RadioCentre ‘saddened’ by ‘shocking news’ of death of Jazz FM’s Wheatly
The RadioCentre has responded to the news of the death of Jazz FM Richard Wheatly, paying tribute to his role in shaping the brand as it is known today.
Wheatly passed away earlier this week following a short illness.
Siobhan Kenny, chief executive of RadioCentre, the trade body for commercial radio, said he had been an “integral part of Jazz FM” for many years.
“We are so saddened to hear the shocking news about Richard’s sudden death. He was a maverick in our industry when he launched Jazz FM. By creating Jazz’s Listen in Colour positioning along with the brand’s well-loved chameleon, he was successful in creating one of the most recognisable radio offerings of its time. He was driven by an entrepreneurial passion and a deep love of jazz music. The people who worked alongside him over his long career will testify that he was a decent man who brought something different to our industry and was always a calm presence in the room offering sage advice. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone at Jazz FM.”
Wheatly joined the commercial station in 1995 as managing director before leaving after it was sold to the Guardian Media Group in 2002. He returned in 2008 after he headed a consortium for a management buyout of the station for a nominal fee of £1.
He was a well-respected figure in the industry and served as chair of both the National Jazz Youth Collective and First Radio Sales