Country 1035
Encyclopedia
Country 1035 was a country music based Independent Local Radio
station based in London
, England
.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week (although TV and Radio stations had been broadcasting the genre daily for sometime). Garth Brooks
, who was at the peak of his fame, officially opened the station after Wellington's speech with the words "On behalf of all the Country music artists and Country music fans. Hi folks, this is Garth Brooks and you've got it tuned to the newest radio station in London. It's Country 1035 and I officially declare it open. I wish you guys a long success and a lot of happiness, cause that's the true measure of success".
The first song played was Brooks' Friends in Low Places
(which was voted #1 country song ever by listeners of the station a few months later), the second was another Brooks song The Dance
. The station's early line up included such well-known presenters such as (Chris Grant) Jon Scragg
, Randall Lee Rose, Peter Quinn, Paul Hollingdale
, David Allan
and Bryan Chalker. Chalker was subsequently dismissed for disciplinary reasons. David Allan left the station, going back to BBC Radio 2
and in an article for Country Music People magazine he criticized the station for not playing enough true country music.
As staffers and DJ's alike bickered about what was "true" Country music, the operation began to run out of money and Country 1035 faced closure. After much heart-searching, the station was sold to media giant RTL
who made strenuous attempts for nearly three years to turn it around. An initially over-formulaic, heavy-rotation playlist damaged ratings, but a subsequent, more audience-friendly format saw station share rise, and at one time, even exceed its competitor Jazz FM
.
Notwithstanding the improving position, RTL abruptly decided to automate the presentation and to broadcast from the studios of Talk Radio in London's West End. The presenter line-up at this time included Andy Beeley, Tina Stewart, Keith Francis, Randall Lee Rose, Gary Ziepe, Miles Long and Mark Hagen. Sales and administrative functions were amalgamated into RTL's Talk Radio and Atlantic 252. Eventually RTL
sold RTL Country 1035 as it had become known to Ritz Records, at one time the UK record label for Daniel O'Donnell
, but problems within the RMG group resulted in the mother company becoming close to bankruptcy.
By 2002 the audience had been reduced from over 250,000 listeners a week to only 75,000 listeners. Ritz sold the station in a deal which saw the staff go unpaid to Mean Radio, part of Vince Power's Mean Fiddler group. It was in turn purchased by Asian radio tycoon Avtar Lit
, owner of Sunrise Radio
, who re-named it Easy 1035. After a year or so of broadcasting a mixed easy listening/country format, Mr Lit applied to Ofcom to transfer Easy to a digital platform, thus freeing the 1035 frequency for Kismat Radio
, a further Asian language station. "Easy 1035" stopped broadcasting on the terrestrial AM service in 2003 but continued broadcasting (now called Easy Radio London
) via its digital frequency. In 2008 this too was closed. As of 2011 there are no country stations in the UK.
Another country music station 3C
in Great Britain
was also closed in 2007, and the advent of digital and internet radio platforms means it is unlikely that a dedicated country music station would ever again be licensed on a terrestrial frequency.
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 based in 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
After airing test transmissions the first voice officially heard on air was the stations chairman John Wellington. In his opening words he noted that the station will "fulfill a long awaited need". It was the first terrestrial station in the country to broadcast Country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
24 hours a day, 7 days a week (although TV and Radio stations had been broadcasting the genre daily for sometime). Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
, who was at the peak of his fame, officially opened the station after Wellington's speech with the words "On behalf of all the Country music artists and Country music fans. Hi folks, this is Garth Brooks and you've got it tuned to the newest radio station in London. It's Country 1035 and I officially declare it open. I wish you guys a long success and a lot of happiness, cause that's the true measure of success".
The first song played was Brooks' Friends in Low Places
Friends in Low Places
"Friends in Low Places" is a song released by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was the first single from his second album, No Fences. The song spent four weeks at #1 on the U.S...
(which was voted #1 country song ever by listeners of the station a few months later), the second was another Brooks song The Dance
The Dance (Garth Brooks song)
"The Dance" is a song recorded by country singer Garth Brooks. The song, written by Brooks' friend, Tony Arata, was a key track on his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks and a #1 chart hit...
. The station's early line up included such well-known presenters such as (Chris Grant) Jon Scragg
Jon Scragg
Jon Scragg is a radio presenter who has spent most of his career working on radio stations in the south of England. After a spell with the British Forces Broadcasting Service, Scragg joined Essex Radio in September 1981 as part of its launch team, and was the first voice heard on the station...
, Randall Lee Rose, Peter Quinn, Paul Hollingdale
Paul Hollingdale
Paul Hollingdale is a British radio presenter who presented the first ever programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2, Breakfast Special...
, David Allan
David Allan (broadcaster)
David Allan is a British television continuity announcer and radio presenter.-Radio career:...
and Bryan Chalker. Chalker was subsequently dismissed for disciplinary reasons. David Allan left the station, going back to BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
and in an article for Country Music People magazine he criticized the station for not playing enough true country music.
As staffers and DJ's alike bickered about what was "true" Country music, the operation began to run out of money and Country 1035 faced closure. After much heart-searching, the station was sold to media giant RTL
RTL Group
RTL Group is Europe's largest TV, radio and production company, and is majority-owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. It has 45 television and 32 radio stations in 11 countries...
who made strenuous attempts for nearly three years to turn it around. An initially over-formulaic, heavy-rotation playlist damaged ratings, but a subsequent, more audience-friendly format saw station share rise, and at one time, even exceed its competitor Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM was a local jazz and soul music station for London run by GMG Radio. The station was based and broadcast from Castlereagh Street in London to around 15.5 million people within the broadcasting area...
.
Notwithstanding the improving position, RTL abruptly decided to automate the presentation and to broadcast from the studios of Talk Radio in London's West End. The presenter line-up at this time included Andy Beeley, Tina Stewart, Keith Francis, Randall Lee Rose, Gary Ziepe, Miles Long and Mark Hagen. Sales and administrative functions were amalgamated into RTL's Talk Radio and Atlantic 252. Eventually RTL
RTL Group
RTL Group is Europe's largest TV, radio and production company, and is majority-owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. It has 45 television and 32 radio stations in 11 countries...
sold RTL Country 1035 as it had become known to Ritz Records, at one time the UK record label for Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell (Irish singer)
Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. O'Donnell came to public attention in 1983 and has since become a household name in Ireland and the UK. He has also had considerable success in the US. He is known for his close relationship with his...
, but problems within the RMG group resulted in the mother company becoming close to bankruptcy.
By 2002 the audience had been reduced from over 250,000 listeners a week to only 75,000 listeners. Ritz sold the station in a deal which saw the staff go unpaid to Mean Radio, part of Vince Power's Mean Fiddler group. It was in turn purchased by Asian radio tycoon Avtar Lit
Avtar Lit
Avtar Lit is the owner and chairman of Sunrise Radio Group, and was listed by AIM magazine as one of the "20 most powerful Asians in British media" in 2005, and said to have amassed a big personal fortune...
, owner of Sunrise Radio
Sunrise Radio
Sunrise Radio is the United Kingdom's first Independent Local Radio station to cater specifically for the Asian community. Dr Avtar Lit is the chairman and chief executive of this media group which also operates kismat radio,buzz asia,punjabi radio as well as sunrise tv-Transmission:It initially...
, who re-named it Easy 1035. After a year or so of broadcasting a mixed easy listening/country format, Mr Lit applied to Ofcom to transfer Easy to a digital platform, thus freeing the 1035 frequency for Kismat Radio
Kismat Radio
Kismat Radio is a radio station broadcasting from the Crystal Palace Transmitter in south-east London.- Background :The target audience is British Asians and South Asian expats aged 30+, with programme formats comprising Asian Talk and music....
, a further Asian language station. "Easy 1035" stopped broadcasting on the terrestrial AM service in 2003 but continued broadcasting (now called Easy Radio London
Easy Radio London
Easy Radio London was a British radio station broadcasting to London on DAB.-History:The station began life in September 1994 as Country 1035, a country and western station broadcasting to London on medium wave...
) via its digital frequency. In 2008 this too was closed. As of 2011 there are no country stations in the UK.
Another country music station 3C
3C (radio)
3C was a United Kingdom radio station, based in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland and was provided by Radio Clyde. It played country and western music.Its sister stations were Clyde 1 and Clyde 2....
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
was also closed in 2007, and the advent of digital and internet radio platforms means it is unlikely that a dedicated country music station would ever again be licensed on a terrestrial frequency.