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The Revolution (radio station)
Encyclopedia
The Revolution is an Independent Local Radio
station broadcasting to the areas of Oldham
, Rochdale
and Tameside
in Greater Manchester
, England
.
and UKRD (both were 50% shareholders), and takes its name from the Industrial Revolution
, in which the region took a major role, and the initial letters of its three main target areas – Revolution.
When bidding for a full time broadcasting licence in the mid 90s, the station would broadcast temporarily for one month per year under the name Oldham FM. When the station was granted the full time licence, it was launched with the new name 96.2 The Revolution and went live on 30 August 1999.
The station initially launched with a general pop and rock format and remained as such from 1999–2005, being recognised as one of the fastest growing radio stations in the North West of England in radio history.
In 2005, the station changed to a more specialist music format. Playing a wide variety of alternative/soul & rock and roll
music, mixing brand new artists with gems from the last 40 years. Inspiral Carpets
keyboard player Clint Boon
took over as head of music. Boon left the station after a short period of time for its then rival, Xfm Manchester
.
Sadly, in 2008 the station's audience went into decline due to several factors and the business was put on the market. The station's format was changed by its then owner, who physically changed the music policy during one afternoon in late August of that year. Now the output was a repeat of mainly repetitive mainstream hits. This radical change lead to a walk-out by most of the DJ's, and not long after, the station played back to back music with only a few mainly pre-recorded links in between. This was to remain the situation for a short time.
A fortnight after the walk-out, it was announced that The Revolution had been purchased by broadcaster Steve Penk
, formerly of Key 103
and Capital FM.
The format was soon changed back to an Adult Contemporary sound, with a broader sound than most of it's kind. As well as playing a selection of current chart hits and new artists, some of the station’s key artists today include Stevie Wonder
, Aretha Franklin
, David Bowie
and Chic
, to name but a few.
To date, the release of radio audience figures from RAJAR
show the station is on a steady climb, entertaining a wider audience.
The signal comes from the Civic Centre, and extensive broadcast can be heard throughout Tameside
, Rochdale
, Manchester
and Oldham
.
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 the areas of Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
and Tameside
Tameside
The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after the River Tame which flows through the borough and spans the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Stalybridge. Its western...
in 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...
, 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
The radio station was previously owned by the Oldham Evening ChronicleOldham Evening Chronicle
The Oldham Evening Chronicle is a daily newspaper published each weekday evening. It is a local newspaper which serves the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England...
and UKRD (both were 50% shareholders), and takes its name from the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, in which the region took a major role, and the initial letters of its three main target areas – Revolution.
When bidding for a full time broadcasting licence in the mid 90s, the station would broadcast temporarily for one month per year under the name Oldham FM. When the station was granted the full time licence, it was launched with the new name 96.2 The Revolution and went live on 30 August 1999.
The station initially launched with a general pop and rock format and remained as such from 1999–2005, being recognised as one of the fastest growing radio stations in the North West of England in radio history.
In 2005, the station changed to a more specialist music format. Playing a wide variety of alternative/soul & rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
music, mixing brand new artists with gems from the last 40 years. Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
keyboard player Clint Boon
Clint Boon
Clint Boon is an English musician and DJ. Boon originally rose to notability as the keyboards player with Inspiral Carpets.-Career:...
took over as head of music. Boon left the station after a short period of time for its then rival, Xfm Manchester
Xfm Manchester
Xfm Manchester is a commercial radio station broadcasting alternative and indie music to Manchester in North West England.It builds on the brand and format established by Xfm London. The majority of programming is shared but some is produced specifically for Manchester...
.
Sadly, in 2008 the station's audience went into decline due to several factors and the business was put on the market. The station's format was changed by its then owner, who physically changed the music policy during one afternoon in late August of that year. Now the output was a repeat of mainly repetitive mainstream hits. This radical change lead to a walk-out by most of the DJ's, and not long after, the station played back to back music with only a few mainly pre-recorded links in between. This was to remain the situation for a short time.
A fortnight after the walk-out, it was announced that The Revolution had been purchased by broadcaster Steve Penk
Steve Penk
Steve Penk is a British radio and TV presenter. He was born Stephen Penkethman on 28 September 1961, in Rusholme, Manchester and is renowned for his wind-up calls. Penk has worked for various national and local radio stations...
, formerly of 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...
and Capital FM.
The format was soon changed back to an Adult Contemporary sound, with a broader sound than most of it's kind. As well as playing a selection of current chart hits and new artists, some of the station’s key artists today include Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
, to name but a few.
To date, the release of radio audience figures from 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...
show the station is on a steady climb, entertaining a wider audience.
Present day
The station broadcasts on 96.2FM and online via www.therevolution962.comThe signal comes from the Civic Centre, and extensive broadcast can be heard throughout Tameside
Tameside
The Metropolitan Borough of Tameside is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England. It is named after the River Tame which flows through the borough and spans the towns of Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Denton, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Hyde, Mossley and Stalybridge. Its western...
, Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, 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...
and Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
.
Current Presenters
- Steve PenkSteve PenkSteve Penk is a British radio and TV presenter. He was born Stephen Penkethman on 28 September 1961, in Rusholme, Manchester and is renowned for his wind-up calls. Penk has worked for various national and local radio stations...
- Elliot Eastwick
- Gareth Bird
- Jay McCreary
- Phil Wood
- Gary King
- Danny Matthews
Past Presenters (under current owner)
- James H ReeveJames H ReeveJames Hengist Reeve is a cult UK broadcaster, journalist, raconteur and radio phone-in host based in the Manchester area. James has hosted shows on Piccadilly Radio, BBC GMR , BBC Radio Five Live, The New Hallam FM, talkSPORT, TeamTalk 252 stations and, up until July 2006, presented the late night...
- Pat SharpPat SharpPat Sharp is a British radio and television presenter and disc jockey. In the UK, he is known mainly for his work on the children's television programme Fun House, his former mullet and his radio shows as well as his support of Arsenal...
- David Broadbent
- Wayne Dutton
- Alan Nield
- Sarah Hall
- Donny OsmondDonny OsmondDonald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...