6Music closure rumours fuelled by Facebook

The future of BBC radio station 6Music is apparently in doubt, according to internet rumours.

A Facebook group called 'Save BBC 6Music' claims that the station could be axed after a BBC Trust review into the performance of both 6Music and Radio 2 is published.

It continues that there are rumours 6Music could be closed in a bid to make substantial savings, following on from reports this week about BBC spending and staff wages.

Discussions within the group's pages claim that people with insider knowledge are substantiating the reports and members of the BBC 6Music messageboards are also discussing the claims.

Since it was created, the Save 6Music group has got more than 40,000 members.

Figures published by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) for the period 21 September - 20 December 2009 showed that 6Music was marginally up in terms of reach and listening figures compared to the year before.

However, the Facebook group is also claiming that the BBC Trust report might recommend closing the station due to the fact the listeners to 6Music could be served by output from Radio 2.

A BBC spokesperson said: "All services are being reviewed at the moment as a part of the BBC-wide Strategy Review and [director-general] Mark Thompson has said that the review will be announced at the end of February/beginning of March."