Sandi Thom blames ‘anti-Scottish bias’ for Radio 2 refusing to play her new single

Scottish singer previously said she was 'speaking out for millions of indie artists' with rant video

Sandi Thom has claimed that BBC Radio 2 refused to playlist her new single because of anti-Scottish bias.

Thom – best known for her 2006 hit ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)’ – posted a tearful video online this week after finding out the news that her latest single ‘Earthquake’, out November 27, had been rejected by the BBC. In the video, the singer said that she is “done with this industry” following the decision.

After being criticised for her video, in which she told Radio 2 to “shove it up your arse”, Thom said that she was “speaking out for millions of indie artists”.

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Now, Thom has spoken to STV’s Scotland Tonight and claimed that her nationality played a part in her rejection.

“This week on the Radio 2 playlist, there are no Scottish artists,” she said. “This is not due to a lack of talent from Scotland or a lack of artists looking to be put on the playlist. I don’t know if you think that’s fair or not but I certainly don’t.”

Appearing live on air, Thom added: “I think there’s many reasons and I think there is a massive bias [against Scottish artists] within the BBC network and within Radio 2. The facts really speak for themselves. If you go back through the playlists for weeks and even months, you can see there is a real lack of Scottish presence there.”

Watch a clip from the interview beneath.

Watch Thom’s rant in full below.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt7n9hxt0Cw

In the original clip, Thom said that she is “done with this industry” following the rejection.

“I just heard that ‘Earthquake’ didn’t make the Radio 2 playlist,” she said. “I wanted to make this video so people realise how much it hurts because I apparently can do no right.”

Arguing how her song deserves airplay, Thom added: “I wrote a song that is pop and catchy and fits their format and there is no reason why they shouldn’t play my music and I swear to God they have no idea how much it actually hurts when it’s been years and years trying to gain some kind of respect from these people.”

“This is literally the last thing,” she lamented. “I am done with this industry. I am fucking sick and tired of having to sit on the edge of my seat waiting for these people to come back and tell me their verdict of whether this song is going to be a success. Basically without their support it can’t be a success.”

Thom also revealed that the Bauer radio network turned down “any interviews and playlists” too: “That is basically 22 million people across the country who will not get to hear this song”.

Thom continued: “Honest to God I’m fucking sick to death of the bullshit this industry pulls on people like me and I’ve had it. Enough I’m done. Fuck you Radio 2. Fuck you Bauer network and fuck the lot of you. It is utter shit. It’s an fucking good song, OK. There is no reason why you need to do this to me once again.”

“That is it. I’m done. I have better things to do with my life and time and this is utter bullshit,” she signed off. “See you later Radio 2. Go shove it up your arse because I really don’t care any more.”

Hear Thom’s new single ‘Earthquake’ beneath.

Thom rose to fame with ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)’ in 2006, which topped the charts in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

Thom’s debut album ‘Smile… It Confuses People’ was released in June 2006 and also reached Number One in the UK Albums Chart.

Since her initial success, Thom has released four additional studio albums. Her latest release – 2013’s ‘Covers Collection’ – failed to chart.

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