BBC Introducing in America Collaborates with Tennessee College Radio Shows

By: Ella Coleman
Copy Editor

BBC launched a new program, BBC Introducing in America, to radio shows at Tennessee colleges, hosted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s WUTK 90.3 “The Rock”. Sherleen Mwaura, a Music Business Administration major with an African studies minor, and Cade Beasley, a Journalism and Electronic Media major with a Political Science and Advertising/Public Relations minor, are presenting this program.

The first show aired on Friday, December 5, and will continue airing on the first Friday of every month at 5 p.m. Each show will feature a different Tennessee college radio station.

The program is created to give the spotlight to emerging, independent talent from both Tennessee and the UK, with hopes of expanding to other states across America in the future. This gives these artists a chance to be heard both locally and internationally. Artists who want to be featured on the radio show are able to submit their music to the College Radio Foundation’s website.

BBC Introducing first came about in 2007, supporting unsigned artists in the UK and giving them the chance to get their music heard. It gave these artists opportunities to play their songs on the radio, perform at music festivals, and reach wider audiences in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. BBC Introducing helped many big names at the start of their careers, for example Florence + the Machine, Olivia Dean, Ed Sheeran, Raye, and more.

This collaboration between BBC and WUTK emphasizes the importance of college radio. New artists are able to showcase their songs to their community, and partnering with BBC greatly expands that audience, reaching international communities as well.

Tennessee universities included in BBC Introducing to America include:

• WUTK 90.3 FM – University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• WRVU – Vanderbilt University
• WVCP 88.5 FM – Volunteer State Community College
• WUMC – Milligan University
• The Perch – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• WTTU – Tennessee Tech University
• WETS-FM – East Tennessee State University
• WMTS 88.3 FM – Middle Tennessee State University
• WUTM 90.3 FM – “The Hawk” – University of Tennessee at Martin

Tune in at either collegeradio.org or WUTK 90.3 FM on the first Friday of every month to give these new, upcoming artists from both Tennessee and the UK a listen!