Jazz FM Row

Following a misleading article in yesterday’s Evening Standard, which stated that there was a row brewing over Jazz FM’s official go-ahead to reduce its jazz output, the Radio Authority has written to the paper to correct facts.

Since Jazz FM was re-awarded its licence to commence later this year, the Radio Authority has looked at the station’s “Promise of Performance”, which states the official quota of musical output. The Radio Authority explained to MediaTel this morning that in Jazz FM’s original licence agreement, there was no fixed quota of how much jazz music would be emmitted. With the successful re-application, the Radio Authority has actually tightened up the stations promise of performance, ensuring that at least 25% of music broadcast within a given time will be jazz. This effectively means that there may not be any increase in jazz output, but there definitely will be no reduction.

Tracey Mullins, Press Officer for the Radio Authority, added that a tightening up of regulations is the direction the RA is heading in, owing to the large increase in the number of commercial stations, and the necessity in controlling their output and ensuring they do not overlap.

Radio Authority 071 430 2724