Smooth FM
Encyclopedia
Smooth Radio is an Independent National Radio station in the United Kingdom
owned by GMG Radio
. It broadcasts on the DAB
Digital Radio Digital 1 national multiplex and on Sky, Freesat
, Freeview, Virgin Media
and online as well as regional FM and DAB frequencies in the North West, London, North East, West Midlands, Scotland and East Midlands.
As Smooth FM 100.4, the station was the first in the network of independent local radio
stations to use the Smooth brand. Following the publication of John Myers' recommendations of a regulatory overhaul in commercial radio, and the passing of the Digital Economy Act, which allowed stations to co-locate or drop local shows and broadcast, Smooth Radio merged its five England stations into one quasi-national station, with local news feeds produced from GMG Radio's headquarters in Salford Quays
. 105.2 Smooth Radio
in Scotland produces its own breakfast and drivetime shows, carrying networked programming at other times.
, playing mainly soul
and jazz
music in London. It also launched a sister station in Manchester on 1 September 1994 called 100.4 Jazz FM.
In 2003, the Guardian Media Group
did extensive research into the type of music that listeners in the north-west
wanted to hear. They concluded that many people were dissuaded by the name "jazz", and as a result, 100.4 Jazz FM closed on 13 February 2004 and relaunched as Smooth FM
on 1 March 2004. Similarly, in 2005, GMG made the decision to rebrand the London station from 102.2 Jazz FM to 102.2 Smooth FM
. The two stations relaunched playing middle of the road music, soul
and R&B
during the day and, as part of its licence requirements, focused on jazz
music at night.
On 20 October 2006, GMG Radio announced that it was requesting a change of format for 102.2 and 100.4 Smooth FM from Ofcom, moving the station away from its daytime soul and R&B remit which had, until that point, formed an integral part of the licence. GMG proposed an easy listening music service mixed with speech for the over 50s, coupled with an improved local news service. Ofcom approved the changes on 8 December 2006, with the condition that GMG retained the 45 hours of jazz per week that constituted part of the former licence requirement. As a result of the format change, GMG agreed to adhere to a minimum of 20% of its music during daytime being over 40 years old, to distance the station from its London rivals Magic
and Heart 106.2.
In December 2006 Guardian Media Group
expanded the Smooth Network by acquiring the Saga Radio Group
, who owned stations in the West Midlands
, East Midlands
and Scotland
, together with a licence to begin broadcasting to the North East
. Along with the Smooth FM stations in London and Manchester, all Saga stations were relaunched under the Smooth Radio brand on 26 March 2007. Saga 105.7 FM
in the West Midlands became 105.7 Smooth Radio
, Saga 106.6 FM
in the East Midlands became 106.6 Smooth Radio
and Glasgow based Saga 105.2 FM became 105.2 Smooth Radio
. A service for the North East, 97.5 Smooth Radio
, was launched in January 2008. To begin with most programming for these stations was produced locally with a few networked shows from London. However, smooth gradually increased its networked programmes until most programming was simulcast from London or Manchester.
In March 2008, GMG requested a format change to remove the 45 hour jazz commitment it had in place for its London and Manchester stations. Part of the plans included a relaunch of Jazz FM
from the jazzfm.com service (at the time broadcasting on DAB in Glasgow
and online) onto a DAB multiplex in London. In a meeting on 22 April 2008 Ofcom declined GMG's request to drop its jazz commitments. GMG, under licence to The Local Radio Company
relaunched Jazz FM despite the decision.
Following the publication of John Myers' recommendations of a regulatory overhaul in commercial radio, and the passing of the Digital Economy Act, which allowed stations to co-locate or drop all local shows and broadcast on national DAB
, Smooth Radio merged its five England stations into one quasi-national station, with local news feeds produced from GMG Radio's headquarters in Salford Quays
. GMG made the announcement on 29 June 2010, that it wanted to rival BBC Radio 2
by broadcasting on the Digital 1 multiplex on DAB
Digital Radio to the whole of England and Wales, as well as Sky, Freesat
, Freeview, Virgin Media
and online. A regional flavour would be kept with split news, travel and weather bulletins broadcasting in the FM and DAB regional stations in the North East, North West, West Midlands and East Midlands. London listeners and those tuning nationally would hear national information. 105.2 Smooth Radio
in Scotland had to keep its Breakfast and Drivetime Local but networked the rest of the time. The Jazz commitments for London and the North West were also dropped. The new Smooth Radio was launched on 1 October 2010. Most of the shows are broadcast from Salford Quays with other shows from London.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
owned by GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
. It broadcasts on the DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
Digital Radio Digital 1 national multiplex and on Sky, Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
, Freeview, Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
and online as well as regional FM and DAB frequencies in the North West, London, North East, West Midlands, Scotland and East Midlands.
As Smooth FM 100.4, the station was the first in the network of independent local radio
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
stations to use the Smooth brand. Following the publication of John Myers' recommendations of a regulatory overhaul in commercial radio, and the passing of the Digital Economy Act, which allowed stations to co-locate or drop local shows and broadcast, Smooth Radio merged its five England stations into one quasi-national station, with local news feeds produced from GMG Radio's headquarters in Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
. 105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Glasgow and the surrounding area, owned & operated by GMG Radio and broadcasting from studios at Baillieston in the East End of Glasgow. The station replaced Saga 105.2 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007 and competes...
in Scotland produces its own breakfast and drivetime shows, carrying networked programming at other times.
History
The station launched on 4 March 1990 as Jazz FM102.2 Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM was a local jazz and soul music station for London run by GMG Radio. The station was based and broadcast from Castlereagh Street in London to around 15.5 million people within the broadcasting area...
, playing mainly soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music in London. It also launched a sister station in Manchester on 1 September 1994 called 100.4 Jazz FM.
In 2003, the Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
did extensive research into the type of music that listeners in the north-west
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
wanted to hear. They concluded that many people were dissuaded by the name "jazz", and as a result, 100.4 Jazz FM closed on 13 February 2004 and relaunched as Smooth FM
Smooth FM 100.4
Smooth Radio 100.4 was an Independent Local Radio station based in Salford, Greater Manchester. It was part of the Smooth brand of stations from 1 March 2004, and changed its name from "Smooth FM" in March 2007. Along with other stations in the network, it was subsumed into a national Smooth Radio...
on 1 March 2004. Similarly, in 2005, GMG made the decision to rebrand the London station from 102.2 Jazz FM to 102.2 Smooth FM
102.2 Smooth FM
102.2 Smooth FM was an Independent Local Radio station for Greater London. It replaced 102.2 Jazz FM on the 7 June 2005 at 10am, with the help of R&B singer Lemar and the then breakfast show host Jon Scragg...
. The two stations relaunched playing middle of the road music, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
during the day and, as part of its licence requirements, focused on jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music at night.
On 20 October 2006, GMG Radio announced that it was requesting a change of format for 102.2 and 100.4 Smooth FM from Ofcom, moving the station away from its daytime soul and R&B remit which had, until that point, formed an integral part of the licence. GMG proposed an easy listening music service mixed with speech for the over 50s, coupled with an improved local news service. Ofcom approved the changes on 8 December 2006, with the condition that GMG retained the 45 hours of jazz per week that constituted part of the former licence requirement. As a result of the format change, GMG agreed to adhere to a minimum of 20% of its music during daytime being over 40 years old, to distance the station from its London rivals Magic
Magic Radio
Magic is a music radio and a TV brand in the United Kingdom, run by the German publishing company Bauer.-Magic Radio in United Kingdom:...
and Heart 106.2.
In December 2006 Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
expanded the Smooth Network by acquiring the Saga Radio Group
Saga Radio Group
The Saga Radio Group was a British radio network owned and operated by Saga Services Ltd, and aimed at an audience aged 50 and over. The first Saga station was launched in the West Midlands on 16 October, 2001 and was subsequently followed by two others based in the East Midlands and Glasgow...
, who owned stations in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
, East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, together with a licence to begin broadcasting to the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. Along with the Smooth FM stations in London and Manchester, all Saga stations were relaunched under the Smooth Radio brand on 26 March 2007. Saga 105.7 FM
Saga 105.7 FM
Saga 105.7fm was an independent local radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands of the United Kingdom. As well as the West Midlands County, it also served surrounding areas such as Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire.- Broadcast details :...
in the West Midlands became 105.7 Smooth Radio
105.7 Smooth Radio
105.7 Smooth Radio was an Independent Local Radio station for the West Midlands of the United Kingdom, and replaced Saga 105.7 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007...
, Saga 106.6 FM
Saga 106.6 FM
Saga 106.6FM was an independent radio station for the East Midlands, broadcasting to Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. Part of the Saga Radio Group, the regional station was broadcast from the Riverside Business Park in Nottingham, close to the old...
in the East Midlands became 106.6 Smooth Radio
106.6 Smooth Radio
106.6 Smooth Radio was an Independent Local Radio station for the East Midlands, which replaced Saga 106.6 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007. In turn it replaced itself by the national Smooth Radio service which was launched on 4 October 2010...
and Glasgow based Saga 105.2 FM became 105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Glasgow and the surrounding area, owned & operated by GMG Radio and broadcasting from studios at Baillieston in the East End of Glasgow. The station replaced Saga 105.2 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007 and competes...
. A service for the North East, 97.5 Smooth Radio
97.5 Smooth Radio
97.5 & 107.7 Smooth Radio was an independent local radio station broadcasting to the north east of England. It launched at 8am on 8 January 2008, and was broadcast from new studios based at the Team Valley complex in Gateshead. The station competed with BBC Radio 2, aiming its music at listeners...
, was launched in January 2008. To begin with most programming for these stations was produced locally with a few networked shows from London. However, smooth gradually increased its networked programmes until most programming was simulcast from London or Manchester.
In March 2008, GMG requested a format change to remove the 45 hour jazz commitment it had in place for its London and Manchester stations. Part of the plans included a relaunch of Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM was a local jazz and soul music station for London run by GMG Radio. The station was based and broadcast from Castlereagh Street in London to around 15.5 million people within the broadcasting area...
from the jazzfm.com service (at the time broadcasting on DAB in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and online) onto a DAB multiplex in London. In a meeting on 22 April 2008 Ofcom declined GMG's request to drop its jazz commitments. GMG, under licence to The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company is a British media company, originally based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, that owns ten independent local radio stations in the UK...
relaunched Jazz FM despite the decision.
Following the publication of John Myers' recommendations of a regulatory overhaul in commercial radio, and the passing of the Digital Economy Act, which allowed stations to co-locate or drop all local shows and broadcast on national DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
, Smooth Radio merged its five England stations into one quasi-national station, with local news feeds produced from GMG Radio's headquarters in Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
. GMG made the announcement on 29 June 2010, that it wanted to rival BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
by broadcasting on the Digital 1 multiplex on DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
Digital Radio to the whole of England and Wales, as well as Sky, Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
, Freeview, Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
and online. A regional flavour would be kept with split news, travel and weather bulletins broadcasting in the FM and DAB regional stations in the North East, North West, West Midlands and East Midlands. London listeners and those tuning nationally would hear national information. 105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio
105.2 Smooth Radio is a Scottish Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Glasgow and the surrounding area, owned & operated by GMG Radio and broadcasting from studios at Baillieston in the East End of Glasgow. The station replaced Saga 105.2 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007 and competes...
in Scotland had to keep its Breakfast and Drivetime Local but networked the rest of the time. The Jazz commitments for London and the North West were also dropped. The new Smooth Radio was launched on 1 October 2010. Most of the shows are broadcast from Salford Quays with other shows from London.
Presenters
- Simon BatesSimon BatesSimon Bates is a UK disc jockey and radio presenter. Between 1976 and 1993 he worked at BBC Radio 1, presenting the station's weekday mid-morning show for most of this period. He later became a regular presenter on Classic FM...
- Smooth Breakfast (Mon-Fri) - Mark GoodierMark Goodier-Early career:Mark Goodier was born in Rhodesia . His family moved to the UK when he was a child, eventually settling in Scotland. He was educated at George Heriot's School, in Edinburgh. He became a mobile DJ in Edinburgh and then joined local station Radio Forth at the age of 19...
- The Mark Goodier Show (Mid Mornings Mon-Fri) - David JensenDavid JensenDavid "Kid" Jensen , is a Danish Canadian-born, British radio DJ.-Early career:Born in a Danish family residing Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began his career in his home country at the age of sixteen playing jazz and classical music. He then joined Radio Luxembourg at the age of eighteen in...
- Daytime with David Jensen (Weekday Afternoons Mon-Fri) and Double Top 20 (Sunday evenings) - CarlosCarlos (DJ)Carl Emms , known as Carlos, is a long established British disc jockey. He can currently be heard presenting a teatime show on Smooth Radio.-Early career:...
- Drivetime with Carlos (Mon-Fri) - Andy PeeblesAndy Peebles-Early life:The son of a head postmaster, Peebles attended Bishop's Stortford College, Hertfordshire before training in hotel management.After DJing at a college dance he was offered a job at Samanthas in Bournemouth.He worked at Chelsea Village,The Scotch of St James in London and at the Hardrock...
- "Smooth Evenings" (Mon - Thur) and Andy Peebles Soul Train (Sat) - Derek Webster - Smooth Nights (Mon-Thur) and Saturday Afternoon with Derek Webster
- Pete WatermanPete WatermanPeter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
- Pete Waterman's Friday Night Fever - Ricky Kirby - Smooth Nights (Fri-Sun)
- Pat SharpPat SharpPat Sharp is a British radio and television presenter and disc jockey. In the UK, he is known mainly for his work on the children's television programme Fun House, his former mullet and his radio shows as well as his support of Arsenal...
- Smooth Weekend Breakfast - Lynn ParsonsLynn ParsonsLynn Margaret Parsons is a British disc jockey and currently presents Weekends 10am - 2pm on UK radio station Smooth Radio and various shows on for BBC Radio 2.-Career:...
- Lynn Parsons on Smooth Radio (Saturday & Sunday Mid Mornings) - Dave BrownDave Brown (broadcaster)Dave Brown, better known as "Brownie", is an RnB soul and funk disc jockey on Solar Radio Mon - Fri between 1 and 4 p.m. BST on Sky 0129 www.solarradio.com, who started his broadcasting career in the early 1980s for BBC Radio Medway presenting the Mid-Morning Talk & Music Show 9 -11am Monday to...
- The Motown Show (Saturday Early Evening) - Emma BEmma BEmma Boughton , grew up in Canada and as a teenager in Birmingham, England.Better known as Emma B, she is a radio presenter in the UK. She became known as Emma B when she worked for Creation Records...
- Sunday Afternoons - Dave Lincoln - Sunday evenings
- Stuart Ellis - Stand in presenter
- Chris Best - Stand in presenter
- Steve Collins - Stand in presenter
- David Prevar - Stand in presenter
- Ben Jones - Stand in presenter
Former presenters
- Tony BlackburnTony BlackburnTony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, who broadcast on the "pirate" stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s and was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1967. In 2002 he was the winner of the ITV reality TV programme I'm a Celebrity.....
(2008-2010) - Graham DeneGraham DeneGraham Dene is a British radio personality.He was initially famous in the London area as Capital Radio's breakfast presenter in the 1970s and 1980s, and later worked for Virgin Radio. In 2006, he worked at Magic 105.4. In 2008, he was 102.2 Smooth Radio's breakfast host...
(2010) - Terry Underhill (2009-2011)