UK

Revival FM, a community radio service with a Christian perspective for the people of the City of Glasgow, has been found in breach for not recording its output.
Ofcom received a compliant about the Licensee’s compliance with its Key Commitments, but the station could not provide a copy of its output when asked.
Revival FM stated that it was unable to provide the material that Ofcom requested and that, due to an internal dispute, it had been experiencing “a significant cashflow issue as [it needs] to purchase new equipment and hire new personnel”.
Ofcom could not investigate the complaint, and said it expects the Licensee to work to rectify their issues immediately.
Ofcom says that it will monitor the service to ensure Revival FM is complying with its Key Commitments and the requirements to retain and produce recordings and provide information to Ofcom. […]

Cumbria.Digital has submitted an application to Ofcom to establish a small-scale DAB multiplex for Carlisle, Penrith, and surrounding areas.

If approved, Cumbria.Digital says it aims to have the platform operational by early 2025, using two transmission sites in Carlisle and Penrith.
Cumbria.Digital has committed to reserving capacity for up to six community services, exceeding the minimum requirement ofcom required of four.
Jonathan Davies, Director of Cumbria.Digital, expressed gratitude for the support received from local organisations: “I would personally like to thank Eden FM, Cumberland Radio, Love Carlisle, and Penrith Town for their support.
“We look forward to working with them to bring their new and existing radio services to DAB in the local area, alongside other local, national and specialist stations hoping to join the Carlisle and Penrith community through Cumbria.Digital.
“This has been a five-year journey for us, awaiting legislative and regulatory developments to catch-up with our plans. With Ofcom’s approval, Cumbria.Digital aims to unlock the potential of local digital radio capabilities to match other parts of the UK and also put us at the forefront of what DaB can do.”
Cumbria.Digital also plans to establish two media hubs, providing studio facilities for community stations and provide collaborative broadcasting facilities. They hope will enable collaboration and partnerships to form with local schools and universities to create educational media opportunities for students.
“We believe this initiative could be a catalyst for further opportunities locally and across Cumbria,” said Jonathan.
“Radio has a rich history of driving innovation and economic growth, from the early days of regular programming in the Netherlands in 1919 to the BBC’s launch in 1922. We aim to continue this tradition.”
Cumbria.Digital is also exploring the opportunities additional data capabilities of DAB offers, with potential to work with local councils and service providers with applications including real-time bus service updates at rural stops and local in-car traffic information as two examples the company gave.
“We are committed to unlocking DAB’s full potential for the area,” Jonathan added. “We look forward to collaborating with community groups and businesses to make this a shared success for the area.”
See more at cumbria.digital. […]

The first speakers for the Radio Academy Festival 2024 have been announced.

First up is Nick Wallis, broadcast journalist and presenter of The Great Post Office Trial (Whistledown Productions for BBC Radio 4), who will be in conversation on the Festival Stage discussing the story that Nick has covered on radio for over a decade, that some have called the widest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.
Broadcaster and DJ Trevor Nelson will take to the ARIAS Stage to discuss Windrush 75 (Spiritland Productions for BBC Radio 2) – a concert telling the story of the far-reaching impact of Caribbean culture and music on the UK over the last 75 years which took place at the Royal Albert Hall that he curated and hosted.
The Impact Stage will be a space to gather and discuss a variety of topics that impact programme makers, content creators and leaders as well as their audiences.
Comedian, podcaster & Virgin Radio presenter Suzi Ruffell, who’s currently on air on pop-up station Virgin Radio Pride, will lead the conversation on how radio, podcast and audio content can bring positive voices together across our communities.
Radio Academy Trustee and Co-Director of the Festival, Dixi Stewart, says: “The Radio Academy Festival 2024 will be the highlight of the year for everyone involved in the UK audio industry. This year’s theme of Impact Amplified will showcase the crucial role of podcasts and radio in turning up the volume on individual stories and shared experiences for audiences everywhere.
“With an exciting range of brilliant speakers and inspiring sessions, we’re looking forward to seeing you there so be sure to book your ticket today.” […]

There are new programmes for Helen Mayhew, Reuben Green, Rouhangeze Baichoo, Ruth Fisher and Dom Servini in Jazz FM’s new summer schedule, but two presenters are leaving.

DJ ‘Lil Koko (Kate Peroudis) who has been with the station since 2019, and Clare Teal who joined from Radio 2 in 2021, will be saying goodbye to listeners.
The weekly late evening schedule will see a new Friday night soundtrack of upbeat Latin and Cuban music with programmes with Helen Mayhew and Afro Jazz with Reuben Green.
There’s also new programmes for singer Rouhangeze Baichoo, who takes over the global music show Jazz Travels; and Wah Wah 45’s label boss, DJ and record producer Dom Servini has an hour of electronic jazz on Wednesday night
Ruth Fisher hosts a programme that focuses entirely on Future Jazz, highlighting the exciting new music cutting through the jazz scene, whilst Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker can also be heard on Sunday with a special Dinner Jazz Classics edition that focuses on the legends of jazz.
Documentaries and short series coming to Jazz FM over the late summer months include a series looking at how musicals have influenced jazz with many show tunes becoming jazz standards in a 4-part series called Jazz at the Musicals hosted by musician Stacey Kent.
Theres a second series of Music Therapy with Binker Golding in which he discusses life’s challenges with fellow artists and what’s on their therapeutic soundtracks. And Access To Music with Alex Carr takes an in-depth look at the music industry and the careers within.
Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts said: “We’re always looking at how we can enhance our music and programming and, as late summer starts to arrive, to be able to provide a Friday night soundtrack giving more time to two under-represented genres is a superb addition.
“It’s also a joy to give new broadcasters like Rouhangeze, Reuben Green and Dom Servini a place on our schedule continuing our tradition of highlighting new talent.
“And excitingly our new Rayo app, allows any listener to find this rich, new content and explore their way around our jazz, soul and blues world. Alongside our rich archive of programmes on the platform, jazz has never been so well represented.”
Of Clare and Kate leaving, Nick added: “It’s been great to have these experts and superb broadcasters as part of our Jazz FM family and we thank them for all of their wonderful shows they have painstakingly put together for us through the years.
“They have been intrinsic in the sound of the station with their programmes proving that they are experts in their chosen fields, and I hope there will be a chance to work with them again in the future. In the meantime we wish them the very best.”
New programmes / schedule changes from Monday 22nd July
Monday
6.30am – Jazz FM Breakfast with Nigel Williams
10am – Danielle Perry
2pm – Simon Phillips
6pm – Jazz FM’s Greatest
7pm – Jazz FM’s Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker
9pm – Future Jazz with Ruth Fisher (new)
10pm – Late Night China Moses
Tuesday (as above except)
9pm – Jazz Travels with Rouhangeze Baichoo (new)
Wednesday (as above except)
9pm – Jazztronic with Dom Servini (new)
Thursday (as above except)
9pm – The British Jazz Show with Helen Mayhew (new)
Friday (as above except)
7pm – Latin Jazz Jam with Helen Mayhew (new)
9pm – The Rhythm of Afro Jazz with Reuben Green (new)
11pm – The Ronnie Scott’s Radio Show with Ian Shaw
Saturday
6am – Breakfast at the Weekend with Nia Visser
9am – Summer Book Club with Time Smith / Jazz Shapers with Elliot Moss from 21st September
10am – Nigel Williams
2pm – YolanDa Brown
6pm – The Sarah Ward Collection
9pm – Jazz FM Guest Curators
10pm – The Blueprint with Chris Philips
Sunday
6am – Breakfast at the Weekend with Nia Visser
10am – Tony Minvielle
1pm – Robbie Vincent
3pm – John Osborne
5pm – Blues ‘n’ Boogie with David Freeman
7pm – Dinner Jazz Classics with Mark Walker (new)
9pm – Jazz FM Documentaries
10pm – Jez Nelson […]

Two groups have announced plans today to apply for the upcoming Poole, Purbeck and Wimborne small-scale DAB multiplex licence in Dorset.

Poole based telecommunications company, Wide FM, has teamed up with Poole’s Hot Radio and Bournemouth’s Hope FM to create a bid, who together are also applying for the nearby Bournemouth and Boscombe licence.
Wide Digital LTD says it has received support from ‘Wimborne FM’, AIR 107.2 in Weymouth, Unity 101 in Southampton and More Radio based in Sussex.
Wayne Simpson, Director of Wide Digital comments: “We are pleased to be working with local community radio stations to enable them and many other small stations to broadcast on DAB. This new platform will not only allow the local community radio stations to be enjoyed in crystal clear digital stereo, it will also increase choice for listeners in Poole, The Purbecks and Wimborne, by bringing new types of radio stations to the area for the first time.”
Kevin Scott and Daniel Withey, representatives of Poole and Bournemouth community radio stations Hot Radio and Hope FM respectively, say: “We’re so lucky to have such a wide range of community radio and local interest stations in our area. This SSDAB licence could finally give our community the best access to all local radio has to offer.”
See more at widedigital.net or email info@widedigital.net to get involved.
In addition, P&P Digital Media describe themselves as a team of committed broadcast professionals, many of whom are based in the local area.
P&P Digital Media’s Operations Director is Paul Sutton, who says DAB listening is higher than FM so now is a great time for the application, which is supported by local and regional stations including Radio Wimborne.
Glen Fowler, Director of Radio Wimborne commented: “The philosophy of P&P Digital Media is also Radio Wimborne’s philosophy – of providing radio services for our local communities here in Dorset. We are also confident in their experience, and that we believe they will run and maintain the SSDAB multiplex for the benefit of the community.”
Paul Sutton adds: “Poole Radio have also contacted us. They are applying for their own community licence to broadcast and will also be part of the P&P Digital Media multiplex, assuming we are successful with our OFCOM application.”
Forest FM, which broadcasts to the adjacent communities of Ferndown and Verwood, also say they would like to expand their service across the Poole area. Station Manager Steve Saville says they’re “interested in the possibility of broadcasting Forest FM on P&P Digital Media’s SSDAB Multiplex as proposed for Poole, Purbeck and Wimbome” and “We intend to apply for an OFCOM licence for this purpose”.
Salisbury Radio Station Manager Craig Hicks adds: “The fact that there is so much interest in the SSDAB applications for Bournemouth and Poole only goes to show what a passion there is from the listening public for more local, and more specialist, radio stations.”
Other stations who are supporting the bid include Bournemouth One, Hospital Radio Bedside, Gaydio, Sunrise Radio, Sunrise Radio Gold, FG Chic Radio, London Music Radio, and many more.
Contact Paul Sutton on 07736 283973 / admin@ppdigital.media or via ppdigital.media if you are interested in getting involved.
Elsewhere in Dorset, RadioToday understands there will also be three applications for the Bournemouth and Boscombe licence, but is not aware of any for the Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport licence in the west of the county.
Photo: Sandbanks, Poole, with Purbeck in the background. […]

BBC Radio 2 is putting the spotlight on Folk Music once again with a week of programming with five folk artists writing five songs.

As the RNLI marks its 200th anniversary in 2024, this year’s theme is about people whose lives are intertwined with the sea.
Each of the listeners have been paired with five folk singer-songwriters who will write original songs based on their lives and tales of the water.
Mark Radcliffe says: “I’m so proud to be part of the return of the award-winning 21st Century Folk and genuinely so proud of Radio 2 for putting so much behind the project. It is a wholly noble endeavour.
“It adheres to the age old tradition of telling the stories of peoples’ lives in folk song whilst simultaneously highlighting experiences that chime with many of us. In addition it showcases the work of some of our finest contemporary folk artists and gives them the lifeblood of mainstream exposure.
“I couldn’t be prouder, and especially in the year RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary. As I said, it is a wholly noble endeavour.”
Helen Thomas says: “Radio 2’s commitment to specialist music is unsurpassed on UK radio and, following last year’s award-winning 21st Century Folk, I’m proud that it is returning later this month. Once again, we’ll be putting beautifully crafted British story-telling through the prism of folk music at the heart of our daytime output and on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer with five new songs about five extraordinary people from across the UK.”
21st Century Folk in 2023 put the focus on five people who live and work in the North East of England and won Gold for Best Music Special at the ARIAs, Silver for Best Music Special and Bronze for Best Original Music at the 2023 New York Festivals Radio Awards, and won ‘Audio Production of the Year’ at the Prolific North Champions Awards.
The contributors and singer-songwriters will also be interviewed on The Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2 across the week (from Monday 29th July – Friday 2nd August, 12-2pm) where each song will be played on air. Friday’s edition of the show will be an outside broadcast from the Sidmouth Folk Festival, where Seth Lakeman and Fisherman’s Friends will perform their song live.
Radio 2’s Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe will also feature the songs and interviews with the artists (Wednesday 31st July, 9-10pm), and the following week it will feature music from some of the artists who performed live at Sidmouth Folk Festival (Wednesday 7th August, 9-10pm). […]