As part of the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season, BBC Radio 6 Music will launch Change The Tune – an on-air, digital and social media initiative to raise awareness of the impact that online abuse has on the lives of artists.
Audiences will hear from musicians and presenters, who will share their online experiences, as well as from mental health professionals about the effects that personal attacks online can have on individuals and their lives.
In response, 6 Music will launch a clear code of conduct and a new means of reporting comments of concern on its own social media platforms. The initiative will feature A Journeys In Sound special on 6 Music tomorrow (Monday 13th May, 11pm-12am), presented by broadcaster and psychotherapist Nemone and featuring Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES, Nitin Sawhney CBE and SHERELLE.
Lauren Mayberry:
“The internet has been such an intrinsic part of my career, positively and negatively. Social media was really baked into the way that CHVRCHES first got discovered but there were consistent side effects to that which I don’t think I would ever have anticipated. We know a lot more now in terms of the impact that can have on people but I’m not sure how we change that behaviour, or the conversation around it.”
Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes – a 15 minute documentary for BBC iPlayer (live from 6am tomorrow) produced by BBC Scotland Productions and a social media initiative across 6 Music’s platforms (from 10am tomorrow) which will see the station share: a clear code of conduct for its online community; a new means of reporting comments of concern; and films from 6 Music’s AFRODEUTSCHE, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE, as well as Gossip and Hak Baker about their own online experiences.
Working in partnership with 6 Music for Change The Tune is Music Minds Matter – a sister charity of Help Musicians, which supports the mental health of everyone working in music in the UK.
In support of Change The Tune, 6 Music presenter Guy Garvey:
“Our social media is for celebrating artists. It celebrates the people listening as well. By tuning into 6 Music, you’re already part of this community. I’d say the rule should be, support good ideas, and if you don’t like something, keep it to yourself.”