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.TFM leaves Teesside to share with Metro, Radio Today, 5 April 2013
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.Greatest Hits Network Change request form OfcomMagic Changes Ofcom Request Form Ofcom 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 The 'City 3' network was withdrawn in favour of reverting to the networked The Hits service from September 2017.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 (areas including East Anglia, the South West, parts of Kent, Cumbria, and large areas of Wales and Scotland had no Sound Digital network transmitters). 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."Bauer buys radio group Orion Media", The Guardian, 6 May 2016"Orion Media sold to Bauer for £50m", The Telegraph, 6 May 2016 It was subsequently confirmed that Orion's stations Free Radio (West Midlands) and Gem (East Midlands) 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 (CMA) 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 Radio Absolute Radio 70s Absolute Radio 80s Absolute Radio 90s Absolute Radio 00s Absolute Radio 10s Absolute Radio Classic Rock Absolute Radio Country
The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:
Absolute Radio 50s Absolute Radio 60s Absolute Radio 20s Absolute Radio Acoustic Absolute Radio Calm Absolute Radio Chilled Absolute Radio Classic Country Absolute Radio Forgotten 80s Absolute Radio Movies Absolute Radio Rock'N'Roll Football 24/7 Absolute Radio Women of Country Absolute Radio Women of Rock Absolute Radio Workout Andy Bush's Indie Disco 24/7 Haven't Heard It For Ages Through The Decades
Seasonal: Absolute Radio Halloween Absolute Radio Christmas Party Absolute 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, (formerly Magic Chilled) Hits Radio 90s Hits Radio 00s The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:
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
Seasonal:
Greatest Hits Radio Christmas
Pop-Up:
Hits Radio Live
Former:
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.
From 7 May 2021, the brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:
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 (originally called Rhythm - The Beat Goes On)
Seasonal: Jazz FM Christmas
Former: Clare Teal's Big Band and Swing After Hours Avant Garde Best Live Jazz Performances Big Band and SwingBig 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 00sAlt Rock 10sAlt Rock 80sAlt Rock 90sAlt Rock WorkdayDoomed!Download 20 BandsEverything EmoFull Metal RacketKerrang Radio GamingKerrang! Radio UnleashedKlassic Kerrang! RadioNu MetalPop Punk AnthemsSkate RockThe MoshpitFormer:Alt New RockAlt Rock AnthemsAlt Rock PartyAlt Rock WorkoutFresh BloodGoth Rock PartyGrunge GardenNon Stop HeadlinersPop Punk Ruuules!PWR Up LiveRebel RebelUS RocksKISS
The KISS network is aimed at a young 15-34 audience and predominantly plays contemporary pop music during the day with late-night specialist content on weekends. KISS; Available on London 1 DAB in the Greater London area and on the Digital One DAB multiplex across the UK. DAB stations: Kisstory; DAB station, playing "old-skool" urban and dance, aimed at a more mature 25-50 age range. Kiss Xtra; DAB station, dedicated to black music and culture (namely hip-hop and afrobeats).
From 7 May 2021, KISS, alongside various other Bauer brands, was given several subscription-only internet audio streams:
Current:
Kiss Afrobeats 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 Drum and Bass Kiss Ibiza 30 Kiss in the Mix Kiss R&B Kisstory 00's Kisstory 80's Kisstory 90's Kisstory Hip Hop Kisstory R&B Kisstory Slow Jams Kisstory Trance Kiss WorkoutSeasonal:
Kiss Super Summer Anthems Kissmas Office PartyFormer:
Kiss Running Trax Kiss IbizaMagic
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 (also known as Mellow Magic), 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, (formerly Scala Radio) 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 - Classical Magic at the Movies Magic Boybands Magic Girl Power Magic Power Ballads Magic Slow Dance Magic Soul Floor Fillers Mindfulness Music Movie Blockbusters Peaceful Piano The Jukebox The Study SpaceSeasonal:
Eurosong Radio (Pop-up for Eurovision) Christmas Crackers (September - December) Christmas Carols (November - December) Christmas Crooners (November - December) Magic Classical Christmas (November - December)
Planet RockPlanet Rock, DAB radio station, which plays primarily classic rock music.
From 7 May 2021, the brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:.
Current:20 Years of DownloadAcoustic Amps OffBloodstock Radio (18+)Blues PowerChilled RockClassic 70s RockClassic 80s RockClassic 90s RockGreatest Guitar SolosHair Metal HeroesIn ConcertJoe Elliott - This Is How I RollPlanet Rockstock 10Power AnthemsRock BalladsStatesideThe Prog LabUK RocksWorkday RocksSeasonal:Summer RocksFormer:AmericanaClassic 00s RockClassic 10s RockDriving SongsMain Stage LiveNew RockParty RockRock Your Workout (temporarily renamed Bloodstock Radio during the 2021 Bloodstock Open Air)The Blues BarStand 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.
The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:Cool Old SkoolFormerMojo 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.