Bauer Media Audio UK
Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio.
History
In early 2008, German magazine publisher Bauer bought the radio division of British company Emap, which had been established as East Midland Allied Press in 1947. Consequently, Emap Radio Limited was renamed to Bauer Radio Limited.Emap's assets included national stations Kiss, Kerrang! and Magic, and local stations under the Big City Network brand in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These included 22 local FM stations in Scotland which Emap had bought from Scottish Radio Holdings in 2005.
In April 2011, Bauer Radio announced it would be restructuring its radio portfolio into two divisions. Stations linked to geographic areas would come under the Bauer Place brand, while national stations such as Kiss, Kerrang and The Hits would come under Bauer Passion. The Big City Network identity was dropped as part of the restructuring.
In April 2013, Bauer announced it would merge its two North East England stations, Metro Radio and TFM. The stations broadcast shared programming from Newcastle and Manchester while carrying separate branding, news bulletins and advertising.
In September 2014, Bauer announced it would be restructuring its radio portfolio as from January 2015. Magic AM in England was dropped in favour of the stations reverting to their heritage station names. The stations then formed part of the new 'City 2' network serving both Scotland and Northern England. A 'City 3' network on DAB, replacing The Hits Radio in most areas, launched on 19 January 2015. As part of this restructuring, the Place and Passion network banners introduced in 2011 were replaced by the Bauer City and Bauer National divisions. The 'City 3' network was withdrawn in favour of reverting to the networked The Hits service from September 2017.
At the beginning of March 2016, Bauer moved two of its stations, Planet Rock and Absolute 80s, from Digital One onto the Sound Digital multiplex, reducing the availability of these stations. The issue was reported in local media in some areas. Planet Rock and Absolute 80s on D1 began broadcasting just a retune message loop from 18 April, and the switch-off occurred on 30 April.
On 6 May 2016, Bauer announced it had bought Midlands radio group Orion Media for an undisclosed amount, reportedly between £40 and £50 million. It was subsequently confirmed that Orion's stations Free Radio and Gem would become part of the Bauer City portfolio, with Gem introducing a version of the City sonic logo device to its presentation from August 2016.
On 16 August 2018, Bauer announced that it had bought Jazz FM for an undisclosed sum.
In February and March 2019, Bauer purchased Lincs FM Group, Celador and the local stations owned by Wireless Group, and the following month Bauer purchased the ten FM stations owned by UKRD, together with UKRD's 50% share in First Radio Sales Limited. In August of that year, the Competition and Markets Authority began an investigation into these purchases, which found that a substantial lessening of competition had occurred in the marketplace for advertising. The CMA considered enforcing a partial divestment by Bauer, but in March 2020 instead made a 'behavioural remedy' ruling which accepted Bauer's proposal to pass a certain amount of advertising business to competing stations for a period of ten years.
Radio brands
Networks
Absolute
This comprises seven decade-themed services and dedicated classic-rock and country stations. The network is aimed at 35- to 54-year-olds.Absolute RadioAbsolute Radio 70sAbsolute Radio 80sAbsolute Radio 90sAbsolute Radio 00sAbsolute Radio 10sAbsolute Radio 20sAbsolute Radio Classic RockAbsolute Radio CountryThe brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:Absolute Radio 50sAbsolute Radio 60sAbsolute Radio AcousticAbsolute Radio CalmAbsolute Radio ChilledAbsolute Radio Classic CountryAbsolute Radio Forgotten 80sAbsolute Radio MoviesAbsolute Radio Rock'N'Roll Football 24/7Absolute Radio Women of CountryAbsolute Radio Women of RockAbsolute Radio WorkoutAndy Bush's Indie Disco 24/7Haven't Heard It For AgesThrough The Decades
Seasonal:Absolute Radio Halloween Absolute Radio Christmas PartyAbsolute Radio Summer
Former:
- ''Absolute Radio Sisters''
Hits Radio Brand
- Greatest Hits Radio, a Classic hits radio network of 44 radio stations, available on local FM and DAB, with a national DAB station.
- Greatest Hits Radio 60s
- Greatest Hits Radio 70s
- Greatest Hits Radio 80s
- Hits Radio, a Contemporary hit radio network of 25 radio stations, available on local FM and DAB, with a national DAB station. Until April 2024, most stations operated as their heritage radio brands, such as Radio City or Free Radio, with a mix of local and networked programming, but from April 2024 only the Scottish stations such as Clyde 1 have retained their heritage names. Hits Radio Pride, launched in 2020, playing music for the LGBTQ+ community.
- Hits Radio Chilled,
- Hits Radio 90s
- Hits Radio 00s
- Good Times Anthems
- Greatest Hits Grooves
- Greatest Hits of the 90s
- Greatest Hits Radio Love
- Greatest Hits Radio's Top 500
- Simon Mayo's Album Tracks
- Greatest Hits Radio Christmas
- Hits Radio Live
- Ken Bruce's Secret 60s
- ''Rewinds Greatest 80s Hits''
Jazz FM
- Jazz FM, DAB service available nationally playing jazz, blues and soul, based from London, acquired by Bauer in 2018.
Current:
- Dinner Jazz
- Jazz FM Presents Soul
- Jazz FM Presents The Blues
- Jazz FM's Greatest
- Jazz Funk Party
- Love Supreme
- Players Lounge
- Relax with Jazz
- Robbie Vincent's Music Garden Party
- Jazz FM Christmas
- Clare Teal's Big Band and Swing
- After Hours
- Avant Garde
- Best Live Jazz Performances
- Big Band and Swing'
- Big Easy
- Carnival
- Crossroads
- Headliners
- Jazz DNA
- Move On Up - Funk and Soul
- New Heat
- Piano Jazz
- Smooth and Soulful Jazz
- Summertime
- ''Vocal Expression''
Kerrang!
A network similar to Absolute, dedicated to rock music.From 7 May 2021, the brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:
Current:
- Alt Rock 00s
- Alt Rock 10s
- Alt Rock 80s
- Alt Rock 90s
- Alt Rock Workday
- Doomed!
- Download 20 Bands
- Everything Emo
- Full Metal Racket
- Kerrang Radio Gaming
- Kerrang! Radio Unleashed
- Klassic Kerrang! Radio
- Nu Metal
- Pop Punk Anthems
- Skate Rock
- The Moshpit
- Alt New Rock
- Alt Rock Anthems
- Alt Rock Party
- Alt Rock Workout
- Fresh Blood
- Goth Rock Party
- Grunge Garden
- Non Stop Headliners
- Pop Punk Ruuules!
- PWR Up Live
- Rebel Rebel
- '''US Rocks'''
KISS
The KISS network is aimed at a young 15-34 audience and plays predominantly rhythmic music.KISS, Available on Digital One and national DAB across the UK.DAB stations:- * Kisstory, DAB station, playing old skool and anthems.
- * Kiss Xtra, DAB station, dedicated to black music and culture.
Current:Kiss Bliss, station playing slow paced and acoustic music relating to the Kiss brand.Kiss Dance, playing the latest dance music.Kiss Garage, dedicated to the UK garage scene.Kiss AfrobeatsKiss Drum and BassKiss Ibiza 30Kiss In The MixKiss R&BKisstory 00'sKisstory 80'sKisstory 90'sKisstory Hip HopKisstory R&BKisstory Slow JamsKisstory Trance
Seasonal: Kiss Super Summer AnthemsKissmas Office PartyKiss Workout
Former:Kiss Running TraxKiss Ibiza, station playing the biggest mixes from electronic dance music.
Magic
Magic, melodic adult-contemporary music service aimed at 25 to 54 year olds, available on DAB nationally and on FM in London and Bristol.Magic Mellow, melodic classic hits and love songs.Magic Soul, a mix of soul, funk, Motown and R&B music.Magic Musicals, DAB+ station playing show tunes.Magic Classical, Magic 100% Christmas, a format flip for the main Magic station from late November to Boxing Day, playing Christmas music.The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:
Current:In The Park - ClassicalMagic at the MoviesMagic BoybandsMagic Girl PowerMagic Power BalladsMagic Slow DanceMagic Soul Floor FillersMindfulness MusicMovie BlockbustersPeaceful PianoThe JukeboxThe Study Space
Seasonal:Eurosong Radio Christmas Crackers Christmas Carols Christmas Crooners
- '''Magic Classical Christmas'''
Planet Rock
- Planet Rock, DAB radio station, which plays primarily classic rock music.
Current:
- 20 Years of Download
- Acoustic Amps Off
- Bloodstock Radio
- Blues Power
- Chilled Rock
- Classic 70s Rock
- Classic 80s Rock
- Classic 90s Rock
- Greatest Guitar Solos
- Hair Metal Heroes
- In Concert
- Joe Elliott - This Is How I Roll
- Planet Rockstock 10
- Power Anthems
- Rock Ballads
- Stateside
- The Prog Lab
- UK Rocks
- Workday Rocks
- Summer Rocks
- Americana
- Classic 00s Rock
- Classic 10s Rock
- Driving Songs
- Main Stage Live
- New Rock
- Party Rock
- Rock Your Workout
- '''The Blues Bar'''
Stand alone
National/ part-national
Heat Radio, contemporary pop, co-branded with Bauer's Heat magazine. Online and Local DAB.Local
- Downtown Radio, Hot AC station on DAB in Belfast and FM/DAB in the rest of Northern Ireland, part of Hits Radio for advertising purposes.
- Downtown Country, dedicated digital country music station on DAB in Northern Ireland.
- Cool FM, CHR station on FM in Belfast and DAB across Northern Ireland, part of Hits Radio for advertising purposes.
- '''Cool Old Skool'''
Former
- Mojo Radio, classic rock, early pop, blues and soul; broadcast on digital TV and online; ceased broadcasting in 2008.
- Q Radio, rock, alternative rock; broadcast nationally on Freeview and online; closed on 7 May 2013; replaced by Kisstory.Radio City Talk, a talk format station which provided rock and sport to Merseyside and the North West. It closed in May 2020 due to no longer having financial viability. It was a sister station to Radio City and Greatest Hits Radio [Liverpool & The North West].
- Smash Hits Radio, contemporary pop hits; following its removal from DAB it continued over Freeview, until being withdrawn to release a slot for Kiss Fresh.
- 3C, country music station, based in Glasgow, acquired as part of SRH takeover, broadcast on DAB in various areas and Freeview nationally; closed 2007; replaced on Freeview by a relay of Clyde 1 for a time.
- Radio Plymouth, local station based in Plymouth. Acquired by Bauer in 2020, and merged into Greatest Hits Radio.
- Wave 105, based in Hampshire, acquired as part of SRH takeover. Covered part of the south coast and neighbouring counties; played the latest hits. Merged into Greatest Hits Radio South in 2024.
- Scala Radio, classical music national station broadcast digitally from 4 March 2019. Relaunched as Magic Classical on 16 September 2024.
DAB multiplexes
Bauer is a partner in one of the UK's national commercial multiplexes, operates twelve wholly owned local DAB multiplexes, and jointly owns a further three with Global Radio; the firm was also formerly a minority partner for local services in three further areas. Bauer operates the following DAB multiplexes:Sound Digital
Bauer has a 30% holding in Sound Digital, operator of the second national commercial DAB multiplex to launch in the UK; this began transmissions in spring 2016 and several Bauer stations broadcast on it, some transferred from other multiplexes. The other partners are Wireless Group and Arqiva.Bauer Digital Radio
Bauer's wholly owned digital multiplexes are primarily located in areas where the firm operates local FM stations; the original group of Bauer DAB multiplexes are located in the following areas:- Central Lancashire – Bauer Central Lancashire
- Humberside – Bauer Humberside
- Leeds – Bauer Leeds
- Liverpool – Bauer Liverpool
- North Cumbria - Bauer North Cumbria
- South Yorkshire – Bauer South Yorkshire
- Teesside – Bauer Teesside
- Tyne and Wear – Bauer Tyne & Wear
Score Digital
As part of Emap's takeover of Scottish Radio Holdings, the firm gained control of Score Digital, the DAB multiplex operator owned by SRH. Competition guidelines required the merged firm to divest of one of the multiplexes obtained in this deal, and so the Ayr multiplex formerly run by Score was sold on to Arqiva. The remaining Score multiplexes have since been relabelled as Bauer multiplexes.The ex-Score DAB multiplexes are located in:
- Dundee – Score Dundee
- Edinburgh – Score Edinburgh
- Glasgow – Score Glasgow
- Inverness – Score Inverness
- Northern Ireland – Score Northern Ireland
Bauer DAB
The Wireless Group and Emap entered into a venture to run the following three DAB multiplexes. These multiplexes were initially branded as TWG-Emap multiplexes; following the sale of TWG to UTV, the multiplexes were relabelled as UTV-Emap, and following the sale of Emap's radio assets to Bauer, the blocks were renamed again as UTV-Bauer. Bauer owned 30 per cent of the UTV-Bauer venture, but sold its stake in November 2013. Now wholly owned by Bauer Radio following the sale of the Wireless local stations in 2019.- Stoke-on-Trent – Stoke & Stafford
- Swansea – Swansea SW Wales
- West Yorkshire – Bradford & Huddersfield
CE Digital
Bauer and Global Radio jointly own CE Digital Ltd, each holding 50% of the venture. The CE operation was established by Emap in partnership with the Capital Radio Group, which through mergers subsequently became part of GCap Media and later Global Radio. The 'CE' multiplexes take their name from the initials of Capital and Emap, and have not been renamed despite the identity changes of both operators.CE Digital operate the following DAB multiplexes: