Capital looks to Usher as nationwide campaign continues

In September Global Radio announced plans to scrap its Galaxy network, and four further stations, and create a new nine station Capital FM network, which will be known as "95-106 Capital FM, The UK's No. 1 Hit Music Station".

The Capital network launched on Monday (3 January) and a spokeswoman for Global Radio said the combined reach of the stations gives it an audience of more than 6.5 million listeners across nine stations around the UK.

The network-wide promotion 'Cash–in with Capital and Usher' will air between 10 and 17 January and will offer listeners the chance to win tickets to see Usher in Manchester, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham or London.

A spokeswoman for Global Radio said the promotion is designed to show new listeners across the UK that Capital has "unrivalled access to some of the biggest hit music stars around the world".

Each station will give away several tickets to listeners who text in. Winners will receive two tickets to the nearest Usher gig and will get to meet him backstage, where he will hand them £1000 in cash.

The network is also being supported by a TV campaign, which broke on Sunday, featuring pop stars such as Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas, Nicole Scherzinger and JLS. The ad was created by Karmarama and planning and buying was by Rocket.

The Capital FM network launched with TV and telecoms provider Virgin Media as the launch sponsor in a six-figure, six-month deal brokered by Omnicom media agency Manning Gottlieb OMD.

The Capital network is one of a number of changes made by Global Radio in the past year, alongside cutting the Heart network from 34 stations to 15 and the Gold network from 26 stations to one.