In 14 years, "PSL" has interviewed young artists and future stars. Per Sinding-Larsen has also appeared in "Morgonstudion" and other places on SVT to talk about music.
Now, the coverage of new music disappears when PSL is shut down on SVT Play.
I've been told that it will be handled by existing programs, but it's better if you ask my bosses about that. They've said that they're very clear that there won't be a new "PSL" or a corresponding program.
Per Sinding-Larsen has worked as a music journalist for 40 years and is a big profile on SVT. He is openly critical of his employer.
I'm disappointed. In my public service, there's room for both the broad and the narrow. And I believe there's a music interest even outside of Melodifestivalen and "Allsång på Skansen", he says.
"Counterproductive decision"
Per Sinding-Larsen says he's been told that "PSL" attracts too few viewers.
But I know that "PSL" reaches viewers who never watch SVT otherwise. Therefore, it becomes, as I see it, a counterproductive decision since public service strives hard to reach new target groups.
The shutdown of "PSL" comes just a few days after the news that Sveriges Radio is shutting down music journalist Andres Lokko's program "Lokko i P2".
What does it say about the coverage of new music outside of mainstream in public service?
I get a little worried. Isn't it precisely in public service that there should be room for both the broad and the narrow? That's the whole idea.
"Keep fighting"
Per Sinding-Larsen still has his employment at SVT. But what he's going to do now is unclear.
I don't know. I'll of course try to keep fighting for music on SVT.
SVT's program commissioner Anna Luuk Priske says in a written statement to TT that the company's program range needs to be "in tune with the audience".
"/.../ sometimes we simply have to exchange older programs to make room for new ones", she says in the statement.
"We have a continued strong music offering in several genres. We have, for example, several larger music series in progress, and as for the coverage of new music, we have continued Kulturnyheterna."
