Absolute tests live music radio station

Absolute Radio has started testing a brand new digital radio station dedicated to live music, according to reports.

Named Project Control or CTRL, the station will host "a selection of rock and pop music aimed at a broad adult audience, featuring sessions and music performed before a live audience and tracks chosen by listeners".

After Ofcom approved a broadcast licence for the station earlier in the month, Absolute has now begun test transmissions on DAB in London. For this, CTRL is sharing the same slot as children's station Fun Kids, using broadcast time after the latter stops its programming for the day.

Writing on the One Golden Square blog, Absolute Radio's brand director Chris Lawson said that the station will be tested internally over the next few weeks, before being trailed for feedback from a select group of listeners. Following this, an open beta will be introduced ahead of the station's official launch.

Lawson also revealed that CTRL is just the "first of a few products" that will be launched ahead of the company's first birthday in September.

"The digital team have been busy building a new radio platform and we are almost ready to share it with you," he said.

"Some of you may know it as Project Wallaby, Project Control, or 'Potentially the most exciting and innovative radio innovation ever'. OK, that's my name for it, not that I'm biased.

"We think it's one of a kind so it's going to be really exciting once we go through the traditional teething problems. It's only version one and we are looking at adding more features to it along the way."

The new station will join Absolute's two existing digital-only offerings - Absolute Radio Xtreme and Absolute Radio Classic Rock.