Soul singing sensation Lemar launched London’s new radio station 102.2 Smooth FM onto the airwaves at 10am today (Tuesday 7^th June).

 

The sound of Sade’s Smooth Operator greeted listeners who tuned in, closely followed by the exclusive first airplay of Lemar’s new single Don’t Give It Up.

 

Supported by a £1.5 million launch marketing campaign, 102.2 Smooth FM is the first new station on the London dial for seven years.

 

Breakfast host Jon Scragg was the first presenter on air and was joined in the studio for the launch by Lemar, who hit the ‘on air’ button at 10am and introduced the first song.

 

102.2 Smooth FM has replaced JAZZFM and will provide Londoners with the most chilled out station in the capital. During the day artists such as Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, Lemar, Alicia Keys and Luther Vandross will fill the airwaves while the evening and much of the weekend will broadcast a mix of specialist jazz and soul music.

 

In a bid to win over the much sought after BBC audience aged over 30, Smooth FM will broadcast 40 minute sweeps of continuous music every hour, a bold move which has been welcomed by London’s media agency community.

 

In the Q1 05 RAJAR audience research the frequency recorded a total of 652,000 listeners a week. GMG Radio expects 102.2 Smooth FM to achieve one million listeners a week within 18 months.

 

GMG Radio Chief Executive John Myers said: “This is a momentous day for us. Smooth FM will deliver a completely unique sound to the capital’s airwaves. Its Smooth 40 music sweeps will give the BBC a real run for its money.”

 

More than 400 guests will pack London nightspot Floridita at the station’s launch party. Guests and performers include Heather Mills McCartney, X-Factor winner Steve Brookstein, Mica Paris, Alfie and Batman Begins actress Anouska De Georgiou and soulful singer Anthony Costa from Blue.

 

Ends

 

Alison Halstead 020 7298 7296/07966 243435

Joe Sangwin 020 7298 7268/07884 253954