The latest RAJAR figures reveal that 331,000 listeners across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife & Falkirk tune into Forth 1 every single week. That would fill BT Murrayfield nearly five times over!
In Q4 2022, this impressive number helped Forth 1 reach its highest share of the East of Scotland audience for 10 years – with 18.9% of all radio listening choosing Forth 1 every week*. Forth 2 also enjoyed a great set of results with its highest reach in four years, attracting an audience of 74,000*.
Recently published RAJAR results also highlight impressive figures for sister stations, Clyde 1 & 2, MFR and Tay FM. MFR has similarly seen an increase in listeners, reaching 119,000 every week whilst Tay FM becomes an all-radio market leader for the first time in a decade, with a 16.4% share of all radio across Tayside & Fife.
MFR’s Jodie At Breakfast has also had a great set of results with an increase of reach from 67k to 78.5k year on year.
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for the Hits & Greatest Hits Networks across Scotland, said:“Given the challenging times that so many are experiencing, we’re proud that our stations are a trusted source and attracting some of our strongest audience figures to date, with many listeners tuning in for longer than ever before.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to all our teams across all our stations who work so hard everyday to bring content to our listeners, that not only informs them date but also makes them sing, dance, laugh and cry.
“It is going to be a very exciting year across Scotland for all of our stations. Not only are eight joining the Greatest Hits Radio family on 3 April, but on the same day we welcome radio legend Ken Bruce and the iconic PopMaster too.”
Campaign aims to help fill vacant posts across Edinburgh
A marketing campaign to support the recruitment of more adult social care workers in Edinburgh has launched this week, to help address the high level of vacancies in the sector.
The campaign – titled ‘there is more to care than caring’ – will raise awareness of the career opportunities available in adult social care and encourage people to apply. Activity includes radio, outdoor and digital advertising, highlighting the important work done by adult social care workers.
It is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to attract more people to work in adult social care, retain existing staff and raise its status as a profession. This builds on a pay uplift for all adult social care staff which guarantees them a minimum of at least £10.90 an hour from this April.
Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart visited Leuchie House in North Berwick yesterday to see the work it does to support people affected by stroke, multiple sclerosis and neurological conditions.
Mr Stewart said: “Working in adult social care can be challenging but offers the opportunity to have a hugely positive impact on people’s lives on a daily basis.
“We are increasing pay, improving terms and conditions in the sector, and developing clear career pathways for the workforce, ahead of the introduction of the National Care Service. This will lead to more rewarding roles for the existing adult social care workforce, and for new entrants to the profession.
“This campaign highlights that while relevant experience can help, it is core interpersonal skills such as communication, compassion, empathy and respect that are most highly valued.
“If these are skills you possess then adult social care could be the career for you.”
GOING FORTH: The broadcasting legend will be on air with a new show on the station formerly known as Forth 2 from April 3rd
The UK’s most popular radio host, Ken Bruce, is joining the team at Greatest Hits Radio across Scotland and the rest of the UK as part of the stations launch this April.
Forth 2, which will rebrand to Greatest Hits Radio Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife & Falkirk, will launch with the iconic radio presenter.
The Glaswegian presenter will be following in the footsteps of other legendary broadcasters when he becomes part of the Greatest Hits Radio family, with a brand-new mid-morning show from 10am – 1pm. Ken will kickstart a weekday line up that also includes presenters Simon Mayo at Drivetime and Jackie Brambles in the early evening.
Ken, who began his broadcasting career working on hospital radio in Glasgow back in the early 1970’s and has become a radio icon, will now be joining Ewen and Cat and Stuart Webster who will be on presenting to the nation every weekday in the new line-up. Broadcaster Fred MacAulay will also be on air every Sunday.
Playing the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s, Greatest Hits Radio is a station that celebrates the good times across Scotland and the rest of the UK. With music from the most iconic artists of all time, including Blondie, Queen, George Michael, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Elton John and Whitney Houston, it is home to presenters including Ewen Cameron, Cat Harvey, Fred MacAulay and Stuart Webster who will be on at between 1-4pm.
Ken Brucesaid: ‘I can’t wait to launch my new show on Greatest Hits Radio across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“From beginning in hospital radio in Glasgow, to now launching a new show on Scotland’s first nationwide commercial radio station, it has been a 45-year journey I could have never of dreamed of as a young boy.’
Ben Cooper, Chief Content & Music Officer, Bauer Audio UK said: “Ken Bruce is a broadcasting legend, with the biggest radio show in the UK, so as well as today being an exciting announcement for Greatest Hits Radio and its growing audience, it is a hugely significant moment for the industry.
“What a fantastic start to a great year of increased ambition and innovation for Bauer Media Audio.”
This announcement follows last week’s news that Greatest Hits Radio will become Scotland’s first national commercial radio station as Forth 2, Clyde 2, MFR 2, Northsound 2, Tay 2, West Soundin Ayrshire, and West Sound in Dumfries & Galloway all rebrand to Greatest Hits Radio on the same April 3rd date.
You can listen to Greatest Hits Radio on DAB digital radio*, on your smart speaker, mobile device or online at greatesthitsradio.co.uk.
Mix 1 Radio based in Stockbridge have been on air for just under a year and are attracting some big names to join them as guests on air.
The station which has a mixture of music and conversation is exploiting the gap in the local radio marketspace as the larger stations are consolidating shows across the whole country. With presenters giving regular updates on local news, traffic and weather along with promoting local business’s the station is pulling in listeners across the capital and beyond.
The special guest on this weeks Edinburgh Weekender Show on Friday 6 till 8pm is London’s First Lady of Soul, PP Arnold who made her breakthrough as backing singer with Ike and Tina Turner before carving out her own successful career with hits like Angel of The Morning and The First Cut Is The Deepest.
She has a fascinating story to tell and listeners of Mix 1 will enjoy a great conversation with PP Arnold and Mix! Presenters Big T and Clayton P.
PP Arnold talks about her audition in Tina Turners front room. Moving to London and becoming the Boyfriend of Mick Jagger and her bond with Bee Gee Barry Gibb.
Previous guests on Mix 1 recently have been Tim Hower, lead singer of Mike and The Mechanics, Steve Smiley Barnard who played drums in Robbie Williams band, Craig Eddie winner of The Voice 2021 and Paul McCarthy star of TV’s Grange Hill.
There are more exciting guest lined up over the next few months.
The interview will be broadcast on Friday from 6pm on The Edinburgh Weekender Show. You can listen to Mix 1 Radio on your Alexa, just ask Alexa to enable the Mix 1 Radio Skill then Alexa Play Mix 1 Radio or listen online via their website Mix1Radio.co.uk
Over 300,000 people across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife & Falkirk tune into Forth 1 Boogie In The Morning remains the biggest breakfast show across the East
Forth 1, Edinburgh and the East of Scotland’s favourite radio station has seen its audience share grow to a nine year high with it now having a fantastic 18.6% share of all radio listening across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife & Falkirk.
315,000* people are tuning into Forth 1 every week.
Boogie In The Morning continues to dominate all breakfast radio listening across the East with a staggering 22.2% share.
Across Scotland, all of Bauer Media’s Hits & Greatest Hits stations have reason to celebrate as the total amount of listeners for the Hits Brands across Scotland has increased to an amazing 1,670,000** listeners every week, up 65,000 on the quarter.
The Greatest Hits Network across Scotland has its highest ever reach – 372,000!(the highest reach in 9 years since it became the Greatest Hits Network across Scotland).
Sister station Clyde 1 also achieved it best result in 18 years and over three quarters of a million people tune into Clyde 1 & 2 every week.
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for Scotland, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with this set of record breaking RAJAR results for our stations. It’s a testament to the incredible work by all our stations and all our presenters and staff across the summer months.
“Forth on the Fringe and the Forth Awards are just two of the massive events our teams have put on for our listeners this year as well as covering the biggest music festivals in the country including TRSNMT, Rewind Festival, Party At The Palace and Belladrum.
“We also have so much to look forward to as well with The Night Afore Disco Party being hosted live by Forth 1 with special performances from Sophie Ellis Bextor and Altered Images.
“I think a special mention and thank you must also go to our incredible news teams across Scotland who covered the Queen’s passing at Balmoral with such sensitivity and professionalism.”
Forth 1 and Clyde 2 have seen listener figures continue to grow with a fantastic set of results in the latest RAJAR figures.
The Q2 RAJAR 2022 results just go to underline the continued popularity of Forth 1 and Forth 2 with their listeners across Edinburgh and the West.
Forth 1 listeners are up 24,000 (+7%) to 325,000 and Forth 2 up 31,000 (+72%) to 72,000. Meaning that combined Radio Forth is up to 348,000 listeners.
Forth 1 is home to some of Scotland’s favourite presenters including Boogie and Arlene, Gary Spence, Greigsy, Grant Thomson and Callum Gallacher. Not to forget also home to some brilliant music with the biggest hits and biggest throwbacks and truly life-changing competitions like Cash Register.
Across the network listenership has also increased with the likes of Clyde 1, adding an extra 40,000 (+7% QoQ) more listeners this quarter, now reaching 640,000 every week, whilst Clyde 2 has on average 168,000 people tuning in – an increase of 49,000 (+40% QoQ). Meaning that combined, an incredible 719,000 listeners now tune in every week to Radio Clyde!
Combined Radio Clyde & Radio Forth now reach over the milestone million with 1,064,000 weekly listeners across the central belt!
The Greatest Hits Radio Network across Scotland, saw it post its best set of results ever with 339,000** people listening weekly, including record numbers for ‘new signing’ Stuart Webster’s ‘through the day’ 10am to 2pm weekday show, home to the legendary Top10@10, which achieved its highest ever listenership adding an extra 67,000 (+70%) new listener’s last quarter.
The weekly audience for all of the combined Hits Radio and Greatest Hits stations across Scotland (14) now total over 1.6m*** up by over 130,000 people.
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for Scotland, said: “What a fantastic set of results across our stations in Scotland, and a particular shout out must go to the teams at Clyde 1, Forth 1 and the Greatest Hits network across Scotland for some really outstanding listener numbers.
“To have over 1.6 million people listen to one of our radio stations every week is just amazing.
“I would like to give special mention also to our incredible presenters who continue to create brilliant, funny, moving and engaging content on-air and across our social channels that really connect with our audiences.
“Alongside that, as the world opened up again, this summer they have already been out and about en masse at some really outstanding events and partnerships the length and breadth of the country – from Belladrum in Inverness, Rewind at Scone Palace to the Border Union Show in Kelso, as well as our very own legendary Forth Awards at the Usher Hall.
“And with the football season having just kicked off, Forth On The Fringe this weekend, loads of Edinburgh Fringe activity and our Tom Walker Live & Up Close at the Sky Bar at Radisson RED Glasgow this month, we have so much to be excited about and proud of and the schools haven’t even gone back yet!”
Edinburgh has a new, Stockbridge-based community radio station. Launched on Friday in the heart of the Bohemian village, Edinburgh’s Mix1 Radio will serve its listeners with entertainment and local information.
Stockbridge, Comely Bank and other neighbouring villages have a fabulous community spirit. You only have to walk along Stockbridge main street to find that out. So, with the community in mind local broadcaster, musician and designer Sam Hinks decided the time was right to start a station.
Sam said: “Experience is very important in the radio industry, although enthusiasm and ability to learn are just as important.
“We want to attract the best people to entertain and inform the local communities as well as align ourselves firmly with the individuals, businesses and organisations that make up the surrounding area.”
Mix1 Radio’s most important job is to engage with its listeners and be involved as much as possible with the communities. To that end they have set up a basement studio in the heart of Stockbridge, with a meeting area and admin facilities for the station to grow.
Local events will also be a part of the station’s community role. They will be available to engage in outside broadcasts and live entertainment in Stockbridge and surrounding Edinburgh. Contact the station for details.
Training is an aspect that will be very much embraced by the station. Local schools, colleges and individuals will be encouraged to get in touch.
If you feel you want to be involved with local radio, get in touch with Mix1 Radio. They are an all-encompassing company that will welcome you with open arms.
Look for the station on the internet, broadcasting via its website, mobile portal apps and on smart speakers (local Edinburgh city DAB to come soon).
After six years presenting on Sunday morning breakfast together, Ewen and Cat will be handing over their early Sunday mornings to their mate Greigsy in trade for a well-deserved lie-in.
The popular duo announced today that their last weekend show together will take place on the 7th November before handing over the reins of the Clyde 1 and Forth 1 (and across Scotland on the Hits Radio Network) Sunday breakfast show to Greigsy who currently hosts the weekday 10am to 1pm show.
Ewen and Cat will continue to entertain the nation across the Greatest Hits Network on weekdays 6-10am on ‘Ewen & Cat At Breakfast’.
The award-winning pair were reunited on weekday breakfast earlier this year, and although they have loved the past six years on Sunday breakfast together, are looking forward to hitting the snooze button and enjoying a leisurely weekend while still getting up to their usual mischief during the week.
On top of his weekday 10am to 1pm show, Greigsy will be tackling the early rises on Sundays from 14th November, taking calls from listeners, sharing some of their best weekend stories and of course playing the biggest hits and biggest throwbacks to soundtrack our Sunday mornings.
Ewen said: “Cat and I loved spending a Sunday morning together with our listeners, we had such a laugh every week.
“I’ve got be honest though, it’s going to be great getting a bit of a lie in on Sunday for the first time in six years!”
Cat, who recently became an Amazon Books bestseller with her ‘Cat’s Out The Bag’ biography, added: “After a cracking six years hosting ‘Ewen & Cat at Breakfast’ every Sunday, I’m really looking forward to sitting in my PJ’s on a Sunday morning listening to Greigsy.
“I will miss our legendary ‘Sunday Buffets’ though!”
Greigsysaid: “Ewen and Cat are legends of radio, and they have left some big shoes to fill, but I’m really looking forward to Sunday morning’s with our brilliant listeners and having a laugh along the way.”
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for Scotland, said: “Ewen and Cat have done a brilliant job of keeping us all tuned in and laughing six days a week, for a while now. I’m glad to see them finally pass on their Sunday morning microphones to Greigsy, so they can get a well-earned weekend rest.
“I’m really looking forward to hearing Greigsy bring his fantastic energy, content and music from his weekday show to Sunday mornings.”
Full Sunday line-up on the Hits Radio Network, Scotland, from Sunday the 14th of November:
6am-9am Gavin Pearson
9am-12noon Greigsy
12noon-4pm Gregor & Lynsey (Cassi Clyde 1 only)
4pm-7pm UK Chart Show
7pm-10pm The Throwback with Micky Gavin
10pm-1am Hits Chilled with Meg McHugh
Listeners can tune in to Ewen & Cat At Breakfast every weekday across the Greatest Hits Network between 6-10am on AM**, on DAB, online, via the station App or on a Smart Speaker.
Listen to Greigsy on the Hits Radio Network between 9am-12noon every Sunday (& weekdays 10am-1pm) on FM, DAB, online, via the App or on a Smart Speaker.
The Amazon Books bestseller, ‘Cat’s Out The Bag’ by Cat Harvey, gives readers a glimpse into the life of times of the popular radio presenter and journalist and is currently available at Waterstones (Amazon have sold out!).
Bauer Media Scotland has paid tribute to Tom Steele, a key member of the team which launched Radio Forth, who has passed away after a long illness.
Tom began his career in newspapers before becoming Radio Clyde’s first employee when he was appointed to the news team in October 1973. He then moved to Radio Forth as Head of News ahead of the launch of the new station in January 1975.
He progressed to become the Programme Director and oversaw the splitting of broadcast frequencies on FM and AM to create Forth 1 and Forth 2. Tom then took over as Managing Director before he retired due to ill health in 1999.
As well as his work at Radio Forth, one of Tom’s greatest achievements was at Today FM when a day trip to Dublin turned into a year’s stay as Managing Director during which time he turned around the station’s fortunes.
Tom was a leading light in the radio industry through his work to develop and evolve fresh programming and he was also well regarded for his contribution to radio industry events and committees.
Graham Bryce, Chief Operating Officer, Bauer Media Audio UK, said: “Tom was one of the driving forces behind Radio Forth as he was passionate about radio and doing the best for our listeners and the local area.
“Local radio was very new in the UK at the time and Tom was at the forefront of the industry which was recognised by the many awards and accolades he won over the years. The foundations he laid down have also ensured that Forth remains a market leading station today.
“Tom made a huge contribution to local radio in Scotland and was a key part of our team for many years and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.”
Forth 1 and Clyde 1 to broadcast special show today
Following the tragic death of Sarah Everard, Clyde 1, Forth 1 and their sister stations are set to broadcast a special show: ‘Women’s Safety: What Can Men Do?’ to discuss this essential issue.
This morning (Wednesday 17th March) from 9.30pm to 10pm, the show will be broadcast across Scotland on the Hits Radio Network including MFR, Northsound 1, Tay FM, Radio Borders and West FM.
The show will be hosted by Garry Spence and Arlene Stuart and the panel will include:
Davy Thompson from White Ribbon Scotland which is the largest effort in the world of men working to end men’s violence against women.
Selena Jackson – Radio Clyde journalist who has covered this key issue extensively
Donna Davies – counsellor of children, young people and adults
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for Hits Radio brands in Scotland said: “The tragic death of Sarah Everard has dominated the news agenda for the last few weeks. It is a very important conversation and we want to share insights from key figures about the way that everyone can play a part and for us all to talk about it.”
‘Women’s Safety: What Can Men Do?’ will be aired on Wed 17th March 2021 from 9.30pm to 10pm on Clyde 1, Forth 1, MFR, Northsound 1, Tay FM, Radio Borders and West FM.
