John Myers
Encyclopedia
John Myers is a British radio executive, consultant and presenter. Myers developed the Century Radio brand for Border Radio Holdings
in the early 1990s, launching two more stations later in the decade. He presented programmes under the pseudonym 'John Morgan'. He then became Chief Executive of GMG Radio
, developing the Real Radio
, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio
brands and overseeing GMG Radio's acquisition of the Century network from GCap Media
. He assumed his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Radio Academy
in April 2011.
In 2009, he was asked by the Labour Government
to produce a report on the future of local radio in the UK ("The Myers Report") which was published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
in April 2009. A number of his recommendations were taken up by the Digital Economy Act 2010
, leading to, amongst others, mergers within the Heart and Smooth Radio networks. Myers reviewed efficiencies at four BBC radio stations during the first quarter of 2011 and, in late-2011, began reviewing BBC Local Radio
stations in response to the Delivering Quality First cuts.
. He was the station's first country music
presenter while also presenting and producing a number of music programmes. He became a presenter in 1982 for Red Rose and then, Radio Tees
in 1984. In 1989 he became the programme controller and breakfast presenter for Red Rose Gold.
While also in radio, he joined Border Television
as a continuity announcer and programme presenter in 1985, and developed the long running Border Birthdays slot with a puppet called Eric the Monkey. He remained in television presentation for four years returning to Red Rose Radio in 1989.
He became managing director of Border Radio Holdings in 1993 and launched CFM. Myers presented the breakfast programme, the Friday night phone-in and a Sunday lunch-time programme called 'fun on the phones'.
. He again presented the breakfast show, this time under the pseudonym of John Morgan. Myers later released a compilation cassette of the wind-up
s from his show, and even a novelty single, called "Three Rosettes", under the further pseudonym of Mr Martin. He also co-presented other shows, such as the Sunday lunch time "Fun on the Phones".
During this time he also presented segments on Tyne Tees Television
's magazine show. Ratings fell when Myers stepped down from presenting the breakfast show, and his replacement, Steve Coleman, was sacked after just three weeks. Myers returned for another 12 months until Paul Gough replaced him in 1997.
In 1997 Myers left the North East to launch 106 Century FM
in the East Midlands
. A year later, the BBC television
fly on the wall
documentary Trouble at the Top
followed his launch of 105.4 Century FM
in North West England
.
(GMG) after they announced they were selling the radio stations. Sir Robert Phillis
, the former GMG chief executive, enlisted him to establish GMG's radio division after seeing Myers on the documentary programme Trouble at the Top.
Myers became managing director of GMG Radio in 1999, winning the first licence for GMG, Real Radio (Wales)
, which launched in 2000. Myers resurrected the "Fun On The Phones" presenting as John Morgan, with John Simons
occasionally presenting. The breakfast show was presented by Terry Underhill and Sarah Graham in the first few years of the station.
He became chief executive of GMGR in 2002, and joined the board of directors of the Guardian Media Group
in 2006. In October 2006, GMG Radio bought the two remaining Century stations from GCap, bringing Myers to control the brand he started in 1994. During his nine years with the company, it was awarded four licenses and made the purchase of: Scot FM
from the Wireless Group; JAZZ FM; Paisley’s Q96
from UTV; the two Century FM stations from GCap; and four Saga Radio stations.
In March 2007 he oversaw the launch of the Smooth Radio brand, the UK’s first mainstream commercial stations to target the 40-59 year old adult. The five existing Smooth FM and Saga stations were rebranded as Smooth Radio and the group launched the sixth station under this brand in North East England
in January 2008. This was quickly be followed by the launch of the group’s second Rock Radio
station in Manchester in May 2008. In December '08, GMGR was awarded the North Wales licence, which will allow Real Radio to be the first national commercial station in Wales
.
In 2008 Myers convinced the GMG board to invest £1m in documentaries, a first for commercial radio. Many of these are now aired across the GMG Radio network. He stepped down from his role at GMG Radio to travel the world.
to undertake a review of commercial radio in the UK, which was published in April 2009. In order to stop a high percentage of commercial radio stations losing money, Myers recommended that regulators could remove the imperative for local radio to be produced from within a geographic boundary; tailored news feeds alluding to a geographic area could be produced from one big building. A number of his recommendations were taken up within the Digital Britain report and the Digital Economy Act. The changes lead to Smooth Radio merging its five England stations into one quasi-national station, with local news feeds produced from GMG Radio's headquarters in Salford Quays
, and Global Radio
halving the number of its Heart stations through co-local content.
Myers was appointed chairman of Radio Tyneside, a hospital radio
station serving patients in Newcastle upon Tyne
and Gateshead
, in July 2010.
In November 2010, he was asked by the BBC to review efficiency at Radio 1
, 1Xtra
, 6 Music
and Radio 2
; this project is expected to conclude in March 2011. The Telegraph reported that the BBC needed to hire someone with expertise in commercial radio, but was not a "BBC hater". In late 2011, the BBC commissioned Myers to produce a report on how the corporation's local radio stations can best adapt to the Delivering Quality First (DQF) budget cuts. BBC English Regions
said that Myers was to "advise us on how we can maximise productivity and deliver efficiency savings across local radio."
He assumed his role as chief executive of the Radio Academy
in April 2011. Through his company Myers Media he occasionally returns to the airwaves under his radio name of John Morgan. Myers is producing a radio series for transmission in late 2011.
for his contribution to radio. He is a former board director of the Radio Centre, the Sony Radio Awards Committee, and a past Chairman of the Radio Academy until March 2009.
Border Television
Border Television is the ITV franchise holder for the Border region, spanning the England/Scotland border and covering Dumfries & Galloway region, a small part of the south-west area of Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, parts of north and west Northumberland and the majority of Cumbria...
in the early 1990s, launching two more stations later in the decade. He presented programmes under the pseudonym 'John Morgan'. He then became Chief Executive of GMG Radio
GMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
, developing the Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio
Rock Radio
Rock Radio is a brand of radio stations in the United Kingdom owned by GMG Radio.96.3 Rock Radio was the first station in the network. It operates in West Central Scotland...
brands and overseeing GMG Radio's acquisition of the Century network from GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
. He assumed his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Radio Academy
Radio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
in April 2011.
In 2009, he was asked by the Labour Government
Brown Ministry
Gordon Brown took office as Prime Minister on 27 June 2007 and formed his Government. It ended, upon his resignation, on 11 May 2010. In his inaugural cabinet Brown appointed the UKs first female Home Secretary Jacqui Smith....
to produce a report on the future of local radio in the UK ("The Myers Report") which was published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
in April 2009. A number of his recommendations were taken up by the Digital Economy Act 2010
Digital Economy Act 2010
The Digital Economy Act 2010 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom regulating digital media. Introduced by Peter Mandelson, Lord Mandelson, it received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010, and came into force on 8 June 2010 The Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24) is an Act of the Parliament of...
, leading to, amongst others, mergers within the Heart and Smooth Radio networks. Myers reviewed efficiencies at four BBC radio stations during the first quarter of 2011 and, in late-2011, began reviewing BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio
BBC Local Radio is the BBC's regional radio service for England and the Channel Islands, consisting of 40 stations. They cover a variety of areas with some serving a city and surrounding areas, for example BBC Radio Manchester; a county, for example BBC Radio Norfolk; an administrative region for...
stations in response to the Delivering Quality First cuts.
Early career
Myers started his radio career in 1980 as a Station Assistant for BBC Radio CumbriaBBC Radio Cumbria
BBC Radio Cumbria is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Cumbria and broadcasts from studios in Carlisle.- History :The county of Cumbria, from which the station takes its current name, was not created until 1974...
. He was the station's first country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
presenter while also presenting and producing a number of music programmes. He became a presenter in 1982 for Red Rose and then, Radio Tees
Radio Tees
Radio Tees was the original name of TFM Radio, the Independent Local Radio station broadcasting in North East England, serving Teesside and parts of County Durham and North Yorkshire....
in 1984. In 1989 he became the programme controller and breakfast presenter for Red Rose Gold.
While also in radio, he joined Border Television
Border Television
Border Television is the ITV franchise holder for the Border region, spanning the England/Scotland border and covering Dumfries & Galloway region, a small part of the south-west area of Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, parts of north and west Northumberland and the majority of Cumbria...
as a continuity announcer and programme presenter in 1985, and developed the long running Border Birthdays slot with a puppet called Eric the Monkey. He remained in television presentation for four years returning to Red Rose Radio in 1989.
He became managing director of Border Radio Holdings in 1993 and launched CFM. Myers presented the breakfast programme, the Friday night phone-in and a Sunday lunch-time programme called 'fun on the phones'.
Century Radio
In September 1994, he launched Century Radio in North East EnglandNorth East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. He again presented the breakfast show, this time under the pseudonym of John Morgan. Myers later released a compilation cassette of the wind-up
Wind-up
Wind-up or windup may refer to:* a verb for terminating the existence of a company or other entity with a view to its liquidation and dissolution* pain wind-up, central sensitization caused by repeated stimulation of C nociceptors...
s from his show, and even a novelty single, called "Three Rosettes", under the further pseudonym of Mr Martin. He also co-presented other shows, such as the Sunday lunch time "Fun on the Phones".
During this time he also presented segments on Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
's magazine show. Ratings fell when Myers stepped down from presenting the breakfast show, and his replacement, Steve Coleman, was sacked after just three weeks. Myers returned for another 12 months until Paul Gough replaced him in 1997.
In 1997 Myers left the North East to launch 106 Century FM
Heart 106
Gem 106, previously known as Heart East Midlands, is a regional radio station broadcasting to the East Midlands, owned and operated by Orion Media.-History:...
in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
. A year later, the BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
fly on the wall
Fly on the wall
Fly on the wall is a style of documentary-making used in filmmaking and television production. The name derived from the idea that events are seen candidly, as a fly on a wall might see them...
documentary Trouble at the Top
Trouble at the Top
Trouble at the Top was a business-based BBC television fly on the wall documentary broadcast on BBC2.A spin off four-part series, Trouble at the Big Top, followed developments at the Millennium Dome in a similar style....
followed his launch of 105.4 Century FM
105.4 Century FM
105.4 Real Radio is an independent local radio station controlled by GMG Radio. It is the flagship station of the Real Radio network and has a regional license to broadcast to North West England. The station was part of the Century Network for over ten years until it was rebranded in 2009.The...
in North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
.
GMG radio (1999-2009)
Myers moved to Guardian Media GroupGuardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
(GMG) after they announced they were selling the radio stations. Sir Robert Phillis
Bob Phillis
Sir Robert Weston Phillis was a British media executive with experience both in broadcasting organisations and the press....
, the former GMG chief executive, enlisted him to establish GMG's radio division after seeing Myers on the documentary programme Trouble at the Top.
Myers became managing director of GMG Radio in 1999, winning the first licence for GMG, Real Radio (Wales)
Real Radio (Wales)
Real Radio Wales is a Regional Radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio and forming part of the Real Radio network. The station broadcasts from studios at Morganstown in Cardiff on various FM frequencies, DAB via the MXR Severn Estuary multiplex and across the UK on digital satellite TV...
, which launched in 2000. Myers resurrected the "Fun On The Phones" presenting as John Morgan, with John Simons
John Simons
John Simons is a British radio executive, the current group programming director for GMG Radio.Simons began his career in 1979, before fronting the Breakfast Show on Radio Tees from 1983 to 1985 , and moving to BBC Radio Nottingham.In 1994 he was invited to be part of the team who launched Century...
occasionally presenting. The breakfast show was presented by Terry Underhill and Sarah Graham in the first few years of the station.
He became chief executive of GMGR in 2002, and joined the board of directors of the Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
in 2006. In October 2006, GMG Radio bought the two remaining Century stations from GCap, bringing Myers to control the brand he started in 1994. During his nine years with the company, it was awarded four licenses and made the purchase of: Scot FM
Scot FM
Scot FM was the name of a regional radio station, originally based at Albert Quay, in Leith, serving the Central Belt of Scotland and originally co-owned by two regional ITV companies, Border Television and Grampian Television....
from the Wireless Group; JAZZ FM; Paisley’s Q96
Q96
Q96 was an independent local radio station, which broadcast for 14 years to the Scottish county of Renfrewshire. Q96 broadcast as an FM station on the 96.3 MHz frequency after a local licence for the Paisley area was offered...
from UTV; the two Century FM stations from GCap; and four Saga Radio stations.
In March 2007 he oversaw the launch of the Smooth Radio brand, the UK’s first mainstream commercial stations to target the 40-59 year old adult. The five existing Smooth FM and Saga stations were rebranded as Smooth Radio and the group launched the sixth station under this brand in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
in January 2008. This was quickly be followed by the launch of the group’s second Rock Radio
Rock Radio
Rock Radio is a brand of radio stations in the United Kingdom owned by GMG Radio.96.3 Rock Radio was the first station in the network. It operates in West Central Scotland...
station in Manchester in May 2008. In December '08, GMGR was awarded the North Wales licence, which will allow Real Radio to be the first national commercial station in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
In 2008 Myers convinced the GMG board to invest £1m in documentaries, a first for commercial radio. Many of these are now aired across the GMG Radio network. He stepped down from his role at GMG Radio to travel the world.
2009-present
In January 2009, he was asked by the Labour GovernmentBrown Ministry
Gordon Brown took office as Prime Minister on 27 June 2007 and formed his Government. It ended, upon his resignation, on 11 May 2010. In his inaugural cabinet Brown appointed the UKs first female Home Secretary Jacqui Smith....
to undertake a review of commercial radio in the UK, which was published in April 2009. In order to stop a high percentage of commercial radio stations losing money, Myers recommended that regulators could remove the imperative for local radio to be produced from within a geographic boundary; tailored news feeds alluding to a geographic area could be produced from one big building. A number of his recommendations were taken up within the Digital Britain report and the Digital Economy Act. The changes lead to Smooth Radio merging its five England stations into one quasi-national station, with local news feeds produced from GMG Radio's headquarters in Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
, and 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...
halving the number of its Heart stations through co-local content.
Myers was appointed chairman of Radio Tyneside, a hospital radio
Hospital radio
Hospital radio is a form of audio broadcasting produced specifically for the in-patients of hospitals. It is primarily found in the United Kingdom.-History:...
station serving patients in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, in July 2010.
In November 2010, he was asked by the BBC to review efficiency at Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
, 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
and Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
; this project is expected to conclude in March 2011. The Telegraph reported that the BBC needed to hire someone with expertise in commercial radio, but was not a "BBC hater". In late 2011, the BBC commissioned Myers to produce a report on how the corporation's local radio stations can best adapt to the Delivering Quality First (DQF) budget cuts. BBC English Regions
BBC English Regions
BBC English Regions is the division of the BBC responsible for local television, radio, web and teletext services in England. It is one of the BBC's four 'Nations' - the others being BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland....
said that Myers was to "advise us on how we can maximise productivity and deliver efficiency savings across local radio."
He assumed his role as chief executive of the Radio Academy
Radio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
in April 2011. Through his company Myers Media he occasionally returns to the airwaves under his radio name of John Morgan. Myers is producing a radio series for transmission in late 2011.
Awards
Myers was awarded a Fellowship in 2005 by The Radio AcademyRadio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
for his contribution to radio. He is a former board director of the Radio Centre, the Sony Radio Awards Committee, and a past Chairman of the Radio Academy until March 2009.
Personal life
Myers has two children Kerry and Scott, and two grandchildren. Scott was a producer at Galaxy FM until 2007 and GMG Radio until 2011.External links
- No bullshit from this radio man
- Key exec changes at U.K. radio groups 1999 - Myers leaves Border.
- Big Cheese 2000 - John Myers on radio