East Midlands regional licence 2 - the winner and the losers....
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THE WINNERS: Saga 106.6FM: Company: Saga plc. Target audience:Over 50s - Saga already hold the West Midlands' 2nd regional licence which commenced in October 2001 and provide PRIMETIME on the SKY DIGITAL platform and DAB Multiplexes. For more information on the bid, visit www.saga.co.uk/radio. The company believes the majority of commercial radio operators are failing to provide for the tastes and interests of older listeners. News and shows covering items of relevant interest to older listeners, (health, fitness, leisure and consumer) will be mixed with music from six decades.
THE LOSERS:
Galaxy 106.6: Company: Chrysalis Radio Group - Target audience:15-29. Dance/ r&b format, and what what be the sixth Galaxy station. The longest established bidder, with the Managing Director, one David Lloyd. Local clubman, Russell Davies, (Progress Club) also involved.
106.6 Sonic FM: Company: East Midlands Regional Broadcasting (EMBC) operated by Sweden's SBS Broadcasting. Target audience:15-34. Rhythmic dance format - they have been seen conducting research in the Derby city area as witnessed first hand by the Aircheck team. They use a strap line 'the rhythm of the region' and can be visited on line at www.106.6sonicfm.com. The questionnaire (handed out by someone just trying to make a few quid and not really knowing much about why they were doing it) asked what station you listen to out of Radio 1, Century, RamFM/Trent FM, and what music you were in to amongst other things. The postcard handed over after completion of the questionnaire said 'playing the latest tracks from Roger Sanchez, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada, Usher, Daft Punk, PPK, Destiny's Child, Ian Van Dahl, So Solid Crew, Daniel Beddingfield(! Ed), DJ Pied Piper, Wyclef Jean, Craig David, Sonique, Faithless & Fatboy Slim.' The station will advise it's young listeners about happenings at local pubs and clubs, including new openings. Outside broadcasts also planned.
Juice 106.6: Company: Forever Broadcasting (Newcastle). Target audience: 15-34. Promising 45 hours of locally produced dance music every week. What's on information will be mixed with programming created by local students. They also plan to work with the Prince's Trust, Childline (0800 1111), colleges, universities and East Midlands Development Agency.
VIBE FM: Company: Vibe East Midlands; backed by the Daily Mail and General Trust and GWR group plc. Target audience:15-24. Vibe also hold the very powerful South-East regional licence. Committed to playing new and contemporary dance music. Promising 100% live, local round-the-clock programming and live sets from local clubs Thursday to Saturday inclusive. East Midlands bid website: www.isvibehotornot.com. (2xRSL Leicester & Nottingham UK)
Fire FM: Company: The Guardian Radio Investments Ltd. Target audience:15-30 ' a dynamic music station targeting discerning music fans', already an established radio brand on the South Coast in Bournemouth and Poole, since launch in 1999. Format: Club, Rock & R&B. Backed by Boy George (Culture Club & Club DJ) who will present weekly. Fire has recruited local residents in each of the three counties for an advisory panel. If successful, a large-scale outdoor music event will be staged in 2003.
Liquid FM: SMG (Scottish Media Group) Ltd. Target audience:15-24. Locally represented from the Castle Donington area of Derbyshire/Leicestershire. Youth rientated service including dance, hip hop, R&B, new rock & metal. Liquid FM plans to stage a 50,000 capacity music festival to rival Glastonbury if successful in it's bid. Backed by DJ, singer & actor, Goldie, Mark Morrison, Mis-Teeq, Adam F and Morcheeba's First Rate. Also planning a large 2003 music festival if successful.
Route FM: Company: Lincs FM plc Target audience: Any age - 'Today's Country Music'. A failed bidder for the 2nd Yorkshire regional licence. Route FM is proposing to broadcast the UK's first 24-hour FM radio service offering country music. The music will be supported by a service of regional news, sport and information, travel news, weather forecasts, star interviews and competitions. Station bid site @ www.routefm.co.uk.
Smooth FM: Company: Guardian Media Group - Target audience:Over 40s. Smooth carried out a high impact and very successful trial broadcast from Ilkeston Co-op Buildings on 87.7FM during 2001. Music mix of adult contemporary and easy listening music, described as 'light & easy' and on a par with BBC Radio 2 RSL Breakfast show was fronted by Gordon Astley. Interestingly, GMG beat 15 other applicants to win the regional licence for South and West Yorkshire. Smooth FM will be FREE of advertising breaks, providing the first commercial free alternative to BBC Radio 2. Ground breaking in it's non-commercials format, it intends to change the expectations of people who listen to commercial radio. It would target the 2million adult listeners, generating revenue through sponsorship of features such as sport, traffic and travel, weather and information. Bid website: www.smoothfm.co.uk (RSL)
Jump FM: Company: Absolute Radio UK - East Midlands (AR-EM). Target audience:18-25. Backed by two East Midlands' lifestyle entertainment and listings publications 69 Magazine and City Lights, part of the founder local shareholders and bid team, aiming to give listeners in the region the best mix of dance, modern rock, alternative, R&B, Rap & Hip Hop plus relevant local and lifestyle information. Names also backing the bid include UK youth dance brand Cream; Northern Ireland's ITV broadcaster, Ulster TV plc (UTV); European radio operator Eurocast, and Absolute Radio International, which was formed by a group of radio industry experts. Best described as 'New Music Radio', the format follows local audience research among young adults, which showed that music style and preference isn't restricted to just dance, rock or other targeted formats. Cream will provide dance-related programming and 69 Magazine and City Lights will be providing local expertise and content, such as local events and content listings via the station website, and fashion and lifestyle features. Relevant & 'punchy' news covering local and national information will be provided. Bid website: www.jumpfm.co.uk
Kradio: Company: Kradio
East Midlands Ltd. Target audience: 'Young'. Kradio is the brainchild of media group
Emap, the company behind
leading music magazines Kerrang!, Mixmag, Smash Hits, and Q, as well as Kiss
and Magic radio. It also has 6 local radio stations across the north of
England. KRadio bid includes Andy Roberts, programme director of award
winning London dance music station Kiss, and Phil Alexander, editor-in-chief
of Britain's fastest growing music magazine Kerrang! They are working
together to devise a Kradio schedule which would encompass the best on offer
from the worlds of dance and rock music. Local bands and DJs will
feature on this youth-orientated station featuring dance and rock. If
they win, a string of public meetings will be staged around the East
Midlands to ask the people 'what they want to hear'.
The key to the schedule will be extensive specialist music programming in
the evenings and weekends, broadcasting a whole range of non-mainstream
music. The Kradio team has been touring the East Midlands hosting a string
of public meetings to find out what sort of music local people want to
hear.
Also appointed to the board is Andy Copping, Nottingham-based music and
concert promoter who has brought Marilyn Manson, Ash and Pulp to the East
Midlands. Leicester City Football Club chairman John Elsom is on the board
as non-executive chairman. Loughborough-born Mr Elsom, is a leading figure
in the business life of Leicestershire and is closely involved with a number
of business, sporting and charitable organisations. In addition to his
chairmanship of Leicester City Football Club, Mr Elsom is chairman of the
East Midlands Regional Division of the Prince's Trust.
Joining Elsom on the board will be Olympic gold medallist ice skater Jayne
Torvill, who has been appointed non-executive director. Born and raised in
Nottingham, Torvill notched up an amazing seven British championship titles,
four European championship titles and the incredible gold medal at the 1984
Sarajevo Olympics. She went on to an equally successful professional
ice-skating career, but now concentrates on choreography and coaching as
well as her leading role at the new National Ice Stadium in Nottingham where
she is shadow trustee and principal advisor.
The Storm: East Midlands Radio Ltd. (GWR) Target audience:15-34. GWR already operate The Storm on digital services playing rock music. The station promises to dedicate itself to playing rock music and promoting local rock talent. It would be the first pure rock station in the UK and tracks will span the past 10-15 years. Sports coverage will feature reports on less widely popular sports such as ice-hockey, hang gliding, basketball and ballooning. They believe that the region has a lot happening and wants to reflect that by covering features such as lifestyle, live music and entertainment. Station website http://www.stormradio.co.uk
play106.6: Company: The Ministry Of Sound. Target audience: Under 30s. Planning to be a genuine alternative to Radio 1, and a 'refreshing change to RAM-FM, Trent-FM and the other 'local' stations. It also plans to provide a local news service aimed at young adults and feature lifestyle information.
The Wall: Company: The Wall Media plc. Target audience:15-35. 'It's all about keeping it local and getting to grips with young people's real issues.' Consisting of six board members from the region, the station is aiming to give local bands a 'stage' to discuss issues affecting local young people. The Wall has already carried out two tests in the Nottingham and Leicester listener areas in the last 2 years. As well as being informative, The Wall wants to entertain it's listeners with the latest chart music. (2xRSL)
Capital Disney: Companies: Capital Radio plc and The Walt Disney Company Ltd. Target audience: 10-16. The final bidder to throw it's name in the hat, aiming to offer entertainment for young teenagers. Support from East Midlands children's groups is being sought. Barbara White, from 'When You Wish Upon A Star', which takes groups of sick children to Lapland each year, is Chairperson. The station promises to be an interactive experience for it's young listeners with combination of music and entertainment. Capital already operate the 1st East Midlands licence, broadcasting as 106 Century FM.