97.4 Rock FM
Encyclopedia
97.4 Rock FM is an Independent Local Radio
station broadcasting to Lancashire
, North West England and some parts of North Wales
. Its output is mainly contemporary pop and current chart hits. The station is owned & operated by Bauer Radio and forms part of Bauer's Place Network of stations. The total survey area of the station for RAJAR
is broadly defined as western, southern and central Lancashire
including parts of Greater Manchester
and Merseyside
. But the station is audible on FM from Cumbria
down into Wales
and towards The West Midlands
.
Rock FM (and its sister AM station Magic 999
) broadcast from studios based at a converted church (St. Paul's) in Preston. The station can be received across most of north west England and North Wales. Rock FM consistently rates as the number one commercial radio station in its target service area by reach, share and hours. Over a quarter of all adults in its market listen every week.
) and which subsequently became part of Bauer Radio (previously EMAP Radio).
In early 2010, it was announced that Adam Catterall would be leaving the station's breakfast show: it was subsequently confirmed that he would be replaced by former Xfm London
, Galaxy Yorkshire
, and Absolute Radio presenter Graeme Smith
and Jude Vause-Walsh, returning to the FM station after several years on Century 105 & Real Radio
. 18 months later, the station announced drivetime presenters Hywel Evans and Jamie Atherton would move to the breakfast slot from Monday 26 September 2011 with Smith moving to Drivetime and Jude Vause-Walsh leaving the station. The station also announced the arrival of controversial TV and radio broadcaster Tim Shaw to host weekend afternoons. Shaw had previously hosted edgy late night zoo format shows on Absolute Radio and Kerrang Radio and is reputedly one of the most controversial radio presenters in the world.
In:Demand
and overnights are networked programmes airing on Bauer Place's FM stations in Northern England while the weekday late show is simulcast with Key 103
in Manchester and The Hits Radio
. The Vodafone Big Top 40 is produced by Global Radio
at it's Capital London studios for broadcast on over 140 commercial radio stations across the UK.
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station broadcasting to Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, North West England and some parts of North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. Its output is mainly contemporary pop and current chart hits. The station is owned & operated by Bauer Radio and forms part of Bauer's Place Network of stations. The total survey area of the station for RAJAR
RAJAR
RAJAR was established in 1992 to operate a single audience measurement system for the radio industry in the United Kingdom. RAJAR is jointly owned by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the RadioCentre...
is broadly defined as western, southern and central Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
including parts of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
and Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
. But the station is audible on FM from Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
down into Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and towards The West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
.
Rock FM (and its sister AM station Magic 999
Magic 999
Magic 999 is an Bauer Radio-owned local radio station serving Lancashire on 999 kHz AM, DAB digital radio, Virgin Media TV channel 932 and online. The station broadcasts from a converted church at St...
) broadcast from studios based at a converted church (St. Paul's) in Preston. The station can be received across most of north west England and North Wales. Rock FM consistently rates as the number one commercial radio station in its target service area by reach, share and hours. Over a quarter of all adults in its market listen every week.
Overview
In 1990, Red Rose Radio, which was transmitted on 97.4 MHz and 999 kHz, was split into two stations - Red Rose Rock FM using the FM frequency and Red Rose Gold on the medium wave frequency. The managing director was Dave Lincoln and at that time the station was owned by the Miss World Group, later known as TransWorld Communications (owned by Owen OystonOwen Oyston
Owen John Oyston is a controversial self-made multimillionaire English businessman who is the majority owner of Blackpool F.C.. He was convicted of rape in 1996 and served three years of a six-year sentence in prison....
) and which subsequently became part of Bauer Radio (previously EMAP Radio).
In early 2010, it was announced that Adam Catterall would be leaving the station's breakfast show: it was subsequently confirmed that he would be replaced by former Xfm London
Xfm London
Xfm London is a commercial radio station in the United Kingdom owned by Global Radio and broadcasts on 104.9 FM in London, on digital radio via 30 DAB multiplexes across the country, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media....
, Galaxy Yorkshire
Galaxy Yorkshire
Capital Yorkshire is an Independent Local Radio station owned by Global Radio as part of the nine-station Capital radio network which specialises in mainstream music...
, and Absolute Radio presenter Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith (Radio DJ and TV Presenter)
Graeme Smith is a British broadcaster born in Liverpool, England. He is currently employed by Bauer Radio.He currently co-hosts the breakfast show on 97.4 Rock FM based in Lancashire, a pre recorded Saturday mid morning show on Rock FM, a Sunday mid morning slot on Key 103 in Manchester and a...
and Jude Vause-Walsh, returning to the FM station after several years on Century 105 & Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
. 18 months later, the station announced drivetime presenters Hywel Evans and Jamie Atherton would move to the breakfast slot from Monday 26 September 2011 with Smith moving to Drivetime and Jude Vause-Walsh leaving the station. The station also announced the arrival of controversial TV and radio broadcaster Tim Shaw to host weekend afternoons. Shaw had previously hosted edgy late night zoo format shows on Absolute Radio and Kerrang Radio and is reputedly one of the most controversial radio presenters in the world.
Monday–Friday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0600 | Matt Wilkins | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
| 0600 – 1000 | Hywel and Jamie's Breakfast Adventure: Hywel Evans & Jamie Atherton | Preston |
| 1000 – 1400 | Paul Webster | |
| 1400 – 1500 | Rock FM Non-Stop (automated) | |
| 1500 – 1900 | Go Home: Graeme Smith Graeme Smith (Radio DJ and TV Presenter) Graeme Smith is a British broadcaster born in Liverpool, England. He is currently employed by Bauer Radio.He currently co-hosts the breakfast show on 97.4 Rock FM based in Lancashire, a pre recorded Saturday mid morning show on Rock FM, a Sunday mid morning slot on Key 103 in Manchester and a... |
|
| 1900 – 2200 | In:Demand In:Demand In:Demand with Alex James is a radio show which broadcasts across most of the Bauer Radio owned Place Portfolio and The Hits Radio, each weeknight 1900–2200, networked from Key 103 in Manchester.- Presenters :... : Alex James |
Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
| 2200 – 0100 | Matt Spokes |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0600 | Adam Brown | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
| 0600 – 1000 | Rock FM Breakfast: James Everton | Preston |
| 1000 – 1400 | Hywel Evans & Jamie Atherton | |
| 1400 – 1800 | The L.O.L Show: Tim Shaw | |
| 1800 - 2200 | Club Rock: Paul Webster | |
| 2200 – 0100 | Rock FM Non Stop (automated) |
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0400 | Early Sunday (automated) | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... |
| 0400 – 0600 | Adam Brown | |
| 0600 – 1000 | Rock FM Breakfast: James Everton | Preston |
| 1000 – 1400 | Rock FM's Nothing But the 90s: Danny Bee | |
| 1300 – 1600 | The L.O.L Show: Tim Shaw | |
| 1600 – 1900 | The Vodafone Big Top 40: Rich Clarke Richard Clarke (radio personality) Richard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:... & Kat Shoob Kat Shoob Katherine 'Kat' Shoob is a British radio presenter on The Vodafone Big Top 40.Shoob modelled for Maxim in September 2006.Shoob presented The Mint, a phone-in quiz that was shown on ITV1 and ITV2... |
Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1900 – 2200 | Freejack's Classic Cuts: Mark Freejack | Preston |
| 2200 - 0100 | Rock FM Non Stop (automated) |
In:Demand
In:Demand
In:Demand with Alex James is a radio show which broadcasts across most of the Bauer Radio owned Place Portfolio and The Hits Radio, each weeknight 1900–2200, networked from Key 103 in Manchester.- Presenters :...
and overnights are networked programmes airing on Bauer Place's FM stations in Northern England while the weekday late show is simulcast with Key 103
Key 103
Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
in Manchester and The Hits Radio
The Hits Radio
The Hits Radio is a popular mainstream music channel operated by Bauer Media. The Station forms part of the Bauer Passion Portfolio. It is the biggest digital commercial radio station in Europe.- The Hits Radio :...
. The Vodafone Big Top 40 is produced by Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
at it's Capital London studios for broadcast on over 140 commercial radio stations across the UK.
Past Presenters
- Allan BeswickAllan BeswickAllan Beswick is a radio broadcaster who presents the breakfast show on BBC Radio Manchester in Manchester.Prior to becoming a radio presenter, Beswick worked as a soldier, a bus driver and a mental health nurse and for the Citizen's Advice Bureau; during his time at the C.A.B...
(now at BBC Radio ManchesterBBC Radio ManchesterBBC Radio Manchester is a BBC Local Radio station broadcasting to Greater Manchester in North West England. It broadcasts 24 hours a day from studios at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays via a transmitter at Holme Moss, with a small repeater at Saddleworth covering Tameside and Saddleworth...
) - Adam Catterall (now at BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
) - Davinia PalmerDavinia PalmerDavinia Palmer is a TV presenter and voiceover artist now based in the US.- Radio career :Davinia Palmer began her career in entertainment as a radio host in 1997...
(now voiceover artist for Bauer Radio) - Rob Ellis (now at Capital Manchester)
- Kev SeedKev SeedKevin "Kev" Seed is an English radio DJ. He has presented shows on Rock FM and Radio City, and is currently the Breakfast Presenter for Wish FM....
(now at Wish FMWish FMWish FM is a British Independent Local Radio that serves the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester and the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside...
and Juice FMJuice FM107.6 Juice FM is a British Independent Local Radio, set up in 1998 in Liverpool after the closing of alternative music station 107.6 Crash FM and its subsequent purchase by Forever Broadcasting. It launched with a format broadly in keeping with that of Crash, but with a greater amount of...
) - Adele Roberts (now at BBC Radio 1XtraBBC Radio 1XtraBBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
) - Rick Houghton (now at Radio City 96.7Radio City 96.7Radio City 96.7 is a British Independent Local Radio station, based in Liverpool, that serves Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales...
) - Danny Pietroni (now at Magic 105.4 London])
- Simon Ross (now at Radio City 96.7Radio City 96.7Radio City 96.7 is a British Independent Local Radio station, based in Liverpool, that serves Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales...
) - Shaun TilleyShaun TilleyShaun Tilley is a British radio presenter, currently working for Gold & Wish FM.He has worked for a variety of other radio stations, including Rock FM, Capital FM, Radio Caroline, Real Radio, KCFM, Time 106.6, Big L, and Radio Luxembourg...
- Vicky Warham (now with 96.9 Viking FM96.9 Viking FM96.9 Viking FM is an English Independent Local Radio station which has broadcast music and local information to the East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire since 1984. It is based in Kingston upon Hull...
) - Jude Vause Walsh
- Rob Howard (now with Capital Birmingham)
- Michelle Dignan (now with BBC Radio 5 LiveBBC Radio 5 LiveBBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
) - Lucy HorobinLucy HorobinLucy Horobin is a British radio presenter who currently presents simulcast evening show In:Demand across bauer's Big City Network alongside Alex James. She attended Nottingham Trent University where she achieved a BA in Broadcast Journalism...