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brmb 
Broadcast area Birmingham and the West Midlands Slogan "Birmingham's Best mix of the 80's, 90's and Today" Frequency First air date 19 February 1974 Format CHR Audience share 4.1% (October 2011, [1]) Owner Orion Media Website brmb.co.uk brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online. BRMB broadcasts a mix of chart, contemporary and classic hits alongside live football commentary, talk programming and news bulletins.
Contents
History
Launched on 29 February 1974, on 261 metres medium wave, (1152kHz) and 94.8 MHz FM, BRMB was the fourth independent local commercial radio station to begin broadcasting in Britain after Capital Radio, LBC 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 frequency from 94.8 to 96.4 FM in 1986.
The station name, BRMB, is not an acronym (contrary to popular belief - some think it stands 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.
The BRMB studios and Orion Media headquarters on Broad Street.
Presenters such as Ed Doolan, Les Ross, Phil Upton, and Tony Butler became regulars on the station - Les Ross was the UK's longest-serving breakfast presenter, presenting BRMB's flagship weekday breakfast show from March 1976 to March 1989, followed by a second stint between August 1993 & September 2002. Orion Media's head of sport Tom Ross also found fame on the station when it began broadcasting live commentary of West Midlands football matches every Saturday afternoon. Ian Crocker was also involved in the coverage early on.
In 1988, as a response to government disapproval of the simulcasting of programming 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.
BRMB was originally based in Aston Road North, in the Aston area of Birmingham, near the Spaghetti Junction. These were the former Alpha Television Studios, the home of ATV and ABC Weekend Television until 1970. The current headquarters are based in the Brindleyplace development, off Broad Street in Birmingham city centre, ironically just around the corner of the now-closed studios where ATV relocated to in 1970. The station provides network output for Orion Media's other stations in the West Midlands - Beacon, Mercia and Wyvern. Since August 2011, Mercia programming has been produced and broadcast from BRMB's studios.
On 8 August 2008, it was confirmed that due to competition 'conflict of interests' in the West Midlands (and in other areas), BRMB would be sold by Global Radio, along with other West Midlands owned GCap/Global stations Mercia FM, Wyvern FM, Heart 106 and Beacon Radio. In July 2009, the station was sold officially to a company backed by Lloyds TSB Development Capital and Phil Riley[1] which was named Orion Media.
Events
BRMB organises a number of annual public events including the Walkathon, BRMB Live and sponsors Bupa Great Birmingham Run, Acorns Midnight Walk.
Programming
Weekdays
Time Main presenter(s)/programme Location 0100 – 0600 Overnights Birmingham/Nottingham 0600 – 0900 Foxy & Giuliano: John Fox & Guiliano Casadei Birmingham 0900 – 1300 Russ Morris 1300 - 1600 Dan Morrissey 1600 – 1900 Jo and Sparky: Jo Russell and Mark Colerangle 1900 – 2200 James Merritt 2200 – 0100 The Sanctuary: Caroline Martin Weekday variations
Day Time Main presenter/programme Location Monday & Friday 0100 - 0600 Adam Wilbourn Birmingham Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Dan Wood (voicetracked) Nottingham Friday 2200 - 0100 Will Batchelor Birmingham Saturday
Time Main presenter(s)/programme Location 0100 – 0700 Adam Wilbourn Birmingham 0700 – 1100 Tom Newitt 1100 – 1400 Sam Pinkham Nottingham 1400 - 1800 The Goalzone: Tom Ross Birmingham 1800 - 2200 Justin Walker 2200 – 0100 Will Batchelor Sunday
Time Main presenter(s)/programme Location 0100 – 0700 Adam Wilbourn Birmingham 0700 - 1100 Andy Goulding 1100 - 1300 Sam & Mark: Sam Nixon & Mark Rhodes No 1 Golden Square, London 1300 – 1600 Dan Morrissey Birmingham 1600 – 1900 The Vodafone Big Top 40 Leicester Square, London 1900 – 2200 David Francis Birmingham 2200 - 0100 The Sanctuary: Caroline Martin N.B. Weekday evening and weekend schedules vary during the football season, owing to live coverage of Aston Villa and Birmingham City matches.
News and Sport staff
Head of News
Vicky BreakwellHead of Sport
Tom Ross (also The Goalzone commentator)Broadcast Journalists
Dan Dawson
Stuart Bailey
Stacey FosterTravel Presenters
Chiara Glorioso (Weekdays)
John Milligan (Weekends)Goalzone commentators
Adam Bridge
Pat Heard
Jon McCarthyPast presenters
- Les Ross
- Guy Morris
- Ed Doolan (now at BBC WM)
- Phil Upton (now at BBC WM)
- John Slater
- Nick Meanwell
- Brendan Kearney (now at Cheshire FM)
- Timbo (now at BBC Essex)
- Graham Torrington (now hosts "The LovePod" Sun to Thurs across Europe)
- Elliott Webb (now at Real Radio (North West))
- Tammy Gooding (now at BBC WM)
- Margherita Taylor (now at Classic FM & 95.8 Capital FM)
- Carlos (now at Smooth Radio)
- Tim Lichfield (now at Heart West Country)
- Harriet Scott (now at Heart London)
- Charlie Jordan (now at The Breeze 107.2)
- Paul Hollins (now at Heart London)
- Matt Wilkins (now at Key 103)
- Nick Snaith (now at Heart London)
- Rich Vaughn (now at Radio City 96.7)
- Jeremy Kyle (now at itv)
- Ed Nell (now at Hallam Fm)
- Phil Holden
- Tom Binns
- Tim Denning
- Mark Crossley (now at Absolute Radio)
- Graeme Smith (now at 97.4 Rock FM)
- Robin Banks
Official logos
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1984-1988
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1988-1991
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1991-1996
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1997-2001
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2001-2007
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2007-2010
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2010-present
See also
- Wyvern
- Beacon
- Mercia
- Gem 106
- Gold (radio)
- Orion Media
References
External links
- Official site
- MDS975's BRMB History & programme schedules & audio clips pages
- Remembering Xtra AM
- www.mds975.co.uk - More radio station & radio hobby pages
- Langley Mill AM transmitter masts
- Lichfield transmitter mast
Radio stations in the West Midlands of England FM stations 88.3 (BBC Radio 2) • 89.1 (Big City Radio) • 90.5 (BBC Radio 3) • 92.7 (BBC Radio 4) • 95.6 (BBC WM) • 96.4 (brmb) • 96.7 & 102.8 (Wyvern) • 97.2 & 103.1 (Beacon) • 97.9 (BBC Radio 1) • 98.7 (New Style Radio) • 100.1 (Classic FM) • 100.7 (Heart) • 101.8 (WCR) • 102.2 (Capital FM) • 105.2 (Kerrang) • 105.7 (Smooth Radio) • 107.7 (107.7 The Wolf)LW & MW stations 198 (BBC Radio 4) • 252 (RTÉ Radio 1) • 828 & 1458 (BBC Asian Network) • 909 & 693 (BBC Radio 5 Live) • 990 & 1152 (Gold) • 1089 & 1053 (TalkSPORT • 1215 (Absolute Radio) • 1296 (Radio XL)DAB multiplexes United Kingdom Radio Markets: Aberdeen • Glasgow • London • Liverpool • Manchester • West Midlands • West Yorkshire • Worcester
See also: List of radio stations in the United Kingdom Categories:- Radio stations in Birmingham, West Midlands
- Radio stations established in 1974
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