Global Radio hunts sponsor for revamped Big Top 40

Global Radio is looking for a title sponsor for its relaunched commercial radio chart show, the Big Top 40 Show.

The radio group is looking for a partner for the new interactive show, and as part of the deal, the sponsor’s name or logo will appear on the iTunes site, the first time branding has appeared on the store’s home page.

The new chart show launches on 14 June and will broadcast each Sunday between 4pm and 7pm through 141 stations across the UK. In addition to Global Radio’s Heart and Galaxy networks, the show airs on Bauer Media’s Big City network and Guardian Media Group Radio’s Real network.

The newly named “Big Top 40 Show” replaces the Hit40uk show which has been broadcasting on commercial radio since 2002. Previous sponsors of the chart include Nescafe, which sponsored the show in the Eighties, and more recently Pepsi, which sponsored the show from 1996 to 2002.

The show will include real-time download sales from the iTunes store, with listeners able to influence the top ten chart by downloading songs from iTunes during the live show. Digital sales from the online music store will be reviewed each hour and added to physical sales ahead of the final chart being revealed.

Commercial radio’s major groups will be hoping the relaunched show will provide a further boost to listening figures. Its overall share of listeners grew year on year to 41.6%, according to the latest Rajar figures.

The chart show has a weekly audience of 2.1 million listeners, according to Rajar.