Black Country Radio
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Black Country Radio is a community radio station based in the West Midlands region of England, the station serves the Black Country and Birmingham on FM, DAB and online.
Black Country Radio is owned and operated by Waterfront Media CIC.
History
Black Country Radio began as 102.5 The Bridge and started broadcasting on 1st January 2008.
Initially, the station broadcast on FM and online from studios at St John’s United Reform Church in Stourbridge. The stations listener demographic is 30–55 year olds. Black Country Radio has an emphasis on local news, sport, events and good causes.
In 2015, 102.5 The Bridge and Black Country Community Radio, a local online station, merged to produce Black Country Radio. This allowed for the two stations to have access to additional listeners, presenters and resources which secured the long term future for both stations.[1]
Black Country Radio extended its coverage area and began broadcasting on DAB as part of the Birmingham 'MiniMux', which is an effort by the regulator (OFCOM) to make the technology more available to smaller stations operating on a much lower annual income.
In September 2016, the station was temporarily taken off the air after thieves broke into the studios and stole vital broadcasting equipment.[2]
In December 2016, Black Country Radio began broadcasting from their new studios at the Waterfront complex in Brierley Hill. The move into new purpose built premises provided the station with two on-air studios, dedicated recording suits and a live music area.[3]
Music
Black Country Radio believes in promoting local music. Many local bands and singers have performed live on various programmes. Black Country Radio also includes local artists in their outside broadcasts and concerts.
Unsigned acts are encouraged to submit their music via their music for consideration to be added to the playlist.
New songs are added weekly reflecting releases that meet the listener demographic. An 'A and 'B' list is created for daily airplay.
Community Events and Outside Broadcasts
Black Country Radio use local roadshows at events to promote the station and allow listeners to interact with the presenters. The station regularly appears at Christmas light switch on events including Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen town centres and are a permanent part of the Black Country Festival. The station also appeasers at many other events across the region. Roadshows hosted by the station include live music from local artists as well as national celebrities too.
In 2016, they helped to turn the Christmas lights on in Stourbridge with Britain's Got Talent winner, Connie Talbot and in Halesowen with Paralympian, Jordanne Whiley.
The following year, 2017, Black Country Radio assisted in more Christmas light switch on's noteably, Dudley with Alison Hammond, Halesowen with X Factor finalists Stevi Ritchie and Chloe Jasmine Whichello and the first official switch on of the Sedgley Christmas lights with Matt Dudley.
Presenters
The station is home to local comedian, Jonny Cole, Matt Dudley, Dan Richards and Dancing Grannies, The Fizzogs.
Some of the presenting team at the station have previously worked on local commercial and BBC stations in the region, prior to joining Black Country Radio.
See also
References
- ^ "New Black Country Radio Station goes live". Halesowen News. 14 September 2005. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Burglary takes Black Country Radio station off the air". Stourbridge News. 9 September 2016.
- ^ "New Waterfont home for Black Country Radio". Radio Today. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
External links