Amazing Radio, the UK-wide digital station that only plays music by unsigned artists, who upload their content to the station's website, have made a complaint to the BBC Trust claiming that the Beeb's Introducing strand unfairly competes with their business.

The BBC Introducing brand has been used since 2007 and has outlets on various Corporation-owned radio stations as well as a website. There are also BBC Introducing stages at a number of British music festivals. The aim of the programme is to give new talent exposure via various BBC music platforms.

I think Amazing's claim is based on the fact that BBC Introducing also encourages unsigned bands to upload content to their website to be considered for exposure on BBC Introducing shows. Though even that element precedes Amazing Radio's June launch, I think.

Either way, the boss of the Amazing Media Group, Paul Campbell, who is trying to convince investors to extend the original six month Amazing Radio pilot, has written to the BBC Trust claiming the Corporation is using its licence-fee funded weight to compete with and cripple a commercial service.

According to The Guardian, Campbell writes: "It is an outrage that the BBC should use public funding to copy our concept and, by default, seek to put us out of business. This is to all intents and purposes a direct copy of our privately funded concept. I am dismayed that my former employer should behave in so aggressive a manner towards a private British company. I would ask that the BBC Trust investigate BBC Introducing as a matter of urgency".

However, the BBC has denied Campbell's allegations, and defended its investment in BBC Introducing. A spokeswoman said: "We strongly refute this suggestion. Supporting new talent is at the core of the BBC's mission and BBC Introducing has been offering unique broadcast and performance opportunities to new and unsigned musicians for over two years. We are very proud of the work BBC Introducing does in championing new artists but, as it offers quite different opportunities to other new music schemes, we would encourage new bands to explore all the avenues open to them".