Letter: Playlist 'bias'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: The "news" that Pete Tong and other DJs regularly play their own records on Radio 1 (report, 24 May) ignores the fact that the selection of music to be broadcast can never be impartial or free of bias.
It is individuals who decide which songs are playlisted (and thus promoted) rather than some Darwin-like process of "the strongest will survive". These individuals may be influenced by personal taste - music is an emotional expression - or simply how well the song is "sold" to them by the record company - in itself an unfair way of doing things, big corporate concerns having the greater means with which to do this.
To attempt to separate out these "conflicts of interest" from the everyday marketing and promotion of records, wittingly or otherwise, is futile; ultimately it implies that DJs and those selecting records for inclusion in the playlist should be kept in isolation, away from "illegitimate" sources of influence. Where is the line to be drawn? It is not realistic to expect an organisation as complex as the BBC to be completely impartial in its dealings with the music industry.
JOHN STAPLETON
Sevenoaks, Kent
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments