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All that Jazz

Posted in Media, Branwell Johnson, Latest reporters' blogs January 8th, 2009 by Branwell Johnson

Unshakeable tenacity and passion are laudable attributes that radio veteran Richard Wheatly  must possess in spades as he remains convinced Jazz Fm has a future.

Wheatly is preparing to gamble yet again that radio listeners, or some portion of them, want a jazz-devoted digital station. Jazz Fm relaunched as a digital station only four months ago under ownership of The Local Radio Company (TLRC), the company chaired by Wheatley.

Wheatly stepped down from The Local Radio Company to become chairman at Jazz fm - and now wants to buy the station as TLRC has decided it’s not really a good strategic investment.

Those following the tangled tale will know Wheatly has been linked with the Jazz Fm brand since 1995 and was involved in selling it to Guardian Media Group for £45 million in 2002. GMG held out for three years before rebranding the station Smooth FM – and jettisoning most of what could be called jazz music in the process.

As well as the problem of investment and small listenership faced by any dedicated digital channel, Jazz FM also carries the burden of a name that seems more of a turn off than a turn on these days. Note digital radio station TheJazz was shut down last year after bought Global Radio bought GCap.

Will we see the Jazz Fm chameleon turn a kind of blue or will he remain sunning himself on the slopes of digital radio? 

To read the related news story click here