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Custom Imaging Package for Spirit FM
We recently produced a custom imaging package for UKRD's Sussex station Spirit FM. The package features our "New Sound" with contemporary tracks composed by Lee Turner and fresh vocals from Chris Madin and Martina O'Brian.
We're really pleased with the way the package has turned out – the vocals sit so well with the tracks – we're very proud of it.
Ian Crouch the Programme Controller of Spirit FM said "Working with S2Blue was a real pleasure; they made sure we were happy with every stage of the production. It was particularly useful for us to be able to be at the recording and mixing sessions and give direction on how we wanted the final sound."
You can hear all the cuts on our site by clicking here
The package is now available to be resung outside the South of England. Please contact us for more information.
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Refreshed Package for BBC Radio Cumbria
BBC Radio Cumbria went live last month with a refreshed imaging package we produced for them. The package includes additional cuts, new instrumentation on existing cuts and fresh vocals in a traditional group style.
We've really enjoyed working with the BBC stations again and revisiting such a great package. It's also allowed the station to keep its individual identity.
BBC Radio Cumbria's Ian Timms said: "BBC Radio Cumbria had been successfully using a really strong S2Blue custom package for four years.
We wanted to preserve the heritage of a logo melody you can sing along with and a truly magnificent News build; but we needed something to bring a fresh dimension to the highly used traffic and hour-opener cuts.
The brief called for additional textures to strengthen our speech content and some big band swing idents for nostalgia shows. From Miller to Mika: now that's a full service package!! Simon and Steve wrote just what we asked for."
Listen to the refreshed BBC Radio Cumbria 2010 package by clicking here |
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Custom Imaging Package for Hi FM
In May we produced a new custom imaging package for Hi FM in Oman with the brief to make them stand out in the market.
The custom package features S2blue's 'new sound' of contemporary beat driven beds and fresh solo vocals, on this occasion provided by noted Manchester singer Denise Johnson, who has worked with artists such as Primal Scream, Ian Brown and Electronica.
It was a great project to work on – we'd worked with Hi FM on their previous package and we really wanted to create a new sound that really moved the imaging on for them.
We had wanted to use Denise as a featured soloist on a package for a while as she's such a great vocalist and when the Hi FM package came up it seemed ideal.
We collaborated with composer Lee Turner on the main package and with Maurice Cheetham composing the "big" Breakfast Show cut.
Darren Barrett, Program Manager of Hi Fm said: "When we wanted a new station sound, with a nice fresh sound, there was no question who to call. We play a mixture of AC hits from pretty much every genre, and with the smallest of briefs, (S2blue) created what I think is the best package we have had on air yet!"
You can listen to all the cuts on our site by clicking here
The Hi FM package is now available to be resung outside the Middle East. Please contact us for more information.
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First Package Produced for a Chinese Station
We have produced our first package for a Chinese station – U Radio; a station owned by Phoenix TV and broadcasts in Shenzhen City, which is in Guangdong Province, China.
The station plays an eclectic mix of music, from contemporary western pop to easy listening and so U Radio chose resings from a wide range of our packages. Cuts came from the recent Mansfield 103.2 custom, our Connect and Lite package and even some cuts from the packages Steve originally recorded for Magic 1152 and the Saga stations.
It was an exciting vocal session for everyone involved, with the station listening in and watching the vocal session at our studios via two webcams.
You can listen to the U Radio package and watch a video of the vocal session on our site by clicking here
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Fresh Custom Imaging Package for Mansfield 103.2
We recently produced a custom package for Mansfield 103.2 which showcases S2blue’s ‘new sound’. The package features contemporary beds and solo vocals.
The sound of the package is very fresh and provides the station with a strong identity in the market.
Ian Watkins, Managing Editor of Mansfield 103.2 said "S2blue have provided us with a fresh new contemporary sound to be proud of.
The team went to great lengths to provide us with an awesome custom imaging package which immediately enhanced the station's sound.
The whole creative process from original ideas to the finished product was not only seamless but also lots of fun too!"
You can check out the Mansfield 103.2 package and see photos of the vocal session on our site by clicking here
The Mansfield package is now available to be resung outside the Midlands. Please contact us for more information.
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Simon on the Panel for the Radio Academy's "Future of Radio Imaging" Event
In April Simon was asked to sit on the panel for the Radio Academy’s “Future of Radio Imaging” event in Manchester. The evening examined all aspects of station imaging, past, present and future.
The panel were asked to put together some audio of what radio imaging would sound like in 2020. The entire panel agreed it was an almost impossible task to predict what radio would sound like in ten years as who knows what trends, instrumentation and systems will be available by then, but Simon concluded that it is likely to be an interpretation of what has gone before.
Simon worked with one of our composers, Lee Turner, and came up with a fusion of two musical trends from the last twenty years – dub step beats with early 90’s Italian dance piano.
You can hear the 2020 cut here and photos of the event can be found on Radio Hub |
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Refreshed Package for BBC Radio Humberside
In the last few months we’ve refreshed imaging for BBC Radio Humberside. The package includes additional cuts, new instrumentation on existing cuts and fresh vocals in a traditional group style.
Over the years we have been lucky enough to work on many packages for BBC local stations. The original Humberside sessions were especially memorable as we recorded overdubs with the full BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Studio 7 at Oxford Road, Manchester – photos of the session can be seen here: http://www.s2blue.com/Photos.aspx
Simon Pattern, Managing Editor of BBC Radio Humberside said "Working with Maurice, Steve and Simon - as well as their amazing team of musicians and singers, was a delight again. They offer fantastically creative solutions to the problems we throw their way - simply understanding how to translate our ideas into reality - they do so quickly and with real flair. We're delighted to continue working alongside the S2blue team and can't wait to get the refreshed imaging on air."
You can listen to the BBC Radio Humberside 2010 package by clicking here |
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FreenotesMusic.com Nearing Launch
As we mentioned in the Spring newsletter, Freenotes Music has been expanding. We are working with a number of experienced composers to produce many more quality tracks. We’ve also been working on a brand new website www.FreenotesMusic.com – the site is in final testing and should go live soon, along with many new tracks.
You can pre-register for the new site here and order the first three CDs, including tracks recorded at Abbey Road, by clicking here
Freenotes Music is a non-MCPS production music library, offering a wide range of contemporary music for use in all types of radio and television production. The tracks (and Freenotes CDs) are free to PRS returning broadcasters and production companies.
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S2blue offer Iphone/ipad apps
We are pleased to announce we are working in conjunction with Squareware to provide iPhone and iPad apps for stations.
Squareware (part of 3Squared) are one of the UK's leading app developers and have created applications for various industries.
Through S2blue we’re able to offer not just rebranded templates but full custom apps tailored specifically to your station. These can include local news feeds, profiles of presenters, sports content, the ability to listen on line – pretty much whatever you want.
For more information click here
or contact us |
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