Jazz has had a lean time on radio lately, but its fortunes could be about to change. The radio division of Guardian Media Group (GMG) is in talks with Ofcom, the communications regulator, about putting Jazz FM back on air.

The move comes after the announcement from GCap, Britain's largest commercial radio group, on February 11 that it planned to close down theJazz, the digital radio station. GMG, which rebranded the London area analogue station Jazz FM three years ago, making it to Smooth FM, believes that there will be a market for a jazz station.

John Myers, chief executive of GMG's radio division, has proposed to the industry regulator that its requirement to play 45 hours a week of jazz on London's Smooth FM be dropped in favour of the the creation of a 24-hour digital jazz station in London. “Rather than play the 45 hours of jazz on Smooth throughout the night, it makes sense to have a standalone jazz station,” Mr Myers said.

According to the latest radio audience figures, theJazz had 364,000 listeners in the three months to December 16 last year. Mr Myers believes that he can tap into its listener base, creating live content at a relatively low cost. The station focused on pure jazz. Well-known genre names were brought in as presenters, along with weekly shows by famous British jazz musicians, such as Jamie Cullum. The station focused on the heritage of jazz along with more recent artists.

GMG is expecting a decision from Ofcom within the next two weeks.

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