As GCap announced it was axing its digital radio ventures, rivals Bauer Radio, the new name for EMAP Radio, of course, was busy announcing it was expanding theirs. They've even hired a consultant to help with that expansion - Ric Blaxhill - the former Top Of The Pops producer who knows quite a bit about digital radio, having been the programming chief of the BBC's digital only station 6Music until he was forced out amid all those dodgy phone in scandals last year. One of Blaxhill's first jobs will be working with Q magazine editor Paul Rees to launch an all new Q Radio service which has much closer links with the actual magazine than past EMAP print title radio station spin offs.
Confirming that project, Ric Blaxill told reporters: "It's good to look at the potential for translating strong magazine brands into strong radio formats. To translate Q magazine's reputation, content and credibility into an all new radio format would be very exciting not only for music fans but for digital radio. Working closely with Q Editor Paul Rees we are exploring how we could offer artists a multi-media platform to support their music with live programming, live performance, a new playlist, themed programming to support the magazine, specialist music strands and a mix of music and comedy".
Rees added: "These are exciting times for Q. One of our key aims for the future is transferring and expanding the Q ethos effectively and properly, cross-brand for the first time. All new Q Radio could be a major part of this effort and a number of clients are already interested. Having a man of Ric's vast experience on board to help us do so can only be of great benefit".
Bauer, of course, are in the process of deciding what to do with their new assets - EMAP's radio and consumer magazine businesses. On the latter, the company has already announced it is axing two titles, First and New Woman, a move that seems to have taken many at the former EMAP by surprise - while restructuring and downsizing always follows a change in ownership, few expected full axings quite so quickly. It remains to be seen if other titles face a similar fortune in the coming weeks.