The Bauer Media Group has agreed to acquire Jazz FM, the UK’s leading national commercial radio service for jazz, soul and blues.
The station, which now reaches 672,000 people weekly, celebrates newer jazz artists such as Kamasi Washington and Ezra Collective as well as classic artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Gregory Porter and Nina Simone.
The move will extend Bauer Radio’s audience and its portfolio of pop, urban, and rock stations to a new music genre and grow its ABC1 audience.
The Jazz radio business will be managed by Bauer’s Steve Parkinson, group managing director of National Radio.
Paul Keenan, CEO of Bauer Media, commented: “Jazz FM is a much loved, respected and influential brand, with strong growth potential, we look forward to developing it further. Jazz music is seeing an unprecedented resurgence, and this extends us into an entirely new and complementary radio audience. Jazz’s community of digitally savvy music lovers is thriving and I believe that Jazz FM’s expertise combined with our knowledge and experience in digital and personalised advertising technology such as Bauer’s InStream+ will propel the brand for both listeners and advertisers. We look forward to working with the team to grow the business.”
Jonathan Arendt, Jazz FM CEO, said: “Jazz FM is a well-established and trusted brand, curated by passionate and expert presenters and producers – and I’m delighted that it will sit within the Bauer Radio family, where they are respectful and mindful of individual formats and listener groups.”
By Sophie Nevrkla
