MUMBAI: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has promoted Mark Cooper as its head of music television with immediate effect, as part of plans to develop a radio and television music hub in central London.

In his new role, Cooper will oversee a new combined department producing both classical and popular music. The new department will be responsible for making and producing all in-house output from the Proms to Glastonbury. He currently holds the position of the creative head of music entertainment at BBC.

Cooper said, “It’s a tremendous honour to be asked to lead a team which brings together the expertise and passion that drives our coverage of everything from the Proms to Glastonbury as well as our documentary output. We can maximize the benefits of the classical and popular music production teams working together in the same building without diminishing their unique contributions.”

Cooper has worked at the BBC for 23 years and his credits include BBC TV’s longest running live music programme ‘Later...With Jools Holland’.

BBC Radio acting director with responsibility for music programmes Graham Ellis said, “Cooper has an outstanding track record in television music production and he has been responsible for many of the BBC’s most successful popular music programmes. This move brings together our in-house television music production teams in London and, under his leadership, allows them to forge new creative partnerships which will delight audiences and reflect the rich musical life of the nation.”

He has led BBC television coverage of Glastonbury, Reading and Radio 1's Big Weekend and has been responsible for major documentaries on BBC Two and BBC Four, notably the Britannia strand exploring diverse genres from jazz to metal to soul and beyond.