Leicester Sound

Infobox Radio station


name=Leicester Sound
airdate= 7 September 1984
frequency=105.4 and dab MHz
share = 6.8%
share as of = September 2007
share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php]
area= Leicester
format =Contemporary
owner = Gcap Media plc
website = [http://www.leicestersound.co.uk www.leicestersound.co.uk]

Leicester Sound is an Independent Local Radio station in Leicester, England, that was launched on 7 September 1984. It broadcasts to the Leicestershire area on 105.4 FM and on DAB digital radio. It's part of GCap Media's The One Network.

The Leicester Sound studios are based in the Meridian Business Park, Leicester, close to Junction 21 of the M1 (and close to the M69).

The transmitter is just north of Billesdon, eight miles east of Leicester, near the A47. It has been there since 1997.

Background

Radio Trent bought and transformed the old studios and frequency of Centre Radio, which closed in 1983. The station used to broadcast on 1260 MW until October 1988 when it started broadcasting on 103.2FM. Also in 1988, it changed its name to Sound FM, then reverted back to its old name in 1991. Until January 1992, it shared its evening programmes with Trent FM. From then on it became part of Midlands Radio plc, and shared programmes with Mercia FM. In late 1993, GWR Group bought out Midlands Radio plc. In January 1997, the frequency changed from 103.2 to 105.4FM, with a much more powerful signal, which can be heard by most of Leicestershire.

Current Presenters

The Breakfast show, "Robin Banks @ Breakfast", airs every weekday morning from 6AM to 10AM. It is presented by Robin Banks, Naomi Kent and Michelle Mary Mustard (aka Moot), who is also the producer of the show.

The drive time show, "Damien @ Drive" is presented by Damien St John every weekday from 4PM to 7PM.

Travel on both shows presented by Lynsey Rose Masora, news presented by Yvonne Radley and Sarah Urwin.

Ivan D'Sa remains at Leicester Sound as Weekend Presenter in addition to swing/cover work during the week at Leicester Sound, 96 Trent FM (Nottingham & Mansfield) and Mercia (Coventry). Ivan has worked at Leicester Sound, on and off, since 1995.

Every Sunday from 4PM to 7PM, Lucio Buffone hosts hit40uk, the singles chart show that is broadcast on 130 UK commercial radio stations.

Previous Presenters

Some of the original presenters of Leicester Sound were:
* Sara Blizzard, the East Midlands Today weather presenter was part of the Breakfast team in the mid-1990s.
* Nick Murden - original first presenter of the station (Deceased).
* Guy Morris - from Trent's original line-up from 1975, formerly of Ocean Sound also.
* David Lloyd - from Trent in Nottingham, where he joined in 1980, fresh from Hospital Radio, left in 1991 to form Lincs FM, now Programming Director of Virgin Radio during the week and a weekend presenter at Smooth Radio in the East Midlands.
* Tony Lyman - fresh from Trent in Nottingham, now at Smooth Radio in the East Midlands.
* Craig Strong - from Trent in 1980, also a Trent 102.8 Derby presenter, plus many other stations in and out of the region.
* John Peters - networked chart show from the 80s from Nottingham, and original Radio Trent opening presenter in 1975, first presenter of GEM-AM, and also a presenter at Smooth Radio in the East Midlands.
* Kenny Hague - breakfast show presenter, was at Centre Radio then Sound FM until 1996, has gone on to work for stations all around the East Midlands but can now be found on 103 The Eye in Melton Mowbray.
* Mark Hayman - one of the station's most popular presenters of the early 90s and he of the inspired JAM "Driving home with Mark Hayman" jingle is now the Managing Editor of BBC Radio Kent in Royal Tunbridge Wells.
* Timmy Mallet - used to present "Timmy on the Tranny" when the stations used to be called Centre Radio.

External links

* [http://www.leicestersound.co.uk Official Leicester Sound website]
* [http://www.justin-case.co.uk/simon/lsjingles.htm Leicester Sound jingles]
* [http://www.justin-case.co.uk/simon/leicsnd.htm History of Leicester Sound]
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/d.allen43/Trans_sub_pages/billesdon.htm Photos of the Leicester Sound Billesdon transmitter]
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/d.allen43/main_pages/leicester%20sound.htm Photos of the Leicester Sound building]
* [http://www.geocities.com/thehotw/aircheck_UKLeics.htm History of local radio in Leicestershire]