Talking of OfCom, the media regulator has given permission for GMG Radio to revamp its Smooth FM station in London from jazz and soul to easy-listening. It completes the transformation from what was originally Jazz FM into an entirely different station.
OfCom says it is allowing the change because GMG say the new look Smooth will target an over-50s audience, which is not currently catered for elsewhere in the London commercial radio spectrum. The regulator said: "Capital Gold's Format is for 35-54s; Heart FM targets audiences in their 30s. Magic FM serves the over-35s (having moved slightly younger when EMAP turned Melody into Magic). There is no station specifically for over-50s. In addition the station would have a higher proportion of speech and continue to carry its unique specialist jazz output. The [Ofcom radio licensing] committee felt that in order to make clear the point of difference between the changed station and existing stations, there should be an obligation within the format to secure the spirit of the format requiring that at least 20% of the daytime tracks should be older than 40 years old. GMG have accepted this obligation and the committee felt able to grant the request, given the satisfaction of this criterion."
Needless to say, GMG Radio boss John Myers welcomed the decision: "This now allows us to take on Radio 2 with all the right tools at our disposal. Ofcom made the right decision for the future growth of commercial radio."