As Programme Manager for Channel 103 and Soleil Radio, our stations in the Channel Islands, Jason King has a busy role co-ordinating the radio content to go out to audiences in Jersey and Guernsey. Having worked for the company since 2022, he talks about his role, the importance of reliable local radio content news and the appeal of working for companies which listeners identify as being their communities’ stations.
What are the main responsibilities in your role?
Put simply, I help keep the station on the air. I compile the playlist and help shape the sound of the radio station. I oversee the trailers and make sure the audio content is appropriate. For Channel 103 that is to appeal to people aged 25 to 54, while Soleil Radio is more for people aged 45 to 70.
We create a style that is a familiar as people want a consistent sound when they listen in. We regularly look around the industry and see what the bigger players are doing to learn if anything can be added. The world today is quite fast moving so if people like a song perhaps due to it becoming popular on social media we have to reflect that.
What is your approach to your role?
I have worked with people who micromanage and found that is not the best way of working. We have an established team of presenters, who have a playlist of songs each week which they make their own. They do not have to go through a committee to make decisions if they feel they are right. We have set style guidelines which they can embellish their way.
Our local news team produce content about our communities throughout the day and we keep across the news from our competitors. We have to be mindful of the impact of local stories and keep in regular contact with senior government officials in Jersey to ensure we know what is going on.
What does a typical day in your role involve?
I start each day responding to requests and enquiries, including messages from sales colleagues. I will work on sponsorships and competitions. It is a varied role and I also have a daily drivetime show to present. I also produce the reports for PRS for Music Limited, the British music copyright collective, to ensure we pay for the music played. As programme manager I am sitting down with the directors to plan across the radio group, coming up with ideas.
What was the appeal of joining the company?
I have worked in radio for 34 years, first in the Midlands then across the UK as well as in Dubai and for the British forces station in Germany. I was in a sales role when the opportunity here came up. I really liked what I saw when I visited and it has been great ever since I joined. As a family owned business, there is a closeness yet we are able to do radio which is comparable to the output of much bigger players in the UK. Our output stands up and sounds great.
Which colleagues do you interact with the most in your working day?
I work most with the Tindle Radio MD James Keen and Lorna Byrne, our Commercial Director. I chat to the presenters each day, either remotely or face to face and work alongside the news team.
What do you enjoy about working for Tindle?
I enjoy the challenge of every day being different. One day we can be fairly straightforward and then some news breaks which takes the day in a different direction. There is a lot of variety in the role. For example, today we have a supplier visitor from the US calling in for a chat. You never truly know what you are going to do next as things can change quickly.
How do you use digital in your role?
Digital has changed our industry. All the news is shared online to social media, which is a large part of what we do. TikTok influences the music we play. We have a software package called Aiir which creates our web pages, from editorial to photos. Listeners can engage with us, giving each song either a thumbs up or down, using the Channel 103 app.
We play the most popular songs each day based on the analytics in the system and we produce a weekly email newsletter which goes to thousands of subscribers. The digital side of radio is bigger than ever and we are looking at how artificial intelligence is going to be important in the future.
What are your interests outside of work?
I enjoy walking with my labrador Harri. I get outdoors to see the fantastic scenery on the islands and would like to travel more. I have never been to South America or South Africa so they are on the wish list. I snowboard every winter and have probably spent too much money on cars. I am a qualified pilot as well.