BBC Introducing - Upload Tool

Upload Tool

During February 2009, an upload tool was launched on the BBC Introducing website to allow users to upload their music direct to BBC Introducing producers and presenters. Artists/bands enter their postcode at the point of registering and notifications about any songs they upload are sent to BBC staff working on their nearest Introducing radio show, as well as their choice of national show on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 1Xtra or BBC Asian Network.

All material submitted to the BBC Introducing brand via the upload tool is classified by the BBC as User Generated Content (UGC), and they encourage users to read the Corporation's Terms of Use in relation to UGC before uploading material.

The upload tool was the subject of a complaint to the BBC Trust from a commercial organisation Amazing Tunes that had launched a similar service in 2005. Amazing Tunes provides the musical content for a UK national digital radio station, Amazing Radio. The complaint described the BBC upload mechanism as "to all intents and purposes a direct copy of our privately funded concept". The BBC disputed this description, but advised artists to "explore all the avenues open to them."