TheJazz

Infobox Radio station
name = theJazz "(defunct)"


area = United Kingdom
airdate = December 25, 2006
share = 0.2%
share as of = March 2008
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
frequency = Sky Digital: 0113
Virgin Media: 961
format = Jazz
owner = GCap Media
website = [http://www.thejazz.com/ www.thejazz.com]
slogan = Come into the cool and feel good

theJazz was a British commercial jazz digital radio station. The station was run by GCap Media and launched on Christmas Day 2006 at 09:00 UTC [http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1359 Xmas Day launch for GCap Jazz] . Published by Radio Today on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2006.] [http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1348267&source=RNS GCap Media inc Regulatory Announcement] . Published by the London Stock Exchange on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2006] originally as a non-stop jazz station on the Digital One DAB ensemble, Sky Digital, Virgin Media [http://www.gcapmedia.com/index.php?id=133 GCap Media Press Release for theJazz] . Released November 28, 2006. Accessed November 28, 2006.] and the InternetWelsh, James. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds40115.html GCap's jazz station gets Christmas launch] , published by Digital Spy on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 29, 2006.]

The station covered a range of jazz music, including bebop, blues, traditional and modern jazz. GCap stated in its press release that the station "will do for jazz what Classic FM has done for classical music, in making the genre accessible to a UK-wide audience". The station stopped broadcasting on March 31, 2008 on DAB.theJazz to Close [http://www.the-jazz.co.uk/Article.asp?id=580713&spid=] ] theJazz is still currently broadcasting as a generic automated music service on Sky, Virgin Media and online without DJ's.cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3857347.ece|title=Jazz station wins record audience after scrapping DJs|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|date=2008-05-02|accessdate=2008-05-10|publisher=The Times]

History

After the closure of PrimeTime Radio, Ofcom allowed a variation of the Digital One licence to replace the requirement of a easy listening station to a classic and contemporary jazz requirement. [cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/digital/formats/DN001.doc|title=ANNEX - PART I - Conditions relating to simulcast services and digital sound programme services|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher=Ofcom|format=doc] On September 19, 2006 GCap formally released a press statement announcing the launch of a new national radio station before 2007. [cite web|url=http://corporate.gcapmedia.com/index.php?id=15&entryId=21|title=GCap Media to Launch First National Jazz Station|date=2006-09-19|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher=GCap Media]

theJazz started test transmissions on all the platforms it would broadcast on in December 2006. The test transmissions compromised of Lindos Electronics test tones and an announcement of the forthcoming launch. [cite web|url=http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1427|title=theJazz starts testing|date=2006-12-17|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher=Radio Today] From the commencement of broadcast to December 2007 it broadcast on DAB at a bit rate of 96 kbit/s in mono. From December 2007 this was increased to 128 kbit/s in joint stereo.

On April 6, 2007 the station started presenter-led programming.cite web|url=http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1760|title=GCap axes all Core presenters|accessdate=2007-03-15|date=2007-03-15|publisher=Radio Today] At 09:00, Darren Henley, managing director of Classic FM, formally opened theJazz. Helen Mayhew was the first voice heard on theJazz, introducing theJazz 500, a chart of jazz tracks voted for by the listeners to the station.cite web|url=http://www.helenmayhew.co.uk/|title=Helen Mayhew - Latest News|accessdate=2007-03-15] Other presenters on theJazz include Margherita Taylor, Jamie Cullum, David Jensen, Mike Chadwick, Anthony Davis, Digby Fairweather, Jacqui Dankworth and Courtney Pine.cite web|url=http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1790|title=theJazz comes alive|accessdate=2007-03-26|date=2007-03-24|publisher=Radio Today]

The first fan mail to ever come to theJazz was from Alexander Townsend, an American Harmonica player known as Blue J.Fact|date=February 2007

On 11 February 2008 GCap Media announced that unless a buyer is found, theJazz (along with sister station Planet Rock) will close at the end of March 2008. To compensate for the closure, Classic FM broadcast a nightly jazz programme between midnight and 2am cite web|url=http://www.the-jazz.co.uk/Article.asp?id=580713&spid=|title=theJazz to close|accessdate=2008-03-10] , but this ceased in late September 2008 without warning. It is assumed by some observers of the industry that this is because of the impending re-launch of Jazz FM as a DAB/satellite service (though not by Classic FM's current owners), on October 6th 2008. GCap is also planning to sell its share in the DAB Digital One multiplex to Arqiva.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7238444.stm|title=Two GCap digital stations closed|accessdate=2008-02-11|date=2008-02-11|publisher=BBC News Online] .

theJazz stopped broadcasting at midnight, March 31, 2008 on DAB. The last song to be broadcast in its entirety was 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin (though this was followed by the beginning of 'Tally Ho' by Don Byron).

At the moment, theJazz is being broadcast as a generic jukebox service, although it was announced on May 9, 2008 that GCap would sell off the Sky slot feed to the highest bidder. [cite web|url=http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.3377.2|title=GCap to sell Sky channels|date=2008-05-09|accessdate=2008-05-10|publisher=Radio Today]

Services

Internet

GCap Media has also stated that the station will also expand beyond radio in the services it offers, including podcasts, live concerts and downloads. GCap have also setup a MySpace profile for theJazz to promote the station in the same way that it has done for sister stations such as Chill and Core. On August 1, 2007 the website was relaunched as part of this expansion.cite web|url=http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.2233|title=New website for theJazz|date=2007-07-26|accessdate=2007-08-04|publisher=Radio Today]

Record publishing

In April 2007, GCap announced that it had made a deal with Universal Classic and Jazz which will allow theJazz to launch its own record label. The label will publish various jazz albums under theJazz name. [cite web|url=http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Articlex/3c58422d212e4d4884b87b4f3ee73132/Record-label-extension-for-theJazz.html|title=Record label extension for theJazz|accessdate=2007-05-05|last=Milman|first=Oliver|date=2007-04-30|publisher=mad.co.uk]

Other

PURE Digital and TheJazz launched a branded DAB digital radio receiver in 2007, sold exclusively in Marks & Spencer stores across the United Kingdom.

logans

* Come into the cool and feel good with The Jazz.

ee also

* 102.2 Jazz FM An earlier UK jazz only radio station which broadcast from 2002 until 2005 before being rebranded as 102.2 Smooth FM. It was owned by GMG Radio and had no connection with theJazz, however many of the DJs and shows from Jazzfm can now be heard on theJazz.

References

External links

* [http://www.thejazz.com/ theJazz website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/talkaboutjazz theJazz on MySpace]
* [http://www2.capitalfm.com/staticweb/onair_players/onair_thejazz/player/player.htm Direct link to theJazz online radio player]