was interviewed today and discussed the work of the BMF in the region, the SWMF Strategy, approaches to supporting emerging talent, and the partnership with UK Music. Excerpts from that interview can be heard on 6 Music news bulletins up to the debate.

Jim Mawdsley, CEO of BMF partners Generator was also interviewed.

The BMF and Generator will be hosting a panel with UK Music to discuss the importance of effective investment into grass roots music, and the approach taken in the UK Music ‘Liberating Creativity’ manifesto and the SWMF Strategy ‘Unlocking Potential’, at the Great Escape on Fri 14th May.

Click here for more info.