[ratnobMember]

Here are the extraordinary and hitherto unheard JAM cuts made for Radio 1 and 2, as unveiled in Jon Wolfert’s Jingle Time segment on 5/3/23:
Parallel Jam

[IainJohnstonMember]

Jeezeepeeps!
Fascinating!

Must assume those were from a pitch by JAM to the Beeb that lost out to whoever it was (Groove???)
Any hints when those were created?

[m_hodgeyMember]

Fascinating, although not the style of JAM Radio 2 cuts I know and love from days gone.

I’m thinking these must have been produced as part of JAM’s bid for the Radio 2 full network imaging package opportunities in 1997 and 2011.

The 2011 opportunity to bid brief from the BBC did include production of a “Ken Bruce Show Open” demo cut, so I’m guessing that’s where the cuts at the start of the “jingle time” segment come from.

Interestingly, these all sound like custom cuts except for the Graham Norton Saturday cut at the end of the segment, which appears to be a slight re-working of “Hard Rock FM” cut #9.

Always great to hear new JAM jingles – thanks for sharing Geoff as I missed Jon’s show last Sunday.

[TigerQ105Member]

I’ll have to make a side-by-side comparison of the Graham Norton cut and cut 9 of the HRFM package soon. It’s an interesting, yet rare find of these cuts.

[m_hodgeyMember]

TigerQ105 wrote:

I’ll have to make a side-by-side comparison of the Graham Norton cut and cut 9 of the HRFM package soon…..

While you’re comparing the cuts, also take a listen to “Hot Wired” Cut 17 as I think some elements from that Graham Norton cut were re-used/re-worked in the DRQ “Motown Countdown” cut.

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[IainJohnstonMember]

Slight cross-over with Hodgey’s post (apologies) – here’s the HRFM-9 comparison

[mjb1124Member]

Pretty sure these Radio 2 cuts would be from the 2011 pitch, judging from the usage of the Groove “BBC Radio 2” logo melody. Therefore this would be a remix of those other packages’ cuts if anything. The Graham Norton cut is definitely based on the one from Hard Rock FM, though I think the similarities to the Hot Wired cut may be more coincidental. (For that matter, it’s also somewhat similar to cut 12 from PRO Choice.)

Anyway, it’s fascinating to finally hear what JAM pitched to them. I do think these cuts sound good, even if they may not have been what the BBC was looking for.

[mbMember]

They were from 2011. There was also a folk music cut for Mike Harding AFAIK as well in the submission brief.

This was a commission by BBC Worldwide. The BBC had just had “success” <sic> with the AWFUL Mcasso package for BBC Local Radio and the BBC were keen to push a new model of paying for writing / production but keeping the rights (so essentially paying PRS to themselves when they were paid. this made the financials very uncompetitive and uneconomic – Heads the BBC wins, Tails you lose. Basically, you make a tiny margin on the writing and production and then nothing else – The only return was the kudos of having your material on BBC Radio 2. Groove strongly disliked the approach and disagreed with it and in the end pulled out of the process – Who knows they might have got the gig – They did put their demo cuts online (not sure if they are still there) with some very pithy comments about the BBC process. In the end Wise Buddha got the commission but it was recorded with the BBC concert Orchestra and using many BBC Radio presenters as singers like Clare Teal.

Are we about to get some new cuts? – Nothing really for Scott Mills, O-whine (so far) or possibly Vernon. Radio 2 seems to have gone for dry female voice overs is this an imaging decsion / choice or just eeking them out to thier tenth birthday! – The current set were launched in 2013 with the new logo (there was an agrement to allow them to use the Groove logo for a while) so maybe 2023 is when the station will get frsh imaging (and Gawd knows it needs it). however Mcasso have gone from BBC LR and ReelWorld are in – could they be willing to work on the poor BBC terms for Radio 2? Could we see a new strapline given Radio 2 is trying so hard to be Heart could we get – “This is two!”. Stay tuned for all this and less!

[m_hodgeyMember]

mb wrote:

Groove strongly disliked the approach and disagreed with it and in the end pulled out of the process – Who knows they might have got the gig.

For the record, the BBC approached GrooveWorx to produce the 2011 station imaging package after winning the pitch in June 2011.

However, it was only at this stage GrooveWorx apparently read the small print and were unable to come to terms with the BBC’s requirement to sign over 100% of the publishing rights.

Wise Buddah must have been the first choice on the list of those production companies that were willing to sign-over the rights.

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[ratnobMemberAuthor]

Really interesting insights. Thanks, all. G

[TigerQ105Member]

That’s some good stuff that JAM pulled out so far during their pitch for the BBC, though I feel bad for Radio 2 right now after they sacked Feltz and Ken and ‘nerfed’ Steve Wright to his Sunday show only. They’re somewhat desperate to be the new old Radio 1 all over again while many have moved on to Boom Radio and GHR.

Also, I kinda agree with ‘mb’, there could be a possibility that Radio 2 could be getting a new jingle package soon, but at least that’s the least of every R2 listener’s worries. Only time will tell whether or not they should stay with the already perfect Wisebuddah package or move on. (No slander intended)

[ntcarver0Member]

Why the BBC didn’t like these makes no sense to me. They’re excellent and would have sounded great.

[TigerQ105Member]

mb wrote:

They did put their demo cuts online (not sure if they are still there) with some very pithy comments about the BBC process.

They still do have it online.

BBC RADIO 2

As for what’s coming in the future for Radio2, it’s only a matter of time because R2 has been using the same Wise Buddah package since 10 years ago.
But what’s really become clear is that after several older audiences were axed and was replaced with the younger ones (like the ones you mentioned), poor Radio 2 were desperate to be relevant and win back the hearts of listeners who’ve already switched to GHR or Boom Radio by being a Radio 1 dupe.

If they did refresh with a new jingle package, I’m keeping my expectations at a certain limit, because I felt that Radio 2 has lost touch with their losing listeners after they got rid of Steve Wright in the Afternoons.

[Author]

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