UKRD Group
Encyclopedia
The UKRD Group Ltd is a British media company which owns 16 commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom
. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.
's Pirate FM 102 which was designed and launched by former County Sound boss Mike Powell
who, after leaving County Sound, had formed Infinity Radio. Shortly after the launch, Infinity Radio merged with UK Radio Developments and Powell became CEO of the embryonic UKRD Group. Under Powell's leadership, UKRD became one of the fastest growing private radio groups in the UK, rapidly adding Star FM in Slough and winning the Guildford
radio franchise which gave birth to 96.4 The Eagle
, the new County Sound (a recreation of the original Guildford commercial station of the same name) and Delta Radio. Since then it has acquired several more stations, and launched further stations on the issue of new local licences.
UKRD acquired a significant minority share-holding in Faze FM
which ran Kiss 102
in Manchester
and Kiss 105
in Yorkshire
. The stations had a branding deal with EMAP
's Kiss FM, London
. UKRD sold its interests in the Kiss stations in 1997 to the Chrysalis Group
who added them to its Galaxy Radio network.
Since 2001, the head of the organisation has been William Rogers, one time leader of Penwith
District Council, in Cornwall
.
UKRD Group's head office is within the Carn Brea
Studios of Pirate FM 102 in Redruth
, Cornwall
. It also has offices in Guildford and Bristol
.
In 2009, it acquired The Local Radio Company
and disposed of many non-profitable stations, as well as re-branding Alpha Radio, Minster Northallerton
and Durham FM
into Star Radio North East
.
In March 2010 it was ranked twenty-seventh in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For (SMEs).
In March 2011 it was ranked 1st in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The name originates from UK Radio Developments.
History
Formed on 22 August 1990 as a company to invest in commercial stations following the relaxation of station ownership laws, its first investment was a stake in CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
's Pirate FM 102 which was designed and launched by former County Sound boss Mike Powell
Mike Powell (UK radio entrepreneur)
Mike Powell is a former British newspaper and radio journalist who hosted shows on several UK music radio stations before transitioning to station management....
who, after leaving County Sound, had formed Infinity Radio. Shortly after the launch, Infinity Radio merged with UK Radio Developments and Powell became CEO of the embryonic UKRD Group. Under Powell's leadership, UKRD became one of the fastest growing private radio groups in the UK, rapidly adding Star FM in Slough and winning the Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
radio franchise which gave birth to 96.4 The Eagle
96.4 The Eagle
96.4 Eagle Radio is an Independent Local Radio station in the Surrey and North Hampshire area of England owned by the UKRD Group. The radio station, based in Guildford, Surrey, was the brainchild of Mike Powell, previously the Managing Director of Surrey and Hampshire's County Sound Radio.Peter...
, the new County Sound (a recreation of the original Guildford commercial station of the same name) and Delta Radio. Since then it has acquired several more stations, and launched further stations on the issue of new local licences.
UKRD acquired a significant minority share-holding in Faze FM
Faze FM
Faze FM Radio Ltd was the owner of two dance music radio stations in the North of England.It operated Kiss 102 in Manchester and Kiss 105 in Yorkshire from 1994 to 1997 before being taken over by a larger group.-History:...
which ran Kiss 102
Kiss 102
-History:The frequency was originally issued to Sunset 102 Radio - The Kickin FM but that suffered some financial problems. In May 1993, the Radio Authority made a decision to prematurely terminate Sunset's licence, apparently accusing the station of providing inaccurate information about its...
in 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 Kiss 105
Kiss 105
Kiss 105 was an dance music radio station based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It was part of a new breed of regional radio stations as opposed to independent local radio.-History:...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. The stations had a branding deal with EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
's Kiss FM, London
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
. UKRD sold its interests in the Kiss stations in 1997 to the Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009...
who added them to its Galaxy Radio network.
Since 2001, the head of the organisation has been William Rogers, one time leader of Penwith
Penwith
Penwith was a local government district in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, whose council was based in Penzance. The district covered all of the Penwith peninsula, the toe-like promontory of land at the western end of Cornwall and which included an area of land to the east that fell outside the...
District Council, in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
UKRD Group's head office is within the Carn Brea
Carn Brea
Carn Brea is a civil parish and hilltop site in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hilltop site is situated approximately one mile southwest of Redruth.-Neolithic settlement:...
Studios of Pirate FM 102 in Redruth
Redruth
Redruth is a town and civil parish traditionally in the Penwith Hundred in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has a population of 12,352. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road , and is approximately west of...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. It also has offices in Guildford and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
In 2009, it acquired The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company
The Local Radio Company is a British media company, originally based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, that owns ten independent local radio stations in the UK...
and disposed of many non-profitable stations, as well as re-branding Alpha Radio, Minster Northallerton
Minster Northallerton
Minster Northallerton was an Independent Local Radio station based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England.-History:Prior to launch, Minster Northallerton was originally known as BTN FM, after the principal towns of the area - Bedale, Thirsk and Northallerton...
and Durham FM
Durham FM
Durham FM was an Independent Local Radio station based in Durham, County Durham, England.-History:Since its launch in 2005, Durham FM has been owned and operated by TLRC....
into Star Radio North East
Star Radio North East
Star Radio North East is a radio station serving County Durham and North Yorkshire.-History:...
.
In March 2010 it was ranked twenty-seventh in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For (SMEs).
In March 2011 it was ranked 1st in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.
Stations currently owned by UKRD Group
- 96.4FM The Eagle
- County Sound Radio 1566 AM
- KL.FM 96.7KL.FM 96.7KLFM 96.7 is an independent local radio station located in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. Its name is an abbreviation of King's Lynn FM, followed by its broadcasting frequency, 96.7....
- Pirate FM 102.
- Star Radio Cambridge & ElyStar Radio (Cambridge and Ely)Star Radio is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting on 107.9 MHz in Cambridge and 107.1 MHz in Ely. It was originally launched as "Cambridge Café Radio". Later in 1998 it was relaunched as "Cambridge Red" and six months later as 107.9 The Eagle....
- Star Radio North EastStar Radio North EastStar Radio North East is a radio station serving County Durham and North Yorkshire.-History:...
- 107 The Bee
- 2BR2BRTwo Boroughs Radio is a commercial radio station in East Lancashire. It broadcased from studios in the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate in Nelson, then in August 2010 2BR moved to Accrington based 'The Studios' with Sister Station 107 The Bee- About :The station broadcasts from the Pendle Forest...
- Spire FMSpire FMSpire FM was awarded the licence to broadcast to the City of Salisbury and surrounding areas by the former Radio Authority, now OFCOM, in 1991. The capital needed to launch the station was raised entirely from local investors....
- Minster FMMinster FMMinster FM is an independent commercial local radio station based in Dunnington near York, Yorkshire, England and covering the city of York and surrounding areas...
- Stray FM
- Mix 96
- Spirit FMSpirit FMSpirit FM broadcasts to West Sussex from studios in Dukes Court, Chichester - the place it has been since its launch more than 10 years ago. It was previously only available in the South West of the County but gained complete coverage through a transmitter near Midhurst.- History :Spirit FM began...
- Sun FMSun FMSun FM is a radio station serving the City of Sunderland and also available in Tyne and Wear, northern parts of County Durham in England. It broadcasts on the frequency 103.4 MHz and plays a mix of contemporary and classic popular music alongside local news, travel and covered ground breaking...
- Yorkshire Coast RadioYorkshire Coast RadioYorkshire Coast Radio is an Independent Local Radio station based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YCR is officially two Ofcom licenses, one for Scarborough and Whitby in North Yorkshire and one for Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire.-History:For many years several...
- Wessex FMWessex FMWessex FM is a local radio station for the Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport areas of Dorset. All content is broadcast from its studios in Dorchester, however the Big Top 40 Show is a network program...