RADIO: GCap seeks alchemy with 25 stations creating Gold.

Network goes for "authenticity" with centralised classic hits station

by Paul Williams

GCap is reaching out to the music industry to help to boost back catalogue sales, with the launch of its new national classic hits network.

Gold, which brings together 18 Classic Gold and seven Capital Gold stations, will launch at 7pm this Friday with an emphasis on music authenticity backed by having presenters recognised for their musical knowledge and a sprinkling of specialist programming in the schedule.

"It's all about the authenticity of the music," says GCap group programming director Dirk Anthony, who notes that he has already been in discussions with labels about how the network can work with them.

"Clearly, back catalogue is pretty important to the music industry. It's not as sexy as the latest songs, but it's important, so we're sitting down and having strategic discussions with labels," he says. "What we're trying to do here is not about revolution, it's about merging these two radio stations and developing something new. What we're not going to say is, `We're going to compete against the BBC'. We're creating our own world. We want to work with the music industry and give them what they want."

The new station, which has been created following the #3.95m purchase of Classic Gold from UBC by Capital Gold owner GCap in April, will underline its positioning with the strapline: "It's all about the music". It will be overseen by Andy Turner, currently Capital Gold Network station director.