[mbMember]

Radio Tees was killed off this afternoon, After the souther heritage ILR’s, Trent, Leciester Sound and Mercia Tees bites the dust.

24/06/1975 – 05/4/2013

Tees will now be a relay of Metro 24 hours a day with local news and idents inserted to comply with licence restrictions.

The new TFM will launch on Monday with all programming originating from Metro Radio in Newcastle including Steve and Karen at breakfast.

A statement from Bauer Media doesn’t make it clear if the station will be completly merging, but RadioToday sources suggest everything on Metro will be broadcast on TFM, with the exception of split adverts and news.

Offices in Stockton will close with remaining staff moving further north from Monday. The TFM Radio name, and all on and off air branding, will be retained, as will TFM’s local news and information.

The two stations are in the same “Approved Area” of the North East, so permission to merge them can be given without consultation.

Cath Ellington, Regional Managing Director – Bauer North East & Magic Network North said: “These changes mean TFM will be even better resourced whilst at the same time retain its local connections and appeal to listeners and advertisers.

“TFM is a much-loved radio station on Teesside and we are confident this move means it will benefit from even greater creativity, improved content and allow the station to further grow its audience share across the region. We want to say thank you to all TFM staff who have worked hard for the station in recent years.”

To celebrate its life ,as its just switched to non-stop music, heres Tees through the years – enjoy

ByeTees by MBessex

[rakMember]

Back in the early ’80s I’d occasionally stay over at a friend’s house in Newcastle. My parents live low down in the Tyne Valley – I always enjoyed listening to Radio Tees at his place, something I couldn’t do at home as even Metro was hard work there. Loved the Tees jingles at the time.

it’s sad to see Tees go, in all but name. No doubt part of a master-plan that won;t just affect Teeside.

Thanks for the montage, mb, the Cath Baxter stuff sounds as fab as ever. Wonder why hardly any stations ever used her stuff?!

[LenGroat]

It’s perhaps outside the remit of this mainly ‘fan’ site but if anyone wants to know more about the background, Ofcom politics, lost jobs and response to this from the industry do read and maybe comment on this Blog by North East (and now national) ‘radio guru’ John (Morgan) Myers :

http://myersmedia.co.uk/2013/tfm-the-reality-of-radio-today/

It IS relevant in that the less stations we have the less jingles there are to discuss? Though listening to the archaic ‘Frankie Goes to Hollywood with screechy vocals’ cuts from about 9.55 on the file above there’s little to say!

[mbMemberAuthor]

Well if I’m going to do a retrospective I have to be agnostic and represent all incarnations of the staton, tbh I quite like the TM packages but I hope the montage raises a few smile, Radio Tees , TFM had some great imaging over the years and even against other ILR’s had better jingles. (The early BRMB / Trent jingles had thier issues!!! ) of the EMISON packages produced ( and several were truly dreadful ) the Radio Tees stuff seemed like someone was better at steering them through what worked better on air.

[LenGroat]

We agree about the ‘early’ Trent jingles!

“Sowwnnds like you want to heeeeeeer” (nothing to do with me…) Many did not even say the station name!

Or am I the guilty one…. with ‘Radio Trent Your 24 Hour Friend” from Alfasound !?

[mbMemberAuthor]

Sound it out theres so much variation on Trent your local station The Alfasound stuff is great but for most creative use of bongos that Trent 8 travel bed is totally outrageous!!!

[ratnobMember]

Cath Ellington, Regional Managing Director – Bauer North East & Magic Network North said: “These changes mean TFM will be even better resourced whilst at the same time retain its local connections and appeal to listeners and advertisers.

“TFM is a much-loved radio station on Teesside and we are confident this move means it will benefit from even greater creativity, improved content and allow the station to further grow its audience share across the region. We want to say thank you to all TFM staff who have worked hard for the station in recent years.”

I do wonder how these people in radio management can look themselves in the mirror each day when quacking such evident nonsense.

[LenGroat]

MB: the ‘so much variation’ lyric was not mine either; my packages started with ‘Your Kind of Music, You Kind of People’ (Trent 1) in October 1980.

More importantly developments as regards the closure of TFM

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/04/listeners-arent-stupid-banks-tells-bauer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=listeners-arent-stupid-banks-tells-bauer&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

And if you feel STRONGLY about local radio, sign this?

https://www.change.org/petitions/tfm-radio-bauer-media-bring-tfm-back-to-teesside?share_id=TCiodEsaWV&utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false

[IainJohnston]

Michael – will you post the Trent 8 “bongos” travel bed then?
In all its “stereo pan-pot” glory?

[LenGroat]

Michael

If you post it, let’s see who knows what jingle/piece of music ‘inspired’ it?

BACK to TFM

If you love local radio, no need to move from your PC, just sign this petition?

http://www.change.org/petitions/bauer-media-bring-tfm-radio-back-to-teesside

http://twitpic.com/ci31of

[muffy]

Len .. yes I have filled in the petition . But when you read ofcoms reply of why and how they have moved Tees to metro .. I think they have covered their tracks .. As one person said on a forum “WE” radio people … dont like the move .. but the average listener just wants the music output and it may not hurt them if the station was to move miles away from the TX base…
The only way listeners and people who support this can make things happen is to boycott ILR.. Because then your hitting the radio groups in the sales depts .. Just an idea
..BACK to the Jingle part of the radio stations thread …I think

[mbMemberAuthor]

The difference in this case is its not just moving the station – they laid off the entire TFM presentation staff and now relay every single programme from Metro on the TFM Transmitter. That’s 10 hours of locally produced content gone and now a combined bigger broadcast area of Metro and Tees. In effect closing a large sized heritage ILR station and just broadcasting the neighbouring content.

[LenGroat]

MB ~ Your succinct comment:

“In effect closing a large sized heritage ILR station and just broadcasting the neighbouring content”

So I posted it on Twitter with a link to here.

THANKS

[mbMemberAuthor]

I just saddened that with the switch to all those bloody Hearts and Capitals this finally is the last nail in the coffin for what was ILR as we knew it.

[mbMemberAuthor]

Michael – will you post the Trent 8 “bongos” travel bed then?
In all its “stereo pan-pot” glory?

Len this is totally bonkers, I love it but it never ceases to crack me up when I play it!

EMTN by MBessex

[IainJohnston]

Thanks Michael!

With due apologies to Simon, Tom, and the others that are “interested” in the McCasso stuff on BBC Locals, cuts like the above are why few “serious collectors” make any effort to go out of their way to “collect” any of the McCasso stuff…its so utterly dull, bland and mechanical compared with anything so full of LIFE and funky-ness (and possibly indeed a bit of being manic and totally bonkers…) as things like THAT travel cut!

And engineered by someone who understood that humans have TWO ears not just one…

[mbMemberAuthor]

So Len I’m interested what music inspired that cut?

[LenGroat]

MB

Okay, a quick resume of THAT cut!

I used ‘Lulu’s Theme’ by the Johnny Harris Orchestra as v/o music (in the days before jingle packages had many v/o cuts) and that ‘inspired’ the travel news cut.

A live version starts at 1.12 – it was also a single.

http://youtu.be/Y58lzARF4Ow

One well-known collector thought I’d based it on Stingray or Thunderbirds are go!

I think we did get a bit carried away with the organ + bongos…. but HEY it was part of a large (Alfasound) CUSTOM* package so we just ‘went for it’, fun and nothing too serious or ‘researched’ !

* Doing a custom jingle package is not far off the male equivalent of giving birth ~ I did 8 !

[tom_h]

Thanks Michael!

With due apologies to Simon, Tom, and the others that are “interested” in the McCasso stuff on BBC Locals, cuts like the above are why few “serious collectors” make any effort to go out of their way to “collect” any of the McCasso stuff…its so utterly dull, bland and mechanical compared with anything so full of LIFE and funky-ness (and possibly indeed a bit of being manic and totally bonkers…) as things like THAT travel cut!

Fair enough. Please remember I’m only 18, and why I might not be a conventional 18year old because I listen to BBC LR I also like ‘hit music’ and love the concept of ILR. What has happened to TFM is exactly what I hate about the industry at the moment with the individuality and localness of stations being destroyed. I’ve never had the chance to build up a ‘collection’ and I feel exactly the same about my local station brmb as the people of Teeside feel about TFM, because brmb was closed a year ago to form the Free Radio network.

I love all these old jingles but I don’t have any of my own and aren’t of my ‘era’ hence my interest in more current stuff.

Back to the jingles – I love that Trent travel bed! Its nuts. Listening the mixture of Tees/TFM jingles at the top of the page, it shows how much effort and time was put into jingles back then with a few of them being pretty much short songs.

[mbMemberAuthor]

Just a mention for
http://www.radiotees.co.uk
Its got some great audio as well as in depth detail on the station, its history etc etc

[IainJohnston]

“I love all these old jingles but I don’t have any of my own”

Well, Tom you may be only 18 but you’re certainly one of a number of younger new jingle fans that DO “get” what the hobby is all about

Remember, if you want to hear “classic” UK station packages, there’s plenty available that are widely “out there” – PM me or drop me an email if you’d like some for your collection.

[Bigdave]

Likewise,Tom,a search around the net will find out some fabulous classic cuts.

My advice – check out the Trent packages made by Alfasound. You’ll hear the evolution of British jingles – right from 1980 when a certain Len Groat commissioned the first package,right through to the cusp of their first Century 21 and then JAM packages – Trent 8 in 1987 – a British package with a combination of UK and Dallas vocals,which in my honest opinion,is up there in the top 5 all time British made packages.

In fact,to get you started,have a listen to this from around 5.45 in to 12.50,and you’ll see what I mean!

Sounds Like You Wanna Hear – Thank You Radio Trent by DaveNightingale

[enerjee]

“Sounds Like You Wanna Hear” was one of the first jingles I ever heard (I tuned over from 303 to 301 every day to compare the two stations.

I thought Trent’s first package was brilliant ! My favourite was the brilliantly sung “Something’s in the air” cut. I know Len has reservations about jingles not mentioning the station name, but there was little competition and people knew what they were listening to as practically every other jingle within an hour (and let’s face it there were a lot) had the station name and frequency as well as presenter reminders.

[Author]

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