Jonathan James, the veteran broadcaster who has been linked with the founding or running of at least 50 radio stations in Nigeria and Africa in a career that has spanned about 28 years, has revealed his plan of starting a new radio station in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mostly known as King-James, the radio veteran revealed on World Radio Day that setting up a radio station is his dream for several years, as a contribution of giving joy to his community.
“I must say, the journey through life has eventually led me right to this moment and thanks to God’s providence and the generosity of my legion of friends who keep cheering me on (and I guess hoping I don’t go crazy if I don’t do this…),” James said.
He said Radio Jusmen, as it will be called will be situated in Lagos, where he’s lived for several years. “For the love I have for Lagos and for the love Lagos has shown me, I feel a sense of pride and responsibility to continue to play my part in placing the city on the map of global best practice as far as radio is concerned.”
He explained that despite the proliferation of radio stations, Radio Jusmen focus its programs on entertainment, where he noted he has identified an audience category that is being catered to in a general manner. However, he said the intention is to pay more attention to the set of audience and to be the leaders in that category.
“We have identified what we believe they like, and we have curated those things identified such that it will be fit for their radio appetite and provide them a fixed address for their radio dials or wherever they consume radio from,” he said.
“We intend to connect directly with the heart of today’s socio and psychographic demographic that is captured in the contemporary family spectrum as it relates to music appetite and consumption pattern. It will be interesting, upbeat, positive, and inspiring in various ways.”
According to him, the name of the station Jusmen loosely means “my mind is at rest” or “peace of mind”, adding that peace of mind is the one thing the station will provide the listeners.
“We also decided to call it that as part of our decision to pursue originality in brand creation and trusting that it will be a name that will stick and make for easy recall. The Jusmen brand also intends to always be synonymous with bringing lots of fun times and great shared moments by all who encounter it,” he disclosed.
He said currently, work is ongoing behind the scenes to put finishings to all the fine details that shape a distinct radio station, something believes will take longer than a few more weeks from now.
James has been connected Cool FM, Kiss FM, Nigeria Info, Radio Nigeria (FRCN), Wazobia FM, Soundcity (Nigeria & Kenya), WE-FM, Urban96 FM, Correct FM, Access24, Hot FM, NRJ Radio Kenya, Heart & Soul Zimbabwe, KSMC, Vision FM, and NN24, among others.