Jericho Keys on BBC Introducing, Music, and Advice for New Artists

Jericho Keys, from Whitby, is the presenter and producer of BBC Music Introducing for North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire. His journey into radio wasn’t straightforward, but it shows how passion and persistence can open doors.

“I was never gonna go to university,” Jericho admits. After finishing college, he tried roofing for five days. “Those five days were enough to cement the idea that I wasn’t cut out for that line of work.” Looking at what he could do with his UCAS points, he found a foundation journalism degree at Teesside University. Three years later, he graduated, still unsure of what was next.

“I knew I wanted to do something with it. Music was my life, but I never knew how to go about that. Nobody I knew had ever gone into this kind of work.”

After some hospital radio experience, Jericho applied for every bit of work experience going. At BBC York, he got a chance to sit in. When the presenter left, he sent a demo, despite little experience and got the job. That was 13 years ago. Since then, he’s presented across York, Hull, Sheffield, Leeds, 6 Music and Radio 1, but his main focus has always been BBC Introducing.

What BBC Introducing Does

Jericho is clear about the value of the platform.
“BBC Introducing is amazing for the opportunities it can give artists. It’s a way into the industry without having to beg, knock on doors, or have your emails ignored. Every single track that’s submitted gets listened to.”

Local radio play is just the start. From there, artists can end up on playlists at Radio 1, 6 Music, and 1Xtra, and even play festivals like Leeds and Glastonbury. Many household names started out through their local BBC Introducing show: Florence + The Machine, Adele, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Blossoms, The 1975, Celeste, Jorja Smith, George Ezra, Little Simz.

Closer to home, artists like Chiedu Oraka and Fiona Lee have broken through with the support of the show. “It’s a way to get your music heard by people who actually give a shit,” Jericho says. “We don’t do this for the money, it’s for the love of music.”

Jericho’s Three Rules for Artists Starting Out

When asked for advice, Jericho doesn’t hesitate:

1. Write bloody good songs.
“If you haven’t got the tunes, what’s the point? Listen to what’s being played, and hold yourself to that standard. Make your songs as strong as they can be.”


2. Build connections locally.
“Get yourself known. Build a fanbase and relationships with promoters and punters. And don’t be a dickhead. If you’re sound, people will want to support you.”


3. Engage with your local BBC Introducing show.
“Listen to it. Know who presents it. When you get played, celebrate it. Don’t be too cool for school. You’ve spent time and money making that music, if someone plays it and bigs you up, shout about it.”

Supporting Each Other

Jericho stresses the importance of artists supporting one another: turning up, watching sets, sharing achievements. “There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing artists celebrating other artists. When Chiedu supported Coldplay, the amount of local musicians sharing his set online was amazing. That’s what it should be about.”

Jericho sums it up simply: “Music’s about release, escapism, working together. There’s no time for negativity and bullshit. There’s enough of that already.”