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105.7 Smooth Radio - news archive

This is an archive of news about 105.7 Smooth Radio. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Smooth Radio: camera turned on album sleeves in ad campaign
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 12.38pm
GMG Radio is launching a multimillion-pound TV ad campaign for Smooth Radio in which listeners take shots of album sleeves covering parts of their body. By Mark Sweney (more)

Video: Watch the Smooth Radio TV ad
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 12.29pm
102.2 Smooth Radio in London is launching a multimillion-pound marketing featuring well-known album covers being used to mask parts of people’s bodies (more)

More networked shows for Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted June 13 2008, 11.46am
GMG Radio have introduced two new networked shows to weekends on Smooth Radio.Fiona Phillips’ Sunday afternoon show on Smooth Radio in London is now set to be broadcast on all six Smooth Radio stations from Sunday 22nd June. Andy Peebles is set to host a new Saturday night soul music show, The Soul Train. (more)

Paul Fairburn joins Smooth Radio
From Media Guardian. Posted June 10 2008, 1.24pm
GMG Radio has hired Paul Fairburn, Global Radio's managing director of digital platforms, to run Smooth Radio 102.2. By Mark Sweney (more)

Tony Blackburn goes national
From Radio Today. Posted June 3 2008, 9.00am
Sensational Tony Blackburn is set to be networked across five of GMG's Smooth Radio stations.His weekend breakfast show, which originates from London each Saturday and Sunday from 7 till 10am will air across the capital, the east and west midlands, the north west of England and Glasgow from Saturday. (more)

Tony Blackburn: London show extended around Smooth Radio network
From Media Guardian. Posted June 3 2008, 6.22am
Tony Blackburn's weekend breakfast show on GMG Radio's Smooth Radio London is to be networked across four other stations around the country. By John Plunkett (more)

Tony Blackburn: London show extended around Smooth network
From Media Guardian. Posted June 3 2008, 6.22am
Tony Blackburn's weekend breakfast show on GMG Radio's Smooth Radio London is to be networked across four other stations around the country. By John Plunkett (more)

Smooth Radio 'Covers'
From UTalk Marketing. Posted May 12 2008, 12.59pm
Genius new campaign (more)

Real contrast for GMG
From Radio Today. Posted May 1 2008, 7.02am
GMG Radio’s Smooth Radio stations had enjoyed a successful set of audience figures, with increases in audience across all five measured Smooth stations.However the Real/Century brand failed to perform as well, with Real Radio Scotland losing 10 per cent of its audience and 100 - 102 Century Radio's market share reaching a record low in the station's history. (more)

Sleeveface go Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted April 30 2008, 2.52pm
GMG Radio have looked to viral phenomenon Sleeveface for a new multi-million pound campaign to promote Smooth Radio.It is the biggest marketing campaign undertaken by GMG Radio to date, as the six Smooth stations introduce a new strapline Love Life Love Music. (more)

UK regulator denies Smooth Radio format change requests
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 23 2008, 12.10pm
At its meeting on 22 April 2008, UK communications regulator Ofcom’s Radio Licensing Committee (RLC) rejected format change requests submitted by Guardian Media Group regarding Smooth Radio in London and Smooth Radio in the North-West (102.2 and 100.4 FM). Ofcom says it welcomes GMG’s desire to provide jazz services on DAB. However, under existing legislation, Ofcom cannot [...] (more)

GMG must keep the jazz on Smooth
From Digital Spy. Posted April 23 2008, 11.14am
Ofcom rejects GMG Radio's request to drop the 45-hours-per-week jazz requirement on Smooth Radio. (more)

Ofcom tells Smooth Radio to keep jazz output
From Media Guardian. Posted April 23 2008, 10.32am
Media regulator Ofcom has rejected a bid by GMG Radio to drop jazz programming from its Smooth Radio stations in London and the north-west. By John Plunkett (more)

Ofcom say no to Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted April 23 2008, 10.20am
UPDATED: Ofcom has rejected GMG Radio's request to drop jazz music from it's Smooth Radio stations in London and in the North-West, after the results of a public consultation.Despite the decision, GMG Radio still plan to relaunch Jazz FM on digital radio in London, the north west and the West Midlands. (more)

GMG Appoints Deputy to Myers
From Radio Today. Posted March 26 2008, 12.39pm
GMG Radio has appointed Stuart Taylor as deputy chief executive to John Myers.The new role is in addition to Taylor's existing roles of commercial director of GMG Radio and managing director of Smooth Radio London. (more)

Smooth Celebrate with Ad Giveaway
From Radio Today. Posted March 26 2008, 10.46am
Smooth Radio in Glasgow is celebrating its first year on air by giving local businesses the chance to win a share of £105,000 worth of radio advertising. (more)

GMG's Jazz consultation opens
From Radio Today. Posted March 14 2008, 12.29pm
Ofcom has started the consulation process to gather views on GMG Radio's latest Format change request. As previously reported, GMG wants to remove 45 hours a week of jazz music from both Smooth Radio in the north west and London in return for providing a digital jazz station. (more)

GMG 'can't swap FM jazz for DAB station'
From Digital Spy. Posted March 14 2008, 11.25am
Ofcom starts consulting on GMG's request to drop its requirement to play jazz on Smooth Radio. (more)

Phillips to host Smooth Radio show
From Media Guardian. Posted March 11 2008, 1.40pm
GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips has signed up to present Smooth Radio's Sunday afternoon show. By Ben Dowell (more)

GMTV Goes Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted March 11 2008, 1.12pm
London’s Smooth Radio has signed breakfast TV star Fiona Phillips to present its Sunday afternoon show from Easter weekend. (more)

GMTV host goes Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted March 11 2008, 1.12pm
London’s Smooth Radio has signed breakfast TV star Fiona Phillips to present its Sunday afternoon show from Easter weekend. (more)

Tony Blackburn: My Life in Media
From The Independent. Posted March 10 2008, 12.00am
Tony Blackburn, 65, was the first voice to be heard on Radio 1 when it launched in 1967 and is still broadcasting 40 years later. He spent 27 years at Radio 1 and was a regular presenter of Top of the Pops. He experienced a career revival in 2002 when he was crowned King of the Jungle on the first series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here on ITV. He can be heard on Smooth Radio where he presents the weekend breakfast show. He lives in north London with his wife Debbi and 11-year-old daughter, Victoria, and has a grown-up son, Simon. (more)

Smooth brand gets new agency
From Radio Today. Posted February 22 2008, 7.47pm
GMG's six-strong Smooth Radio network will be promoted by communications agency Dye Holloway Murray after a four-way battle between creative heavyweights. DHM will proceed to create a major marketing campaign for the stations later this year. (more)

Goodier heads for Hollywood
From Radio Today. Posted February 18 2008, 10.46am
Smooth Radio will be broadcasting live from Hollywood this week, when Mark Goodier presents his mid-morning show from California. (more)

Blackburn returns to breakfast radio
From Digital Spy. Posted February 4 2008, 4.16pm
Broadcasting veteran Tony Blackburn takes up a weekend breakfast show on 102.2 Smooth Radio in London. (more)

Tony Blackburn joins Smooth radio
From Media Guardian. Posted February 4 2008, 1.54pm
Tony Blackburn is to join London's Smooth Radio as the presenter of its weekend breakfast show. By John Plunkett (more)

Tony Blackburn Joins Smooth Radio London
From Merry Media. Posted February 4 2008, 1.31pm
Legendary broadcaster Tony Blackburn has joined Smooth Radio in London to present the weekend breakfast show. Blackburn will present his first programme on February 16. . (more)

Blackburn back on breakfast
From Radio Today. Posted February 4 2008, 1.02pm
Tony Blackburn is to join 102.2 Smooth Radio in London as the new presenter of weekend breakfast. The broadcasting legend, who has worked in the radio industry over four decades, joins the station on Saturday 16th February, from 7am to 10am. (more)

Smooth signs Tony Blackburn
From Radio Today. Posted February 4 2008, 12.56pm
All-round radio good guy Tony Blackburn is returning to GMG as host of the weekend breakfast show on 102.2 Smooth Radio in London. (more)

Smoothly does it in London
From Radio Today. Posted January 31 2008, 8.31am
After numerous relaunches and lineup changes, GMG Radio's 102.2 Smooth Radio finally has something to shout about, with the best hours of any commercial radio station in London. Real Radio Scotland is now more listened to than Capital, while there were losses for both Century stations. (more)

Smooth Radio goes continental
From Radio Today. Posted January 16 2008, 8.20am
Radio stations from around Europe have teamed up with 100.4 Smooth Radio in the north-west of England for a holiday promotion with Ocean Village. (more)

New MD for GMG Radio NW
From Radio Today. Posted January 10 2008, 4.17pm
Andy Carter has become the new managing director of GMG Radio in the north west of England, where he will oversee Smooth Radio and Century Radio. (more)

TalkSport's McIntyre joins GMG Radio
From Media Guardian. Posted January 8 2008, 10.47am
Smooth Radio parent GMG Radio has hired TalkSport's Michael McIntyre to be its new regional sales director. By John Plunkett (more)

Gonna Make You a Smooth Star
From Radio Today. Posted January 8 2008, 8.02am
Smooth Radio in the north east has officially launched on 97.5 and 107.7 FM from a brand new studio complex in Gateshead. Special guest David Essex joined breakfast host Tom Davis and welcomed listeners to the new service. (more)

Essex to launch Smooth NE
From Radio Today. Posted January 3 2008, 5.06pm
Seventies pop icon David Essex will join breakfast presenter Tom Davies at 8am on Tuesday 8th January to launch Smooth Radio across the North East of England. (more)

Kevin Greening 1963 - 2007
From Radio Today. Posted December 31 2007, 12.28am
If you had the pleasure of meeting Kevin Greening, you'll know he was a bright, intelligent, charming individual. This weekend the smooth radio presenter sadly passed away suddenly in his sleep at the age of 44. (more)

Kevin Greening 1962 - 2007
From Radio Today. Posted December 31 2007, 12.28am
If you had the pleasure of meeting Kevin Greening, you'll know he was a bright, intelligent, charming individual. This weekend the smooth radio presenter sadly passed away suddenly in his sleep at the age of 44. (more)

Kevin Greening: ?A terrible loss to broadcasting?
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted December 31 2007, 12.01am
The GMG Radio group programming director, John Simons, has paid tribute to Smooth Radio presenter Kevin Greening, who died on Saturday night on the eve of his 45th birthday. Greening’s radio career spanned 22 years – from the BBC World Service to GLR, Virgin, Radio 1, XFM, FiveLive, Heart, 6Music and Smooth. “We are extremely saddened to [...] (more)

Kevin Greening: A terrible loss to broadcasting
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted December 31 2007, 12.01am
The GMG Radio group programming director, John Simons, has paid tribute to Smooth Radio presenter Kevin Greening, who died on Saturday night on the eve of his 45th birthday. Greening’s radio career spanned 22 years – from the BBC World Service to GLR, Virgin, Radio 1, XFM, FiveLive, Heart, 6Music and Smooth. “We are extremely saddened to [...] (more)

Radio veteran Kevin Greening dies, aged 44
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted December 30 2007, 9.16pm
Smooth FM presenter Kevin Greening has died. He was 44. Greening, who presented the Radio 1 breakfast show with Zoe Ball between 1997 and 1998, died in his sleep, according to BBC News. More here.  Kevin’s biography on the Smooth Radio website. Kevin on Wikipedia. (more)

Smooth Radio starts testing
From Radio Today. Posted December 18 2007, 8.28am
GMG's latest station Smooth Radio has started test transmissions from a new studio complex at Team Valley in Gateshead. The easy listening regional station will launch on January 8th, with a high-profile marketing campaign kicking off on Boxing Day. (more)

Smooth Radio north-east launch campaign
From UTalk Marketing. Posted December 17 2007, 12.32pm
Outdoor bus push (more)

Ex-Magic host Graham Dene to front Smooth breakfast show
From Media Guardian. Posted November 26 2007, 5.35pm
Former Magic drivetime host Graham Dene will front rival Smooth Radio's breakfast show from next year. By John Plunkett (more)

Goodier extends to Smooth NE
From Radio Today. Posted November 19 2007, 8.11pm
Mark Goodier's networked mid-morning show will be part of the launch schedule at Smooth Radio in the north east when the station launches on January 8th 2008. Also joining the weekday line-up will be Tom Davis, Paul Wappat, Dave Johnson and Steve Wells. (more)

Smooth contract up for review
From Radio Today. Posted November 15 2007, 8.29am
The lucrative contract to market the Smooth Radio brand will be up for grabs as owners GMG Radio appoint the Advertising Agency Register to handle a competitive pitch for theaccount early in the New Year. (more)

Smooth hires BRMB sales boss
From Radio Today. Posted October 19 2007, 12.39pm
GMG Radio has appointed Jane Davies as sales director for its Smooth Radio station in the west midlands. Jane joins Smooth Radio from BRMB where she is currently Head of Sales and will take up the position, based in Birmingham, on 7th January next year. (more)

GMG and Global confirm sales deal collapse
From The Times. Posted October 19 2007, 11.19am
Talks between Guardian Media Group and Global Radio to re-write the contract under which Global buys airtime for GMG's Smooth radio stations have collapsed. The contract is to be terminated, the two confirmed at lunchtime. (more)

A Real promotion for Gavin
From Radio Today. Posted October 12 2007, 10.35am
Gavin Bruce has been promoted from sales manager at Real Radio Scotland to sales director of all three GMG Radio Glasgow-based stations. Gavin will manage the commercial departments of Real Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio. (more)

Q & A: Craig McMurdo, presenter, Smooth Radio
From The Scotsman. Posted September 27 2007, 12.03am
With a name like Craig McLeod McMurdo, people wonder why I have an English accent. The reason is that I went to prep school in Chichester, Sussex. (more)

New Drivetime Host on Magic 105.4
From Merry Media. Posted September 12 2007, 12.20pm
Steve Priestley is the new Drivetime presenter of London radio station Magic 105.4. Priestley takes over from Graham Dene, who has left to join Smooth Radio in London as the new Breakfast presenter.. (more)

Smooth Radio hires bookworm
From Radio Today. Posted September 6 2007, 12.11pm
GMG Radio has hired Alex Dickson for a weekend programme on Smooth Radio in Glasgow. Alex Dickson is renowned for his book reviews and the show will combine reviews on the latest releases and interviews with authors along with music during the hour long Sunday morning show. (more)

Smooth NE to launch in Jan 08
From Radio Today. Posted August 23 2007, 5.15pm
Another star will be born in North East England on 8th January 2008 at 8am. GMG's Smooth Radio brand is being extended to a sixth region on FM as the licence won by Saga goes on air. Smooth have hired UTV regional programme director Kevin Howard as the PD for the new station. (more)

Mark Goodier goes networked
From Radio Today. Posted August 23 2007, 9.32am
Smooth Radio's mid-morning show for London, hosted by former Radio 1 presenter Mark Goodier is to be syndicated across sister stations in East Midlands, West Midlands and Glasgow. Smooth Radio in the North West will not carry the show, neither will the new station for the North East. (more)

Mark Goodier's Smooth Radio morning show in London is to be expanded to three other Smooth stations around the country
From Media Guardian. Posted August 23 2007, 1.00am
Mark Goodier's Smooth Radio show in London will be simulcast on three more Smooth stations around the UK. By John Plunkett. (more)

Real smooth results for GMG
From Radio Today. Posted August 16 2007, 12.54pm
GMG Radio are celebrating a landmark figure in listening hours today as the group passes the 5 million listeners mark. Smooth Radio London sees a small increase in weekly reach but average hours and audience share are down since the Format switch. (more)

Format change for Smooth NW
From Radio Today. Posted July 5 2007, 12.06pm
GMG Radio are seeking a Format change for Smooth Radio in the northwest to bring it more in line with its sister stations around the country. Whilst the station would continue to play jazz, soul, blues and R&B, they are requesting the addition of east listening music across the output. (more)

News restructure at GMG
From Radio Today. Posted June 21 2007, 4.05pm
GMG Radio is to set up three news 'hubs' in Manchester, London and Glasgow to produce bespoke regionalised bulletins for its 11 stations, 24 hours a day. The group, owners of the Real, Century, Smooth and Rock Radio brands, is also announcing new plans for bespoke Content Editors to create news material across broadcast and web platforms. Extra journalists are to be recruited in the North East ahead of the launch of GMG's sixth Smooth Radio station later this year. (more)

Malta link-up for Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted June 20 2007, 3.17pm
North West regional station Smooth Radio is to run a unique on-air promotion by linking up with Maltese radio station 89.7 Bay. Listeners will be sent an audio-postcard from Malta and then be asked to answer questions about it to win a trip to the Mediterranean island. One half of 89.7 Bay's breakfast team will appear on Smooth to highlight Malta's traditions and tourist attractions. (more)

New Director at GMG Radio
From Radio Today. Posted June 11 2007, 12.11pm
Stuart Taylor has joined GMG Radio to take up the new position of Commercial Director, and to manage Smooth Radio in London. He was previosuly Commercial Director for GMG Radio's sister company Guardian News & Media. Stuart will report directly to John Myers and explore cross-promotional opportunities between GMG brands. (more)

Signal 1 & Beacon Radio Favourites in the West Midlands
From Merry Media. Posted June 5 2007, 4.45pm
The Breakfast Show on Signal 1 hosted by Andy Goulding and Louise Stones and The Drivetime Show on Beacon Radio hosted by Jon Wyer have been voted the Best in the West Midlands according to a poll run by Merry Media. Over the past couple of months, Merry Media will be moving from one region to the next in the UK to find the best Breakfast and Drivetime shows on local radio. We have found the best in the South, South West & South East, East of England, East Midlands and the West Midlands and are now looking for the best in the North West region of England.Merry Media visitors voted for their favourite Breakfast Show in the West Midlands with Andy & Louise from Signal 1 gaining 14% of the votes. Ben Day from The Severn was in 2nd place with 10% of the votes followed by Mike Wyer from Smooth Radio.. (more)

With the news, here's Howard Hughes
From Press Gazette. Posted May 8 2007, 8.00am
Smooth Radio newsreader Howard Hughes has enjoyed more than 25 years in commercial radio and the BBC. Colin Crummy meets him. (more)

News award winners announced
From Radio Today. Posted April 13 2007, 4.08pm
Some of commercial radio's top journalists are making the headlines themselves today - rather than writing them. At the annual IRN Awards ceremony, Smooth Radio London's Howard Hughes has been given a special award for his contribution to the industry, whilst Emap's Manchester-based news team are celebrating picking up the prize for Best News Coverage. (more)

Smooth Radio Launch Across Britain
From Merry Media. Posted March 26 2007, 8.13am
4 Smooth Radio stations launched this morning - Smooth Radio Glasgow, Smooth Radio East Midlands, Smooth Radio West Midlands and Smooth Radio London.. (more)

Four GMG stars are born
From Radio Today. Posted March 26 2007, 6.05am
Guardian Media Group have launched four Smooth Radio stations this morning - all playing A Star is Born by Barbra Streisand as the first song. The song has been used to launch numerous stations run by GMG Radio boss John Myers, including Century Radio and Smooth FM. (more)

Parsons and Allen joins Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted March 21 2007, 1.44pm
Former Radio 2 presenter Lynn Parsons and ex-Capital host Mike Allen are joining Smooth Radio London. They join an impressive line-up of Graham Dene, Mark Goodier, Kevin Greening and Martin Collins from Monday. Radio 2 presenter Nick Barraclough also joins the station to host a networked country music show. (more)

Parsons and Allen join Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted March 21 2007, 1.44pm
Former Radio 2 presenter Lynn Parsons and ex-Capital host Mike Allen are joining Smooth Radio London. They join an impressive line-up of Graham Dene, Mark Goodier, Kevin Greening and Martin Collins from Monday. Radio 2 presenter Nick Barraclough also joins the station to host a networked country music show. (more)

Smooth Radio Sign Lynn Parsons & Mike Allen
From Merry Media. Posted March 21 2007, 1.29pm
Smooth Radio has completed the line-up on its London station with the addition of Lynn Parsons and Mike Allen to the schedule.. (more)

Smooth Radio London recruits veteran presenters
From Media Guardian. Posted March 21 2007, 12.00am
1.45pm: Smooth Radio London has signed former Radio 1 presenter Lynn Parsons and LBC regular Mike Allen. By Mark Sweney. (more)

The Smoothest radio re-brand?
From Radio Today. Posted March 20 2007, 8.38am
The change from SAGA Radio to Smooth Radio is set to take place this weekend, with Smooth FM in London and the northwest included, to create the largest regional radio brand in the UK. The new name means no expenses spared for owners GMG Radio. (more)

Chrysalis expands GMG work
From Radio Today. Posted March 13 2007, 9.15am
The soon-to-be-launched Smooth Radio network will have all its national sales handled by Chrysalis. GMG, owners of the Smooth brand already work with Chrysalis to sell Smooth FM and Real Radio stations but this deal will give the company an additional four stations to sell. (more)

Chrysalis takes on Smooth sales contract
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2007, 12.00am
1pm: Chrysalis Radio Sales will handle the entire national sales contract for the six-strong Smooth Radio network. By John Plunkett. (more)

2 Presenters Leave Saga 105.2
From Merry Media. Posted March 9 2007, 3.39pm
Angus Simpson and Art Sutter will not be hosting daytime shows when Saga 105.2 re-launches as Smooth Radio on March 26th.. (more)

Mark Goodier Joins Smooth Radio
From Merry Media. Posted March 7 2007, 1.19pm
Legendary broadcaster Mark Goodier is set to return to host his first daily radio show for 10 years as the new mid morning-presenter on London’s Smooth Radio.. (more)

Goodier takes morning slot on Smooth Radio
From Media Guardian. Posted March 7 2007, 12.00am
2pm: Former Radio 1 DJ Mark Goodier is joining Smooth Radio for his first daily radio show in a decade. By John Plunkett. (more)

Smooth Radio Unveils New Brand
From Merry Media. Posted March 5 2007, 1.46pm
Smooth Radio has unveiled its striking new brand identity prior to the March 26th launch of its stations.. (more)

Graham Dene Joins Smooth Radio
From Merry Media. Posted February 21 2007, 12.24pm
GMG Radio has persuaded Graham Dene to jump ship from Magic 105.4 to host the new breakfast show on its soon to re-launch London station Smooth Radio.. (more)

Dene dumps Magic for Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted February 21 2007, 10.00am
Long-time London jock Graham Dene is leaving Emap station Magic 105.4 and joining GMG Radio's soon to be re-launched Smooth Radio. Graham will host breakfast on the new station. Previously he spent a decade on Capital Breakfast and six years at Virgin. (more)

Smooth poaches DJ Graham Dene from Magic
From Media Guardian. Posted February 21 2007, 12.00am
10.15am: London's Smooth Radio has poached its new breakfast DJ from rival Magic. By John Plunkett. (more)

Smooth Radio appoints Gavin McCoy as programming chief
From Media Guardian. Posted February 9 2007, 12.00am
10.15am: A former sidekick on Steve Wright's Radio 1 show has been appointed programme controller of Smooth Radio. By John Plunkett. (more)

New PC for Smooth Radio London
From Merry Media. Posted February 8 2007, 5.06pm
GMG Radio has appointed Gavin McCoy as the new Programme Controller of its soon to launch Smooth Radio station in London.. (more)

GMG Radio to re-brand some of its UK stations
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 30 2007, 11.39am
UK commercial radio group GMG Radio is to re-brand the Saga radio stations it recently acquired as Smooth Radio, and change the name of the existing Smooth FM stations to Smooth Radio. The re-branding will take place in March. With the launch of a new station in northeast England in the autumn, there will be six [...] (more)

Saga Radio Will Rebrand As Smooth Radio
From Merry Media. Posted January 30 2007, 11.15am
GMG Radio is to rebrand its newly acquired Saga stations as Smooth Radio from the middle of March this year. The group will also drop the ‘fm’ part of the name across its current two smooth fm stations in London and the North West. GMG announced in December that it had agreed to purchase the Saga Radio stations for an undisclosed sum, but the acquisition is only formally completed this week. Significant marketing will be invested in the launch of the new brand as GMG re-positions the stations to offer greater appeal to a more mature audience. Ofcom recently awarded 102.2 smooth fm in London a change of format, allowing the station to focus much more on easy listening.. (more)

SAGA stations to go Smooth
From Radio Today. Posted January 30 2007, 11.00am
GMG Radio is set to re-brand the recently acquired SAGA group of stations as Smooth Radio, creating the biggest regional radio brand in the UK. Stations in London and the northwest will join by dropping FM from the name and adopting a new logo from March. (more)

GMG Radio subsumes Saga stations into Smooth stable
From Media Guardian. Posted January 30 2007, 12.00am
11am: GMG Radio is to rebrand its newly-acquired Saga stations as "Smooth Radio", expanding its stable of Smooth stations to six. By John Plunkett. (more)