West Sound Radio
Encyclopedia
West Sound Radio is a radio network broadcasting to Ayrshire
and Dumfries and Galloway
in South West Scotland
. It has three operational stations - West FM, West Sound (Ayrshire)
and West Sound (Dumfries and Galloway)
and is currently in the Bauer
Radio Group.
The West Sound Radio network's roots can be traced back to 1973 when the then Independent Broadcasting Authority
advertised the franchise of Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae. The shortlist of applicants was narrowed to two - Radio Clyde
, the already successful station based in Greater Glasgow
and West Sound Radio. West Sound won due to its demonstration to the IBA that it knew Ayrshire well.
Following the award of the license, West Sound purchased premises in Holmston Road in Ayr
. The building (a former builder's offices) was transformed into studios and offices.
On 16 October 1981, West Sound went on air on 97.5 FM
in Girvan
and 96.2 FM and 1035 AM
in the rest of Ayrshire. The first song played on the station was 'Arrival' by ABBA
.
By 1990, the IBA had been replaced by the Radio Authority and when the Dumfries and Galloway
franchise was advertised, West Sound once again applied and won the license. On 21 May of that year, South West Sound went on air from studios in Crichton Hospital, Dumfries
on 97 FM. In 1998, South West Sound gained two new frequencies - 103 FM for Wigtownshire and 96.5 for Kirkcudbrightshire. June 2001 saw the station move to new property in the Loreburn Shopping Centre in Dumfries town centre. The station underwent many name changes including West Sound FM and South Westsound FM, before finally settling on 'West Sound' (although the registered name is still 'South West Sound Limited').
In 1997, West Sound's third station was born - West FM. This followed the decision to split AM and FM frequencies in Ayrshire. By this stage, the 96.2 frequency had changed to 96.7, which West FM inherited from West Sound in addition to the 97.5 relay. The station was aimed at a younger audience than the already established West Sound, targeted at 20–35-year-olds. In 2006, West FM received its third frequency - 106.7, serving Rothsay and Largs
.
Today, West Sound Radio still run three stations - the original West Sound in Ayrshire, West Sound in Dumfries and Galloway (formerly South West Sound) and West FM in Ayrshire.
From 15 September 2008, West FM and West Sound (Dumfries) began sharing programming with Clyde 1 from 7:00 pm until 06:00 am, along with most of the other Scottish FM stations in the Bauer
network.
A new programming schedule was introduced on 15 June 2009 on West Sound (Ayrshire), consisting mostly of programming simulcast with the other Scottish AM stations from the current network owener, Bauer
. Programmes on air are simulcasts from Clyde 2
from Glasgow, Forth 2 from Edinburgh
, Northsound 2
from Aberdeen
and Tay AM
from Dundee
. West Sound local programming is now restricted to breakfast shows, early morning news bulletins and some specialist weekend programming.
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
and Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
in South West Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It has three operational stations - West FM, West Sound (Ayrshire)
West Sound
West Sound is a local AM radio station for Ayrshire. Based in Ayr with its AM transmitter in Symington, South Ayrshire and its DAB transmitter in Darvel, East Ayrshire, the station is part of the West Sound Radio Network and The Station forms part of the Bauer Place Portfolio.A new programming...
and West Sound (Dumfries and Galloway)
West Sound FM
West Sound FM is a local radio station for Dumfries and Galloway, owned & operated by Bauer Radio and forming part of Bauer's Place Network of stations...
and is currently in the Bauer
Bauer
Bauer is a German family name. It translates in English as peasant or farmer.-Surname:Notable people of this name include:* André Bauer , American politician* Belinda Bauer , Australian actress* Bill Bauer, Canadian writer...
Radio Group.
The West Sound Radio network's roots can be traced back to 1973 when the then Independent Broadcasting Authority
Independent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
advertised the franchise of Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae. The shortlist of applicants was narrowed to two - Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde is a division of Bauer Radio based in Glasgow, Scotland. They currently operate an FM station and an AM station from studios in Clydebank West Dunbartonshire.- History :...
, the already successful station based in Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area...
and West Sound Radio. West Sound won due to its demonstration to the IBA that it knew Ayrshire well.
Following the award of the license, West Sound purchased premises in Holmston Road in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
. The building (a former builder's offices) was transformed into studios and offices.
On 16 October 1981, West Sound went on air on 97.5 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
in Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
and 96.2 FM and 1035 AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
in the rest of Ayrshire. The first song played on the station was 'Arrival' by ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
.
By 1990, the IBA had been replaced by the Radio Authority and when the Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
franchise was advertised, West Sound once again applied and won the license. On 21 May of that year, South West Sound went on air from studios in Crichton Hospital, Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
on 97 FM. In 1998, South West Sound gained two new frequencies - 103 FM for Wigtownshire and 96.5 for Kirkcudbrightshire. June 2001 saw the station move to new property in the Loreburn Shopping Centre in Dumfries town centre. The station underwent many name changes including West Sound FM and South Westsound FM, before finally settling on 'West Sound' (although the registered name is still 'South West Sound Limited').
In 1997, West Sound's third station was born - West FM. This followed the decision to split AM and FM frequencies in Ayrshire. By this stage, the 96.2 frequency had changed to 96.7, which West FM inherited from West Sound in addition to the 97.5 relay. The station was aimed at a younger audience than the already established West Sound, targeted at 20–35-year-olds. In 2006, West FM received its third frequency - 106.7, serving Rothsay and Largs
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
.
Today, West Sound Radio still run three stations - the original West Sound in Ayrshire, West Sound in Dumfries and Galloway (formerly South West Sound) and West FM in Ayrshire.
From 15 September 2008, West FM and West Sound (Dumfries) began sharing programming with Clyde 1 from 7:00 pm until 06:00 am, along with most of the other Scottish FM stations in the Bauer
Bauer
Bauer is a German family name. It translates in English as peasant or farmer.-Surname:Notable people of this name include:* André Bauer , American politician* Belinda Bauer , Australian actress* Bill Bauer, Canadian writer...
network.
A new programming schedule was introduced on 15 June 2009 on West Sound (Ayrshire), consisting mostly of programming simulcast with the other Scottish AM stations from the current network owener, Bauer
Bauer
Bauer is a German family name. It translates in English as peasant or farmer.-Surname:Notable people of this name include:* André Bauer , American politician* Belinda Bauer , Australian actress* Bill Bauer, Canadian writer...
. Programmes on air are simulcasts from Clyde 2
Clyde 2
1152 Clyde 2 is a UK radio station that broadcasts to Glasgow and West Central Scotland. The station broadcasts contemporary easy listening music as well as specialist and sports programming, mainly football....
from Glasgow, Forth 2 from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Northsound 2
Northsound 2
Northsound 2 is a commercial local radio station serving Aberdeen and surrounding area on 1035 kHz on the medium wave band. Owned and operated by Bauer Radio, Northsound 2 plays music mainly from the 1960s and 1970s, alongside talk, news and sports coverage...
from Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and Tay AM
Tay AM
Tay AM is an Independent Local Radio station commercial local radio station serving Dundee, Perth and the general Tayside area in Scotland. The station provides adult contemporary music and classic hits, with chat, competitions, local, national and international news and sport including local...
from Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
. West Sound local programming is now restricted to breakfast shows, early morning news bulletins and some specialist weekend programming.