France Bleu loves music. And intends to let it be known. At the start of the next school year, the public station will focus on sound, with in particular a new sound identity signed Pascal Obispo. “It will be in collaboration with Didier Varrod (Music director of Radio France antennas) and Bruno Carpentier (in charge of skins), announces Nathalie André, new boss of the radio. I am delighted that Pascal won our tender. »
The 57-year-old artist had no privileges. “We played it at the The Voice, with nine people from the management to whom we made listen to each of the proposals in a completely anonymous way, ”explains the manager. To discover this sound identity, however, it will be necessary to wait for the start of the school year on August 29th. “France Bleu will no longer be sung, you will no longer hear the France Bleu, France Bleuu… slides Nathalie André. It will be a modern look, which will be the same for the 44 stations. »
Highlighting young talents
The start of the school year will also be marked by a new programme, scheduled from Monday to Friday between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. A meeting centered around the song presented by Émilie Mazoyer, former voice of Europe 1 where she was already in charge of programs on this theme. “There aren’t fifty specialists like her. It is today one of the best, much appreciated and esteemed by artists and the recording industry alike, believes its new director. I met her in December, and she accepted the next day. »
The music will also be present in the morning, central section of the radio. “Each local will offer their album of the day, their new talent of the day…”, explains Nathalie André, proud to have put the spotlight on Belgian singer Pierre de Maere in recent months, winner of the Prix Talent France Bleu during the Music Festival. A new musical scene will be highlighted by Éric Bastien, every day between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with the help of local branches. The weekends will also take on a musical color with numerous interviews by Laurent Petitguillaume.
And this support for industry and talent has already started with the summer grid, launched on July 4. At 7 p.m., France Bleu notably devotes an hour to festivals throughout France. Other important, but less musical events: a history of gastronomy by Loïc Ballet, also a columnist in “Télématin”, at midday or “Ma France, l’été”, a version of Wendy Bouchard’s show, with Quentin Lhui and Johann Guerin “live every day from a local” at 1 p.m.