UK

British pianist and educator Nikki Yeoh is joining Jazz FM to host a weekly radio show.

Nikki will present the 10-midnight slot starting this Saturday night, and the same evening will also see Chris Philips take over the 6-9pm slot, recently vacated by Sarah Ward.
Sarah stepped back from regular broadcasting just before Christmas following a career that spanned seven decades on the air. An hour-long celebration of Sarah Ward’s career is still available to listen to on the Rayo app here.
British Jazz Pianist Nikki has performed with Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Neneh Cherry, Kurt Elling, Eddie Harris, Nigel Kennedy, Courtney Pine and The Roots. She was Musical Director and Mentor for the BBC Young Jazz Musician Competition 2020 and 2022.
Nikki is lead for jazz, pop and improvisation at Music Education Islington, Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and is also a Principal lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire, teaching the future stars of jazz, all about improvisation.
Nikki won the Jazz FM Instrumentalist Award in 2017 and the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Education award 2024.
Chris Philips has been on the station since launch in March 1991 and the new slot sees him return to regular daytime presentation having taken a break since 2018 to concentrate on his previous Saturday night programme.
Of joining Jazz FM, Nikki Yeoh says: “I’ve listened to Jazz FM for years and years and love the fact that they play so many different kinds of jazz.
“I’m beyond excited to be joining the likes of Jez Nelson, Chris Philips and Helen Mayhew on the Jazz FM lineup with my new weekly Saturday night show where I’ll be presenting music you know – along with music you don’t know yet – but I promise you will love. I cannot wait to share the music with you.”
Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts added: “With Sarah leaving, it was always going to be tough to find an alternative as brilliant and as special as she was. Therefore, with Chris accepting the challenge – having been Sarah’s number one fan – this move allows us to also get Nikki onboard to present a regular show of her own curation. We know she can add some real value into our Jazz FM listeners lives.
“Nikki is a much sought after British jazz musician who is absolutely at the top of her game and I look forward her to transferring that knowledge and passion of the music to her weekly selections of songs as she brings Saturday night to a close each week.”
Saturdays on Jazz FM from 18th January 2025
0600-0900 – Nia Visser0900-1000 – Jazz Shapers with Elliot Moss1000-1400 – Nigel Williams1400-1800 – YolanDa Brown1800-2100 – Chris Philips2100-2200 – Documentaries and guest curations2200-2400 – Nikki Yeoh

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Bauer Media Audio UK has agreed to acquire Star Radio in Cambridgeshire to rebrand it as Hits Radio.

The local service will become a relay of the national Hits Radio service, taking the full network schedule including Fleur East, Gemma Atkinson, and Sam Thompson.
News and information will remain local to the area as per regulatory conditions.
Simon Myciunka, CEO of Bauer Media Audio UK said, “This move will allow us to connect with even more listeners across Cambridgeshire and unlock greater scale for our local and national commercial partners. A huge thanks to the Star Radio team who we will work closely with as we work through this transition.”
Freddie Scherer, Managing Director at Star Radio said “We’d like to thank the staff, listeners, advertisers and the Cambridgeshire community for the privilege of providing a radio service for the past 24 years.”
Star Radio, which started broadcasting in 1998, has had many rebrands over the last 26 years, including Cambridge Cafe Radio, Cambridge Red and The Eagle.
It is expected to transition to Hits Radio over the coming months.

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The Cornwall Community Media Network has announced details of a Community Radio Day.
The day, on 1st Feb, will celebrate their work in connecting local community radio stations across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
It will include an all-day broadcast that will highlight the collaboration of the Duchy’s local radio stations CHAOS Radio, CHBN, Source FM, Islands FM and Coast FM, as well as NCB Radio, all supported by BBC Radio Cornwall and The CHAOS Group.
Nathan Hunkin, Director of Digital and Innovation at The CHAOS Group: “Creating pathways into the world of radio and digital media, is a big passion for the CHAOS team.
“It’s always been our mission to help make positive changes to the communities around us, and now more than ever people want to see, hear and share the positive things happening in their community.
“Sharing our combined knowledge, skills and the platforms, seems like a natural and responsible thing to do.”
A syndicated programme will air on all stations from 10am on Saturday 1st February.

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Bauer has announced it is buying Clear Channel Europe – a significant player in the Out of Home media sector with 1400 staff.

The transaction, worth $625 million, is expected to close in 2025, upon satisfaction of regulatory approvals.
The acquisition of Clear Channel Europe gives Bauer Media an additional offering in 12 markets, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden.
It will give Bauer access to over 40,000 advertising sites across the UK, and follows Global’s move into the OOH sector in 2018 when it bought Exterion, Primesight and Outdoor Plus.
Yvonne Bauer, Chair of the Bauer Media Board said: “The acquisition of Clear Channel Europe represents a pivotal step in advancing our Group’s refocusedstrategy. By enhancing our core media and related businesses while investing in our digital transformation, this move broadens our capabilities and strengthens our position as a major player in the highly competitive media industry.”
“Bringing together our two companies’ offerings will enable us to reach 350 million consumers through 200 magazine brands, 150 Audio brands, and 110,000 Out of Home sites across Europe. This expands the scope of what we can offer advertisers, in turn giving them the opportunity to amplify the impact and relevance of their campaigns in an increasingly connected and digital world.”
“We look forward to welcoming the Clear Channel team to Bauer Media. Together, we will create a comprehensive and innovative media offering that meets the evolving needs of our advertisers and audiences across the region,” she continued.
Justin Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Outdoor UK & Europe added, “We look forward to joining Bauer Media to build upon the strong foundation that we have established in these European markets as a part of Clear Channel Outdoor. The consistent top-line performance of our Europe-North assets year-to-date underscores the growing demand in these markets and the dedication of our teams to executing for our clients and partners.”
Bauer Media’s lead M&A adviser was LionTree Advisers. Reed Smith served as legal adviser. The company was also advised by OOH Capital, Deloitte and Herbert Smith Freehills.

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Global is to end all local and regional shows on Heart, Smooth and Capital brands in England, adopting a new Nations Strategy.

Output will continue on a national level in Scotland and Wales.
The move has been made possible following the introduction of the Media Act late last year, meaning the current regional breakfast shows on Smooth, plus drive shows on Capital and Heart, will end.
All of the output for Capital, Heart and Smooth stations in England, including those owned by Communicorp, will be broadcast from London.
In Wales, Capital North and Capital South will combine to have one national show, with Heart South and Heart North also doing the same.
In addition, XS Manchester will be rebranded to Radio X 90s.
In a request for further details, Global told RadioToday: “We are indeed making some changes today and we will announce more details in due course.”

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Nick Grimshaw is returning to national BBC radio breakfast on a permanent basis as he takes over from Lauren Laverne on the 6 Music Breakfast Show.
Lauren has decided to step down after six years of presenting the programme, with the former Radio 1 breakfast show host set to start in February.
On the show this morning, which Nick has been covering since August 2024, Lauren also announced that she would be returning to mid-mornings, presenting a new weekday programme, which will feature Lauren’s regular features including Desert Island Disco and People’s Playlist, as well as live sessions.
Lauren has been off-air to have treatment for cancer, and was given the “all clear” in November.
Mary Anne Hobbs will be taking a sabbatical and will return to 6 Music later in the spring with a new show.
Nick and Lauren’s new programmes will begin in February. Nemone will present the Breakfast Show in the interim, from Monday 13th January.
Lauren says: “As listeners will know, I had a really tough 2024 and worried at times that I wouldn’t be able to return to the station I love so much. It has been a huge honour (and so much fun) to host the Breakfast Show for six wonderful years, but it is time to pass the baton on, and to set my alarm a little later. During my recovery I learned all over again about the power of music, the people you surround yourself with and the emotional support and joy radio can provide. I’m so grateful to be able to get back to doing what I love and sharing those things with our brilliant listeners every day.”
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “It really is wonderful news that Lauren is feeling better and is ready to return to 6 Music. Like our listeners, we have missed her enormously and we can’t wait to have her back on air.”Nick says: “I’ve had the greatest four months covering for Lauren and I can’t wait to continue waking you up on 6 Music. I want to say thank you to the listeners who’ve made me feel so welcome over the past few months and to Lauren’s fantastic team who have been imperative in making me so happy on air. 6 Music is a precious place, a station I love, I’m honestly honoured to be asked to work there and can’t wait to continue supplying the best new music from the world’s most interesting artists.”
Samantha Moy says: “Since the summertime, Nick has hosted our Breakfast show and it’s been clear how much our listeners have taken him into their homes and hearts. He is one of the finest broadcasters of his generation and we are thrilled that he is going to become the brand new presenter of the 6 Music Breakfast show.”

Mary Anne says: “My agenda has been to change daytime radio at 6 Music. It was David Bowie who taught me that creative life is progression. Once the work is complete… stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
“I’d like to thank every artist whose music and ideas have illuminated the show. I’d like to thank my production team, my Queens, Jax Coombes and Zoe Mullord. And of course, I want to send boundless love to my listeners, my family, thank you for sharing your invaluable time with me, it’s been a joy and a privilege to live with you. My daytime show will end in February, and I’ll return to 6 Music later this spring with something new… come with me.”

Samantha Moy says: “Mary Anne is the very best of us at 6 Music. As well as a DJ, she is a lover of art, the seeker of unheard sounds, fierce advocate, generous mentor and true friend. Mary Anne is a sheer force of nature, compelled to share her passion for music – in all of its forms – with the world. At 6 Music we are richer for it and we look forward to our wild horse’s return later this year.”

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