Big changes are coming to BBC Radio Scotland’s weekend late-night lineup — and they’re set to shake up how Scottish music lovers tune in after dark. But here’s where it gets controversial: will these shifts truly deepen the station’s commitment to promoting Scottish talent, or are they just a savvy move to capture more listeners in a fiercely competitive market?
Starting in the New Year, musician and broadcaster Roddy Hart will be a key new voice on Saturday and Sunday nights, bringing fresh energy and a strong personal connection to Scotland’s vibrant music scene. His two shows—Roddy Hart’s Mixtape: Side A on Saturdays from 10 pm to midnight, and Roddy Hart’s Mixtape: Side B on Sundays from 9 pm to 11 pm—are designed to spotlight the best of Scottish music and beyond, including the exciting but often overlooked unsigned acts. Roddy will also continue presenting the station’s live music series, the Quay Sessions, which has become a beloved staple for discovering live performances.
Victoria Easton-Riley, head of audio and events at BBC Radio Scotland, shared her enthusiasm, saying, “It’s fantastic to see Roddy expanding his presence with us. His Saturday night Mixtape will mix timeless classics with fresh finds that perfectly fit the weekend vibe. Then on Sunday, Side B shifts the spotlight to unsigned artists and rare tracks—those hidden musical treasures Roddy has always championed. As a proud Scottish musician himself, Roddy’s passion genuinely shines through, and this feels like a natural evolution both for him and for our mission to support Scotland’s music community.”
Roddy Hart himself expressed excitement about this opportunity: “Hosting these two shows is a real privilege. They’ll let me celebrate and champion talents both new and established from inside Scotland and beyond. I’m eager to kick off this new chapter and welcome listeners to join me on this musical journey.”
These weekend show changes come hot on the heels of a revamp to Radio Scotland’s weekday late-night schedule revealed earlier this month. Starting in the New Year, listeners can tune in Monday to Thursday from 10 pm to midnight for Up Late with Lynne Hoggan, while Fridays from 10 pm to midnight will feature Up Late with Ashley Storrie. Both weekday programs promise a carefully curated mix of well-known hits from the 1970s through today, with a notable emphasis on Scotland’s iconic musicians as well as emerging stars.
For those interested, BBC Radio Scotland can be streamed live at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbcradioscotland_fm.
Some behind-the-scenes context for editors:
- The revamped schedule increases Radio Scotland’s late-night offerings from six distinct programs plus one repeat, to seven unique weekly shows.
- Specialist music programming remains a cornerstone of the station’s identity. The new shows announced today join an impressive lineup that includes Another Country, BBC Introducing in Scotland, Travelling Folk, Take the Floor, Vic Galloway, The Quay Sessions, Piping Sounds, Your Requests, and Classical Now.
- BBC Scotland continues to champion emerging talent through initiatives such as Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Young Scottish Classical Musician of the Year, and BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year.
- The previous late-night shows ended following a procurement process in which the existing independent producers chose not to submit bids.
- The weekday "Up Late" shows will be produced by Silent Productions, while the new Mixtape series with Roddy Hart will be produced internally by BBC Scotland.
- These schedule shifts respond to a highly competitive audio landscape where some current late-night slots attract less than a 2.5% audience share—a fact that raises questions about the long-term viability of existing programming.
Does the new schedule truly represent a fresh commitment to Scotland’s local music scene, or is it mainly a strategic play to boost ratings? What do you think about placing such heavy focus on both established acts and unsigned artists? Share your thoughts and let the debate begin!
