Jazz FM in deal to promote music events at Slug and Lettuce pubs

Clear Channel Radio Sales has set up a three-month deal between Jazz FM and pub operator The Slug and Lettuce Co.

Jazz FM’s events division will book live bands to play in 50 Slug and Lettuce outlets in London and North-west England, with supporting promotional airtime.

The radio station has an existing arrangement with the Coffee Republic café chain, under which Jazz FM supplies programming to be played in the chain’s outlets.

Jazz FM head of marketing Nicola Young says that the two relationships are very different, in that the Coffee Republic deal was set up to promote Jazz FM, while the arrangement with Slug and Lettuce is a purely commercial one. “Slug and Lettuce has paid us for the airtime to promote the bands.” The on-air promotions will be created by Jazz FM’s in-house creative team.

Live music events will take place fortnightly over three months, starting tomorrow (Thursday). At times when the bands are not performing, Jazz FM record releases will be played over the pubs’ music systems.

Jazz FM was sold to Guardian Media Group for &£41m in June (MW June 6) . Chief executive Richard Wheatly left the station at the end of June.

The Slug and Lettuce Co is owned by leisure group SFI, which runs 186 pubs. The group’s other major brands are the Litten Tree and Bar Med chains. It bought the Parisa chain last November for &£22m, and has almost completed converting all 24 outlets to Slug and Lettuces.