The publisher of both Creative Student and music business news service CMU, Chris Cooke, this weekend wrote an open letter to Conservative Party culture spokesman Ed Vaizey, after the MP was quoted by The Guardian on Friday as referring to the leaked BBC proposal to axe 6music as being "intelligent and sensible". Cooke believes that closing 6music would not achieve either of the aims of the BBC proposals - cutting expenditure and placating the Corporation's commercial critics - but would instead result in a vital non-commercial music service being lost. His letter to Vaizey outlined six reasons why the station should be saved.

Cooke concluded: "I've been to many schmoozing fests where political types from all parties have stood up and told us how proud they are of Britain's music industry, which is one of the most prolific and successful in the world. But take a look at the telly pages in the Radio Times. Try to find the TV programmes representing the British music community on BBC television. If it wasn't for Jools Holland, there wouldn't be any. Now look at the radio listings. Even on the music stations, we all know the daytime shows aren't really about the music. And yes, Radios 1 and 2 have specialist shows, but they squeeze entire alternative genres into tiny time slots, mostly in the middle of the night. Surely the BBC has a duty to represent, showcase and celebrate this great British music industry of ours? Well, it does. Through 6music".

Noting Vaizey's regular appearances on Radio 4's political magazine 'Westminster Hour', he continued: "6music is to the music fan what Radio 4 is to the political community. The place where their passion - good music, new and old - gets the airtime it deserves, where informed and intelligent people can discuss the good, the bad and the ugly, and where the music of today can be put into its historical context. Is it perfect? No. Could costs savings be made? Probably. Should it be better promoted? Definitely. But to tell a music fan that 6music will close is like telling a parliamentarian that all of Radio 4's political output is to be cancelled. Don't worry, GMTV and TalkSport will pick up the slack".

Vaizey responded this morning by stressing that his remark that the leaked proposals seemed "intelligent and sensible" referred to the entire strategy document, written by BBC policy director and former Conservative policy chief John Tate, and not specifically the shutting of 6music.

He writes: "As I have been cast as the man who wants to close 6music, let me put my remarks in context. The BBC has undertaken a strategic review because it recognises that some of [the commercial media's] concerns are legitimate. I had no strong views on 6music on Friday, [but] what struck me as 'intelligent and sensible' was the recognition that the [BBC] website is causing problems for national newspapers; [the proposal to] cap the sports budget, so that competitors like ITV and Channel 4 can get a look in; a reduction in investment in imported American programmes, again so others can bid for successful shows, and so that more money can be spent on UK originated content. I decided to support the general thrust of the proposals in public because there are others who want the BBC to go much further in terms of reducing their service. I thought it would be helpful to the BBC to signal that their efforts - in trying to reduce the scope of some of their services - were recognised".

On 6 more specifically, he adds: "Several things have happened since I spoke out. I am now an avid listener to 6music. I suspect that 6music has doubled its audience. I strongly suspect 6music will be saved. I should emphasise that any decision on 6music is firmly that of the BBC and the BBC Trust. Also, one quote of mine that was not picked up is that this is the beginning of the debate - there is no reason to assume that what is proposed is what will happen. So, to sum up - I had no strong views on 6music on Friday, I now know it is brilliant with a passionate and articulate fan base. [But] its future is not down to me. And I remain firmly committed to the BBC looking carefully at how its services affect its commercial competitors".

CMU Publisher Cooke adds: "As a media owner myself, I agree the BBC should constantly review its operations and consider when it should and should not operate in markets where it goes head to head with commercial operators. But to include proposals to shut 6music as part of such a review just doesn't make sense. I think most people, other than perhaps John Tate, realise this is so and therefore I hope Ed is right when he says he thinks 6 will be saved. I've forwarded my six points to the BBC Trust also, to be added to the grand pile of other 6music support they have surely now received. Let's hope they do the right thing".

You can read Chris and Ed's letters in full here.

Meanwhile, CMU are following this story, and have reported on the various other people who have hit out at the proposals 6music be shut. You can read their coverage here.

The final programme is coming together nicely for the first ever CMU seminar on music rights, a new training programme from our sister music business media that will take place in Shoreditch on 3 Mar. This will be a lively six hour exploration of the way music rights work in the UK, of issues affecting the industry, and of how such rights can still be monetised in the digital age.

It will be headed up by CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke (pictured), a leading expert of music rights, who regularly speaks about the industry for other media, including the BBC, CNN and the Associated Press, as well as rambling on about it all here in the CMU Daily.

Chris told CMU: "Despite the increasing importance of the live sector, and the unstoppable rise of piracy, the music industry is still primarily an intellectual property rights business. But given the challenges caused by the internet, music firms needs to find new ways of utilising and monetising their music rights, no longer able to rely on the old fashioned tried and tested models of selling recordings".

He continues: "That means music people need a better understanding of what music rights are, how they work, and how they can be utilised and protected, from both a legal and commercial perspective. Unfortunately this involves talking about IP law a bit, but with our CMU seminar we will make all that stuff very easy to handle, and rather entertaining to discuss. If you plan to still be working in music in five years time, you need to come to this seminar!"

The full day seminar is just £75 plus VAT. A small number of spaces for the 3 Mar seminar are still available, and the whole thing will happen again on 24 Mar. More information and booking forms can be got at www.thecmuwebsite.com/events/musicrights.html