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Classic FM (UK)
Encyclopedia
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom
's three Independent National Radio
stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.
, DAB digital radio
, satellite and cable television and is available internationally by streaming audio over the Internet
.
As well as playing older music, the station plays several modern film score
s.
Its presenters include Nick Bailey, John Brunning
, Myleene Klass
, Mark Forrest, Margherita Taylor
, David Mellor
, Jane Jones, Anne-Marie Minhall, Howard Goodall
, Alex James
, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
, Tim Lihoreau, Mark Forrest, Jamie Crick, Natalie Wheen
and John Suchet
and past presenters include Simon Bates
, Stephen Fry
, Richard Baker
, Lesley Garrett
, Henry Kelly
, Katie Derham
, Margaret Howard, Stefan Buczacki
, Petroc Trelawny
, Paul Gambaccini
, Mike Read
, Mark Griffiths, Aled Jones
, Lisa Duncombe, Nicholas Tresilian, Rob Cowan
, Robert Booth, Michael Mappin and Sally Peterson.
Classic FM is known for its annual "Hall of Fame", comprising the 300 most popular pieces as voted for by listeners. The Number 1 spot was occupied for several years by Max Bruch
's Violin Concerto No. 1
then by Rachmaninoff
's Piano Concerto No. 2
which was succeeded by Mozart's Clarinet Concerto
. From 2007 to 2010, the top place on the Hall of Fame was taken by Ralph Vaughan Williams'
"The Lark Ascending
". The 2011 "Hall of Fame" saw Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 return to the top spot, ending Vaughan Williams' four-year run.
and Bristol
, testing audience reaction to a regular drive-time programme of popular classical music. It proved very successful and the company's CEO, Ralph Bernard, and programme director, Michael Bukht
, drew up the plans for a national station.
Meanwhile Brian Brolly
, formerly the CEO of Andrew Lloyd Webber
's Really Useful Group
, had a similar idea in 1990. After failing to raise sufficient funds for the project Brolly's consortium was approached by GWR Group and the two merged. The UK Government had decided to award several new national radio licences and invited tenders. Brolly had brought the idea to Rick Senat, the long-serving head of business affairs in London for Warner Brothers and current owner of Hammer Films. Initially rejected by Warner Brothers, Senat showed the project to the President of Time Warner
International Broadcasting, Tom McGrath, himself a former classical musician and conductor. Time Warner agreed to back the project but was prohibited under then current UK law from owning more than a 25% interest.
GWR created a business plan which was supported by its major shareholder, DMGT publishers of the Daily Mail. An internal dispute over ownership of the licence was resolved and the consortium was completed after Time Warner agreed to back GWR's plans for the station. As time was running out to raise the £6m needed to launch the station, the GWR investment team spent two days presenting to and finally persuading private investor Sir Peter Michael to back the plan with a 30% investment. The founding shareholder group that launched Classic FM was Sir Peter Michael and Time Warner (each with over 30%), GWR (17%), DMGT (5% and several other smaller shareholders.
The Radio Authority had granted an exemption so that Time Warner could hold more than 25% provided a UK citizen/corporation was larger in the shareholding group. The station rejected the "BBC Radio 3
" style of presentation and took as its model New York
's WNYC
and WGMS in Washington, D.C.
, with their more populist mix of talk, light classical music, new artists and crossover classical records.
During the station's test transmissions between July and September 1992, Classic FM broadcast a continuous soundtrack of birds singing and other countryside sounds. The "birdsong" test transmissions became a famous landmark of British radio and attracted many newspaper articles and comment prior to the station's launch, including one live comment during BBC Radio 4's Test Match Special when commentator Brian Johnston
referred to listening to the birdsong, much to the fury of BBC management who were fearful of Classic FM's impending launch.
The birdsong recording was made in the Wiltshire garden of the station's chief engineer who is also credited with the idea of using the soundtrack as test material rather than playing back to back music which would otherwise have been expected. Consequently, the sound and style of the station remained a complete mystery to listeners, critics and rivals alike until it launched at 6am on 7 September 1992. This birdsong recording could later be heard on the temporary DAB station "Birdsong
", which replaced Oneword
when it closed down.
Today Global Radio
, the UK's largest radio station ownership group, owns the station. Classic FM has broadcast from its current studios on the second floor of 30 Leicester Square, central London, since March 2006. The first programme to be broadcast live from there was Mark Griffiths' programme on Sunday, 26 March 2006.
(Source: Radio & Records
, Billboard magazine, The Times
)
compression can be set by the user, so is less of a problem. The other station which transmits a lot of classical music, BBC Radio 3
, does not use compression during the evening.
who over a period of time brought 50,000 items of music into the playlist, and personally awarded each a star rating assessing its popular appeal. These ratings proved remarkably accurate when subsequently tested by audience research. They immediately marked the station out from Radio 3, which tended to broadcast less popular works. However, the influence of Classic FM, it has been claimed, in popularising classical music (which has long been seen as possessing a declining market) has had an effect on the music choices of other radio stations, including BBC Radio 3.
Classic FM accepted an idea by Quentin Howard (who, at the time, was Programme Director of GWR and acting Chief Engineer of Classic FM) to use a computerised playlist system rather than producer-selected music for each show. Selector software developed by RCS Inc in the United States
, which had previously been used only for pop music, was adapted for Classical music by Howard, Robin Ray and others to include many more fields and categories and deal with many more rotation rules to create a playlist from the 50,000 listed tracks; the first "officially broadcast" track was "Zadok the Priest
".
As Mr Justice Lightman stated when deciding a copyright
dispute over the playlist in favour of Robin Ray against Classic FM:
Classic FM currently has a music team who create playlists for the station, commission music research with listeners as well as choosing the repertoire for the station's CDs, magazines and concerts. The current Head of Music is Sam Jackson.
. Talbot composed a piece, scored for up to five instruments, each month for the year of his residence. The compositions were also premiered on Classic FM. The twelve compositions form part of a larger piece, released on a CD entitled Once Around the Sun on 23 May 2005.
Classic FM named Patrick Hawes
as a new composer in residence in 2006.
In May 2008, it was announced that Howard Goodall
, the composer and television presenter, was to join Classic FM as the station's latest composer in residence. Goodall also presented a new programme on the station, Howard Goodall on..., beginning on 7 June 2008.
from 1992 until 1994, during which time the club was in the Premier League.
Hayley Westenra is an Ambassador of the Charity, which also receives support from many famous faces from the world of classical music and entertainment.
Throughout the year The Classic FM Foundation holds fundraising events including concerts, sponsored treks and an annual appeal. It relies on the generous support of Classic FM listeners and corporate supporters.
, devoted to jazz
music. The station closed in March 2008, and Classic FM itself then broadcast a jazz programme every night between midnight and 2am until September 2008.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's three Independent National Radio
Independent National Radio
Independent National Radio is the official term for the three national commercial radio stations broadcasting on analogue radio in the United Kingdom...
stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.
Overview
Classic FM broadcasts nationally on FMFM broadcast band
The FM broadcast band, used for FM broadcast radio by radio stations, differs between different parts of the world. In Europe and Africa , it spans from 87.5 to 108.0 megahertz , while in America it goes only from 88.0 to 108.0 MHz. The FM broadcast band in Japan uses 76.0 to 90 MHz...
, DAB digital radio
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
, satellite and cable television and is available internationally by streaming audio over the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
As well as playing older music, the station plays several modern film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s.
Its presenters include Nick Bailey, John Brunning
John Brunning
John Brunning is a British musician, radio presenter and composer. He is best known for his regular broadcasts on Classic FM.Brunning was born in Essex. He learned guitar and played for a time with the successful band Mungo Jerry. In 1986 he began broadcasting on local radio. He joined Classic...
, Myleene Klass
Myleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
, Mark Forrest, Margherita Taylor
Margherita Taylor
Margherita Taylor is a British broadcaster, TV and radio presenter.Taylor studied media and communications at the University of Central England, majoring in video production for her degree. She found fame in 1993 when Birmingham based radio station BRMB offered her a slot as a DJ as part of a...
, David Mellor
David Mellor
David John Mellor, QC is a British politician, non-practising barrister, broadcaster, journalist and football pundit. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister John Major as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for National Heritage , before...
, Jane Jones, Anne-Marie Minhall, Howard Goodall
Howard Goodall
210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television...
, Alex James
Alex James (musician)
Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur...
, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is a successful homestyle consultant best known for his appearances on the BBC television programme Changing Rooms...
, Tim Lihoreau, Mark Forrest, Jamie Crick, Natalie Wheen
Natalie Wheen
Natalie Wheen is a British classical music radio presenter, currently broadcasting on Classic FM.Wheen, who was born in Shanghai, was a presenter of BBC Radio 4's arts' programme Kaleidoscope and Radio 3's evening sequence Mainly for Pleasure...
and John Suchet
John Suchet
John Suchet is a British news reader and television presenter.Suchet has two brothers, one of whom is David Suchet, a British actor. His father was Jack Suchet, who emigrated to England from South Africa in 1932, and trained to be a doctor at St Mary's Hospital, London...
and past presenters include Simon Bates
Simon Bates
Simon Bates is a UK disc jockey and radio presenter. Between 1976 and 1993 he worked at BBC Radio 1, presenting the station's weekday mid-morning show for most of this period. He later became a regular presenter on Classic FM...
, Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
, Richard Baker
Richard Baker (broadcaster)
Richard Baker OBE is a British broadcaster best known as a newsreader for the BBC News from 1954 to 1982. He was a contemporary of Kenneth Kendall and Robert Dougall and was the first person to read the BBC Television News in 1954. At one time he lived in Barnet, North London...
, Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
, Henry Kelly
Henry Kelly
Patrick Henry Kelly is an Irish television presenter and radio DJ.Henry Kelly was born in Athlone, Co Westmeath, Ireland. He was educated at Belvedere College SJ, and at University College Dublin where he was Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society...
, Katie Derham
Katie Derham
Katie Derham is a British newscaster and a presenter on television and radio.-Early life:Derham was born in Stockport to John and Margaret Derham, and grew up in Wilmslow...
, Margaret Howard, Stefan Buczacki
Stefan Buczacki
Dr. Stefan T. Buczacki is a British horticulturist, broadcaster and author.After growing up in Duffield, Derbyshire, where he was educated at The Ecclesbourne School, he gained a first-class honours degree in botany at Southampton University, and a D.Phil...
, Petroc Trelawny
Petroc Trelawny
Petroc Trelawny is a British classical music radio and television broadcaster, who joined BBC Radio 3 in 1998 where he regularly presents Music Matters, In Tune and Live in Concert....
, Paul Gambaccini
Paul Gambaccini
Paul Matthew Gambaccini is a radio and television presenter in the United Kingdom...
, Mike Read
Mike Read
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
, Mark Griffiths, Aled Jones
Aled Jones
Aled Jones is a Welsh singer and television/radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter who first came to fame as a treble...
, Lisa Duncombe, Nicholas Tresilian, Rob Cowan
Rob Cowan
Rob Cowan is a British music broadcaster and writer.Employed by music publisher Boosey & Hawkes for nineteen years in various capacities, his first record review was published in 1967. He edited CD Review for four years from 1985 and became a co-presenter with jazz and classical music writer Keith...
, Robert Booth, Michael Mappin and Sally Peterson.
Classic FM is known for its annual "Hall of Fame", comprising the 300 most popular pieces as voted for by listeners. The Number 1 spot was occupied for several years by Max Bruch
Max Bruch
Max Christian Friedrich Bruch , also known as Max Karl August Bruch, was a German Romantic composer and conductor who wrote over 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a staple of the violin repertoire.-Life:Bruch was born in Cologne, Rhine Province, where he...
's Violin Concerto No. 1
Violin Concerto No. 1 (Bruch)
Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, is one of the most popular violin concertos in the repertoire. It continues to be performed and recorded by many violinists and is arguably Bruch's most famous composition.- History :...
then by Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
's Piano Concerto No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 2 (Rachmaninoff)
The Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, is a concerto for piano and orchestra composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff between the autumn of 1900 and April 1901. The second and third movements were first performed with the composer as soloist on 2 December 1900...
which was succeeded by Mozart's Clarinet Concerto
Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)
Mozart's Clarinet concerto in A major, K. 622 was written in 1791 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler.It consists of the usual three movements, in a fast–slow–fast form:# Allegro# Adagio# Rondo: Allegro...
. From 2007 to 2010, the top place on the Hall of Fame was taken by Ralph Vaughan Williams'
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
"The Lark Ascending
The Lark Ascending
The Lark Ascending is a work by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, inspired by George Meredith's 122-line poem of the same name about the skylark. The work was written in two versions: violin and piano, written in 1914; and violin and orchestra, written in 1920. The orchestral version...
". The 2011 "Hall of Fame" saw Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 return to the top spot, ending Vaughan Williams' four-year run.
History
The idea for a national, commercial FM network devoted to classical music originated with the management at GWR group, an entrepreneurial group of UK commercial radio stations. It had been operating a trial programme on its AM frequencies in WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, testing audience reaction to a regular drive-time programme of popular classical music. It proved very successful and the company's CEO, Ralph Bernard, and programme director, Michael Bukht
Michael Bukht
Mirza Michael John Bukht OBE was a British commercial radio executive. Under the pseudonym Michael Barry, he was a chef and television personality who was a regular co-presenter on the BBC2 television show Food and Drink.-Education and background:Barry was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys'...
, drew up the plans for a national station.
Meanwhile Brian Brolly
Brian Brolly
Brian Brolly , was an English showbusiness entrepreneur. He was the managing director of Paul and Linda McCartney's MPL Communications, and then of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company. He was a co-founder of the radio stations Jazz FM and Classic FM.Brolly was born in London...
, formerly the CEO of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's Really Useful Group
Really Useful Group
The Really Useful Group Ltd. is an international company set up in 1977 by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is involved in theatre, film, television, video and concert productions, merchandising, magazine publishing, records and music publishing...
, had a similar idea in 1990. After failing to raise sufficient funds for the project Brolly's consortium was approached by GWR Group and the two merged. The UK Government had decided to award several new national radio licences and invited tenders. Brolly had brought the idea to Rick Senat, the long-serving head of business affairs in London for Warner Brothers and current owner of Hammer Films. Initially rejected by Warner Brothers, Senat showed the project to the President of Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
International Broadcasting, Tom McGrath, himself a former classical musician and conductor. Time Warner agreed to back the project but was prohibited under then current UK law from owning more than a 25% interest.
GWR created a business plan which was supported by its major shareholder, DMGT publishers of the Daily Mail. An internal dispute over ownership of the licence was resolved and the consortium was completed after Time Warner agreed to back GWR's plans for the station. As time was running out to raise the £6m needed to launch the station, the GWR investment team spent two days presenting to and finally persuading private investor Sir Peter Michael to back the plan with a 30% investment. The founding shareholder group that launched Classic FM was Sir Peter Michael and Time Warner (each with over 30%), GWR (17%), DMGT (5% and several other smaller shareholders.
The Radio Authority had granted an exemption so that Time Warner could hold more than 25% provided a UK citizen/corporation was larger in the shareholding group. The station rejected the "BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
" style of presentation and took as its model New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
and WGMS in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, with their more populist mix of talk, light classical music, new artists and crossover classical records.
During the station's test transmissions between July and September 1992, Classic FM broadcast a continuous soundtrack of birds singing and other countryside sounds. The "birdsong" test transmissions became a famous landmark of British radio and attracted many newspaper articles and comment prior to the station's launch, including one live comment during BBC Radio 4's Test Match Special when commentator Brian Johnston
Brian Johnston
Brian Alexander Johnston CBE, MC was a cricket commentator and presenter for the BBC from 1946 until his death.-Early life and education:...
referred to listening to the birdsong, much to the fury of BBC management who were fearful of Classic FM's impending launch.
The birdsong recording was made in the Wiltshire garden of the station's chief engineer who is also credited with the idea of using the soundtrack as test material rather than playing back to back music which would otherwise have been expected. Consequently, the sound and style of the station remained a complete mystery to listeners, critics and rivals alike until it launched at 6am on 7 September 1992. This birdsong recording could later be heard on the temporary DAB station "Birdsong
Birdsong (digital radio channel)
Birdsong was a temporary radio channel which used to broadcast on national digital radio in the United Kingdom. The transmission consisted of a continuously looping recording of bird song. It was available via the Digital One DAB network. The recording is also available via the Digital One website...
", which replaced Oneword
Oneword
Oneword Radio was a British commercial digital radio station featuring books, drama, comedy, children's programming, and discussion. The station was available in the UK via digital radio and digital television and was streamed on the internet 24 hours a day worldwide...
when it closed down.
Today Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
, the UK's largest radio station ownership group, owns the station. Classic FM has broadcast from its current studios on the second floor of 30 Leicester Square, central London, since March 2006. The first programme to be broadcast live from there was Mark Griffiths' programme on Sunday, 26 March 2006.
(Source: Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
, Billboard magazine, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
)
Technical information
Classic FM uses dynamic range compression of the volume of music on FM (this is distinct from the data compression used for formats such as MP3). On DABDigital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
compression can be set by the user, so is less of a problem. The other station which transmits a lot of classical music, BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, does not use compression during the evening.
Playlist
At the heart of Classic FM's identity from the start was its playlist of popular classics. At launch it was compiled over the first few years by Robin RayRobin Ray
Robin Ray was an English actor, musician and broadcaster, the son of comedian Ted Ray and the brother of actor Andrew Ray.-Career:...
who over a period of time brought 50,000 items of music into the playlist, and personally awarded each a star rating assessing its popular appeal. These ratings proved remarkably accurate when subsequently tested by audience research. They immediately marked the station out from Radio 3, which tended to broadcast less popular works. However, the influence of Classic FM, it has been claimed, in popularising classical music (which has long been seen as possessing a declining market) has had an effect on the music choices of other radio stations, including BBC Radio 3.
Classic FM accepted an idea by Quentin Howard (who, at the time, was Programme Director of GWR and acting Chief Engineer of Classic FM) to use a computerised playlist system rather than producer-selected music for each show. Selector software developed by RCS Inc in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which had previously been used only for pop music, was adapted for Classical music by Howard, Robin Ray and others to include many more fields and categories and deal with many more rotation rules to create a playlist from the 50,000 listed tracks; the first "officially broadcast" track was "Zadok the Priest
Zadok the Priest
Zadok the Priest is a coronation anthem composed by George Frideric Handel using texts from the King James Bible. It is one of the four Coronation Anthems that Handel composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain in 1727,The other Coronation Anthems Handel composed are: The King Shall...
".
As Mr Justice Lightman stated when deciding a copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
dispute over the playlist in favour of Robin Ray against Classic FM:
- "A detailed categorisation of each track of music in Classic FM's library fed as a data base into Selector enabled Selector to select the individual track for any hour of the day in accordance with any choice of programme made by reference to a combination of categories by a programme director. The particular advantage of the Selector system was that it enabled Classic FM to provide a balanced rotation of music, composers and performers and to reflect in the frequency of choice of track and in the choice of time when it was played its popularity and mood, and to avoid repetition or the personal preference of the presenter influencing the selection of the music played on the air." (Robin Ray v Classic FM Plc [1998] FSR 622)
Classic FM currently has a music team who create playlists for the station, commission music research with listeners as well as choosing the repertoire for the station's CDs, magazines and concerts. The current Head of Music is Sam Jackson.
Composer in residence
Classic FM named a composer in residence in 2004, Joby TalbotJoby Talbot
Joby Talbot is a British composer.Born in Wimbledon, London, Talbot studied composition at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Brian Elias and Simon Bainbridge....
. Talbot composed a piece, scored for up to five instruments, each month for the year of his residence. The compositions were also premiered on Classic FM. The twelve compositions form part of a larger piece, released on a CD entitled Once Around the Sun on 23 May 2005.
Classic FM named Patrick Hawes
Patrick Hawes
Patrick Hawes is a British composer.He studied at St Chad's College, University of Durham before working as a teacher of music and English, being appointed composer in residence at Charterhouse School, where he produced a children's opera and several other choral works, some in partnership with...
as a new composer in residence in 2006.
In May 2008, it was announced that Howard Goodall
Howard Goodall
210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television...
, the composer and television presenter, was to join Classic FM as the station's latest composer in residence. Goodall also presented a new programme on the station, Howard Goodall on..., beginning on 7 June 2008.
Sponsorship
Classic FM were sponsors of Queens Park Rangers Football ClubQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
from 1992 until 1994, during which time the club was in the Premier League.
Charity : The Classic FM Foundation
The Classic FM Foundation is a grant giving charity which raises money to fund music education and music therapy projects working with children and adults throughout the UK. It was originally founded in 2006 as Classic FM Music Makers, and was renamed in 2010.Hayley Westenra is an Ambassador of the Charity, which also receives support from many famous faces from the world of classical music and entertainment.
Throughout the year The Classic FM Foundation holds fundraising events including concerts, sponsored treks and an annual appeal. It relies on the generous support of Classic FM listeners and corporate supporters.
Other media
- Classic FM also runs an Internet Television (and formerly digital TV) channel playing classical music videos, Classic FM TVClassic FM TVClassic FM TV is a web based internet channel owned by Classic FM. Until 14 December 2007 it was available as a television channel on the Sky Digital and Virgin Media cable TV services. Classic FM TV now only broadcasts online in the United Kingdom via the Internet.- Other media :Classic FM TV is...
. - Classic FM publishes a monthly magazine, Classic FM MagazineClassic FM MagazineThe Classic FM Magazine is a magazine published in the United Kingdom each month. It is the printed organ of Classic FM, a British classical commercial radio station. The magazine reviews classical recordings and live performances and often includes tracks from recent releases on its cover disk....
, which presents news and reviews. - Classic FM has also issued a series of CDs with selected classical pieces, notably two CDs of Classic FM Music for Babies (playtime and bedtime) and Classic FM Music for Bathtime.
Jazz on Classic FM
On 25 December 2006 Classic FM opened a sister station theJazzTheJazz
theJazz was a British commercial jazz digital radio station. The station was run by GCap Media and launched on Christmas Day 2006. originally as a non-stop jazz station on the Digital One DAB ensemble, Sky Digital, Virgin Media and the Internet....
, devoted to jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music. The station closed in March 2008, and Classic FM itself then broadcast a jazz programme every night between midnight and 2am until September 2008.
Monday to Friday
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0200 – 0600 | Nick Bailey | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0600 – 0900 | More Music Breakfast: Mark Forrest | |
| 0900 – 1300 | John Suchet John Suchet John Suchet is a British news reader and television presenter.Suchet has two brothers, one of whom is David Suchet, a British actor. His father was Jack Suchet, who emigrated to England from South Africa in 1932, and trained to be a doctor at St Mary's Hospital, London... |
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| 1300 – 1700 | Jamie Crick | |
| 1700 – 2000 | Classic FM Drive: John Brunning John Brunning John Brunning is a British musician, radio presenter and composer. He is best known for his regular broadcasts on Classic FM.Brunning was born in Essex. He learned guitar and played for a time with the successful band Mungo Jerry. In 1986 he began broadcasting on local radio. He joined Classic... |
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| 2000 – 2200 | The Full Works Concert: Jane Jones | |
| 2200 – 0200 | Smooth Classics: Margherita Taylor Margherita Taylor Margherita Taylor is a British broadcaster, TV and radio presenter.Taylor studied media and communications at the University of Central England, majoring in video production for her degree. She found fame in 1993 when Birmingham based radio station BRMB offered her a slot as a DJ as part of a... |
Monday variation
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 – 0600 | Nick Bailey | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0200 – 0600 | Early Hours: John Brunning John Brunning John Brunning is a British musician, radio presenter and composer. He is best known for his regular broadcasts on Classic FM.Brunning was born in Essex. He learned guitar and played for a time with the successful band Mungo Jerry. In 1986 he began broadcasting on local radio. He joined Classic... |
Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0600 – 0900 | More Music Breakfast: Tim Lihoreau | |
| 0900 – 1200 | The Official Classic FM Chart: Mark Forrest | |
| 1200 – 1500 | Nicholas Owen | |
| 1500 – 1800 | Anne-Marie Minhall | |
| 1800 – 1900 | The New CD Show: David Mellor David Mellor David John Mellor, QC is a British politician, non-practising barrister, broadcaster, journalist and football pundit. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister John Major as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for National Heritage , before... |
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| 1900 – 2200 | Saturday Concert: Howard Goodall Howard Goodall 210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television... |
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| 2200 – 0000 | Myleene Klass Myleene Klass Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:... |
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 – 0600 | Jane Jones | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0600 – 0900 | More Music Breakfast: Tim Lihoreau | |
| 0900 – 1200 | Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen | |
| 1200 – 1500 | Jamie Crick | |
| 1500 – 1700 | The A-Z of Classic FM Music: Alex James Alex James (musician) Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur... |
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| 1700 – 2000 | Anne-Marie Minhall | |
| 2000 – 2200 | David Mellor David Mellor David John Mellor, QC is a British politician, non-practising barrister, broadcaster, journalist and football pundit. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister John Major as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of State for National Heritage , before... |
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| 2200 – 0000 | Myleene Klass Myleene Klass Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:... |