Jam 1575
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| Jam Radio | |
| Broadcast area | Kingston upon Hull |
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| Slogan | "Spread it on your bread, stick it in your ears!" |
| Frequency | formerly 1575 AM KHz,now online |
| First air date | 1983 as "URH" |
| Format | Student Radio |
| Power | N/A |
| Owner | University of Hull |
| Website | ilovejamradio.co.uk |
Jam Radio (formerly Jam 1575) is Hull University Union's student radio station broadcasting all year round. It previously broadcasted on 1575 Medium Wave. It is a subcommittee of Hull University Union's Media and Marketing Committee. All presenters, DJs and executive committee are students. Jam Radio is a member of the Student Radio Association.
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[edit] History
The station was set up in 1983 broadcasting on an induction loop system around halls of residence and through speakers situated within Hull University Union. In 1997, it became the first student radio station in the UK to broadcast on AM using a newly formulated Low Powered AM license (LPAM). Three other stations were awarded LPAMs by the Radio Authority (now Ofcom) at the same time (two hospital radio stations and one other student station) though Jam was the first. Bruce Davidson was the very first station manager. The station is licensed to broadcast to the campus, although the signal can "drift" further. The transmitter runs at a 1 Watt and is located in the loft area of the students union building, the mast is clearly visible on the roof.
Originally, a loop induction system was installed in the Lawns (a hall of residence at Hull University) as part of a third year project by a number of engineering students. By 1983 the loop induction system was operational. To cut costs, the students cut corners. To insulate the wire, instead of paying for expensive insulation they used Coca-Cola bottles. As a result of this, by 1993 the loop induction system was no longer functional. In 1994 the engineering team carried out a comprehensive survey of the underground induction loop system and were able to partially restore it to several of the Lawns halls as well as fitting a new transmitter to Ferens hall. This system was finally turned off in 1997 after the award of the LPAM licence.
The station has broadcast events around the university such as Student Question Time, a student version of the BBC series, as well as club nights from the union. The station's programming consists of mainstream music by day, tailored to the students listening in the union building, and specialist programming by night.
Until 1997, Jam 1575 was known as "URH" which stood for "University Radio Hull".
Since Autumn 2007 Jam became an internet only radio station broadcasting from its website ilovejamradio.co.uk.
[edit] The Studios
Jam 1575's home is situated towards the North of Hull, off Cottingham Road at the Students Union building on Salmon Grove. These premises were originally used as printing press, which is why such a large ventilation system was installed. This meant that on a night-time loud music from the bars below could be clearly heard whilst presenters were on air!
The station currently has two studios, one for production and the other being the main broadcast studio, these are separated by an office. When Jam was founded (as URH) there were just 2 large rooms - the first (front) was a large office, and the second (rear) was used as the single studio.
In the early 1990s the studio was split into two studios by Dave Walters and Scott Doak. Originally the pair planned to install a garden shed as a "booth", but changed their minds at the last minute resulting in the just a single partition being installed. Studio 1 was then switched with the office during the summer of 1996 as this was only room large enough to house a large piece of studio woodwork and an mixing console which was donated by the UKRD Group. For the first 6 months this new studio had nothing to separate it from the noise in the (then) main Union Reception area.
During Easter 1997 Peter Jarrett and Liam Burke constructed the studio/hallway wall creating the now infamous Jam Corridor. Ian Hennam glazed the window (which had remained unglazed due to a glass cutting incident) thereby finishing the job.
In the summer of 1997 Paula Giles successfully applied for the Low Power AM (LPAM) license from the Radio Authority and P Squared installed the extra audio equipment and transmission infrastructure required prior to the on-air launch in September.
Jam's two studios were finally refitted in January 2005, installing a �2000 Soundcraft broadcasting desk and a �150 Behringer production desk. Jam had previously been unable to broadcast since 4 October 2004 due to severe technical difficulties. The station resumed broadcast on 31 January 2005.
Jam was the first station in the world to use the Myriad playout software. Liam Burke and Peter Jarrett now head the company P Squared, but began writing Myriad whilst at Jam because Hull University Union would not provide funding for a playout system. The very first version of Myriad was in fact called "URH". Peter and Liam were sat around a bottle of tequila late one night when the idea was floated, and Peter began coding it there and then. Dave Walters (at the time with Classic FM) was also instrumental in helping design the first versions. Jam also makes use of P Squared's Powerlog system to log all broadcast material for a period of at least 42 days in accordance with Ofcom guidelines. Myriad is now widely used across the globe by many commercial and independent local radio stations.
After Jam's relaunch as an internet only radio station in October 2007, the frequency of 1575 is no longer used and the transmitter was silenced.
[edit] Jingles
Many of the jingles used on-air were produced by Sean Bell at NYPD, however between 1999 and 2001 all the idents were produced in-house using Mark Somers from Viking FM as the main voiceover. The station's current idents have been recorded by independent voice artist by Mark Gale, one of the sweepers says "Blasting out one watt of pure jam power from the roof of your union to the radio in your room!", these idents have again been edited in-house. Others, such as "Broadcasting to the city of Hull" were produced by an external company.
[edit] Slogans
- "Spread it all over"
- "The New Student Mix"
- "More Than Just Music"
- "Spread it on your bread, stick it in your ears!"
- "Student Radio Hull"
[edit] The Student Night (A.K.A The Tower Night)
Jam 1575 was asked to provide the DJ's for "Hulls Busiest Student Night" by the University of Hull Athletic Union. "The Tower" night club was the original venue for this and used to open every Wednesday night for students. Various beverages including Lager & Cider would be sold for as little as 20 pence!! The Tower was a typical run down town centre club, the carpet would stick to your shoes and the sound system would often cut-out, yet it was packed every single week!
A selection of Jam 1575 presenters kept everyone entertained every week playing everything from Indie to House, although cheesy pop was the main crowd pleaser. Some of the DJ's on the weekly rota were: Ant Rouette a.k.a "The Man From Friday", Aaron Phillips, Mike Brown and Andy Brown a.k.a "DJ Ferby". However, in 2000 Hull City Council took the decision to close the Tower, rumour has it that a huge amount of Pigeon dung was found in the roof.
"The Tower Night" as it had now become known, moved across town to the "Po Na Na" Nightclub on Anne Street, and the Athletic Union went with them. The new night was called "Bubblegum" and lasted for 2 years again with Jam 1575 DJ's at the helm. Unfortuanatly, Po Na Na was not popular with the students as they only sold cheap bottled alcopops rather than Draught beer.
After a £3.6 million make over the Students' union opened its own club called "The Asylum", and the AU were desperate to be part of it. DJ Ferby, who had recently ditched Jam, taking with him the deals and publicity, agreed to DJ. Efforts were made in 2003 and 2004 by presenters Jon Gibbins and Dave Pallett (former programme controller) to get Jam involved in a student night again at the Fez Club. Unfortunately, it was impossible to compete against the formidable Asylum at the University. It seems the temptation of "Snakey B" at 99p a pint probably had something to do with it! [1].
To this day both The Tower & Po Na Na Nightclubs remain closed.
[edit] Notable Previous Members
Former Jam volunteers who have moved on to work in the media industry professionally include:
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