theJazz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| theJazz (defunct) | |
 |
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| Broadcast area | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Come into the cool and feel good |
| Frequency | Sky Digital: 0113 Virgin Media: 961 |
| First air date | December 25, 2006 |
| Format | Jazz |
| Audience share | 0.2% (March 2008, [2]) |
| Owner | GCap Media |
| Website | www.thejazz.com |
theJazz was a British commercial jazz digital radio station. The station was run by GCap Media and laucnhed on Christmas Day 2006 at 09:00 UTC [1][2] originally as a non-stop jazz station on the Digital One DAB ensemble, Sky Digital, Virgin Media[3] and the Internet[4]
The station covered a range of jazz music, including bebop, blues, traditional and modern jazz. GCap stated in its press release that the station "will do for jazz what Classic FM has done for classical music, in making the genre accessible to a UK-wide audience".[3] The station has not been successful,[citation needed] however, and stopped broadcasting on March 31, 2008 on DAB.[5] theJazz is still currently broadcasting as a generic jukebox service on Sky, Virgin Media and online without DJ's.[6]
Contents |
[edit] History
After the closure of PrimeTime Radio, Ofcom allowed a variation of the Digital One licence to replace the requirement of a easy listening station to a classic and contemporary jazz requirement.[7] On September 19, 2006 GCap formally released a press statement announcing the launch of a new national radio station before 2007.[8]
theJazz started test transmissions on all the platforms it would broadcast on in December 2006. The test transmissions compromised of Lindos Electronics test tones and an announcement of the forthcoming launch.[9] From the commencement of broadcast to December 2007 it broadcast on DAB at a bit rate of 96 kbit/s in mono. From December 2007 this was increased to 128 kbit/s in joint stereo.
On April 6, 2007 the station started presenter-led programming.[10] At 09:00, Darren Henley, managing director of Classic FM, formally opened theJazz. Helen Mayhew was the first voice heard on theJazz, introducing theJazz 500, a chart of jazz tracks voted for by the listeners to the station.[11] Other presenters on theJazz include Margherita Taylor, Jamie Cullum, David Jensen, Mike Chadwick, Anthony Davis, Digby Fairweather, Jacqui Dankworth and Courtney Pine.[12]
The first fan mail to ever come to theJazz was from Alexander Townsend, an American Harmonica player known as Blue J.[citation needed]
On 11 February 2008 GCap Media announced that unless a buyer is found, theJazz (along with sister station Planet Rock) will close at the end of March 2008. To compensate for the closure, Classic FM now broadcasts a nightly jazz programme between midnight and 2am.[13] GCap is also planning to sell its share in the DAB Digital One multiplex to Arqiva.[14].
theJazz stopped broadcasting at midnight, March 31, 2008 on DAB. The last song to be broadcast in its entirety was 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin (though this was followed by the beginning of 'Tally Ho' by Don Byron).[6]
At the moment, theJazz is being broadcast as a generic jukebox service, although it was announced on May 9, 2008 that GCap would sell off the Sky slot feed to the highest bidder.[15]
[edit] Services
[edit] Internet
GCap Media has also stated that the station will also expand beyond radio in the services it offers, including podcasts, live concerts and downloads.[3] GCap have also setup a MySpace profile for theJazz to promote the station in the same way that it has done for sister stations such as Chill and Core. On August 1, 2007 the website was relaunched as part of this expansion.[16]
[edit] Record publishing
In April 2007, GCap announced that it had made a deal with Universal Classic and Jazz which will allow theJazz to launch its own record label. The label will publish various jazz albums under theJazz name.[17]
[edit] Other
PURE Digital and TheJazz launched a branded DAB digital radio receiver in 2007, sold exclusively in Marks & Spencer stores across the United Kingdom.[16]
[edit] Slogans
- Come into the cool and feel good with The Jazz.
[edit] See also
- 102.2 Jazz FM An earlier UK jazz only radio station which broadcast from 2002 until 2005 before being rebranded as 102.2 Smooth FM. It was owned by GMG Radio and had no connection with theJazz, however many of the DJs and shows from Jazzfm can now be heard on theJazz.
[edit] References
- ^ Xmas Day launch for GCap Jazz. Published by Radio Today on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2006.
- ^ GCap Media inc Regulatory Announcement. Published by the London Stock Exchange on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2006
- ^ a b c GCap Media Press Release for theJazz. Released November 28, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2006.
- ^ Welsh, James. GCap's jazz station gets Christmas launch, published by Digital Spy on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 29, 2006.
- ^ theJazz to Close [1]
- ^ a b Sherwin, Adam (2008-05-02). Jazz station wins record audience after scrapping DJs. The Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ ANNEX - PART I - Conditions relating to simulcast services and digital sound programme services (doc). Ofcom. Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- ^ GCap Media to Launch First National Jazz Station. GCap Media (2006-09-19). Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- ^ theJazz starts testing. Radio Today (2006-12-17). Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- ^ GCap axes all Core presenters. Radio Today (2007-03-15). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
- ^ Helen Mayhew - Latest News. Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
- ^ theJazz comes alive. Radio Today (2007-03-24). Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
- ^ theJazz to close. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Two GCap digital stations closed. BBC News Online (2008-02-11). Retrieved on 2008-02-11.
- ^ GCap to sell Sky channels. Radio Today (2008-05-09). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
- ^ a b New website for theJazz. Radio Today (2007-07-26). Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
- ^ Milman, Oliver (2007-04-30). Record label extension for theJazz. mad.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
