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BRMB
BRMB (an abbreviation of Birmingham Broadcasting) is a British radio station based in Aston, Birmingham, which is owned and operated by Murfin Music International. It broadcasts on 89.1FM in Aston and surrounding areas, on DAB throughout Birmingham, and online via the station's website and mobile apps.
Originally launched on 19 February 1974, BRMB was one of the first Independent Local Radio stations to go on air in the UK. It was acquired by Capital Radio in 1993, and subsequently sold to Orion Media in 2008. Orion announced a rebrand of BRMB and its sister stations to Free Radio in 2012, and the BRMB name disappeared in March 2012 when it became Free Radio Birmingham.
On 17 August 2023, Ofcom gave approval for Big City Radio, a Birmingham-based community station, to relaunch as BRMB on 4 September 2023; Paul Young's "Come Back and Stay" was the first song to be played following the relaunch, and Jimmy Franks presented the first programme.
The original 1974 station launched the careers of many presenters who went on to become household names, both in the Midlands and beyond. Past presenters on BRMB include Les Ross, Tony Butler, Ed Doolan, Graham Torrington, Jeremy Kyle, Phil Upton, Caroline Martin and Elliott Webb. Butler is regarded as the inventor of the football phone-in, while Kyle went on to become a television presenter. BRMB also launched the Birmingham Walkathon, an event first staged in 1983 to raise money for charity, and which continues to be held to the present day.
BRMB was first launched on 19 February 1974, on 261 metres medium wave, (1152kHz) and 94.8 MHz FM, and was based in Aston Road North at Radio House, a building previously used as television studios by ATV and ABC Weekend Television. BRMB was the fourth independent local commercial radio station to begin broadcasting in Britain, after LBC, Capital Radio and Radio Clyde. Broadcasting a mix of popular music with local news, live football coverage, information and specialist output, the station became popular amongst residents in Birmingham and later changed its main FM frequency from 94.8 to 96.4 in 1987.
The original station name, BRMB, was not an initialism (contrary to popular belief – some believed it stood for Birmingham Radio, Midlands Broadcasting). Instead, the original company, Birmingham Broadcasting Ltd., wanted something that combined a US-style call-sign with the company name – e.g. Birmingham – (BRM) and Broadcasting – (B); equalling BRMB.
In January 1978, BRMB began to advertise job vacancies available in the Birmingham area, doing so in association with the Job Centre in Erdington. The campaign won the support of John Goulding, the Minister for Employment at the time. In 1981, BRMB was approached by the spina bifida charity ASBAH and invited to join ATV in hosting a fundraising event in Birmingham's Chamberlain Square. The event, which featured appearances by Jasper Carrott and Noel Gordon, raised £82,000, and was considered to have been a huge success. BRMB were keen to hold other charity events after that, and in May 1983, staged the first Birmingham Walkathon. The walk, which took place around the city's Outer Circle bus route, saw around 24,000 participants raise £225,000 for Mencap. The Walkathon became an annual event until 1992, and has been staged sporadically since then.
In 1988, as a response to government disapproval of the simulcasting of programming [citation needed]on both FM and mediumwave, a sister station was launched on the 1152 kHz frequency. Xtra AM became BRMB's 'gold' service, playing classic hits, while BRMB itself began to cater for a younger audience. At this stage, BRMB was part of Midlands Radio plc, which was bought out along with Radio Trent, Leicester Sound and Mercia Sound by Capital Radio in 1993. However, they sold the other stations to the GWR Group whilst Capital kept hold of BRMB and Xtra AM. Xtra was on the air for nine years until the majority of its programming was switched to London, where it was simulcast with Capital Gold.
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BRMB
BRMB (an abbreviation of Birmingham Broadcasting) is a British radio station based in Aston, Birmingham, which is owned and operated by Murfin Music International. It broadcasts on 89.1FM in Aston and surrounding areas, on DAB throughout Birmingham, and online via the station's website and mobile apps.
Originally launched on 19 February 1974, BRMB was one of the first Independent Local Radio stations to go on air in the UK. It was acquired by Capital Radio in 1993, and subsequently sold to Orion Media in 2008. Orion announced a rebrand of BRMB and its sister stations to Free Radio in 2012, and the BRMB name disappeared in March 2012 when it became Free Radio Birmingham.
On 17 August 2023, Ofcom gave approval for Big City Radio, a Birmingham-based community station, to relaunch as BRMB on 4 September 2023; Paul Young's "Come Back and Stay" was the first song to be played following the relaunch, and Jimmy Franks presented the first programme.
The original 1974 station launched the careers of many presenters who went on to become household names, both in the Midlands and beyond. Past presenters on BRMB include Les Ross, Tony Butler, Ed Doolan, Graham Torrington, Jeremy Kyle, Phil Upton, Caroline Martin and Elliott Webb. Butler is regarded as the inventor of the football phone-in, while Kyle went on to become a television presenter. BRMB also launched the Birmingham Walkathon, an event first staged in 1983 to raise money for charity, and which continues to be held to the present day.
BRMB was first launched on 19 February 1974, on 261 metres medium wave, (1152kHz) and 94.8 MHz FM, and was based in Aston Road North at Radio House, a building previously used as television studios by ATV and ABC Weekend Television. BRMB was the fourth independent local commercial radio station to begin broadcasting in Britain, after LBC, Capital Radio and Radio Clyde. Broadcasting a mix of popular music with local news, live football coverage, information and specialist output, the station became popular amongst residents in Birmingham and later changed its main FM frequency from 94.8 to 96.4 in 1987.
The original station name, BRMB, was not an initialism (contrary to popular belief – some believed it stood for Birmingham Radio, Midlands Broadcasting). Instead, the original company, Birmingham Broadcasting Ltd., wanted something that combined a US-style call-sign with the company name – e.g. Birmingham – (BRM) and Broadcasting – (B); equalling BRMB.
In January 1978, BRMB began to advertise job vacancies available in the Birmingham area, doing so in association with the Job Centre in Erdington. The campaign won the support of John Goulding, the Minister for Employment at the time. In 1981, BRMB was approached by the spina bifida charity ASBAH and invited to join ATV in hosting a fundraising event in Birmingham's Chamberlain Square. The event, which featured appearances by Jasper Carrott and Noel Gordon, raised £82,000, and was considered to have been a huge success. BRMB were keen to hold other charity events after that, and in May 1983, staged the first Birmingham Walkathon. The walk, which took place around the city's Outer Circle bus route, saw around 24,000 participants raise £225,000 for Mencap. The Walkathon became an annual event until 1992, and has been staged sporadically since then.
In 1988, as a response to government disapproval of the simulcasting of programming [citation needed]on both FM and mediumwave, a sister station was launched on the 1152 kHz frequency. Xtra AM became BRMB's 'gold' service, playing classic hits, while BRMB itself began to cater for a younger audience. At this stage, BRMB was part of Midlands Radio plc, which was bought out along with Radio Trent, Leicester Sound and Mercia Sound by Capital Radio in 1993. However, they sold the other stations to the GWR Group whilst Capital kept hold of BRMB and Xtra AM. Xtra was on the air for nine years until the majority of its programming was switched to London, where it was simulcast with Capital Gold.