If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a music fan. And if you’re a music fan, chances are you’re pretty hacked off about the BBC’s decision to wind down 6music. And if you’re not pretty hacked off about it and one of those people who’re saying “Oh, xy was the only show I listened to anyway”, you’re just being annoying for the sake of it. Because if you think about it, xy won’t get air-time on any commercial station, ergo you’ll miss 6music just as much as the rest of us. Silly.

Anyway, the rest of us (when we’re not taking contrary stands just ‘cos it makes us sound pithy on Twitter ) are rightly miffed that such a valuable cultural resource is being snatched from our powerless hands. Except that.. well.. our hands aren’t quite so powerless. There really is something we can do about this - something with a lot more clout than countless Facebook campaigns, hashtags or online petitions!

You see, the BBC can’t take decisions as far-reaching as this without getting the nod from the BBC Trust. The BBC Trust was set up with the explicit purpose of making sure the license payer (i.e you) gets the absolute most they can from their license. So any sweeping changes like, say, binning a much-loved music station must go through a three month consultation process before they can be actioned.

The upshot of this is it isn’t too late! We actually have a voice here for once, so if you want to have a say on this, its critical that you take part in the consultation process. This is the very reason the consultation process exists - to get the public’s opinion, not to simply rubber-stamp the proposals.

Now, this isn’t the same as clicking a link on Facebook and feeling like you’ve done your bit… this needs a bit of effort on everyone’s part. But if you know this course of action exists and you subsequently can’t be arsed to act on it, I’m afraid you’ve pretty much waived your right to complain when the worst eventually happens.

So… what do we have to do next?

[The following is taken from this blog, since they’d already done such a cracking job of laying down a plan of action]

The full consultation review details can be read on the BBC site.

Things to consider:

• DO e-mail the BBC trust. Unlike voting for the government (SATIRE!) your voice matters.
• DO encourage others to do the same. A massive response is what’s needed.
• DO emphasise that these stations cannot/do not compete with commercial broadcasters.
• DO mention that you think the stations justify the license fee.
• DO Listen to the stations. Preferably on iPlayer, where I imagine the BBC can see the stats themselves.

• DON’T make pointless threats about boycotting the BBC - it isn’t going to happen.
• DON’T try and suggest that they cut something more expensive instead. As much as we’d all love to see the back of BBC3, this decision isn’t being made by the accountants.
• DON’T swear, use too many exclaimation marks or generally make yourself look like a tool. Your e-mail will presumably be read by a grown-up.
• DON’T just cut and paste the e-mail below. Add some of your own thoughts and reasoning.
• DON’T accuse the BBC of bowing to political pressure. It’s probably true, but it won’t help.

Here’s a template e-mail to get you started… You should download the cover note from the BBC site, fill it in, and attach that to your e-mail, which should be sent to: srconsultation@bbc.co.uk

(NOTE: the e-mail address trust.enquiries@bbc.co.uk is also going around on Twitter - this appears to be a general contact address, whereas srconsultation@bbc.co.uk is specifically given on the consultation page, so I’d use the latter.)

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to address proposals announced this morning which suggest the possible closure of BBC 6music and the BBC Asian Network.

As a loyal supporter of the BBC and the licence fee, it is my belief that, contrary to the stated aim of closing these stations, they each fulfil a remit that commercial broadcasting cannot, and indeed, one that it has repeatedly shown no interest in fulfilling.

I understand that these proposals have to be considered and approved by the BBC Trust before any cuts are made, and so would like to add my voice to those requesting that the Trust strongly consider rejecting the call to close these stations. Their very existence proves the validity and necessity of both the license fee and the BBC, especially in an age when commercial pressure on broadcast media is stronger than ever.

Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]

Feel free to customise and repost this however and whereever you like. The more people that send e-mails, the better. Note: Early support is vital, but don’t think it’s too late to e-mail just because it’s been a few days. The consultation period lasts until 25th May.

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We actually have something we can do about this. If the Trust can be convinced that closing these stations is not in the best interests of the license payers, the decision will be reversed. So lets make ourselves heard! As I mentioned above, once you know this course of action exists and you decide to not bother doing anything about it, you’re in no position to complain about things.

If you read this off the back of a Twitter post, please retweet that post. If you have a blog of your own, feel free to lift the above verbatim and post it for your own readers. The more people we can galvanise into action, the more chance there is of 6music still being here this time next year!