Month: July 2024

Cumbria.Digital has submitted an application to Ofcom to establish a small-scale DAB multiplex for Carlisle, Penrith, and surrounding areas.

If approved, Cumbria.Digital says it aims to have the platform operational by early 2025, using two transmission sites in Carlisle and Penrith.
Cumbria.Digital has committed to reserving capacity for up to six community services, exceeding the minimum requirement ofcom required of four.
Jonathan Davies, Director of Cumbria.Digital, expressed gratitude for the support received from local organisations: “I would personally like to thank Eden FM, Cumberland Radio, Love Carlisle, and Penrith Town for their support.
“We look forward to working with them to bring their new and existing radio services to DAB in the local area, alongside other local, national and specialist stations hoping to join the Carlisle and Penrith community through Cumbria.Digital.
“This has been a five-year journey for us, awaiting legislative and regulatory developments to catch-up with our plans. With Ofcom’s approval, Cumbria.Digital aims to unlock the potential of local digital radio capabilities to match other parts of the UK and also put us at the forefront of what DaB can do.”
Cumbria.Digital also plans to establish two media hubs, providing studio facilities for community stations and provide collaborative broadcasting facilities. They hope will enable collaboration and partnerships to form with local schools and universities to create educational media opportunities for students.
“We believe this initiative could be a catalyst for further opportunities locally and across Cumbria,” said Jonathan.
“Radio has a rich history of driving innovation and economic growth, from the early days of regular programming in the Netherlands in 1919 to the BBC’s launch in 1922. We aim to continue this tradition.”
Cumbria.Digital is also exploring the opportunities additional data capabilities of DAB offers, with potential to work with local councils and service providers with applications including real-time bus service updates at rural stops and local in-car traffic information as two examples the company gave.
“We are committed to unlocking DAB’s full potential for the area,” Jonathan added. “We look forward to collaborating with community groups and businesses to make this a shared success for the area.”
See more at cumbria.digital. […]

The first speakers for the Radio Academy Festival 2024 have been announced.

First up is Nick Wallis, broadcast journalist and presenter of The Great Post Office Trial (Whistledown Productions for BBC Radio 4), who will be in conversation on the Festival Stage discussing the story that Nick has covered on radio for over a decade, that some have called the widest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.
Broadcaster and DJ Trevor Nelson will take to the ARIAS Stage to discuss Windrush 75 (Spiritland Productions for BBC Radio 2) – a concert telling the story of the far-reaching impact of Caribbean culture and music on the UK over the last 75 years which took place at the Royal Albert Hall that he curated and hosted.
The Impact Stage will be a space to gather and discuss a variety of topics that impact programme makers, content creators and leaders as well as their audiences.
Comedian, podcaster & Virgin Radio presenter Suzi Ruffell, who’s currently on air on pop-up station Virgin Radio Pride, will lead the conversation on how radio, podcast and audio content can bring positive voices together across our communities.
Radio Academy Trustee and Co-Director of the Festival, Dixi Stewart, says: “The Radio Academy Festival 2024 will be the highlight of the year for everyone involved in the UK audio industry. This year’s theme of Impact Amplified will showcase the crucial role of podcasts and radio in turning up the volume on individual stories and shared experiences for audiences everywhere.
“With an exciting range of brilliant speakers and inspiring sessions, we’re looking forward to seeing you there so be sure to book your ticket today.” […]

There are new programmes for Helen Mayhew, Reuben Green, Rouhangeze Baichoo, Ruth Fisher and Dom Servini in Jazz FM’s new summer schedule, but two presenters are leaving.

DJ ‘Lil Koko (Kate Peroudis) who has been with the station since 2019, and Clare Teal who joined from Radio 2 in 2021, will be saying goodbye to listeners.
The weekly late evening schedule will see a new Friday night soundtrack of upbeat Latin and Cuban music with programmes with Helen Mayhew and Afro Jazz with Reuben Green.
There’s also new programmes for singer Rouhangeze Baichoo, who takes over the global music show Jazz Travels; and Wah Wah 45’s label boss, DJ and record producer Dom Servini has an hour of electronic jazz on Wednesday night
Ruth Fisher hosts a programme that focuses entirely on Future Jazz, highlighting the exciting new music cutting through the jazz scene, whilst Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker can also be heard on Sunday with a special Dinner Jazz Classics edition that focuses on the legends of jazz.
Documentaries and short series coming to Jazz FM over the late summer months include a series looking at how musicals have influenced jazz with many show tunes becoming jazz standards in a 4-part series called Jazz at the Musicals hosted by musician Stacey Kent.
Theres a second series of Music Therapy with Binker Golding in which he discusses life’s challenges with fellow artists and what’s on their therapeutic soundtracks. And Access To Music with Alex Carr takes an in-depth look at the music industry and the careers within.
Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts said: “We’re always looking at how we can enhance our music and programming and, as late summer starts to arrive, to be able to provide a Friday night soundtrack giving more time to two under-represented genres is a superb addition.
“It’s also a joy to give new broadcasters like Rouhangeze, Reuben Green and Dom Servini a place on our schedule continuing our tradition of highlighting new talent.
“And excitingly our new Rayo app, allows any listener to find this rich, new content and explore their way around our jazz, soul and blues world. Alongside our rich archive of programmes on the platform, jazz has never been so well represented.”
Of Clare and Kate leaving, Nick added: “It’s been great to have these experts and superb broadcasters as part of our Jazz FM family and we thank them for all of their wonderful shows they have painstakingly put together for us through the years.
“They have been intrinsic in the sound of the station with their programmes proving that they are experts in their chosen fields, and I hope there will be a chance to work with them again in the future. In the meantime we wish them the very best.”
New programmes / schedule changes from Monday 22nd July
Monday
6.30am – Jazz FM Breakfast with Nigel Williams
10am – Danielle Perry
2pm – Simon Phillips
6pm – Jazz FM’s Greatest
7pm – Jazz FM’s Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker
9pm – Future Jazz with Ruth Fisher (new)
10pm – Late Night China Moses
Tuesday (as above except)
9pm – Jazz Travels with Rouhangeze Baichoo (new)
Wednesday (as above except)
9pm – Jazztronic with Dom Servini (new)
Thursday (as above except)
9pm – The British Jazz Show with Helen Mayhew (new)
Friday (as above except)
7pm – Latin Jazz Jam with Helen Mayhew (new)
9pm – The Rhythm of Afro Jazz with Reuben Green (new)
11pm – The Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show with Ian Shaw
Saturday
6am – Breakfast at the Weekend with Nia Visser
9am – Summer Book Club with Time Smith / Jazz Shapers with Elliot Moss from 21st September
10am – Nigel Williams
2pm – YolanDa Brown
6pm – The Sarah Ward Collection
9pm – Jazz FM Guest Curators
10pm – The Blueprint with Chris Philips
Sunday
6am – Breakfast at the Weekend with Nia Visser
10am – Tony Minvielle
1pm – Robbie Vincent
3pm – John Osborne
5pm – Blues ‘n’ Boogie with David Freeman
7pm – Dinner Jazz Classics with Mark Walker (new)
9pm – Jazz FM Documentaries
10pm – Jez Nelson […]