[LenGroat]

I see it's reported today that;

'Nine more radio stations will be re-branded as Heart in June… '

Off to the radio graveyard go Southern FM, Ocean FM, Invicta, and other less memorable stations…

It means THIRTY THREE stations with the SAME NAME… or put another way… compared to 10 years ago..

… THIRTY TWO less jingle packages..

Something for 'JingleMadders' to contemplate and THINK about !?

[simon_t123Member]

RIP says I … I kinda like the IQ Beats current Heart package but NOT rolled out like everywhere ! Essex FM my local will be going the same way in July I believe if it's not been brought forward to June … Essex always did well at avoiding the group “dross” imaging & the Music4 GCap package was only heard on breakfast, and with news & travel, Essex of course sticking with their Reelworld package for some time … I've noticed in recent months, as I'm sure people in other areas about suffer a ” Heart-Attack” will have that network shows & even local shows have been using instrumental versions of Hearts previous IQ Beats packages. Kinda depressing really …

Anyway, my sideline thought with all the networking going on aims at a) the jingle companies & b) the studio / playout software suppliers. With less business to go around at current prices will it inevitably drive up the cost of these things ? One jingle package rolled out 30+ times … Fewer studios on the air etc. I know we've got a plethora of newer stations, community etc springing up, but these cant always afford the current prices for say sung jingles & top line playout software …

Just a thought really, I wonder if prices would move upwards to reflect amalgamation of an industry or move downwards to entice the new tier of stations to buy …

[IainJohnstonMember]

Here's a question then for the “legal” bods…

OK – same jingle (no frequency or location) just “This Is Bland“, so cheaper to commission and actually buy as a cut.

BUT, if each Heart (or whatever other “networked” “local” effort) has a separate licence for its TSA, and (presumably) a separate contract with PRS, MCPS, etc, does that mean every time a NETWORKED jingle or other piece of music is played out over 33 stations or whatever simultaneously, that Global still have to make 33 royalty/airplay payments for each networked-play, 'cos its “not really networked, its still locally produced“(ha!) they keep trying to tell everyone?

[radio_blokeMember]

As Ocean is about to have whats left of its “HEART” pulled out, here is a weeee montage reminder how it sounded 23 years ago (credit Jonno for source material)

http://jinglemad.com/e107_files/public/1240957229_11954_FT71085_ocean_sound_launch_package_lbs_1986.mp3 filename:ocean_sound_launch_package_lbs_1986.mp3

[IainJohnstonMember]

Sheer class.
And sounded superb on air :^)

[ratnobMember]

A point well made, Len. All those years spent building up ILR stations in the UK which reflected their communities – some good, some bad – and now all flattened by a corporate jackboot. We've lost something very distinctive.

[Inferno]

I find this very sad. I don't listen to any Heart, Touch or Smooth now. I only listen to stations that have kept there local identity. I know times are hard but count me out. Signal, BRMB, Beacon and WCR for me. Either that of internet radio or BBC Locals.

[Bigdave]

KCFM is a good listen on the net… http://www.kcfm.co.uk

Good music policy,good TM jingles,some good presentation staff (Tony Blackburn,Paul Burnett,Shaun Tilley,Steve Jordan,Al Dupres,Tim Jibson),and not owned by a multinational.

Steve Jordan's 80's show is a damn good listen as well! On tomorrow between 7-10pm…

[nickpledge]

It is very sad that this is now becoming the norm everywhere now. We here in Norfolk lost Vibe FM to KISS 105 108 then this year we lost our other local station SGR FM which is now Heart!

I used to listen to Fox FM allot growing up in oxford, i noticed that's gone and given a new “Heart” but i noticed that Jack FM is still going! very interesting to see how long they last as a major UK roll out of HEARTS is going ahead.

Nick

[IainJohnstonMember]

BigDave – are you really sure that Blackburn, Burnett, “FrenchWhippedCream” etc are really there!!! and not just “piped-in” as syndicated (and therefore…gasp…networked) shows as such)?

As for “Heart”, hopefully they will never arrive in THIS Country – Scotland – because a station-full of English-voiced “presenters” prattling-on about cricket and morris dancing etc, and stuffed with “national” advertising for English clients is a dead give-away to even the most intellectually-challenged Jocks – GMG & others have tried it here for “off-peak hours” and got “sent homewards tae think again” – and Scot Richard Park knows it!

[RobinBlamires]

Bigdave wrote:
KCFM is a good listen on the net… http://www.kcfm.co.uk

What you could call the saving grace of local commercial radio.

Really good stuff.

[IainJohnstonMember]

Isn't that a lyric (nearly) from the old Heller package for WNBC New York circa 1971!!!

[Bigdave]

Apparently,talking to Steve Jordan recently,Iain,he's advised me that that they've been live,as KCFM is owned by the people who run the KC stadium,so are not part of any group,so don't buy into the ethos of network,network,network.Also,Tim Jibson of the station acts as management for most of them….

You might find their original pitch to OFCOM interesting reading…

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/ifmapps/hull/kcfm.pdf

…especially this line,which comes as a refreshing change…

“All programming on KCFM 99.9 will be locally produced and presented from our studios in Hull.
There will be no networking of programming with other stations.
We anticipate voice tracking only in an emergency”

[IainJohnstonMember]

Thanks for that Dave – good to see a station with such a refreshing approach! – and if they can do it this way, why can't the “big boys” (who of course, have posh Boards of Directors who pay themselves huge “renumeration” as “compensation” for turning up at 6 all-expenses-paid meetings a year!)

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