The Hit Music Network
Encyclopedia
The Hit Music Network was a collection of five Independent Local Radio
stations operating in the United Kingdom and owned by Global Radio
. Created in September 2008, the stations were formerly owned by GCap Media
prior to its takeover by Global and, with the exception of 95.8 Capital FM, were all part of The One Network
.
Its core audience is 18-34 year olds.
Networked programming carried by the East Midlands stations (Trent FM, Leicester Sound and Ram FM) originated from Trent FM's studios in Nottingham.
The network was rebranded and merged with The Galaxy Network
in January 2011 to form 'The Capital FM Network
', comprising eight stations in London, Scotland, South East Wales, the West & East Midlands and northern & southern England broadcasting under the Capital FM identity. Local programming on the stations is restricted to daily breakfast and weekday drivetime shows (alongside some local specialist output) with Trent FM
, Leicester Sound
and Ram FM
merged to form Capital FM East Midlands from Nottingham.
In 2008, Global Radio acquired GCap and announced plans to break up the One Network, with most stations being rebranded as Heart
, one becoming a Galaxy station and the remaining others retaining their 'heritage' brand as a new network (mainly as the stations overlapped with existing Heart stations).
or Red Dragon FM
in South East Wales
. The Big Top 40 Show
is broadcast throughout the whole of the Hit Music Network.
The Hit Music Network was renowned for its high rotation of songs and tight presentation. The presenters often don't stop the music and 'keep the hits coming' for the listeners, in order to ensure the most number of songs possible is played in an hour. This is a direct contrast to the BBCs CHR station Radio 1
, where the presenters stop and have longer 'personality' links, as opposed to the speedlinks of the Hit Music Network. Unlike Radio 1, the network does not play alternative, rock or classic hits music.
. All programming with the exception of breakfast, drivetime and some local specialist output originates from 95.8 Capital FM London.
Stations rebranded:
Three other stations - Ten 17
in West Essex, Hertfordshire's Mercury 96.6 and Mercury FM in Reigate & Crawley, were part of the network until Monday 26 July 2010 when Ten 17 and Mercury FM were merged with Heart stations in Essex and Sussex & Surrey and the independently owned Mercury 96.6 was rebranded as Heart Hertfordshire.
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:...
stations operating in the United Kingdom and owned by Global Radio
Global Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
. Created in September 2008, the stations were formerly owned by GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
prior to its takeover by Global and, with the exception of 95.8 Capital FM, were all part of The One Network
The One Network
The One Network was the collective name for thirty-eight regional Independent Local Radio licences operated by Global Radio in the United Kingdom. It was formed from the combination of GWR Group's The Mix Network and Capital Radio Group's The Capital Radio Network when the companies merged in 2005...
.
Its core audience is 18-34 year olds.
Networked programming carried by the East Midlands stations (Trent FM, Leicester Sound and Ram FM) originated from Trent FM's studios in Nottingham.
The network was rebranded and merged with The Galaxy Network
The Galaxy Network
The Galaxy Network was a radio station brand owned by Global Radio and broadcast across the British Isles on FM in regional areas of England and Scotland, through the digital platform with Sky and DAB and online respectively. The Galaxy Network included stations: Galaxy Birmingham, Galaxy...
in January 2011 to form 'The Capital FM Network
The Capital FM Network
Capital is a radio network of nine Independent Local Radio stations in the United Kingdom which are owned and operated by Global Radio, launching on 3 January 2011. Capital was previously known as Mix, One, Galaxy and Hit Music at various times...
', comprising eight stations in London, Scotland, South East Wales, the West & East Midlands and northern & southern England broadcasting under the Capital FM identity. Local programming on the stations is restricted to daily breakfast and weekday drivetime shows (alongside some local specialist output) with Trent FM
Trent FM
Trent FM was an Independent Local Radio station which broadcast to Nottinghamshire. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Leicester Sound and Ram FM to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-History:Launched on 3 July 1975 as Radio Trent and based in a...
, Leicester Sound
Leicester Sound
Leicester Sound was an Independent Local Radio station which broadcast to Leicestershire. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Trent FM and Ram FM to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-Background:Leicester Sound was launched by the owners of Radio Trent on...
and Ram FM
RAM FM
Ram FM was an Independent Local Radio station, which broadcast to central and southern parts of Derbyshire on 102.8 FM. The station merged with two other East Midlands stations, Trent FM and Leicester Sound to form Capital FM East Midlands on Monday 3 January 2011.-History:The station began life...
merged to form Capital FM East Midlands from Nottingham.
History
The One Network was formed following the merger of GWR Group and Capital Radio in 2005, merging GWR's Mix Network with Capital's Capital FM Network and was relaunched in September 2007.In 2008, Global Radio acquired GCap and announced plans to break up the One Network, with most stations being rebranded as Heart
Heart Network
Heart is a radio network of 17 adult contemporary independent local radio stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times...
, one becoming a Galaxy station and the remaining others retaining their 'heritage' brand as a new network (mainly as the stations overlapped with existing Heart stations).
On Air
A schedule containing network shows - from Trent FM's studios in Nottingham - and local shows at various times was set for The Hit Music Network, but did not operate on 95.8 Capital FM in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
or Red Dragon FM
Red Dragon FM
Capital South Wales is a British independent local radio station broadcasting from Cardiff Bay . The station serves Cardiff, Newport and the surrounding areas, broadcasting to a potential audience of around 1 million people...
in South East Wales
South East Wales
South East Wales is a loosely-defined region of Wales generally corresponding to the former counties of South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and Monmouthshire...
. The Big Top 40 Show
The Big Top 40 Show
The Vodafone Big Top 40 is a chart show broadcast on 140 radio stations in the UK. The chart is based on music download figures provided by iTunes.-Format:...
is broadcast throughout the whole of the Hit Music Network.
The Hit Music Network was renowned for its high rotation of songs and tight presentation. The presenters often don't stop the music and 'keep the hits coming' for the listeners, in order to ensure the most number of songs possible is played in an hour. This is a direct contrast to the BBCs CHR station Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, where the presenters stop and have longer 'personality' links, as opposed to the speedlinks of the Hit Music Network. Unlike Radio 1, the network does not play alternative, rock or classic hits music.
Capital Network
On Monday 3 January 2011, all Hit Music Network & Galaxy Network station were rebranded as “Capital FM”, forming a new Capital FM NetworkThe Capital FM Network
Capital is a radio network of nine Independent Local Radio stations in the United Kingdom which are owned and operated by Global Radio, launching on 3 January 2011. Capital was previously known as Mix, One, Galaxy and Hit Music at various times...
. All programming with the exception of breakfast, drivetime and some local specialist output originates from 95.8 Capital FM London.
Stations rebranded:
- 103.2 & 97.4 Red Dragon FM - 97.4/103.2 Capital FM "South Wales' No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Leicester Sound - 96-105 Capital FM "East Midlands' No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Ram FM - 96-105 Capital FM "East Midlands' No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Trent FM - 96-105 Capital FM "East Midlands' No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Galaxy Birmingham - 102.2 Capital FM "Birmingham's No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Galaxy Manchester - 102 Capital FM "Manchester's No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Galaxy North East - 105-106 Capital FM "North East's No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Galaxy Scotland - 105-106 Capital FM "Scotland's No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Galaxy South Coast - 103.2 Capital FM "South Coast's No.1 Hit Music Station"
- Galaxy Yorkshire - 105 Capital FM "Yorkshire's No.1 Hit Music Station"
Stations
- 95.8 Capital FM (LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) - Leicester Sound (LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
) - Red Dragon FM (South East WalesSouth East WalesSouth East Wales is a loosely-defined region of Wales generally corresponding to the former counties of South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and Monmouthshire...
) - Ram FM (DerbyDerbyDerby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
) - Trent FM (NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
)
Three other stations - Ten 17
Ten 17
Ten-17 was an Independent Local Radio station, broadcast from studios at the Latton Bush Centre in Harlow. The station launched in May 1993 and served East Hertfordshire and West Essex until its closure on 25 July 2010.-1993 to 1999 - The Essex Radio Group:...
in West Essex, Hertfordshire's Mercury 96.6 and Mercury FM in Reigate & Crawley, were part of the network until Monday 26 July 2010 when Ten 17 and Mercury FM were merged with Heart stations in Essex and Sussex & Surrey and the independently owned Mercury 96.6 was rebranded as Heart Hertfordshire.