Radio collaboration for UK talent.

Commercial radio stations team up for UK Music Week with emphasis on different genres

by Paul Williams

Commercial radio stations are preparing to turn the spotlight on British talent again, with a second UK Music Week initiative, but this time placing the emphasis on different genres.

More than 250 stations will take part in the project, running from May 21 to 28, in support of new and established homegrown artists. But unlike last spring's inaugural event in which output was universally shared, it will feature programming split across five musical fields.

It will see contemporary hit radio stations such as London's Capital Radio and Manchester's Key 103 teaming up, rock services including Xfm, Kerrang! and Planet Rock collaborating, and the same happening for adult contemporary, gold and rhythmic stations. All five station networks will share programming during the week tailored to their particular audiences.

"The change this year is to try to drive this thing more from the actual genres, so they work together rather than doing something across the network," says Emap's managing director of radio programmes Mark Story, who is a member of the event's steering committee. "It allows people like Kerrang! and Xfm and Planet Rock to work together, Choice and Kiss to collaborate and CHR stations to work together."

The collaborations across the week will include: