You know how it goes, Xfm have a great idea, Radio 1 are sure to follow! With Xfm's joint show with New York station KROQ now a weekly fixture in their schedules, Radio 1 have announced two new programming features designed to promote new British music in the States and new American music over here.
Steve Lamacq will be presenting a weekly feature with Nic Harcourt of LA radio station KCRW which will go out on both presenters' shows. Meanwhile Zane Lowe will be sharing content with the Passport Approved show on LA alternative station Indie 103.1.
The new joint programming features have been set up by LA based Sat Bisla - one of the hosts of the Passport Approved show - through his company A&R Worldwide. Bisla was also involved in setting up the Xfm/KROQ partnership.
Elsewhere in Radio 1 news, a rejig of the station's management will see three key players getting an extended remit. Music Policy head Alex Jones-Donelly will also take on the station's live music output, head of specialist and speech programming Ian Parkinson will be given the same role on sister station 1Xtra, while Ben Cooper, head of Radio 1's mainstream programming, will also take over responsibility for on air branding, whatever that means.