Reading Festival axes BBC Introducing stage
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- Festival Republic axed the BBC Introducing stage at Reading Festival as part of a wider overhaul of stages at the event
- The BBC Introducing scheme had supported roughly 70% of all UK artists on this year's Reading Festival line-up, according to the source
- Tommy Longhurst, lead singer of Reading band Only the Poets, called the move "sad news" and said it removes "a huge opportunity from up and coming artists"
- Festival Republic said its new Canopy stage would become the home for new and breaking acts and would be open to any new music artist, not only those selected by the BBC
- The BBC Introducing stage at Reading began in 2008 and previously hosted Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, The 1975, Charli XCX, Raye, and Dave before they broke through
- A BBC spokesperson said the decision was made purely by Festival Republic, that other UK festivals continue to host BBC Introducing stages this summer, and that it is exploring how BBC Introducing could work with Reading in future
- Reading Festival runs from 27 to 30 August at Richfield Avenue in Berkshire
Why it matters: Festival Republic argues that opening the slot to any new artist — not just BBC-picked acts — will widen the talent pipeline at one of the UK's biggest festivals. The counterweight, stated in the source, is that BBC Introducing says it supported roughly 70% of this year's UK acts on the Reading lineup and previously launched Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, and The 1975 from that very stage.
