The Absolute Radio Christmas Sessions

08Dec

The Absolute Radio Christmas Sessions was a truly magical day. Not only was it great to see so many listeners, clients and friends of the station before the festive period, there were also some brilliant performances from Tori Amos, Mumford & Sons and Doves.

I hate to use the term ‘hidden gem’ as it’s somewhat hackneyed, but it really does apply to The House of St Barnabas in Soho. Beyond the big black door is a gorgeous 18th century Georgian building full of surprises and secrets – none bigger than the historic private chapel which provided the backdrop for the day and for the sessions.

You can see videos of all of the festive sessions here.

But to get a taster of the day and a flavour of the wonderment of the House of St. Barnabas watch this taster video…

iTunes

If you want to know more about the House of St Barnabas – check out their website.

Merry Christmas!
Paul

Categories: Music 0

Posted by carrie on December 8, 2009

Chris Lawson

07Dec

Absolute Radio launch.

After 18 months working with the business, Brand Director Chris Lawson is leaving the company.

The position of Brand Director was created to successfully launch and transition the brand from an analogue radio station to a digital music and entertainment company with audio at its core. Chris had responsibility for all digital, marketing and communication activity. Chris will leave the company on the 18th December.

In it’s first year Absolute Radio has notched up four Sony Awards, three Radio Academy Awards, launched three radio station’s in Absolute Radio, Absolute 80’s and dabbl and three new websites, the industry-acclaimed Compare My Radio, and websites for the new station launches Absolute 80s and dabbl.co.uk – all within a challenging economic environment.

The marketing and communication responsibilities for the company will continue to be undertaken by Head of Marketing Clare Baker and Head of Communications Cat Macdonald. The digital responsibilities will be overseen by Clive Dickens, Chief Operating Officer ably assisted by Anthony Abbott, Digital Media Editor and Duncan Amey, Lead Designer & Developer. All four managers have between 5-7 years experience in the business.

Speaking on the news Brand Director Chris Lawson said, “Over the last 18 months, I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved with the brand in such a short space of time and I say goodbye to Absolute Radio with as they take the brand on the next phase of it’s journey. I look forward to talking about my next digital adventure in the New Year.”

And from Clive Dickens, Absolute Radio Chief Operating Officer, “The marketing and digital challenge of re-branding and re-launching Absolute Radio was not for the faint-hearted. What Chris has undertaken over the last 18 months and the plaudits won in awards and industry acclaim speaks for itself. Absolute Radio is firmly on it’s path to being a music and entertainment brand with audio at its core and Chris has played a very important part in that evolution. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with him – no pun intended.”

Categories: People 0

Posted by adam on December 7, 2009

Now on-air: A new type of radio station

04Dec

dabbl

Welcome to dabbl a new user-controlled radio station brought to you by the One Golden Square Labs boffins, playing the best in alternative new music, vintage 90’s and 00’s tracks, spine-tingling live performances and exclusive full stage sets has just gone live across the airwaves. You can be the puppet-master with the station’s playlist in your hands picking tracks from artists such as Kings of Leon, Muse, Kasabian, Arctic Monkey’s, Jamie T, Editors, Vampire Weekend, Temper Trap, Ian Brown and the hottest new tunes from the likes of Delphic and Chapel Club. Vote for the songs you want to hear and the tracks with the most votes are played out within the hour.

Every night you can play promoter booking your very own ‘Ultimate Live Line Up’ voting for tracks in your dream live gig. From the likes of The Clash live in New York in the 80s through to modern day classic sets such as Coldplay in Sydney or The Rolling Stones at Madison Square Gardens; dabbl has it all.

The new radio station launched tonight with an exclusive live stage set from new British rock n roll Lords Kasabian recorded on the Nottingham leg of their recent UK Tour.

dabbl broadcasts on DAB 24 hours a day across Swindon, Bristol and Essex, on DAB in London from 7pm until 6am and online everywhere at dabbl.co.uk.

Categories: dabbl labs 3

Posted by carrie on December 4, 2009

Now on-air: the soundtrack to Thatcher, yuppies and not-so-mobile phones

04Dec

Absolute 80s logo

If you like the sound of synths and the beat of a drum machine, or if you get a sense of melancholy when your hand accidentally brushes over the shoulder pads of that sequinned jacket you’ve sworn to the back of the cupboard, then you may want to tune in to Absolute 80s.

Dedicated to the hits from the decade when over-crimped, over-sprayed hair was a thing to applaud, Absolute 80s will be a radio station aimed to take you on a ‘nostalgia trip’ playing undisputed 80s classics with an up-tempo party feel at night. The first track to grace the station’s airwaves at 7pm tonight was Beastie Boys’ You’ve Got to Fight for Your Right to Party.

You can hear Human League, U2, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Simple Minds, Duran Duran, Prince, ABC, Depeche Mode, Blondie and Bon Jovi, plus a sprinkling of timeless tunes from artists such as Bananarama, Culture Club and Madonna.

And if you need an accompaniment to your New Year’s Eve Bash, crimp your hair, don your purple suit and white ruffled shirt and tune in for back to back 80s party classics which will see you into the new decade in unforgettable style.

The station now streams nationwide at absolute80s.com, SKY channel 0200, Virgin Media 951, Freesat 726 and on DAB digital radio in London. It’s also available on the free Absolute iAmp application for iPhone, iPod Touch and Android users.

Categories: Uncategorized 1

Posted by admin on December 4, 2009

Baddiel and Skinner reunite for Absolute Radio World Cup podcasts and shows

04Dec
Frank Skinner and David Baddiel

Frank Skinner and David Baddiel

As the world holds it’s breath ahead of today’s World Cup draw, football fans in the UK can breathe a sigh of relief as Absolute Radio reunites Baddiel and Skinner for a series of exclusive podcasts and live shows around the 2010 World Cup – Baddiel and Skinner’s Absolute Radio Podcasts. Absolute Radio has teamed up with Avalon Television to produce the podcasts and shows. www.absoluteradio.co.uk/baddielandskinner

Baddiel and Skinner’s Absolute Radio Podcasts will see the much-loved comedy pair in South Africa for the duration of the World Cup and the podcasts will be a mix of chat, analysis and news from the football tournament.

The daily podcast shows will be available to download for the morning commute every day from 6am and will be broadcast across the national radio station’s network in the evening as football fans enjoy the pre-match excitement and build-up. The podcasts will be available to download from the Absolute Radio itunes store.

The podcasts will kick off in the run-up to the World Cup  as soon as the football season finishes on www.absoluteradio.co.uk and Baddiel and Skinner will also be inviting fans to join in the banter in a series of live radio shows from South Africa throughout each stage of the tournament.

Back in 1994 David Baddiel first teamed up with Frank Skinner to create and star in BBC2’s Fantasy Football League, which ran for 54 episodes on BBC2, before transferring in 1998 to ITV for Fantasy Word Cup Live and Fantasy Football: Euro 2004.  The show was transmitted live every other day for the duration of the tournaments.  In 1996, David, Frank and Ian Broudie (The Lightning Seeds) created the enduring football anthem Three Lions, which was written as the official song of the Euro 96 championship. The single achieved Platinum status, selling more than 1 million copies and when re-released in 1998 it stayed at the number one position for five consecutive weeks. Following this the BAFTA and Golden ose nominated, Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned ran for five series on ITV1. This is their second series of podcasts, the first outing being with The Times in 2006 where they created the Sony Radio Academy Award nominated Baddiel and Skinner World Cup Podcasts, the Tournament’s first ever podcasts, downloaded free-of-charge by, at the time, an unprecedented 1 million listeners.

Frank Skinner said: “I’m incredibly excited about Absolute Radio sending us to the World Cup in South Africa. I fully expect to have three lions on my shirt and another couple chasing the Land Rover.”

David Baddiel added: “I absolutely refuse to go to South Africa until they comply with The Specials’ demand and free Nelson Mandela.  What?  When?”

Categories: Events People 2

Posted by jonny on December 4, 2009