smooth radio announces launch date and new Programme Director for Northeast station

smooth radio, the new station targeted at the 40+ listener, has confirmed its launch date and will hit the airwaves across the Northeast of England at 8am on Tuesday 8th January 2008.

GMG Radio’s new station will broadcast from brand new studios in Gateshead on 97.5FM and reach two million adults across Tyne and Wear and Teesside. It will become the sixth smooth radio in the UK, alongside sister stations in London, the Northwest of England, Glasgow, and the East and West Midlands.

GMG Radio Chief Executive John Myers - known to many across the Northeast as former Century breakfast host John Morgan, said: "Launching a second radio station in the Northeast on the back of a very successful Century is something we are really looking forward to. Our new smooth service is aimed at those who want a wider mix of music and a softer style which we are confident will bring new listeners to commercial radio and take audience away from the BBC."

The Northeast’s newest station will offer a broad mix of easy listening music from the last five decades - from Abba to The Beatles, Rod Stewart to The Carpenters and Diana Ross to Simply Red.

smooth radio is also delighted to announce the appointment of its Programme Director, Kevin Howard. He joins from UTV Radio where he has been Regional Programme Director for six years but a wealth of experience in the industry at stations including Signal Radio, The Wolf, Peak FM and Marcher Sound will ensure he is well qualified to head up the new programming team.

Kevin said: "I'm really excited to be joining smooth radio at such an exciting time. The latest listening figures for the brand across the country were very impressive and I’m sure that the new smooth radio in the Northeast will replicate that success next year."

smooth radio will broadcast alongside sister GMG Radio owned station 100 - 102 Century FM from the new studios and it will mark the end of 14 years for Century at its current headquarters on Church Street in Gateshead.

Published on 22/08/2007

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