AM/FM: London

The real radio times

Radio Activity 89.5 FM

Radio Activity broadcasts to the Streatham area with a wide range of music mixed in with local information.

Information

• Radio Activity
  59 Thrale Road
  London
  SW16
• Mixed Format
• SW London
• Mon-Fri 6pm-12pm, Sat&Sun 24 hours

News

Radio Activity now seems to be doing pretty well, after some initial technical problems and a raid on the station earlier in the year. The station is offering free advertising for record companies who provide promo releases as well as charitable organisations.

Programmes

Arabic Community Radio 106 FM

Originally testing on 93MHz before the arrival of Solar, we have recently had reports of what's thought to be an Arabic station operating round about the 106ish part of the band. Despite various enquiries we've yet to establish any more...

Asian Community Radio 94.3 FM

Asian Community Radio began broadcasting on 94.3MHz at the end of May. The station is shortly to move to somewhere in the hundreds part of the band to avoid the extreme crush at their present part of the band.

Radio Badger 93.3 FM

Radio Badger broadcasts to the West London / Middlesex area every evening.

News

After possibly the longest ever period of testing (Badger was first on the air in December 1985!), Radio Badger finally started regular programmes in Mid-May, on 91.9MHz whilst LWR were off the air. When LWR returned they moved to a new frequency of 93.2MHz.

Programmes

Programmes go out nominally seven days a week to West London / Middlesex, with the following DJ line-up:

Base 105 106.4 FM

Base 105 told Radio Today back in May of their plans to start a new service of soul / disco / pop at the start of July. This was originally to have been on 105.4 MHz, but has now been changed to 106.4 MHz instead. Base 105 hoped to use a high quality 15W transmitter and CDs in their programming to give them a sound quality that would put other pirates to shame.

British Greek Community Radio 104.4 FM

BGCR broadcasts to the Greek community of North London 7 days a week.

News

Raids, raids, raids, raids and even more raids. Why? Well in North London there is a certain Electricity Board relay on 105.5MHz and the Electricity Board have not been happy at having their communications interfered with by illegal Greek stations and have been making their feelings extremely clear to the DTI. As a result, BGCR have been hit pretty hard, with an average rate of one raid a week for the past couple of months. As the interference from some pirate stations is causing increasing problems for some services on the FM band, it has been reported that several are pressing for a faster move to new, less vulnerable frequencies.

Caliber FM 106 FM

Or should that be Calibre? Either way, they came on the air on 94.5 MHz on Friday 1st of May, announcing that programming would start on the Sunday on 106 MHz. Since then they've been heard briefly on 94.6 MHz and were reported to be trying to keep up a seven day a week schedule, without much success. As for the frequency, take your pick!

Radio Caroline 558 AM

Broadcasting live from the North Sea with the best of the new and the greatest of the old.

Information

• Radio Caroline
  New York
  11518 USA
• Pop
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

Not a great deal or news or late. They kicked off in May by reading out all the late arriving Christmas cards. lf you want to be sure or a request this Christmas you'd better get down to the Post Office now! The past couple or months have seen quite a lot or new arrivals: Mick Williams, David Foster, Andy Robin, Jackie Lee, Paul Graham (who went under the name Johnnie Flux on Hertfordshire's Radio Neptune), Jeff Morris and Dave Wilson. However, quite a few haven't stayed and the old regulars are still very much around.

Major story at the station has to be the move from their old anchorage in the Knock Deep Channel to a new position off the Kent coast. This change was due to the new Sea Bill increasing the range of British Territorial Waters. Because of the move, reception is down over London and with the possibility that they may have to move even further out, the future for night time reception doesn't look too good.

Chic FM 94.4 FM

Chic FM have been promising a return to the airwaves, although as yet there hasn't been much actual sign of them happening. On Sunday 7 June, they reported just 10 minutes on the air before their transmitter blew up.

Clockwork Wireless Broadcasting Company
90 FM

A highly innovative mix of topical chat, comedy clips, listener participation and pop & rock music for two hours every Sunday from The Clockwork Wireless Broadcasting Company.

Information

• Clockwork Wireless
  Creasy House
  Tower Bridge Road
  London
  SE1 4SL
• Pop/Rock/Comedy/Chat
• West /Central London
• Sunday 7pm-9pm

News

After several false starts and what were assumed to be numerous technical problems, Clockwork Wireless at last seem to be getting their act together and managing to complete their two hour broadcasts. However, on June 14 they only managed 15 minutes of their Election Special and into July just 5 minutes on the 5th.

Although the signal is usually strong over much of West, North West and Central London, there is strong interference in North London from RJR and SW London from Quest.

Programmes

Community Development Radio 88.6 FM

With access programmes, black music and other specialist programming.

Information

• CDR
  39 Byam St
  London
  SW6 2RB
• Black Community Radio
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

CDR were going really well through much of May, with a higher powered signal reaching most of London, much improved in quality from their early days. However, in recent weeks there have been problems at the station, with them frequently off the air, and only low power at times, We haven't been able to find out the reason for this, but it would seem that they possibly suffered a raid and have had difficulty getting the station together since.

Programmes

Radio Confidence 92.7 FM

Still on the air on assorted evenings to mainly West London. Although they are still announcing 92.7, the frequency has been nearer 92.2 recently, no doubt to avoid the higher-powered Studio One. Confidence has an almost entirely reggae format with a little soul.

DBC Rebel Radio 96.1 FM

DBC continues to put out tapes from its heyday in 1981-3 every Friday night from around about 9 through to the early hours of the morning. In addition, live broadcasts usually take place on Bank Holidays and for special events, such as the Notting Hill Carnival. If you want to hear what reggae presentation should sound like, DBC are well worth tuning in to. Dunno what the Beeb think about one of their DJs at ill being aired on a pirate though. Reception is good mainly in the West London area, although they come in quite well over much of London.

Direct Line Radio 92.4 FM

Planning a big return to the airwaves in Mid-August with seven day a week community programming for South London (or should that be Westow Hill — only joking Dan!).

Information

• Direct Line Radio
  5 Tudor Road
  London
  SE19 2UH
• Pop / Soul
• Sydenham
• Weekends

Programmes

DLR plan to provide two services,DLR through the day with a pop format, local news and information, etc. and Wildside FM through the night with more of a soul format. DJs on the station will include Danny T, Timbo, James Lawson, Tim Crushell, Nick Day, Def Jeff, Ben & Bill, Marconi, DJ Cyclone, The Godfather, Original T, Steve James, Paul Cook and The Soul Doctor.

Radio Duck 89.8 FM

London's longest running oldies station, with tracks from the sixtles, seventies and a smattering from the eighties.

Information

• Radio Duck
  83b Church St
  Stoke Newington
  London
  N16
• Oldies
• North West London
• Sunday 5-9pm

News

There's been rather a lack or Duck recently -are the Duck crew chicken? (Sorry, couldn't resist that one.) However. Stuart Price does promise us that they will be back in a big way soon. At the time or writing. Duck has been carried out a few broadcasts on Short Wave, which are likely to continue in line with the VHF broadcasts in London.

Programmes

DJs on the station include Tim Allen, Stuart Price, John Silver and Mike Peters.

Faze1 FM 90.9 FM

Faze1 broadcasts black music to South London.

Information

• Faze1 FM
  5 Oval Place
  London
  SW8
• South London
• Black dance music
• 24 Hours

News

After several false starts, Faze1 now sounds quite established. They first took to the air in April, but had a number of problems most notably from a rival station that kept on stealing their transmitters (looking for some higher quality equipment perhaps?). Requests can be phoned in to a cellular phone in the studio — bit dangerous as the controlling computers can fairly accurately pin-point the location of the phone.

Flashback Radio 90 FM

Flashback Radio came back on the air on Sunday 3 May and were promptly hit in the extremely heavy raids that occurred that day. It's likely that they may return in the late summer for some regular Sunday broadcasts, as well as their more usual holiday broadcasts. West London / Middlesex is the main area to tune in to Flashback.

Fresh FM 103.3 FM

A split from Time Radio providing London with a 24 hour a day service of reggae and soul.

Information

• Fresh FM
  Turner House
  Dudden Hill Lane
  London
  NW10
• Reggae / Soul
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

Fresh began test transmissions on 14 June, and launched a week later on the 22nd June. Several of the DJs had been on Time Radio just a short while previously. Although they were saying they were on the air 24 hours a day from the start, that was probably a bit optimistic as in the early hours they've been putting out some nice relaxing silence.

Programmes

DJs on Fresh FM include Keith James (breakfast show host), Chris Johns, Mickie D, Doctor Quincy, King Soops, Special K, DJ Blacka. Errol T (host of Night Flight Excursion). Trevor de Costa. Chris Wright. Pat French, J.C., Gemma, Tony T, Doctor D and Lyndon T.

Radio Gemini 104.2 FM

Radio Gemini have been off the air since 7 May when they suffered a raid on their studio. It's understood that they do plan to return to the air, once they have sorted out new broadcasting arrangements.

Information

• Radio Gemini
  50 Gaskell St
  London
  SW4 6NJ
• Pop
• SW London
• Weekday Evenings

Greek Radio For London 88.4 FM

Another Greek station? That means raids, raids and a few more raids. Despite being in a fairly harmless spot on the dial they still seem to be hit as often as BGCR and LGR.

Greek Radio for London are on the air seven days a week (ish) from 8AM till 8PM. And they even have time for some programmes between the commercials occasionally.

Green Isle Radio 90.9 FM

Yesilada (I think that's how it's spelled), which roughly translates as "Green Isle" Radio, is a North London Turkish station which has been on the air on and off now for around a year. It's thought to be currently off, after being heard several times in April / May. However, it's been reported to us that we may now have now heard the end of the station, as their operation did not have much chance of succeeding. But, you never know...

Groove FM 98 FM

Groove FM have told Radio Today that they hope to return to the airwaves with increased power around August / September. Recently there has only been one broadcast from Groove, as "The Station With No Name" on 2nd May.

Horizon '87 94.5 FM

Coming from South East London, Horizon Radio is a new group, not connected with the Horizon Radio of old. Horizon managed a stretch of several weekends back in April and were also thought to be heard one Saturday in June. The format (as if you hadn't guessed) is soul mostly or the jazz / funk kind.

Radio Interference 106 FM

Radio Interference is a new anarchist station, broadcasting once a week to South / Central London.

Information

• Radio Interference
  BM 1502
  London
  WC1N 3XX
• Anarchist
• South / Central London
• Friday 6-7pm

News

Radio Interference were first noted on the 20 March, and since then have made fairly regular broadcasts on Friday evenings, although the full hour's programme hasn't always gone out. This is thought to be mainly technical problems, although Interference reported that they were 'visited' by police on 5 June, and were raided on 26 June by the DTI when two people were arrested.

Programmes

Programmes mainly consist of comments on current events, 'what's on' information, personal anecdotes and alternative music. Interference also organises benefit gigs in Brixton to support the station and also appeals for taped contributions to their programme. (And they've also made a reasonable job of plastering stickers all over the Northern Line).

JBC 104.3 FM

JBC is Brent's black community station, on air to the borough 24 hours a day with local programming.

Information

• JBC
  126A Roundwood Road
  Harlesden
  London
  NW10
• Black Community Radio
• NW London
• 24 Hours

News

Sitting in front of me I have two other contributors' notes. One says just "Unstoppable" and the other "On every, day that I have listened". Well, not quite. JBC were busted on Tuesday 19 May at 6.50am. The DTI smashed down both the front door and the door to the studio and completely stripped the studios. They were back on the air within 48 hours.

Programmes

Kiss FM 94 FM

London's weekend soul station, with soul, hip-hop, rare groove, house and more from London's top underground club DJs.

Information

• Kiss FM
  37 Grand Parade
  Green Lanes
  Haringey
  London
  N4
• Black dance music
• Londonwide
• Saturday 7am — Monday 1am

News

Kiss FM are now going strong again after a few problems following their return to the airwaves in March. Some DJs left the station at this point, apparently unhappy at having to pay to do a show to help keep the station on the air. There was also talk of jocks leaving to join another station en-masse. However, in the end this wasn't to be, and Kiss survived to broadcast another day. Bring back the silly adverts though!

Programmes

Laser Hot Hits

Here on the assumption that we will actually hear something from them again. The boat is reportedly going through another refurbishment off France and a large amount of money is being invested in it by the new owners. And the new boss is apparently someone we've heard of before offshore. Hmmm...

Information

• Laser Radio
  21 Floor
  515 Madison Avenue
  New York
  10022 USA
• Pop
• Southern England
• 7 Days

London Community Radio 92.2 FM

A new name on the airwaves from the people who brought you South West Sound. LCR is aiming to provide a local service to the people of SW London, with local information, news on the air, sports round-ups and a mixture of soul and pop.

Kick off date was supposed to be at the start of July, but a few delays occurred on the technical front. However, we expect them to be on the air by the time you read this.

Information

• London Community Radio
  PO Box 129
  Roehampton
  London
  SW15
• Pop / local info / news
• SW London
• 7 Days

London Greek Radio 105 FM

LGR is the longest established Greek station in London, with a wide range of Greek language programmes.

Information

• London Greek Radio
  PO Box 225
  London
  N19 4SN
• Greek Community Radio
• North London
• Daily 8am-12am

News

After being raided just about every other day since the start of the year, LGR moved transmission sites in June in the hope that this would see rather less DTI action. They were also being hit due to the interference problems over the LEB relay mentioned earlier. Although things improved a bit for a while, they recently faced major raids and lost four studios in a row. LGR have also had a much-reduced signal, a far cry from when they could be heard booming in as far away as Northampton.

London Music Radio 94.5 FM

Old names never die, they just get adopted. LMR is a new group from South London, putting out programmes the first Saturday of the month at midnight.

Programmes

London Rock 89.5 FM

London Rock are on the air every Saturday with AOR tracks to South and Central London. The station has now settled on 104.2 after trying out several other frequencies around the band over the past few months. Unfortunately we don't have a programme schedule or any DJ details as yet.

Information

• London Rock
  BCM RockRadio
  London
  WC1N 3XX
• Rock Music
• South/Central London
• Saturday 7pm-11pm

London Town FM 98 FM

LT FM is on the air every weekend with a high quality pop service to North Surrey / South London.

Information

• London Town FM
  PO Box 836
  London
  SE25
• Pop
• North Surrey / South London
• Friday 5pm — Monday 1am

News

London Town FM was launched in May after several test transmissions. The station is made up of mostly ex-Skyline jocks and puts out a high standard of programmes, which puts many of the other pirate efforts to shame.

LWR 92.5 FM

London Wide Radio, bringing a wide range of black dance music to the capital's airwaves, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Information

• LWR
  37b New Cavendish St
  London
  W1M 8JR
• Black music
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

Mixed success for LWR recently. After some months of successful broadcasting they dissolved in May and June into a mass of problems, mostly technical. At one point their transmitter was relaying taxi conversations and then, at the start of June, Radio Caroline for a time. This led to a report on Radio Netherlands that FM transmissions had started from the Ross Revenge. Never knew it was moored in Crystal Palace.

Programmes

Melody FM 102.4 FM

A recent arrival on the London radio scene, operating in the SE London area with a soul format. Although initially a Sunday only station, Melody has now expanded to take in much of Saturday as well. Only problem is a slightly dodgy frequency — there's a rather large police transmitter in Kent on 102.1...

Radio Memphis 1260 AM

London's Sunday rock `n' roll station, broadcasting to the immediat North London area for two hours every week.

Programmes

Just one and a half years after we first began listening to them, we've finally got their programme schedule (thanks Ken).

MRS FM 105.3M

MRS FM were on the air in April and May, but have not been on the air recently and may now have closed down. The station had several transmitter problems, which led to them being able to be received on an assortment of frequencies up the band — no doubt resulting in a rapid visit from some keen listeners.

Information

• MRS FM
  7 Holland Road
  West Ham
  London
  E15
• Soul
• East London
• Weekends

Network 21 89.6 FM

Network 21 'The Radio' is on the air twice a week with a wide variety of alternative and original programming.

Information

• Network 21
  Chesham House
  136 Regent St
  London
  W1
• Alternative
• South / Central London
• Fri, Sat 8pm-5am

News

Broadcasts from NTW2l have been a bit erratic of late, after a close shave with the DTI. However, they planned to be back with regular broadcasts at the start of July.

Selections

Programmes vary from week to week with numerous guest presenters. Here's a taster of what's available...

THE MONGOLIAN HIP-HOP SHOW: hosted by Mix Master Morris the second Saturday of the month at 8pm.

WORLD SERVICE: Featuring North American. Australian and New Zealand releases, last weekend of the month.

BLEACH BOYS: 408 and 50s oldies, alternate Saturdays 2am.

SOPHIE: New releases and current tracks, alternate Saturdays 2am.

Quest FM 90 FM

With soul music for London 24 hours a day.

Information

• Quest FM
  2E Lauriston Road
  The Ridgeway
  London
  SW19
• Soul
• SW / Central London
• 24 Hours

News

Suffering heavily from raids the past few months. However, the DTI haven't always managed to get it right — on one occasion they turned up at what they thought was Quest's transmitter site complete with warrant and everything, only to find they'd moved...

RFM 94.3 FM

RFM are London's leading rock station, on the air throughout Sunday and soon all weekend.

Information

• RFM
  105 Newport Road
  Leyton
  London
  E10 6PH
• Rock
• North/Central London
• Sundays 9am-11pm

News

RFM have settled down info a fairly regular broadcasting routine for their Sunday (and other) broadcasts. New to the station since the last issue are Phil Thomas, Mike Adams and Steve Zodiac (who I'm sure used to be known as Ian Roberts on Hard Rock Care). Only problem for the station is the popularity of the 94 — 94.5 part or the band, which has recently seen City Radio (see UpFront), Fresh FM, Starpoint Radio, MRS FM, Asian Community Radio and others all in the same vicinity. RFM have recently upped their power in an effort to try and drive off the opposition, but this doesn't always seem to work — some or the smaller stations don't seem to actually listen to their transmissions.

Programmes

RJR 90 FM

RJR is North London's black community station, broadcasting to Haringey, Hackney, Islington and beyond.

Information

• RJR
  Room B10
  Metropolitan Buildings
  Enfield Road
  London
  N1 5AQ
• Black Community Radio
• North London
• 24 Hours

Radio Shoestring 94.4 FM

Back on the airwaves of East London again. Shoestring suffered a raid on 5 May, but are thought to have returned not long after. When we were last in contact with the station they were broadcasting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, but were hoping to begin transmissions all weekend from Friday to Monday hence Shoestring F.M. DJs on the station come from the Shoestring of old, plus a couple of ex-Skyline jocks and play an across the board mix of music.

Information

• Radio Shoestring
  587 Romer Road
  London
  E5
• Pop / local info
• East London
• Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings

Sina Radio 90.8 FM

Broadcasting traditional Indian music and community information to the Asian residents of Southall.

News

Sina Radio have recently upped their power and are coming through much stronger across the West side of the Capital. The station is on the air 24 hours a day, with a mixture of English and Hindi programming.

Sky Radio 91.6 FM

Providing a black community radio service for South London.

Information

• Sky Radio
  34 Peckham High St
  London
  SE15
• Black Community Radio
• South London
• 24 Hours

News

Sky have been on the air now since the end of March, and seem to be staying around despite some problems from the powers that be. Although the presenters sound somewhat inexperienced at times they have a lot of enthusiasm and make a change from some of the club DJs on other stations. Given a bit more time, they could have they potential to turn into a South London JBC.

Sky have been running AIDS awareness and anti drugs campaigns. Advertising from local businesses is increasing — but be warned, you may still hear Mark Damon voiceovers!

Solar Radio 93 FM

The Best FM, with the classier side of soul, soon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Information

• Solar Radio
  Unit 1
  8-20 Wells St
  London
  E9
• Soul
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

Solar seem to have hardly missed a weekend for ages, and have certainly re-established themselves as one of the London radio leaders. To regain the top position in London, though, they really need to get back to 7 day a week operation, something they don't seem very willing to do. They have also recently had a split in the station with several DJs leaving to join other stations.

Programmes

Starpoint Radio 94.3 FM

Starpoint Radio have recently returned to the air after several weeks off after a few financial and technical problems. They're now aiming to operate weekends only, although their first few attempts doing so saw several breaks in transmission and rather a dodgy signal at times. Let's hope they manage to get their act together again as they've always managed a much wider range of music than some of the other stations.

Information

• Starpoint Radio
  197 Stockwell Road
  London
  SW9
• Soul
• Londonwide
• Friday & Saturday

Studio One 92.8 FM

With soul music for North London every weekday night and 24 hours at the weekend.

Information

• Studio FM
  7 Hayling Close
  Stoke Newington
  London
  N16
• Soul
• North London
• Week 6pm+, Weekend 24 Hours

News

Studio One were having a few difficulties earlier in the year, with several heavy raids at the station, including one at their studio when the DTI reportedly turned up with what seemed like half of North London's police force! The reason for this concentration of activity on them was apparently that they were interfering with aeroplane communications in the area. More recently they seem to have been on the air with a better signal, hardly missing a day. Musically, they seem to have gone overboard on rare groove when I've been listening and put out material that's often different to what the other stations are currently doing.

Time Radio 103.7 FM

Time Radio broadcasts black music to London, 24 hours a day.

Information

• Time Radio
  74a Harlesden High St
  London
  NW10
• Black Music
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

TKO 102.4 FM

Total Knock Out on your radio dial, with 24 hours a day of soul, reggae, salsa, latin, African and gospel.

Information

• TKO
  58 Victoria Way
  Charlton
  London
  SE7
• Soul
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

Despite the best efforts of Radio Three listeners, TKO is managing to keep up a 24 hour schedule with little difficulty. The presentation quality these days is rather higher than it used to be, including a few names from the past. Raids at the station don't seem to have been very frequent recently, and when they do happen, the station usually manages to get back on the air within a very short space of time.

Programmes

Traffic Jam 97.9 FM

Aka Traffic Radio, with reggae for North West London.

Information

• Traffic Jam
  88 Goodrich Road
  London
  SE22
• Reggae
• NW London
• 24 Hours

News

Traffic took to the airwaves on the weekend or 4 / 5 April on 106MHz. Towards the end or April they then moved to 97.9. Since then they've been on nearly every day — not a bad record. Musically, Traffic plays mostly reggae, although they do throw in some or the sorter soul tracks. Recommended on a Sunday is their jazz programme between Midday and three. Also, Saturday nights are presented by female DJs under the title 'Ladies in the Groove'. Unlike just about everyone else, Traffic is, so far, commercial free.

Radio Vicky 105.2 FM

Not heard recently with the raid on neighbours Radio Gemini, it seems like they may be keeping their heads down. Broadcasts in the past were on Tuesdays from 6pm till 8.30pm to South West London. DJs on the station include Marty D, Terry and Scotty G. Musically, Vicky plays everything from the fifties through to the latest Top Forty.

Voice of London Turkish Radio 1611 AM

The Voice of London Turkish Radio has been on the air for a couple of years now, with seven day a week Turkish programming to the North London area.

WLFM 106 FM

West London FM broadcasts to West London / Middlesex on Tuesday nights with a pop music format.

Copyright 1987 TX Publications / 2001 amfm.org.uk. All rights reserved.