GMG appoints new music chief

GMG Radio has promoted Terry Underhill to a new role as head of music, looking after all music-related activity at the group's 11 stations including the Smooth, Century, Saga and Real brands.

Previously programme director at GMG's Real Radio Yorkshire, Underhill has worked at GMG Radio since 2000.

Underhill’s new role will include looking after three recently acquired Saga stations, due to be renamed in the next month. The company has also received permission from Ofcom to change the format of its London Smooth FM station from jazz and soul to an easy-listening station aimed at the over-50s.

Group programme director, John Simons, told The Guardian: "We've now reached such a size that we needed someone of stature in the industry to oversee our music and liaise with the record companies on a full-time basis. Nobody is better qualified and knows our radio stations better than Terry."

Saga had also won a licence to launch a fourth station in the north-east to launch this year, which will become part of GMG Radio's lineup.