Mercia FM
Encyclopedia
Mercia is an Independent Local Radio
station serving Coventry
and Warwickshire
. The station, owned and operated by Orion Media
broadcasts from studios shared with BRMB
at Broad Street in Birmingham.
In 1987, the station moved FM frequencies, along with most ILR stations at the time to 97.0 FM. Shortly after this a new transmitter on 102.9 FM was created to serve South Warwickshire.
In 1989, along with BRMB
in Birmingham
, the AM frequency was split from the FM transmissions to create a new radio station called Xtra AM
which played music from the 60's and 70's.
In 1993, the station's owners, Midlands Radio plc
, sold the station to Capital Radio who, shortly afterwards sold it to GWR, who re-branded it in-line with their "Today's Best Mix" slogan
from 1994 onwards. During this period numerous presenters from other GWR stations joined Mercia, including Craig Strong (Trent FM
, Ram FM, Leicester Sound
) Tim Gough (Trent FM
) Rachel Hopper (Ram FM) and Sean Goldsmith (Trent FM
). From 2002 onwards, the slogan was "Playing the best mix of the 80's, 90's and today". In 2007, it reverted back to the old slogan of "Today's Best Mix".
However on 13 August 2007, the 'FM' was dropped from the station's name, and it is now known on air as 'Mercia'.
On 8 August 2008, it was confirmed that due to competition 'conflict of interests' in the West Midlands (and in other areas), Mercia would be sold by Global Radio, along with other West Midlands owned GCap/Global stations BRMB
, Wyvern FM
, Heart 106
and Beacon Radio. In July 2009, the station was sold officially to a company backed by Lloyds TSB
Development Capital and Phil Riley
called Orion Media
.
In common with many other ILR
stations, the last decade has seen an increase in networked programming shared between stations operated by the same 'parent' group. Automation and presentation techniques during these hours insert local idents, jingles and commercials. Currently, seven hours of local programming are broadcast each weekday with four hours on weekend mornings and additional hours for live football commentary of Coventry City matches. Outside of these hours, programming is simulcast with Orion Media
's local FM stations in the West Midlands from Orion's Birmingham studios.
On 8 July 2011, Orion Media announced plans to close Mercia's Coventry studios and co-locate the station to the company's headquarters in Birmingham - the move took place two months later, leaving Coventry with only one local station left (BBC Coventry & Warwickshire). The local mid-morning programme on weekdays is now simulcast with BRMB
.
Weekday evening and weekend schedules vary during the football season, owing to live coverage of Coventry City matches.
Vicky Breakwell
Head of Sport
Tom Ross (also The Goalzone presenter)
Broadcast Journalists
Dan Dawson
Stuart Bailey
Stacey Foster
Darryl Murphy (Coventry and Warwickshire reporter)
Goalzone commentators
Dave Bennett
Joe Holt
West Midlands°N Warwickshire°W
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 serving Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
and Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. The station, owned and operated by Orion Media
Orion Media
Orion Media is a UK commercial radio group run by radio veteran Phil Riley and backed by Lloyds TSB Development Capital. It was created from the enforced sale of several radio stations in the English Midlands owned and operated by Global Radio.-History:...
broadcasts from studios shared with BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
at Broad Street in Birmingham.
History
The station begun broadcastion as Mercia Sound at 0700 BST on 23 May 1980 with an opening announcement by Programme Director Ian Rufus, followed by breakfast presenter Gordon Astley and a news bulletin read by Mike Henfield. In its first year of operation, it boasted the highest weekly reach of any commercial radio station in England and Wales, a record that still stands to this day.In 1987, the station moved FM frequencies, along with most ILR stations at the time to 97.0 FM. Shortly after this a new transmitter on 102.9 FM was created to serve South Warwickshire.
In 1989, along with BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, the AM frequency was split from the FM transmissions to create a new radio station called Xtra AM
Xtra AM
Xtra AM was a United Kingdom radio station which was on the air between 1989 and 1998. It was broadcast to much of Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire and was the 'oldies' station which took over the mediumwave frequencies of both BRMB and Mercia FM...
which played music from the 60's and 70's.
In 1993, the station's owners, Midlands Radio plc
Midlands Radio plc
Midlands Radio plc was an independent radio operator, which operated seven radio licences in Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and surrounding areas in the United Kingdom.-AM:*GEM AM - operated on the medium wave frequencies of Radio Trent....
, sold the station to Capital Radio who, shortly afterwards sold it to GWR, who re-branded it in-line with their "Today's Best Mix" slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
from 1994 onwards. During this period numerous presenters from other GWR stations joined Mercia, including Craig Strong (Trent FM
Trent FM
Trent FM was an Independent Local Radio station which broadcast to Nottinghamshire. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Leicester Sound and Ram FM to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-History:Launched on 3 July 1975 as Radio Trent and based in a...
, Ram FM, Leicester Sound
Leicester Sound
Leicester Sound was an Independent Local Radio station which broadcast to Leicestershire. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Trent FM and Ram FM to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-Background:Leicester Sound was launched by the owners of Radio Trent on...
) Tim Gough (Trent FM
Trent FM
Trent FM was an Independent Local Radio station which broadcast to Nottinghamshire. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Leicester Sound and Ram FM to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-History:Launched on 3 July 1975 as Radio Trent and based in a...
) Rachel Hopper (Ram FM) and Sean Goldsmith (Trent FM
Trent FM
Trent FM was an Independent Local Radio station which broadcast to Nottinghamshire. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Leicester Sound and Ram FM to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-History:Launched on 3 July 1975 as Radio Trent and based in a...
). From 2002 onwards, the slogan was "Playing the best mix of the 80's, 90's and today". In 2007, it reverted back to the old slogan of "Today's Best Mix".
However on 13 August 2007, the 'FM' was dropped from the station's name, and it is now known on air as 'Mercia'.
On 8 August 2008, it was confirmed that due to competition 'conflict of interests' in the West Midlands (and in other areas), Mercia would be sold by Global Radio, along with other West Midlands owned GCap/Global stations BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
, Wyvern FM
Wyvern FM
Wyvern is a radio station broadcasting to Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. Wyvern is predominantly music-based, playing pop from the 1980s through to the present day...
, Heart 106
Heart 106
Gem 106, previously known as Heart East Midlands, is a regional radio station broadcasting to the East Midlands, owned and operated by Orion Media.-History:...
and Beacon Radio. In July 2009, the station was sold officially to a company backed by Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc is a retail bank in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1995 by the merger of Lloyds Bank, established in Birmingham, England in 1765 and traditionally considered one of the Big Four clearing banks, with the TSB Group which traces its origins to 1810...
Development Capital and Phil Riley
Phil Riley
Phil Riley was Chief Executive of Chrysalis Radio from June 1999 to July 2007, having played a major role in establishing Chrysalis Radio as one of the leading new entrants in the UK radio industry. Phil resigned his post after leading the successful sale of Chrysalis Radio to private company...
called Orion Media
Orion Media
Orion Media is a UK commercial radio group run by radio veteran Phil Riley and backed by Lloyds TSB Development Capital. It was created from the enforced sale of several radio stations in the English Midlands owned and operated by Global Radio.-History:...
.
In common with many other ILR
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:...
stations, the last decade has seen an increase in networked programming shared between stations operated by the same 'parent' group. Automation and presentation techniques during these hours insert local idents, jingles and commercials. Currently, seven hours of local programming are broadcast each weekday with four hours on weekend mornings and additional hours for live football commentary of Coventry City matches. Outside of these hours, programming is simulcast with Orion Media
Orion Media
Orion Media is a UK commercial radio group run by radio veteran Phil Riley and backed by Lloyds TSB Development Capital. It was created from the enforced sale of several radio stations in the English Midlands owned and operated by Global Radio.-History:...
's local FM stations in the West Midlands from Orion's Birmingham studios.
On 8 July 2011, Orion Media announced plans to close Mercia's Coventry studios and co-locate the station to the company's headquarters in Birmingham - the move took place two months later, leaving Coventry with only one local station left (BBC Coventry & Warwickshire). The local mid-morning programme on weekdays is now simulcast with BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
.
Weekdays
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0600 | Overnights | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... /Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... |
| 0600 – 1000 | The JD Show: John Dalziel | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| 1000 – 1300 | Russ Morris | |
| 1300 - 1600 | Dan Morrissey | |
| 1600 – 1900 | Andy Goulding | |
| 1900 – 2200 | James Merritt | |
| 2200 – 0100 | The Sanctuary: Caroline Martin |
Weekday variations
| Day | Time | Main presenter/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday & Friday | 0100 - 0600 | Adam Wilbourn | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday | Dan Wood (voicetracked) | Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... |
|
| Friday | 2200 - 0100 | The Sanctuary: Will Batchelor | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0700 | Adam Wilbourn | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| 0700 – 1100 | Justin Walker | |
| 1100 – 1400 | The Saturday Show: Sam Pinkham & David Tanner | Nottingham Nottingham Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... |
| 1400 - 1800 | The Goalzone | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| 1800 - 2200 | Justin Walker | |
| 2200 – 0100 | Will Batchelor |
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0700 | Adam Wilbourn | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| 0700 - 1100 | Justin Walker | |
| 1100 - 1300 | Sam Nixon Sam Nixon Sam Nixon is an English singer and television presenter. He came third on the Pop Idol television series in 2003 and is now one half of the duo Sam & Mark, with the other being Mark Rhodes.-Early life:... & Mark Rhodes Mark Rhodes Mark Thomas Rhodes is an English singer and television presenter.-Career:... |
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... |
| 1300 - 1600 | Dan Morrissey | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| 1600 – 1900 | The Vodafone Big Top 40 | 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 | David Francis | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
| 2200 - 0100 | The Sanctuary: Caroline Martin |
Weekday evening and weekend schedules vary during the football season, owing to live coverage of Coventry City matches.
News and Sport staff
Head of NewsVicky Breakwell
Head of Sport
Tom Ross (also The Goalzone presenter)
Broadcast Journalists
Dan Dawson
Stuart Bailey
Stacey Foster
Darryl Murphy (Coventry and Warwickshire reporter)
Goalzone commentators
Dave Bennett
Joe Holt
Past presenters
- Richard Neale
- Gordon Astley
- Stuart Linnell (Now at BBC Radio Northampton and BBC Coventry & Warwickshire)
- Tony Gillam
- Dave Jamieson
- Andy Lloyd
- Paul Robinson
- Jim Lee (now at BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra)
- Tom Clapton
- Bernie Keith (now at BBC Radio Northampton)
- Jeff Harris
- Graham Bradshaw
- Ted Elliott
- Rob Jordan
- Lyndon Jenkins
- Franklyn Hughes
- Phil Upton (Now at BBC WM)
- Beverley Napier Barrett
- Neil Kefford
- Kirsty Sillitoe
- Stewart White
- Jan Edwards
- Bob Brolly (Now at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire)
- Mark Keen
- Craig Beck (aka 'Beck', formerly breakfast host at Real Radio North East)
- Rachael Hopper
- Simon Moss
- Marc Silk
- Shaun Tilley
- Clive Skelhon
- Gary Hynes
- Andy Lloyd
- Dave Simms (now an actor/creative in Australia)
- John Warwick - deceased
- Alan Turner - deceased
- Annie Othen (now at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire)
- Ian Shepherd (now at Radio Wave 96.5Radio Wave 96.5Radio Wave 96.5 is a British Independent Local Radio station that serves the Blackpool and Fylde coast areas of Lancashire. The station's output is broadcast from a specially-constructed transmitter aerial which is situated atop Blackpool Tower...
) - Chris Radley
- Rick Ward
- Chris Pegg
- Ed James (Now at Heart West MidlandsHeart West MidlandsHeart West Midlands is a radio station based in Birmingham, England, as part of the Heart Network, with a regional license to broadcast to the West Midlands...
) - Helen Knott
- Trevor Marshall
- Adrian Eyre
- Craig Bevan
- Steve Dawson
- Malcolm Halliday
External links
West Midlands°N Warwickshire°W