BBC Radio 6 Music Launches Indie Forever, a New 24-Hour Dedicated Stream for Independent Music

BBC Radio 6 Music has announced Indie Forever, a new 24-hour streaming channel dedicated to independent music launching on BBC Sounds from Wednesday, July 22. The service will feature UK artists comprising 70 percent of its playlist, alongside original programming hosted by Steve Lamacq and Felix White.

Indie Forever represents an expansion of BBC Radio 6 Music's digital offerings, creating a dedicated space for listeners seeking continuous indie content spanning four decades. The channel will showcase artists including The Stone Roses, Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Verve, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Florence and The Machine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The xx, Wolf Alice, The 1975, and Sam Fender, among others. Programming will draw from BBC Radio's extensive archive, including historic performances and interviews that have defined the UK's independent music landscape.

Launch Programming and Presenters

The Morning Session, hosted weekday mornings by Lamacq and White, will serve as the flagship programme, drawing inspiration from Radio 1's legendary Evening Session that became synonymous with 1990s Britpop. Additional launch offerings include Indie Forever Disco with Beth Ditto, City Soundtracks produced in collaboration with Music Venue Trust and BBC Introducing, classic Jarvis Cocker shows, and repeat broadcasts of documentary series examining The Smiths and Oasis. BBC Radio will simulcast the inaugural Morning Session, followed by an Indie Forever playlist. Sophie Willan will provide programme introductions across the stream.

Archive and Cultural Reach

City Soundtracks will celebrate past and present indie scenes across the United Kingdom, created through partnerships with independent music venues and BBC Introducing. The stream will also feature archive material including Liam and Noel Gallagher's infamous 1997 Evening Session appearance and their legendary 1996 Knebworth performance with Oasis, along with iconic sessions from The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys. Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, described the venture as "pure, unadulterated indie" for listeners seeking immersive independent music content.