GMG Radio's £1m programming fund is aimed at boosting creativity and creating content that compares to programming typically found on BBC radio.
The new shows include a six-part series to air on Smooth Radio called 'Rolling River of Rock', which will examine the musical heritage in the area of Mississippi. The programme is being produced by independent firm Smooth Operations, which is also making a two-parter on troops stationed in Afghanistan called 'Blogs from the Bunkers'.
The programmes were chosen from over 300 ideas presented by independent producers. They were selected by GMG Radio group programme director John Simons and his commissioning panel, which included former BBC Radio 2 controller Jim Moir.
Simons said: "This first raft of programmes will give listeners a feel for things to come and prove that creative and diverse programming can be just as at home on commercial radio as it is on the BBC."
Other commissions include: a six-part series on censorship over the past sixty years, produced by Somethin' Else; a series of three programmes celebrating 1970s pop phenomena The Village People, 'Grease' and 'Saturday Night Fever', produced by Wise Buddah; and a UBC Media-produced four-parter looking at '1968: The Year that Rocked the World'.
John Myers, GMG Radio's chief executive, said: "This is only phase one of our commissioning process and we look forward to ordering more early in the summer."
.jpg)
.jpg)