VETERAN RADIO presenter DJ Jigs has announced he is parting company with Capital XTRA just two days after the station dropped its much-loved Choice FM moniker.
Jigs made his decision public on Twitter this afternoon (Oct 8) after a loyal 24 years service at the station.
In a single tweet, Jigs said: “After 24 years at Choice FM I today decided that the time was right for me to move on, thanks to everyone that ever listened”.
However, Capital XTRA is yet to make the amendment on their website, which still reads: "Jigs is up early every weekend on Capital XTRA to bring you the biggest urban dance tunes between 6am and 10am."
His departure comes after a whole host of names were sensationally axed from the station following the name change, which was announced last Thursday (Oct 3).
UK singer Craig David and former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood were the big signings recruited for the new-look station, with presenters including Martin Jay, Natty B and gospel DJ Dave P among those axed.
The Voice exclusively broke the story that station owners Global Radio were planning the rebrand of Choice FM, much to the dismay of many community figures concerned that the station would lose its African-Caribbean identity and become more commercialised.
A source at the station said: “The fact that [Global Radio] has done this so underhandedly speaks volumes about the people now heading up the station. Surely their listeners are worth more?
“Some of the names that I’ve heard going mean that soca, reggae and gospel have now been erased from the station’s playlist. Our black identity has well and truly been removed from the station. Happy Black History Month.”
Senior Labour politician Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, expressed his worry about the future direction of the station under its new rebrand.
He said: “The senior team at Global Radio kindly explained the rationale for the change to me and I understand their need as a company to run a commercially viable entity.
“But I beg of them not to allow Capital XTRA (formerly Choice) to lose its distinct identity and go the way Kiss did back in the late 1990s.”
The shadow business secretary added: “It is imperative that Capital XTRA retains the distinct sound of Choice FM - that is the test for me.
“It is crucial that Capital XTRA continues to give London's different and diverse communities a "choice" in the music they listen to on London's airwaves.”
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