BBC Radio 6 Music is gearing up for the Hyundai Mercury Prize, which takes place at the Eventim Apollo on Thursday (September 19).
Once again, the station is the broadcast partner for the prize and will be airing live coverage on the night. Head of 6 Music, Paul Rodgers, said that it's a particularly good fit this year.
"On the Mercury list, I was just delighted to see artists that 6 Music has been championing for a year or two," he told Music Week. "There are Idles, Black Midi, Fontaines DC and others that we have really been championing. It is in tune with 6 Music, it's important that we're in tune with the music that's out there."
Cate Le Bon, who's nominated for this year's prize, is currently on the 6 Music playlist. Former nominees Bat For Lashes and Michael Kiwanuka join her on the station's A-list.
Just as Radio 2's head of music, Jeff Smith, believes that its listeners play a crucial role in supporting the album format, Rodgers is confident that 6 Music is keeping alternative music alive.
"We’re playing a really important role in supporting music that wouldn't otherwise really get the support it deserves," he said.
We try and play music that you can’t generally get elsewhere and that’s beyond the mainstream
Paul Rodgers
The station actually took a hit in the recent RAJARS for Q2 and lost its leadership of digital-only stations to Kisstory. Virgin Radio (1.11m listeners) is also gaining ground on 6 Music, which now has 2.285m weekly listeners.
But Rodgers said he was happy with 6 Music, which has undergone big schedule changes this year, including Lauren Laverne taking over at Breakfast.
"We are a clearly defined destination for curious music lovers, we try and play music that you can’t generally get elsewhere and that’s beyond the mainstream," he said. "I think we do that very well. I’m not downhearted at all."
To read the Music Week interviews with this year's Mercury Prize judging panel, pick up the latest issue - or subscribers can click here. And the recent cover story with Partisan Records featuring Idles and Fontaines DC is here.
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