Bauer's all new Q Radio, which will be broadcasting from 2 Jun, will launch with those REM chaps playing some songs. Bosses have also confirmed that former Xfm presenter Samanthi will front their daily evening show to be called QPM.
Former 6Music chap Ric Blaxill, who is Programme Director for the all new Q Radio, says this: "We are working with a variety of established and new artists to provide us with exclusive content which is testimony to the power of the Q brand. There will be exclusive live sets which only Q could secure, alongside unique opportunities for the audiences to interact with our presenters and the bands themselves - not to mention the most innovative, informed and considered music and some cracking lifestyle and entertainment features. Q Radio will be a 24/7 living, breathing version of Q magazine - and some!". No word on whether faked phone ins will be part of the mix, hope so, I love them.
On a commercial level, Q Radio will adopt the 'commercial partnership' (basically sponsorship) approach over traditional radio ads, a system used on sister station Heat Radio. Q Radio Sales Director Karen Stacey explains: "As we successfully achieved with Heat Radio, we are offering advertisers exclusive partnerships with Q Radio which will allow them to embed messages within bespoke programming in an uncluttered environment with the option of extending this across the Q brand. We are offering exclusivity and flexibility within a creative and content-rich environment which will target a quality and growing audience".