Why the halving initiative hits Swiss music life to the core

These services are not a by-product, but part of a cultural-political mission. Private media cannot - and do not want to - take on this role. They are geared towards click figures, advertising markets and internationally exploitable content. Classical music, jazz, folk music, new music or experimental formats would hardly have a place there. Without SRG, a large part of Swiss music creation would disappear from public perception.

A stage for everyone - not just for the mainstream

The consequences would be particularly drastic for up-and-coming artists. Formats such as SRF 3 Best Talent, RTS Radar or Eurovision Young Musicians offer young musicians their first national stage - often the decisive step towards a professional career. These platforms exist because SRG does not operate on the basis of short-term returns, but instead enables long-term cultural development.

SRG is also key for established ensembles, choirs and orchestras. Concert broadcasts, recordings and portraits create reach far beyond the concert hall. They ensure that music is not only present locally, but nationwide - even in regions where there is hardly any private media.

Culture needs remembrance

There is also an aspect that is often overlooked: cultural memory. Hundreds of concert recordings, music documentaries and audiovisual archives are created every year. These recordings are more than just content - they are testimonies to the times. They show what Switzerland sounds like, today and tomorrow. If SRG were halved, this sonic memory would become fragile. Because no one else produces, maintains and makes these collections accessible in comparable breadth and quality.

Film, series - and the music that carries them

The halving initiative would not only affect music directly, but also Swiss filmmaking - and therefore production music. Through the Pacte de l'audiovisuel, SRG invests around CHF 34 million a year in independent Swiss films and series. For composers, sound designers, recording studios and musicians, this means hundreds of commissions every year. If this funding disappears, a central market for applied music will collapse - with serious consequences for the entire value chain.

Halving is not a savings program

SRG is already making massive savings and is undergoing a far-reaching transformation process. Halving the budget would not be a further efficiency step, but a structural cut. Regional studios would have to close, productions would be centralized and regional and cultural diversity would be lost. The Latin language regions and peripheral areas would be particularly affected - and with them those musical voices that are already struggling for visibility.

What is at stake

The halving initiative is therefore much more than a media policy proposal. It is a cultural policy decision. It is about the question of whether Swiss music will continue to have a national stage - or whether it will fall silent in the shadow of international platforms. Anyone who takes Swiss musical life seriously must consider these consequences.