New digital radio stations from Classic FM, Capital, Heart, Radio X and Smooth will launch tomorrow.
The twelve new stations are brand extensions, or spin-offs, from existing radio stations. Two of the new radio stations will be available across the UK on DAB digital radio.
For the first time Classic FM will have two sister stations. Listeners will be able to unwind and relax with Classic FM Calm while music from blockbuster films will be celebrated on Classic FM Movies.
Three more stations join the Heart family which already comprises of stations playing music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Heart Love will play love songs from artists like Adele and George Michael while Heart Musicals will feature showtunes. Heart 10s completes the new line-up.
Capital gains a new station with Capital Anthems playing songs from artists like Calvin Harris, Coldplay and Rihanna.
The Smooth family expands with Smooth 70s, Smooth 80s and Smooth Soul. The decades stations will play music from popular Smooth artists while Smooth Soul will feature the likes of Barry White, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.
Following last year’s launch of a Classic Rock spin-off, Radio X adds Radio X Chilled and two decades stations – Radio X 90s and Radio X 00s. The 90s station will feature bands like Blur, Oasis and Nirvana while groups like Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon and The Killers will feature on the 00s station.
All of the new stations will be available in the Global Player app and on smart speakers and online.
Smooth 80s and Capital Anthems will broadcast nationally on DAB on the UK’s second commercial digital radio multiplex. Classic FM Movies will be available in London on DAB Digital Radio (on the London 1 multiplex) and all other stations will available on DAB Digital Radio (on the London 3 multiplex).
“Global is transforming British radio with one of the largest simultaneous launches in UK history. Our new stations offer audiences unprecedented choice and we’re hugely excited about them,” said James Rea, Chief Broadcasting and Content Officer at Global.”
“These new radio stations are unique and distinctive, and perfectly complement each radio brand. From Heart’s non-stop love songs to the anthems Capital made famous and the world’s greatest film music on Classic FM – there really is something for everyone, for every mood, for every moment.”
“You can easily access all these free stations on your smart speaker, in your car, on your radio and on your phone on our app, Global Player.”
All of the new stations are from media group Global.
Spin-off stations have proven popular with audiences. Heart 80s has 1.8 million listeners while KISSTORY, which grew out of the KISS brand, has 2.4 million listeners every week.
The introduction of Smooth 80s means the UK will have three national radio stations dedicated to the music from that decade. Listeners in London will be able to choose between two DAB digital radio stations playing the music from the musicals.
Later this year KISSTORY R&B, a new spin-off station, will be available nationally on DAB. On Monday Ken Bruce announced the launch of Greatest Hits Radio 60s which will go on air nationally next week.
Not all of the spin-off stations have full schedules. While Absolute 80s and KISSTORY have presenter-led shows for most of the day the stations like Heart 90s have a breakfast show from 6am to 10am followed by non-stop music.
The new brand extensions are made possible thanks to DAB+ which is more efficient than the original DAB. The BBC has announced plans to introduce their own brand extensions which would broadcast using DAB+.
However, there is not infinite capacity to launch new radio stations. Operators can introduce new stations by switching existing outlets from DAB to DAB+, by reducing the bitrate of existing stations or by replacing existing stations. Regional and local multiplexes which have more spare capacity than national multiplexes can also be used to bring stations to areas like London. This is the case with Absolute Radio 10s which is available in the capital while Absolute Radio 90s can be heard nationwide.