BBC attacked for Coldplay, U2 promotion

The BBC has been criticised for its promotion of U2 and Coldplay in recent months, it has emerged.

Commercial radio body RadioCentre accused the corporation of giving undue prominence to the bands' work in broadcasts and online.

The organisation has also taken issue with the use of the Radio 1 logo to promote Coldplay's Viva La Vida tour.

It argued that the BBC should spend its funds on up-and-coming artists, rather than larger established acts, The DailyTelegraph reports.

RadioCentre chief executive Andrew Harrison said: "The BBC's excessive promotion of some artists, using licence fee funding, overwhelms any opportunity for commercial competitors.

"If BBC = U2, then by definition commercial radio does not = U2."

The BBC admitted that the use of the Radio 1 logo may lead to viewers believing that the corporation had endorsed Coldplay and promised clarification of "the exact nature of the relationship with any third party events" in future.

However, Harrison said: "The proposed action - to revise guidelines - amounts to a token slap on the wrist. We will be appealing to the BBC Trust for much tougher changes to editorial and fair trading practice."

Last month, Conservative MP Nigel Evans also criticised the BBC's promotion of U2.