Black Country Radio
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52°29′11″N 2°06′50″W / 52.486367°N 2.113819°W
| Broadcast area | Black Country |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.5MHz |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Waterfront Media CIC |
| History | |
First air date | 1 January 2008 (as 102.5 The Bridge) 14 September 2015 (as Black Country Radio) |
| Technical information | |
| Power | Digital/Analogue |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
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 life as 102.5 The Bridge and started broadcasting on 1 January 2008. The stations targets 25–55 year olds with an emphasis on local news, sport, events and good causes.
Initially, the station broadcast on FM and online from studios in Stourbridge and, in 2015, merged with Black Country Community Radio, a local online station, to produce Black Country Radio. This allowed for the two stations to have access to additional presenters and resources which secured the long term future of 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 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] The burglary was featured on the BBC television programme, Caught Red Handed in 2017.
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 with the station also including 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.
Community Events and Outside Broadcasts
Black Country Radio use local roadshows at events to promote the station and allow listeners to interact with 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 appears 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 notably, 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.
In May 2018, Black Country Radio (BCR) covered Birmingham Pride live from the parade speaking to the participants and audience. Matt Dudley and Dan Richards co-presented the event.
As part of its community radio licence, BCR covers many live events in the Black Country including the Dudley Volunteer Awards which took place on 18 October 2018. The awards, organised by the Dudley Council for Volunteer Service, took place at the Brierley Hill Civic Hall and was broadcast live. Hosted by Matt Dudley and Dan Richards.
Presenters
The on air team at the station are a mixture of staff who have previously worked on local commercial and BBC stations, alongside new talent from the local area. Notable names include CEO, Alex Totney (formerly of TalkSPORT); Actor and presenter Clive Payne (formerly of BBC WM, BBC Radio Shropshire, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC Midlands Today and BHBN Hospital Radio); Matt Dudley (BBC WM and Sandwell Hospital Radio); Dan Richards (Smooth Radio and BBC Radio Leicester); Dave Pearce (BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2); Judge Jules (BBC Radio 1); Jonny Cole (Free Radio) and The Fizoggs.
Alumni of The Bridge/Black Country Radio include Ben Stones (now at BBC Radio 2 and 6Music), David Wooldridge (Eagle Radio) and Carl Bennett (TalkRADIO).
10th anniversary
On 1 January 2018, the station celebrated 10 years of community radio in the Black Country. A day of special programmes and music from 2008 was broadcast with archive audio from the early days of 102.5 The Bridge.
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.