Lincs FM Group
Encyclopedia
The Lincs FM Group based in Lincolnshire
, in the UK
is the parent company of several Independent Local Radio
(ILR) stations.
In the early 1990s it sponsored the Lincs FM Novice Hurdle at Market Rasen Racecourse
.
As with many ILR stations, recent times have caused for budget cuts. Such effects have meant a loss live programming. The different stations have different live times (a majority only presenting the breakfast show live, the rest of the day being automated).
The station runs two brands, the "Hits & Memories" brand which is a Soft AC format and the "Music You Love" brand which is an Easy Listening format. Both networks operate a centralised music log, and have networked off-peak shows. In the cases of the two Trax FM stations, and the two Oak FM stations, the stations carry 24 hours a day of networked programming with the exception of Sunday evenings on Oak FM, where Hinckley receives a country music show, and Loughborough receives a show for the Asian community, as required by their respective formats.
in that it had grown completely by license awards, rather than by acquisition of existing stations. As FM licenses stopped being advertised in the late 2000s, the group, with a desire to continue growing, made their first acquisition of Oak 107 FM
in October 2007 (previously owned by the CN Group
). This was followed by the acquisition of KCFM in June 2009, previously owned by Planet Broadcasting.
area. The station went under the working title of "White Rose Radio" to reflect the white rose
of Yorkshire
. The group did not win the licence and lost out to Kingston upon Hull
-based KCFM. However, KCFM became part of the Lincs FM group in June 2009.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, in the UK
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...
is the parent company of several Independent Local Radio
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:...
(ILR) stations.
History
The Lincs FM group started with just Lincs FM in Lincolnshire, UK but has won and acquired licences to operate other local radio stations across the UK's Midlands and Yorkshire regions.In the early 1990s it sponsored the Lincs FM Novice Hurdle at Market Rasen Racecourse
Market Rasen Racecourse
Market Rasen Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse in the town of Market Rasen, in Lincolnshire, England.The course is a right-handed oval with a circumference of around one-and-a-quarter miles...
.
As with many ILR stations, recent times have caused for budget cuts. Such effects have meant a loss live programming. The different stations have different live times (a majority only presenting the breakfast show live, the rest of the day being automated).
Branding
Each station's logo is green and purple as these are the company colours; these logos feature heavily in each stations merchandise.The station runs two brands, the "Hits & Memories" brand which is a Soft AC format and the "Music You Love" brand which is an Easy Listening format. Both networks operate a centralised music log, and have networked off-peak shows. In the cases of the two Trax FM stations, and the two Oak FM stations, the stations carry 24 hours a day of networked programming with the exception of Sunday evenings on Oak FM, where Hinckley receives a country music show, and Loughborough receives a show for the Asian community, as required by their respective formats.
Hits & Memories Brand
- Lincs FMLincs FMLincs FM is an Independent Local Radio station serving Lincolnshire and Newark, from the Humber to The Wash. It is the current holder of the licence which was advertised by the Radio Authority on 4 March 1991.-Background:...
for LincolnshireLincolnshireLincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and NewarkNewark-on-TrentNewark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
. - Dearne FMDearne FMDearne FM is an Independent Local Radio station which broadcasts to the Barnsley area. The station is owned by the Lincs FM Group , whose stations take more of an interest in their local areas than other larger radio companies, and offer a wider type of music.-History:The station was based at...
for BarnsleyBarnsleyBarnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, PenistonePenistonePenistone is a small town market town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England, with a population of 10,101 at the 2001 census. It lies west of the town of Barnsley and north east of Glossop, in the foothills of the Pennines...
and the Dearne ValleyDearne ValleyThe Dearne Valley is an area of South Yorkshire along the River Dearne. It encompasses the towns of Wombwell, Wath-upon-Dearne, Swinton, Conisbrough and Mexborough, the large villages of Ardsley, Bolton on Dearne, Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe, Darfield, Stairfoot and Brampton Bierlow, and many other...
. - Oak FMOak FMOak FM is a local radio station broadcasting across West Leicestershire as well as the town of Nuneaton in the English Midlands in the United Kingdom...
for CharnwoodCharnwoodCharnwood may refer to:* Charnwood , a local government district in the county of Leicestershire, England* Charnwood , an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England...
, HinckleyHinckleyHinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 . It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council...
, NuneatonNuneatonNuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
and North West LeicestershireLeicestershireLeicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. (2 licenses) - Rother FMRother FMRother FM is a Independent Local Radio station for Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Rother FM is now based in Doncaster United Kingdom. The Station began broadcasting in October 2006 from its studios at Aspen Court in Templeborough...
for RotherhamRotherhamRotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
and the surrounding area. - Trax FMTrax FMTrax FM is an Independent Local Radio station that broadcasts to Doncaster and Bassetlaw.-History:The station is owned by the Lincs FM Group...
for DoncasterDoncasterDoncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, BassetlawBassetlawBassetlaw is the northernmost district of Nottinghamshire, England, with a population according to the 2001 UK census of 107,713. The borough is predominantly rural, with two towns: Worksop, site of the borough offices, and Retford...
and WorksopWorksopWorksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
. (2 licenses)
The Music You Love Brand
- Ridings FMRidings FMRidings FM is the Independent Local Radio station serving Wakefield and the Five Towns area since 3 October 1999. It is owned by the Lincs FM Group....
for the WakefieldWakefieldWakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
district. - Rutland RadioRutland RadioRutland Radio is a Independent Local Radio station broadcasting since December 1998 from Knights Yard, Gaol Street in Oakham to Rutland on 107.2FM and Stamford on 97.4FM ....
for RutlandRutlandRutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
and StamfordStamford, LincolnshireStamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
. - KCFM for Kingston upon HullKingston upon HullKingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
and East YorkshireEast YorkshireEast Yorkshire could be:*East Yorkshire Motor Services*An alternative name for the East Riding of Yorkshire*East Yorkshire , a former district of Humberside*East Yorkshire...
. - Compass FMCompass FMCompass FM is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting from Lincs FM in Lincoln. The station serves Grimsby, Immingham and Cleethorpes and is part of the Lincs FM Group. It's strap line is 'The Music You Love'.-Format:...
for GrimsbyGrimsbyGrimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
, CleethorpesCleethorpesCleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
and ImminghamImminghamImmingham is a town in North East Lincolnshire, located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary...
.
Acquisitions
Until October 2007 the group was unique in the United KingdomUnited 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...
in that it had grown completely by license awards, rather than by acquisition of existing stations. As FM licenses stopped being advertised in the late 2000s, the group, with a desire to continue growing, made their first acquisition of Oak 107 FM
Oak 107 FM
Oak 107 FM was an Independent Local Radio station owned by the CN Group and based on Prince William Road in Loughborough, Leicestershire in the UK.-History:...
in October 2007 (previously owned by the CN Group
CN Group
The CN Group Limited is an independent local media business based in Carlisle which operates in three different media fields.The company was formerly known as the Cumbrian Newspapers Group Ltd but changed its name to reflect the fact that is no longer primarily a newspaper publisher...
). This was followed by the acquisition of KCFM in June 2009, previously owned by Planet Broadcasting.
Licence bid failure
In 2006, the group made a bid to win the Hull licence along with six other groups. The format for the Lincs bid was the same of that of Compass FM; this is thought to be because Lincs FM already overlaps the North East LincolnshireNorth East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, bordering the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire...
area. The station went under the working title of "White Rose Radio" to reflect the white rose
White Rose of York
The White Rose of York , a white heraldic rose, is the symbol of the House of York and has since been adopted as a symbol of Yorkshire as a whole.-History:...
of 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 group did not win the licence and lost out to Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
-based KCFM. However, KCFM became part of the Lincs FM group in June 2009.