Hubbry Logo
Heart (radio network)Heart (radio network)Main
Open search
Heart (radio network)
Community hub
Heart (radio network)
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Heart (radio network)
Heart (radio network)
Heart (radio network)
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Heart is a network of thirteen independent adult contemporary radio stations in the United Kingdom, broadcasting a mix of local and networked programming, although only the stations in Scotland and Wales still have their own shows. Ten of the stations are owned and operated by Global, while the other three are owned and operated under separate franchise agreements. The national version of the network is widely available on Global Player, Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and Digital One DAB.

Key Information

According to RAJAR, the Heart ‘brand’ (including the network of the main Heart station and digital spin-off stations) had an average weekly audience of 12.8 million during the July to September 2025 quarter, with the main Heart network reaching an average weekly audience of 9.4 million during same period. While the overall Heart brand is running neck and neck with its rival BBC Radio 2 (also an average weekly audience of 12.8 million during the quarter) the BBC station remains significantly ahead when compared with the main Heart network of stations (12.8 million vs 9.4 million). While the station’s owner, Global, states that “Heart remains the UK’s biggest radio brand,” Radio 2 remains significantly ahead in terms of hours listened, with an average of 133 million hours per week during the July to September 2025 quarter for the BBC station, compared to 82 million for the Heart ‘brand’ and 59 million for the main Heart network.

History

[edit]
Further information: Timeline of the Heart Radio Network

Launch

[edit]

Heart began broadcasting in the West Midlands on 6 September 1994 as 100.7 Heart FM, becoming the UK's third Independent Regional Radio station, five days after Century Radio in North East England, and Jazz FM North West.

The first song to be played on 100.7 Heart FM was Something Got Me Started by Simply Red. Its original format of "soft adult contemporary" music included artists such as Lionel Richie and Tina Turner. Reflecting this, its early slogan was 100.7 Degrees Cooler!

Heart 106.2 began test transmissions in London in August 1995, prior to the station launch on 5 September. This included live broadcasts of WPLJ from New York City.[1]

In 1996 the station's original "soft AC" music format was replaced with a generally more neutral Hot AC playlist. Century 106 in the East Midlands became the third station of the Heart network in 2005 after GCap Media sold Century. Chrysalis' radio holdings were sold to Global Radio in 2007.

When GCap Media was taken over by Global Radio in 2008, it announced plans to dissolve the 41-station One Network, with one station (Power FM) becoming part of the Galaxy network, four stations (BRMB, Beacon Radio, Mercia FM and Wyvern FM) forming a West Midlands regional network, seven stations joining Capital FM to form The Hit Music Network and the remaining 29 stations forming the Heart Network.

Heart East Midlands was sold to Orion Media, along with the West Midlands network of local stations, due to the same competition concerns that had forced its earlier sale to Chrysalis.

Network restructuring

[edit]

Between June and September 2010, Global Radio merged the majority of the 33 Heart stations to create a smaller network of 18 local and regional stations, in line with new OFCOM guidelines on local output requirements.[2][3] Two Hit Music Network stations were also closed and merged with Heart stations.

Merged station Closed stations City of licence
Heart Cambridgeshire Heart Peterborough
Heart Cambridge		 Peterborough later Cambridge
Heart South West
(later Heart West)		 Heart Exeter and Heart Torbay
Heart Plymouth
Heart South Devon
Heart North Devon		 Exeter
Heart East Anglia Heart Norwich
Heart Ipswich		 Norwich
Heart Essex Heart Chelmsford & Southend
Heart Colchester
Ten 17 (rebranded)		 Chelmsford
Heart Hertfordshire Rebranded from Hertfordshire's Mercury 96.6 Watford
Heart Four Counties Heart Northants
Heart Milton Keynes
Heart Dunstable
Heart Bedford		 Dunstable, later Milton Keynes
Heart North West and Wales Heart North Wales Coast
Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
Heart Wirral		 Wrexham
Heart South Coast Heart Dorset & New Forest
Heart Hampshire		 Fareham
Heart Sussex and Surrey Heart Sussex
Mercury FM (rebranded)
Brighton
Heart Thames Valley Heart Berkshire
Heart Oxfordshire		 Reading
Heart West Country Heart Bristol
Heart Somerset
Heart Bath		 Bristol

Stations in Gloucestershire, Kent, London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands and Wiltshire were unaffected by the changes. Heart Cymru, serving Gwynedd and Anglesey, moved its studios from Bangor to Wrexham but retained its extended local output of 10 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Heart North West and Wales retained an opt-out on 96.3FM (the North Wales Coast) for Welsh language programming.

On 1 January 2011, Orion Media, the owners of Heart East Midlands (one of the original three Heart stations) renamed and relaunched the station as 'Gem 106', ending a franchise agreement with Global Radio formed when Global purchased GCap – the agreement allowed Orion to use the Heart identity and carry networked programming from London.[4] The move saw Heart's networked programming replaced by local output from Nottingham.

Network expansion

[edit]

On 19 March 2012, Global Radio announced it had bought the Cornwall ILR station Atlantic FM from joint owners Tindle Radio and Camel Media.[5] Atlantic FM became part of the Heart Network and merged with Heart Devon on Monday 7 May 2012 to form Heart South West, which is based in Exeter.[6]

On 6 February 2014, Global Radio announced it would be rebranding all Real Radio stations as Heart and would be selling Real Radio Yorkshire and the Northern licence for Real Radio Wales to Communicorp. The Communicorp-owned stations use Heart's network programming and branding under a franchise agreement with Global.[7]

Global Radio extended the Heart network to the Real Radio network of regional stations from Tuesday 6 May 2014.[8] The two stations based in Wrexham – Heart North West and Wales and Heart Cymru – became part of the Capital FM Network on the same date.

On 20 November 2017, CN Group announced The Bay would be sold to Global along with sister station Lakeland Radio – the sale was finalised by 1 December 2017.[9] The Bay was rebranded as Heart, with Lakeland Radio becoming Smooth on 4 March 2018.[10]

Music from the 1960s, 1970s & 1980s was removed from the original FM station after Christmas 2017.[citation needed]

Consolidation

[edit]

In February 2019, following OFCOM's decision to relax local content obligations from commercial radio, it was announced Heart would replace its local breakfast and weekend shows with additional networked programming from London by the end of the year. This reduced total weekly hours of local programming on each station from 43 to 15 and led to dozens of job losses.[11]

Drivetime output were reduced from 23 localised shows to 10 programmes covering enlarged areas, formed from the merger of Heart stations. Ten studios producing local programming were closed.[11] Localised news, traffic updates and advertising was retained across all licence areas.[12]

In April 2019, it was reported the local Heart Breakfast shows would be replaced by a national Heart Breakfast show from London on 3 June 2019, presented by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden.[13] The merging stations ceased local output on 31 May 2019.

In Hertfordshire, a further change saw Heart Hertfordshire, based in Watford, merged with BOB fm – following its acquisition by Communicorp – to form a single countywide service.

Stations in the North East of England, Wales, central and southern Scotland, the West Midlands and Yorkshire continue to serve their single licence areas as before.

Merged station Closed stations City of licence
Heart East Heart Cambridgeshire
Heart East Anglia
Heart Essex
Heart Four Counties (studios retained)		 Milton Keynes
Heart Hertfordshire BOB fm
Heart Hertfordshire (studios retained)		 Watford
Heart North West Heart North Lancashire & Cumbria
Heart North West (studios retained)		 Manchester
Heart South Heart Kent
Heart Solent (studios retained)
Heart Sussex and Surrey
Heart Thames Valley		 Fareham
Heart West Heart Gloucestershire
Heart South West
Heart West Country (studios retained)
Heart Wiltshire		 Bristol

Heart Scotland re-introduces local programming

[edit]

In April 2023, it was announced Heart Scotland would reintroduce local breakfast, daytime and weekend programming from 2 May 2023, as part of a major expansion of Global's Scottish radio operations.[14][15]

The end of local and regional programming in England

[edit]

Heart stations in England ended local and regional programming on 21 February 2025, but retaining local news bulletins and advertising. Scotland and Wales will retain their respective local programming.[16][17][18]

List of stations

[edit]

Nations

[edit]

As of 24 February 2025, Heart's nations studios are:[19]

Heart station Studios
Heart East
Heart Hertfordshire
Heart London (HQ retained)
Heart North East
Heart North West
Heart South
Heart West
Heart West Midlands
Heart Yorkshire 		London
Heart North Wales
Heart South Wales (studios retained) 		Cardiff Bay
Heart Scotland Glasgow

Spin-offs

[edit]

As of 12 September 2024, Heart's spin-offs consist of ten stations, broadcast from Global's London headquarters:

Years Heart station Notes
2019–present Heart 70s
2017–present Heart 80s
2019–present Heart 90s
2022–present Heart 00s Replaced Capital Xtra Reloaded on national DAB+.
2024–present Heart 10s
2019–present Heart Dance Weekend evening "Club Classics" programmes simulcast with Heart
2024–present Heart Love
2024–present Heart Musicals
2016– Heart UK Originally Heart extra with automated daytime between 10am to 4pm Weekdays, relaunched 2020. It is the main feed for Heart network programming, with national advertising for regions [especially Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands] that don't have a Heart station on FM.
2020– Heart Xmas usually available from September to January, however this varies each year

Programming and presenters

[edit]

Heart's network programming is produced and broadcast from the headquarters of Global at Leicester Square in central London. Most of the network's output is broadcast live, although some weekend shows are voicetracked.[20]

As of 21 June 2019, Heart's Club Classics is simulcast with sister station Heart Dance.[21] The EE Official Big Top 40 From Global on Sunday afternoons is simulcast with Heart's sister network, Capital.

Networked presenters

[edit]

Lineup for national feed (excluding public holiday):[22]

Heart Substation Breakfast Shows (6–10am):

  • Carlos, Heart 70s
  • Simon Beale, Heart 80s
  • Kevin Hughes, Heart 90s
  • Fia Tarrant, Heart 00s
  • Adam O' Neill, Heart 10s
  • Toby Anstis, Heart Dance

Former presenters

[edit]

News

[edit]

All Heart stations broadcast local news bulletins each day – updates air hourly from 5am to 7pm on weekdays and from 6am to 12pm at weekends, similar to how Capital broadcasts news updates.

In accordance with OFCOM speech requirements, some Heart stations produce separate localised bulletins. For example, Heart West produces bulletins for Bristol and Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall.

Network presentation

[edit]

As of 2014, the network uses jingles and themes produced by ReelWorld Europe, based in Salford.[32]

Previously, Heart used a jingle package, composed by the Seattle-based music production company IQ Beats.[33]

Criticisms

[edit]

In August 2010, listeners in Bedfordshire and Crawley, West Sussex, complained about the merger of Heart stations and called for a boycott of the station.[34]

Some listeners have complained about what they regard as the repetitive nature of Heart's playlist. A public complaint to the regulator Ofcom in 2012 that the "More Music Variety" slogan was materially misleading was not pursued as Ofcom deemed that it did not warrant further investigation.[35] Ofcom stated that "We did not consider listeners were materially misled by this slogan."[36]

Further complaints were made to the station in 2019, largely regarding the merger of some Heart stations and the reduction in local programming, following the relaxation of local content guidelines by OFCOM.[37]

Networked slogans

[edit]
  • 1994-1996: "100.7 degrees cooler" (West Midlands)
  • 1995–1996: "106.2 degrees cooler" (London)
  • 1996–2017: "More Music Variety"
  • 2006–2009: "Feel Good Music"
  • 2017–present: "Turn Up the Feel Good!"
  • 2017–2019 Heart Breakfast slogan: "[city/region]'s favourite Breakfast Show"

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Heart (radio network)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Heart is a network of commercial radio stations in the , owned and operated by Global, that broadcasts an adult contemporary format emphasizing feel-good music spanning and contemporary tracks targeted at adults aged 25-54.
Launched in the West Midlands on 6 September 1994 as 100.7 Heart FM, the network originated as one of the UK's early independent regional stations before expanding through acquisitions and rebranding into a unified under Global's ownership following the 2007 acquisition of Chrysalis Radio.
By 2025, Heart had grown to encompass over 20 regional FM stations, a national DAB service, and specialized digital spin-offs such as , Heart 90s, and Heart Dance, achieving nationwide coverage and delivering content via the Global Player app.
The network's defining success includes becoming the UK's largest radio by weekly reach, surpassing with 13.4 million listeners in the first quarter of 2025, driven by engaging breakfast shows hosted by celebrity presenters and interactive competitions like "Make Me A Millionaire" that have awarded significant cash prizes.

History

Launch and initial expansion (1994–2005)

Heart (radio network) began with the launch of its flagship station, 100.7 Heart FM, on 6 September 1994, broadcasting to the West Midlands region from Birmingham under the ownership of Chrysalis Group plc. The station adopted a soft adult contemporary music format, emphasizing relaxed pop and rock hits targeted at a 25-44 demographic, positioning it as a competitor to emerging smooth AC services. Expansion followed with the debut of Heart 106.2 in on 5 September 1995, after Chrysalis secured the capital's FM license originally awarded for a station called FM but rebranded to extend the Heart concept. This marked the network's entry into the UK's largest market, maintaining the soft AC playlist while incorporating local programming to comply with Independent Radio Authority regulations. By the late , Heart stations had established listener bases through consistent branding, though revenue growth was tempered by competition from stations like London's 105.4. The network's initial phase culminated in 2005 with Chrysalis's acquisition of 106 Century FM in the () from GCap Media for £29.5 million, announced in May and relaunched as Heart 106 on 26 August. This addition created a third Heart-branded outlet, aligning the station's operations with the existing network's AC focus and enabling shared resources for cost efficiencies amid Chrysalis's broader radio portfolio management. During this period, Heart gradually shifted toward a hotter adult contemporary mix, incorporating more upbeat tracks while retaining core local output requirements.

Acquisition by Global and network integration (2006–2013)

In March 2008, Global Radio announced its agreement to acquire GCap Media, the owner of the Heart network, for £375 million in cash, valuing GCap shares at 225p each. The deal, completed on 6 June 2008, integrated Heart—then comprising around 50 local stations—into Global's portfolio alongside brands like Capital and Classic FM, creating the UK's largest commercial radio operator with over 50% in commercial listening hours. To secure regulatory approval from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), Global divested several overlapping stations, including nine Heart frequencies in areas like , , and , to competitors such as Bailbrook Ltd and Local Radio Company by mid-2009. Post-acquisition, Global pursued operational synergies by centralizing non-core functions such as sales, marketing, and administration across its stations, aiming to reduce costs amid declining advertising revenues during the 2008-2009 . Regulatory changes by in 2009-2010 permitted greater use of networked programming for commercial stations outside major cities, facilitating Heart's shift toward a hybrid model with increased shared content. In June 2010, Global restructured the Heart network, consolidating 33 local outlets into 15 larger regional stations covering broader areas, such as merging Heart North West into a single frequency serving multiple counties. This integration introduced fully networked breakfast and drivetime shows from , with local output limited to off-peak hours and news updates, resulting in approximately 200 job losses but enabling national advertising sales and content efficiencies. By 2011, further divestitures occurred, including the sale of Heart to Orion Media, which rebranded it as Gem 106 on 1 January 2011, refining the network to core viable markets. These changes positioned Heart as a more unified brand by 2013, with listener reach stabilizing at around 9 million weekly adults amid growing digital competition.

Rebranding and standardization (2014–2019)

On 6 February 2014, Global Radio announced plans to rebrand its Real Radio stations—previously focused on a mix of adult contemporary music, news, and talk—as Heart, aligning them with the existing Heart network's adult contemporary format to create a unified national brand. The transition began on 25 March 2014, with stations gradually adopting Heart's branding, playlists, and on-air imaging, culminating in the full phase-out of the Real Radio name on 20 April 2014. This rebranding incorporated approximately nine former Real Radio outlets across regions like Scotland, North East England, and Wales, expanding the Heart network to over 30 stations and standardizing station identities under a single logo and slogan emphasizing emotional connection through music. The rebrand was supported by a £2 million regional marketing campaign launched in May 2014, featuring television, outdoor, print, and experiential to promote "Heart has arrived," targeting the addition of 2.3 million listeners from the former Real Radio audience. Audience data from RAJAR's second quarter 2014 survey reflected the impact, showing a 20% increase in Heart's weekly reach to 8.9 million listeners, attributed to the brand expansion and consistent programming. Standardization extended to , with networked shows like the Heart Breakfast program and evening slots increasingly shared across stations, reducing regional variations in music rotation and reducing operational costs while maintaining local news and traffic updates to comply with licensing. From 2015 onward, Global accelerated programming standardization amid Ofcom's evolving local content regulations, which permitted greater networking for commercial stations outside major markets. This included expanding off-peak networked output, such as the introduction of uniform evening and weekend schedules featuring syndicated DJs like Mark Wright and , to ensure playlist consistency and cross-promotion across the network. By 2019, these efforts peaked with the announcement on 26 February to replace over 40 local breakfast shows across Heart, Capital, and Smooth with three fully networked programs, creating the UK's largest commercial breakfast audience at 4.8 million for Heart; this shift, approved by , further centralized production in while retaining minimal local elements like news bulletins. The changes prioritized scalability and digital integration, reflecting Global's strategy to compete with streaming services through brand uniformity rather than hyper-local differentiation.

Recent restructuring and local programming reductions (2020–present)

In response to evolving listener habits and competitive pressures from platforms, Global continued to centralize programming across the Heart network following the 2019 nationalization of breakfast shows, with incremental adjustments in the early 2020s emphasizing networked content over localized output. During the in 2020, operational efficiencies were prioritized, including remote broadcasting and reduced on-site staffing at regional hubs, though no major formal reductions in local slots were announced that year. By –, Ofcom's progressive relaxation of commercial radio's local content quotas—culminating in the Media Bill's provisions for greater flexibility—enabled further streamlining, allowing stations to allocate more airtime to shared national programming while maintaining minimal and insertions to comply with licensing. The most substantial restructuring occurred in 2025 under Global's "Nations Strategy," announced on , which eliminated all remaining local and regional shows on Heart stations in effective February 24. This shift replaced region-specific programming—such as drivetime and off-peak slots—with fully networked output from , including a national Heart Breakfast presented by and , and Heart Drive hosted by JK and from 4pm to 7pm weekdays. Scottish and Welsh Heart stations retained distinct national schedules tailored to their regions, preserving some differentiation outside , while Northern Ireland operations remained unchanged. Local news bulletins, updated hourly, and regional advertising production were preserved where mandated by licenses, but the changes resulted in an estimated dozens of redundancies among regional presenters and production staff, reflecting broader industry consolidation driven by stagnant advertising revenue and audience fragmentation. Critics, including local media advocates, argued that the reductions eroded community-specific content, potentially diminishing Heart's ties to regional audiences amid declining traditional AM/FM listenership, with data showing a 5–10% drop in commercial radio reach since 2020. Global defended the strategy as essential for investing in high-quality national talent and digital integration, citing sustained network audience figures through apps and smart speakers. As of October 2025, the changes have standardized Heart's format across England's 20+ stations, prioritizing hot playlists with minimal variation, though listener feedback via highlighted mixed reception to the loss of familiar local voices.

Ownership and corporate structure

Ownership timeline

The Heart radio network originated under the ownership of Chrysalis Group plc, which launched its inaugural station, 100.7 Heart FM serving the West Midlands, on 6 September 1994 as an adult contemporary format targeting listeners over 25. Chrysalis expanded the brand regionally, adding stations such as Heart 106.2 FM in on 5 September 1995. The company retained full control of the growing network through the early 2000s, focusing on independent regional operations compliant with broadcasting regulations. On 25 June 2007, Chrysalis announced the sale of its entire radio division—including the Heart network, LBC, and Galaxy—to the newly formed Global Radio for £170 million, a transaction approved by regulators and completed later that year. This acquisition marked Global's entry into the UK radio market, with Heart forming a core asset alongside subsequent purchases like GCap Media in 2008. Global Radio maintained ownership of Heart uninterrupted thereafter, driving network expansion by rebranding acquired local stations under the Heart banner and integrating national programming. In 2017, the parent company rebranded from Global Radio to Global (later ) to reflect diversified media operations, though Heart's operational structure and ownership remained under this entity. As of 2025, Global continues to own and operate the network as its flagship commercial brand, reaching over 13 million weekly listeners.
PeriodOwnerKey Developments
1994–2007Chrysalis Group plcLaunch of initial stations; regional focus on adult contemporary format.
2007–presentAcquisition integration; nationwide expansion via rebrands and mergers; rebranding of parent entity in 2017.

Operational model and regulatory compliance

The Heart radio network, owned by Global, employs a predominantly syndicated operational model, with the majority of programming produced centrally at Global's studios in and distributed across its 13 stations via satellite and IP links. This structure enables consistent branding and content delivery, featuring networked shows such as the all-day lineup hosted by presenters like and , alongside automated music playlists curated by Global's programming team using data-driven tools for adult contemporary hits. Local variations, historically including breakfast shows in larger markets, have been progressively minimized; as of February 21, 2025, Heart stations in ceased all local and regional programming outside of short bulletins and regional insertions, transitioning to a unified national feed under Global's "Nations Strategy," which maintains distinct outputs for , , , and to address varying listener preferences while optimizing production costs. This centralization aligns with Global's broader efficiency-driven approach, reducing the number of distinct production hubs from over 30 in prior decades to fewer key centers, supplemented by through the Global Player app for on-demand access. Revenue is generated primarily through national advertising sales, sponsorships, and digital platforms, with local ad avails sold regionally to maintain some market relevance; the model supports Heart's position as the UK's largest commercial radio brand, reaching 13.4 million weekly listeners as of Q1 2025. Regulatory compliance is overseen by , which licenses Heart stations under the and 1996, enforcing Key Commitments that define each station's character of service, including format ( with speech elements) and minimal local content where specified. Recent deregulatory changes, including provisions in the Media Bill enacted in 2023 and licence variations approved in 2024, permit commercial operators like Global to network programming nationally without mandatory local output quotas beyond news and ads, provided the overall service remains distinct from public broadcasters; Heart adheres to these by retaining localized news from Global's integrated newsroom and complying with playlist regulations requiring a proportion of UK and European content. Additionally, the network follows 's Broadcasting Code for impartiality, harm avoidance, and privacy, alongside advertising standards set by Clearcast and the Radio Advertising Bureau, with no major breaches recorded in recent reports.

Stations and coverage

Current stations by region

The Heart radio network comprises 13 principal regional stations, each serving as a hub for local breakfast and drivetime programming amid largely networked content, covering , , and . These stations broadcast on FM frequencies, DAB digital radio, and online, with coverage extending to approximately 33 licensed areas through shared transmitters.

England

Wales

  • Heart North Wales: Wrexham operations, targeting North Wales and parts of on 88.0–103.4 FM.
  • Heart South Wales: hub, covering South and on 97.1–106.7 FM.

Scotland

  • Heart Scotland: studio, serving central , the Borders, and Highlands on 96.3–107.6 FM, with DAB on Block 12A.

Coverage areas and signal details

The Heart radio network delivers its programming across , , and through a combination of FM analogue transmissions, DAB digital radio, and online streaming, reaching listeners in 33 licensed local areas without extending to [Northern Ireland](/page/Northern Ireland). FM signals originate from regional transmitters licensed by , typically operating in the 96.0–107.7 MHz VHF band with effective radiated powers ranging from 1 kW to 10 kW to serve urban centers and adjacent suburbs, though coverage can vary due to and interference. DAB distribution occurs nationally via the Sound Digital and Digital One multiplexes, enabling wider reception in vehicles and portable devices, while online access via the Heart website and apps provides ubiquitous availability independent of geography. Key FM frequencies are tailored to each local station's franchise area to minimize overlap and ensure regulatory compliance. For instance, broadcasts primarily on 106.2 MHz from transmitter site, supplemented by additional relays for extended metropolitan reach. In the West Midlands, Heart Birmingham transmits on 100.7 MHz from the Frankley site, covering Birmingham, , and surrounding districts. Similar allocations apply elsewhere, such as 97.0 MHz for Heart Manchester from the Winter Hill transmitter and 105.4 MHz for Heart Cardiff in . These frequencies support a signal footprint that prioritizes , with measured coverage areas (MCA) maps indicating 50–70% contours encompassing major conurbations but tapering in rural zones.
Local AreaPrimary FM Frequency (MHz)Key Transmitter Site
106.2
Birmingham100.7Frankley
97.0 or 105.4Winter Hill
96.3 or 103.2Black Hill
105.4Wenvoe
101.6Purdown
This table summarizes select examples; full listings per area include multiple relays for comprehensive local penetration. Signal reliability on FM depends on , with DAB offering more consistent indoor reception but requiring compatible receivers, which as of 2023 account for about 70% of UK digital listening. Network-wide, coverage excludes remote Highland areas in Scotland and parts of mid-Wales due to licensing limits, directing such listeners to national DAB or streaming alternatives.

Former stations and mergers

In June 2010, Global Radio announced a major restructuring of the Heart network, merging 33 local stations across into 15 larger regional "super stations" to comply with regulations allowing programme sharing while reducing operational costs and up to 200 jobs. This consolidation eliminated many distinct local station identities, with programming centralized from hubs like , , and Plymouth, though some regional breakfast shows were retained initially. Key mergers included the integration of Heart Ipswich into Heart Norwich on 5 2010, marking the final phase of East Anglia's restructuring and ending separate operations for the former Radio Orwell and Radio Broadland frequencies. In , Heart Sussex (previously Southern FM) combined with Mercury FM in during June 2010, forming a unified Heart Sussex service broadcasting from . saw similar consolidations among stations like Champion FM and Marcher Sound, merged into a single Heart North West and outlet. In the South West, Heart South Devon merged with Heart Plymouth, Heart Exeter, and Heart Torbay on 21 June 2010, creating Heart South West based in Plymouth and eliminating standalone local outputs for the absorbed stations. These changes followed Ofcom's approval of co-location and shared programming, prioritizing network efficiency over granular localism. No significant sales of Heart-branded stations occurred during this period; divestitures in 2013–2014 targeted overlapping assets from the GMG Radio acquisition (primarily Real Radio stations) rather than core Heart operations.

Programming and content

Music format and playlist curation

Heart operates a hot adult contemporary format across its stations, characterized by a blending current UK chart hits with recurrent and classic tracks from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, aimed at an audience primarily aged 25-54. This selection prioritizes melodic pop, , and emotional ballads to foster familiarity and emotional engagement, while minimizing genres like heavy metal, hip-hop, or that might alienate the target demographic. Playlist curation is centralized at Global, the network's owner, where music directors analyze chart performance, sales data from the , and listener feedback from research panels to determine additions and rotations. Current top-40 singles enter heavy rotation, often airing 8-12 times per day initially, tapering as popularity wanes; recurrents from the prior 1-3 years follow at moderate frequency, and "" tracks from earlier decades appear 2-4 times daily to provide variety without disrupting flow. This data-driven approach, supported by scheduling software enforcing constraints like artist separation and (e.g., upbeat tracks for mornings), ensures network-wide consistency while adhering to Ofcom's key commitments for a "music-led service featuring ." The format's emphasis on tested hits over niche or emerging artists reflects commercial imperatives, with periodic "variety" campaigns—such as themed hours or listener-voted specials—intended to counter perceptions of repetition, though empirical listenership data indicates sustained appeal through predictable programming.

Networked programming and key presenters

Heart's networked programming primarily consists of syndicated shows broadcast across its English stations, with a focus on peak listening hours to leverage popular talent while allowing regional opt-outs for local content. The network's breakfast slot, airing weekdays from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m., features Heart Breakfast hosted by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, a format introduced in 2019 that emphasizes entertainment, celebrity interviews, and feel-good music tailored to adult contemporary listeners. This show has achieved significant reach, winning Best Radio Show at the 2025 TRIC Awards via public vote. Drivetime programming, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. weekdays, is anchored by JK and , who took over the national slot across in February 2025 as part of Global's strategy to expand syndicated content amid local reductions. Their show, previously available on DAB nationally, incorporates listener interaction, traffic updates, and contemporary hits, contributing to Heart's position as the UK's top commercial with over 13 million weekly listeners by mid-2025. Earlier segments, such as early from 4:00 to 6:30 a.m., are handled by Lindsey Russell, providing continuity with motivational content before local or flagship shows. Weekend networked programming includes Saturday Breakfast with Mark Wright and Olly Murs, blending sports commentary, music, and lifestyle segments to attract a broader audience. Evenings feature presenters like Dev Griffin, whose shows mix playlists with thematic features, syndicated to maintain consistency across the network. These key figures, drawn from entertainment and broadcasting backgrounds, underscore Heart's reliance on celebrity-driven content to drive national appeal, though Scotland maintains distinct programming like Des Clarke's breakfast show launched in August 2025.

Local and regional variations

Despite the Heart network's emphasis on networked programming from , regional variations persist primarily through nation-specific opt-outs and local insertions, particularly outside , as part of Global's Nations Strategy implemented in February 2025. In , local content is limited to bulletins, travel updates, and weather reports sourced from Global's regional newsrooms, with programming (4-7pm weekdays) now fully networked featuring JK and , eliminating previous regional presenter opt-outs. In , Heart maintains more substantial local programming, broadcasting dedicated output from studios, including breakfast shows with presenters such as Des Clarke and Adele Vibert (introduced August 2025) and extending local links through to 7pm weekdays. This contrasts with by incorporating Scottish-specific curation, community events coverage, and presenter interactions tailored to regional audiences, a model reintroduced in 2023 to enhance distinctiveness. Wales features localized drivetime programming from with Jagger and Woody (4-7pm weekdays), alongside integrated local news, travel, and weather, preserving a degree of regional flavor not present in English stations. These variations reflect regulatory allowances for devolved nations, where format requirements mandate higher levels of locally produced content compared to England's centralized model, though all regions share the core adult contemporary playlist and national shows like breakfast with and .

News, traffic, and ancillary services

Heart stations broadcast news bulletins hourly during weekday daytime hours from 0600 to 1800, covering local, , and world events, with additional bulletins on weekends from 0600 to 1200. These bulletins are produced centrally through Global's newsroom, supplemented by partnerships for national and international coverage, including content from via (IRN) for commercial stations. Local news opt-outs occur during specific slots, such as 4-7pm weekdays in some regions, to address area-specific stories. Traffic and travel updates are integrated into programming, providing real-time reports on road closures, delays, and disruptions across the . These updates draw from sources including police reports and national , often aired during peak listening times and available via the Heart app and website for on-demand access. While largely networked for efficiency, some stations retain localized segments to reflect regional conditions, such as urban congestion in areas like the North East. Ancillary services encompass weather forecasts, sports summaries, and showbiz updates, bundled within news segments or as standalone features to enhance listener utility. Weather reports, for instance, focus on UK conditions and are aired alongside traffic for commuter relevance, while sports and entertainment bulletins provide brief, non-core content aligned with the station's adult contemporary format. These elements support regulatory requirements for speech content while minimizing disruption to music playlists, as outlined in Ofcom format approvals emphasizing balanced news and information provision.

Audience metrics and commercial performance

The Heart radio network, formed through the progressive rebranding and consolidation of former independent adult contemporary stations under Global (formerly Gcap Media) between 2008 and 2014, initially aggregated listenership from disparate local outlets. Prior to full networking, flagship stations like Heart 106.2 in achieved weekly reaches of approximately 1.5 million listeners in the late , with figures fluctuating to around 2.2 million by mid-2010 as individual markets grew modestly amid competition from and other commercial rivals. The shift to networked programming, including shared shows and playlists, enabled and broader appeal, contributing to combined network reach stabilizing at 7.776 million weekly listeners by Q2 2010. Through the early , the network's core audience hovered in the 7-8 million range, reflecting a period of incremental growth tempered by economic pressures and fragmented local identities during the rebranding phase. For instance, Q2 2013 data recorded 7.381 million weekly listeners for the Heart Network (UK), a slight dip from 2010 levels attributable to transitional disruptions and rising digital alternatives, though average listening hours per listener remained consistent at around 7-8 per week across surveys. Post-2014 full integration, listenership stabilized and began upward trends, reaching 8.496 million by late under a revised methodology that incorporated online and listening, enhancing reported figures by capturing non-traditional platforms. Subsequent years marked accelerated growth, driven by expanded digital distribution, popular networked presenters, and spin-off branded stations (e.g., , 90s) bolstering the overall Heart brand umbrella. Q1 2022 saw the core network at 8.5 million weekly listeners, rising to 8.6 million in Q3 2023 amid post-pandemic recovery in commercial radio. By Q4 2024, the network achieved 10.1 million, a 13.8% year-on-year increase, reflecting strategic content synergies and market share gains over stations. This trajectory peaked in Q1 2025 with the core network at 10.19 million, while the broader Heart brand—including variants—surpassed 13.4 million weekly listeners, overtaking for the first time as the UK's largest radio brand. Such gains underscore the network's adaptation to multimedia consumption, though direct pre-2021 comparisons are cautioned due to methodological shifts emphasizing digital metrics.

RAJAR ratings and market share

In the first quarter of 2025 (covering January to March), the Heart brand achieved a weekly reach of 13.4 million listeners, surpassing 2's 13.1 million to become the United Kingdom's largest radio brand by audience size. This milestone reflected ongoing expansion, including the integration of former One Network stations into Heart's lineup, which reportedly doubled the network's share of listening in targeted markets. By the third quarter of 2025 (23 June to 14 September), Heart's weekly reach stood at 12.8 million listeners across the brand, retaining its position as the top radio brand while narrowly leading 2. The core Heart Network reported 9.36 million weekly listeners, marking a 4.4% year-on-year decline, amid broader commercial radio gains where the sector's share of listening reached a record 56% compared to the BBC's 41.7%. Heart's parent company, Global, contributed to this with a 28.1% share of commercial listening, its highest on record.
QuarterPeriodHeart Brand Weekly Reach (millions)Key Notes
Q1 2025Jan-Mar 202513.4Largest brand, overtaking 2.
Q3 202523 Jun-14 Sep 202512.8Retained top spot; core network down 4.4% YoY to 9.36m.
These figures underscore Heart's competitive edge in reach among commercial networks, though quarter-to-quarter fluctuations highlight sensitivity to seasonal listening patterns and programming adjustments. Specific share-of-listening metrics for Heart alone are not publicly detailed in RAJAR releases, but its dominance in weekly audience metrics positions it as a leader in the adult contemporary segment, benefiting from networked efficiencies and digital platform growth.

Achievements and competitive positioning

Heart's primary achievements center on sustained audience growth, culminating in its ascension to the UK's largest radio brand by weekly reach. In the first quarter of 2025 survey, the Heart brand recorded 13.4 million weekly listeners, surpassing BBC Radio 2's 13.1 million for the first time, marking a historic shift where a commercial network overtook the long-dominant broadcaster in aggregate brand audience. This milestone reflected an 8% year-on-year increase for the Heart brand to 13.385 million listeners, with the core Heart Network reaching 10.19 million, up 7.9%. By the third quarter of 2025, Heart maintained its lead with 12.8 million weekly listeners, contributing to owner Global's record 29 million weekly reach across stations and a 28.1% commercial group share. Additionally, Heart Breakfast with and secured the Best Radio Show award at the 2025 TRIC Awards through a vote involving approximately one million participants, underscoring listener for its programming. In competitive positioning, Heart distinguishes itself through its adult contemporary format targeting a 25-44 demographic with a female-leaning, appeal, emphasizing mainstream hits and feel-good content that contrasts with youth-oriented rivals like Capital or older-skewing stations such as Smooth. As part of Global, which commands a 56% commercial radio share against the 's 41.7% in Q3 2025, Heart bolsters the sector's overall dominance in listener reach, outpacing fragmented competitors from groups like Bauer Media. This positioning leverages networked efficiency for broad scalability while retaining regional opt-outs, enabling Heart to capture prime-time slots and advertiser value in a market where commercial radio's weekly reach hit record highs, reflecting listener migration from traditional offerings amid format innovations.

Criticisms and responses

Listener complaints on content and repetition

Listeners have repeatedly criticized the Heart radio network for the limited variety in its music playlists, often perceiving a narrow rotation of tracks that leads to frequent repetition of the same songs across daily broadcasts. This sentiment is reflected in user reviews on , where multiple contributors describe the station as playing "the same handful of songs... endlessly," contributing to an overall low rating of 1.4 out of 5 based on over 440 reviews as of recent data. Similar complaints appear on forums such as and , where users note that despite Heart's slogan emphasizing "more music variety," the playlist feels stagnant, with the same tracks reshuffled daily rather than refreshed. In response to such feedback, the UK's media regulator received a formal in 2012 questioning whether Heart's "more music variety" branding was misleading given the repetitive structure; however, Ofcom ruled that the slogan did not constitute a breach of standards, as it aligned with the station's character of service. Additional complaints about format compliance, potentially encompassing content repetition, totaled seven in 2019, but Ofcom opted not to pursue an investigation, deeming them insufficient for regulatory action. Broader critiques extend to repetitive non-music elements, including ad breaks and networked segments, which some report hearing recycled across hours or days, exacerbating perceptions of formulaic programming. Radio industry analyses attribute this approach to commercial imperatives, where tight playlists and repeated content target casual, short-term who favor familiarity to build and retention, even if it alienates dedicated audiences seeking diversity.

Impacts of centralization on local identity

Centralization within the Heart network, accelerated by Global's ownership since 2011, has progressively diminished the distinct local identities of its stations by replacing region-specific programming with syndicated national content. Following the rebranding of former GCap Media stations into the Heart network, many local breakfast and drivetime shows were supplanted by networked output from hubs, reducing the airtime for presenters attuned to regional dialects, events, and listener preferences. This shift intensified in 2019 after Ofcom's , which permitted commercial stations to network non-news and non-sport content outside peak hours, enabling Global to consolidate Heart's 33 stations into 15 with uniform playlists and hosts, thereby homogenizing output across markets like , Birmingham, and the South West. The erosion of local identity manifests in the loss of community-specific engagement, such as coverage of regional festivals, traffic patterns, or charity drives, which previously reinforced listener bonds to stations as proxies for hometown voices. For instance, pre-centralization, Heart stations often featured opt-out segments for local news and sports, fostering a sense of place; post-2019, these were minimized, with critics noting that identical scheduling across regions ignores variations in audience tastes, like differing preferences for classic hits in rural versus urban areas. In January 2025, Global's announcement to eliminate remaining regional shows on Heart (and sister networks) in England—replacing them with fully national schedules—further standardized branding and content, prompting concerns from presenters like Ed James, who highlighted the farewell to "local flavor" that connected with community narratives. Empirical indicators of impact include listener feedback emphasizing disconnection, with industry observers linking centralization to a broader decline in perceived authenticity; for example, during the 2020 lockdown, calls grew for preserving local radio's role in mirroring regional experiences, yet Heart's networked model prioritized efficiency over such ties. While Global defends this as enhancing consistency and reach—citing sustained RAJAR figures—the causal link to diluted identity is evident in job losses exceeding 100 in 2019 alone, stripping stations of on-site talent who embodied local ethos. This homogenization risks alienating audiences seeking regionally resonant media, potentially driving shifts to alternatives like BBC local services that retain more bespoke programming.

Regulatory and industry critiques

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has periodically reviewed and adjusted local content obligations for commercial radio stations, including those in the Heart network, to balance commercial viability with commitments to localness. In 2019, Ofcom relaxed guidelines on the sourcing of local programming, permitting stations outside major conurbations to fulfill minimum local output requirements using networked content produced elsewhere, provided it retained local relevance. This change enabled Global, Heart's owner, to replace over 40 local breakfast shows across its Heart, Capital, and Smooth brands with three regional networked equivalents, a move approved despite concerns over diminished local character. However, Ofcom has rejected certain format variation requests, such as Global's 2012 proposal to reduce local output on Heart , citing the need to preserve the station's licensed commitment to Cornwall-specific content. Complaints to regarding Heart's adherence to its format have often been dismissed. In July 2019, declined to investigate seven public complaints alleging that Heart stations deviated from their character of service by prioritizing repetitive networked playlists over varied local , determining no breach occurred. Similarly, a public complaint that Heart's "More Music Variety" slogan misled listeners on playlist diversity was not upheld, as found insufficient evidence of material deception. These decisions reflect 's deference to licensees' operational flexibility amid falling analogue listenership, though critics within regulatory consultations have argued that such leniency risks eroding the distinctiveness mandated in original licences. In areas like and , has enforced residual local broadcasting minima, compelling Global to retain at least three hours of daily local content post-2019 relaxations. Industry observers and media analysts have critiqued Global's centralization strategy for Heart as contributing to radio homogenization, where networked programming supplants region-specific output, potentially alienating audiences seeking community-focused content. The 2019 networking shift resulted in hundreds of job losses among local presenters, drawing rebukes from trade bodies and commentators for prioritizing cost efficiencies over the sector's traditional localism ethos. Further consolidation in 2025, enabled by the Media Act 2024's of format changes, eliminated remaining regional shows on Heart in , prompting industry forums to lament the loss of programming diversity and local advertising relevance. Proponents of deregulation, including commercial radio associations, counter that such measures are essential for competitiveness against platforms, but detractors highlight empirical declines in unique local coverage as evidence of causal trade-offs in audience trust and market vitality.

Branding and marketing

Evolution of slogans and imaging

Upon its launch on September 6, 1994, as 100.7 Heart FM serving the West Midlands, the station employed custom jingles produced by Creative Productions to establish a soft contemporary identity, featuring melodic cuts tailored for local programming. Early branding emphasized regional appeal, with imaging focused on smooth transitions between and news bulletins to differentiate from competitors like BRMB. By 1996, as Heart expanded into a nascent network, it adopted the "More Music Variety" across stations, which persisted for over two decades and underscored a shift toward broader music selection with reduced talk content. This period saw imaging evolve from localized to more standardized packages supporting networked programming, aligning with ownership changes including the Capital Radio merger and later GCap formation, though specific jingle producers during this era remain less documented beyond custom adaptations. In January 2009, Global Radio's acquisition and rebranding of multiple regional stations—such as Century FM and Capital offshoots—into the Heart network marked a pivotal consolidation, standardizing slogans and nationwide to enhance . This unified approach prioritized consistent audio branding, with emphasizing variety and accessibility to appeal to a 25-54 demographic. On February 14, 2017, Heart replaced "More Music Variety" with "Turn Up the Feel Good," signaling a strategic pivot toward emotional, uplifting messaging amid increasing digital competition. Concurrently, the "This is Heart" was refreshed to integrate the new , fostering a brighter, more motivational sound. Since around 2015, Reelworld has supplied iterative packages for Heart, with updates in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2024 featuring rhythmic, Hot AC-style themes that reinforce the "feel good" ethos through strong melodies, multiple vocal mixes, and production beds designed for seamless integration. These evolutions reflect a trend toward frequent sonic refreshes to maintain listener engagement, adapting to seasonal campaigns like summer promotions while preserving network cohesion under Global's ownership.

Digital and multimedia extensions

Heart operates digital extensions primarily through the Global Player platform, which enables of its radio stations, including networked Heart frequencies and digital-only variants such as Heart 70s, , and Heart 90s, accessible via web browsers, mobile apps on and Android, and smart speakers. The Global Player app, with over 20,000 ratings averaging 4.8 on the , supports unlimited live listening, personalized playlists, and features like song skipping and rewind for Heart content. Catch-up functionality allows users to access episodes of Heart programs from the previous seven days for on-demand playback or offline download, enhancing accessibility beyond traditional broadcast schedules. Multimedia elements include on-demand videos featuring Heart presenters, such as interviews and promotional clips, integrated into the app alongside live playlists derived from radio output. Podcasts extend Heart's audio content, with notable examples including the "Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden" series, which delivers extended discussions on celebrity news, music, and lifestyle topics originally aired during the weekday morning show from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m. The heart.co.uk website complements these services with text-based multimedia, offering showbiz news articles, exclusive interviews, and interactive competitions like the "Win £30,000 with Heart" promotion. Social media maintains Heart's online engagement, with the @thisisheart Instagram account amassing 680,000 followers for sharing promotional posts, music clips, and contest announcements, while the official page disseminates similar content including weather alerts and event updates. In , Global launched a Heart-branded music television channel as an early venture, though its current operational status remains integrated into broader digital streaming efforts. These extensions collectively support Heart's reach, reported at 13.4 million weekly listeners across platforms as of recent metrics.

References

  1. https://www.heart.co.uk/about-us/
  2. https://global.com/radio/heart/
  3. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/heart-overtakes-radio-2-as-commercial-radio-surges-past-bbc-key-rajar-takeaways/
  4. https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/chrysalis-group-plc-history/
  5. https://www.the-independent.com/news/business/chrysalis-puts-its-heart-into-london-radio-1599122.html
  6. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/mar/10/advertising.business
  7. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2005/05/gcap-sells-century-106/
  8. https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/heart-fm-gets-sister-station-3994007
  9. https://uk.themedialeader.com/chrysalis-widens-heart-into-east-midlands/
  10. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/mar/31/gcapmedia.globalradio1
  11. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/global-radio-seals-375m-gcap-acquisition/798414
  12. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/555de370e5274a708400009a/Global.pdf
  13. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/globals-acquisition-gcap-media-cleared-oft/917483
  14. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/555de372ed915d7ae5000094/Global_GCap.pdf
  15. https://www.marketingweek.com/global-cuts-heart-stations-from-33-to-15/
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/jun/21/heart-global-radio-restructure
  17. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/global-slashes-heart-network-15-stations/1011283
  18. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/rajar-q2-2014-heart-rebrand-helps-reach-increase-20/1306097
  19. https://earshotcreative.com/2014/05/how-heart-arrived-the-regional-marketing-campaign/
  20. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/26/scores-of-uk-radio-stations-to-lose-local-programmes
  21. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/02/global-to-network-capital-heart-and-smooth-breakfast-shows/
  22. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/649c498706179b000c3f7489/Media_Bill_Overarching_IA_-_PLS_publication_version.pdf
  23. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/tv-radio-and-on-demand/reviews-and-investigations/local-media/review-of-local-media-in-the-uk-initial-findings.pdf?v=371109
  24. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/01/global-introduces-new-nations-strategy-and-drops-local-and-regional-shows-in-england/
  25. https://global.com/global-confirms-programming-changes-february-2025/
  26. https://decentered.co.uk/the-changing-face-of-local-radio-understanding-globals-consolidation-strategy/
  27. https://james.cridland.net/blog/2025/global-regional-programming/
  28. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-68674298
  29. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jan/30/radio.commercialradio
  30. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/chrysalis-radio-sold-170m-irish-backed-global-radio/666424
  31. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/31/radio.citynews
  32. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a796311ed915d042206804f/Global_GMG_Radio_Repor_PRINT_t.pdf
  33. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/06/gmg-radio-sale-how-heart-could-expand/
  34. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/global-grows-radio-ad-revenue-12m/1453740
  35. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/05/rajar-q1-2025-heart-brand-grows-bigger-than-bbc-radio-2/
  36. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a9336294c997000daeba20/Media_Bill_-_overarching_impact_assessment.pdf
  37. https://www.heart.co.uk/help/find-your-local-heart-station/
  38. https://jack-bromby.com/heart-fm-frequencies/
  39. https://media.info/radio/stations/heart
  40. http://www.frequencyfinder.org.uk/FM_Regions.pdf
  41. https://onlineradiobox.com/uk/heartuk/frequency/
  42. https://ukradiolive.com/heart-london/frequency
  43. https://a-bc.co.uk/mca-measured-coverage-area-maps/
  44. https://www.heart.co.uk/localise/
  45. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10391737
  46. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2010/09/final-heart-merger-east-anglia/
  47. https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2010/06/23/brighton-and-hove-radio-station-merges-with-rival/
  48. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/may/21/global-radio-ordered-sell-seven-stations
  49. https://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/02/06/global-radio-sells-8-regional-stations-communicorp-35m-deal
  50. https://www.heart.co.uk/public-file/london/
  51. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/09/the-week-in-radio-podcasts-all-new-heart-breakfast-localness-guidelines
  52. https://www.heart.co.uk/radio/shows-presenters/heart-breakfast-jamie-theakston-amanda-holden/
  53. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/06/heart-breakfast-wins-best-radio-show-at-tric-awards-2025/
  54. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/02/national-presenters-confirmed-for-heart-capital-and-smooth-in-england/
  55. https://www.heart.co.uk/digital/radio/schedule/
  56. https://www.heart.co.uk/london/radio/shows-presenters/
  57. https://www.heart.co.uk/digital/radio/shows-presenters/
  58. https://global.com/heart-scotland-launches-new-breakfast-show/
  59. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNAjIN2A0Yg/
  60. https://www.heart.co.uk/public-file/northeast/
  61. https://news.sky.com/info/radio
  62. https://www.heart.co.uk/news/traffic-travel/
  63. https://www.heart.co.uk/westmids/news/traffic-travel/latest-travel-news/
  64. https://www.heart.co.uk/news/
  65. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/manage-your-licence/analogue-radio/format-changes/2021/heart-north-west-fcr.pdf?v=326078
  66. https://media.info/radio/stations/heart-london/listening-figures
  67. https://www.rajar.co.uk/docs/2010_06/2010_Q2_Quarterly_Summary_Figures.pdf
  68. https://www.rajar.co.uk/docs/2013_06/All%2520Comparative%2520Data%2520Charts%2520-%2520Q22013-Clean.pdf
  69. https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/all-the-rajar-a-new-dawn-for-radio-listening-figures/084492
  70. https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/broadcast/rajar-speech-radio-stations-see-large-audience-boost-in-the-first-quarter-of-2022/
  71. https://www.adambowie.com/blog/2023/10/rajar-q3-2023/
  72. https://www.adambowie.com/blog/2025/02/rajar-q4-2024/
  73. https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/rajars-q1-has-heart-really-overtaken-radio-2/091967
  74. https://global.com/global-rajar-q1-2025/
  75. https://www.campaignindonesia.id/article/heart-doubles-networks-share-commercial-radio-fights-back/854263
  76. https://global.com/global-rajar-q3-2025/
  77. https://uk.themedialeader.com/rajar-q3-2025-commercial-audience-share-hits-all-time-high-with-heart-just-leading-the-way/
  78. https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/rajar-q3-2025-radio-2-rallies-in-tough-ratings-quarter-for-bbc/092931
  79. https://global.com/advertise/knowledge-hub/which-radio-station-will-skyrocket-your-brand/
  80. https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/rajar-q2-analysis-commercial-radio-celebrates-highest-ever-share/092403
  81. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/10/rajar-q3-2025-sport-and-chill-formats-increase-reach/
  82. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.heart.co.uk?page=3
  83. https://www.reddit.com/r/britishproblems/comments/gohkh3/heart_fm_aggressively_repeating_more_music/
  84. https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1935429/heart-fm-no-music-variety-and-the-cutting-off-of-endings-why
  85. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/05/ofcom-says-heart-slogan-isnt-misleading/
  86. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/07/ofcom-throws-out-complaints-about-hearts-format/
  87. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2405914406308020/posts/3829067123992734/
  88. https://blog.kirstenkrupps.com/why-does-the-radio-station-play-the-same-songs-over-and-over
  89. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/heart-dj-ed-james-issues-30750308
  90. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/global-confirms-new-national-radio-schedules-following-reported-plans-to-drop-local-and-regional-programming/
  91. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/10/local-broadcasting-regional-radio-tv-shows-local-communities
  92. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47371616
  93. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47371616
  94. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/10/ofcom-rejects-changes-for-heart-cornwall/
  95. https://www.facebook.com/radiotoday/posts/global-is-to-end-all-local-and-regional-shows-on-heart-smooth-and-capital-brands/1113280050649014/
  96. https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/jingles/heart-fm-west-midlands/1990s/jingle-montage-jam-creative-productions-sept-1994-401
  97. https://radioworks.co.uk/200217-2/
  98. https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2009/jan/05/globalradio-commercialradio
  99. https://reelworld.com/jingles/packages/heart/
  100. https://www.radiojinglespro.com/2015/09/08/heart-get-more-reelworld-jingles/
  101. https://reelworld.com/jingles/packages/heart-2024/
  102. https://www.globalplayer.com/live/heart/uk/
  103. https://global.com/global-player/
  104. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/global-player-radio-podcasts/id1142951331
  105. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.global.player
  106. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-breakfast-with-jamie-theakston-and-amanda-holden/id1683335167
  107. https://www.heart.co.uk/
  108. https://www.instagram.com/thisisheart/
  109. https://www.facebook.com/thisisheartofficial/
  110. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/12/global-radio-tv-music-channels
  111. https://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/heart-becomes-the-uks-biggest-radio-brand-reaching-a-phenomenal-134-million-weekly-listeners
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.