Solved for now: Radio Cymru music dispute

BBC Radio Cymru has started playing songs by Welsh language musicians which were banned from the station last month.

An interim agreement has been set up between the BBC and Eos, a group formed to negotiate a better deal for the Welsh musicians and composers.

The two couldn’t agree terms at the end of last year so the station hasn’t been playing any music represented by Eos since.

Radio Cymru will reintroduce the music with immediate effect, revert to the full schedule as soon as possible and reverse the reduced hours it had to introduce as a result of this dispute.

Discussions will now continue in a bid to find a permanent solution, Rhodri Talfan Davies, director of BBC Cymru Wales commented today.

He said: “I am delighted that Eos has agreed to allow Radio Cymru to play its members’ music once again. This is an important development and one which ensures that Radio Cymru’s service to listeners can once again be the best it can be.

“Welsh language music is a fundamental part of Radio Cymru and it has been a challenging six weeks without access to the repertoire. I’d like to thank Radio Cymru listeners for their patience during this dispute as well as the staff of Radio Cymru who have worked tirelessly to maintain the service in difficult circumstances.

“Our focus is now on reaching a permanent agreement which is fair to Welsh language musicians and the licence fee payer. It is reassuring that we can now continue these discussions knowing that the dispute is no longer affecting Radio Cymru’s output.”

The BBC has set aside £50,000 to support Eos legal costs so that its members’ arguments regarding the commercial value of its broadcasting rights can be properly heard.