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

Broadcastng each evening and weekend to a small area in South London around Streatham. Recent additions to the schedules are new Asian-oriented programmes.

Programmes

Radio Amanda 94.3 FM

Radio Amanda are aiming to relaunch their rock service at the start of November, broadcasting every Saturday evening They first attempted to do so back in August but flopped.

Arab Radio London 90.5 FM

London's only radio station broadcasting in Arabic, on the air every evening from 5pm till midnight.

News

Arab Radio London took to the air at the start of August on 102.5MHz. With the arrival of TKO they have swapped places and moved to 90.5MHz.

Asian Community Radio 105.3 FM

Asian Community Radio broadcasts young Asian music to London's East End.

News

Asian Community Radio is now reported to be broadcasting on 105.3 after making a move from the crowded area around 94.3. Programmes seem to go out every evening, with the emphasis on Bangra and Indian disco music rather than the classical Indian music favoured by most of the previous Asian stations in London.

Radio Badger 93.3 FM

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

News

After initially beginning programmes after months of test transmissions, Radio Badger was raided on Tuesday 15 September. As a result they won't be back on the air for a while. However, they are planning some Short Wave transmissions to help put the funk back on an otherwise bland band.

Programmes

British Greek Community Radio 104.4 FM

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

News

After causing a few problems on 105.3 for several months, BGGR have now made a move to 104.3, although few announcements have been made over the air, often just replaying continuous music tapes There is also a Greek station broadcasting on 102.5, at first thought to be BGCR but now understood to be a different, as yet un-known operator.

Capital Radio 95.8 FM / 1548 AM

Capital Radio is London's Independent entertainment station, with mostly pop-based programmes.

Information

• Capital Radio
  PO Box 958
  London
  NW1 3DR
• Pop
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

It's been all change at Capital as they've Turned Up The Music Power. Roger Scott finally vanishes from daytime radio after hosting an afternoon slot for longer than most people can remember. David Jensen gets moved to Drive Time with an 'innovative mix of music, news and travel Information' (a slightly more upbeat version of what Mike Sparrow's been doing on Radio London for years).

Not many new faces on the station, except Jackie Brambles and Tim Westwood, who features In All Right All Night running though from Midnight to the early hours on a Sunday.

Selections

News on the hour, 24 hours. The Way It Is 7pm Mon-Fri. Travel news throughout day.

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

With the arrival of a 600kW Radio Finland Transmitter on the 963KHz channel, which carries Caroline's Viewpoint service and the Dutch Radio Monique, those services are moving to 981KHz. Meanwhile, 558 continues to chug along with a continuous stream of DJs arriving and departing. Seems to be turning Into a training ground for people wanting to get into hospital radio.

Selections

News 7,8,9am,12,4,5,6pm. Weather on the half hour

CFM 95.8 FM

CFM is Capital's Sunday alternative service: with soft rock and specialist programming.

Information

• CFM
  PO Box 958
  London
  NW1 3DR
• AOR
• Londonwide
• Sunday 10am-12am

News

Changes over at CFM too with the programme reshuffle on Capital. Nicky Horne gets extended (no. I won't do any heightist jokes) and the special feature slot at 4pm gets the axe. More hours for CFM seem likely before too long and an all-weekend service could be on the cards.

Selections

News at 12pm and 3pm

Chicago '87 94.5 FM

Formerly Horizon '87 and now playing upfront soul and Chicago house music.

News

After broadcasting mostly at weekends since the start of the year and then managing a short stretch of 7 day a week broadcasting, Horizon '87 returned at the end of August and then transmuted Into Chicago '87 (reports suggested one Christopher Stewart Esq. was not happy about someone else using the name). Since then they've been keeping up 7 days a week broadcasting with hardly a break. The 94.5 signal reaches mainly South East London, Kent and Essex, so a new transmitter Is proposed to serve the rest of London on 90.6.

Selections

City Radio 94.5 FM

With a mix of reggae and soul for North London, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from this split from RJR. One of the more regular stations broadcasting to the North side of the capital.

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

Clockwork Wireless appear to be having much better luck lately, making It to the air just about every week for the past couple of months, although on a few occasions they've only managed one and a half hours rather than the usual two — run out of C120s?

Dave Birdman and Terry Anderson have now been joined by Aleks Wright (ex Thameside and South London Radio), who provides news items and features. For example, on 30 August, Aleks presented a critical look at BT Premium Telephone Services — one major provider of which is run by another ex-Thamesider, The Curly Man.

WeIl worth a listen after you've heard the Top Forty on Radio 1 / 2 / Capital / LBC / Chiltern / Essex / 210 / County Sound ( continued on page 97).

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 have become a permanent feature on London's airwaves, with only brief spells off the air following raids. The station is now taking advertising in the form of sponsored programmes — much less obtrusive than all those 'smart dress please... no jeans or trainers' adverts.

The range of music on the station is quite wide these days, varying from almost Top Forty In Gazza G's shows, to plenty of jazz, a smattering of soca and an underground / indie music show on Saturdays They certainly don't wake you up easily on weekdays though.

Programmes

DBC Rebel Radio 96.1 FM

London's original reggae station, the Dread Broadcasting Corporation, on air once a week and featuring live concerts and sound systems.

News

DBC moved frequency to- wards the end of August to 96 1 MHz, where they con-tinued putting out mainly old programme tapes from the early eighties. One of these tapes contained an advert for Burns TV Centre, 126a Roundwood Road, NW10 — now I wonder what happened to them...?

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend they were broadcasting live from the Notting Hill Carnival, with several bands from the main stage featured live. After one more week on 96.1, they returned to 93.9 again, despite Kiss FM broadcasting on the same channel from Fridays now.

DFCM 97 FM

Planning to launch a service of continuous rock music every weekend, starting in November.

Direct Line Radio 92.4 FM

With local news and the latest hits for South East London during the day and Nightbeats FM with soul at night.

Information

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

News

Well, that was the plan. DLR are still broadcasting weekends only at present, though there are still plans for a major expansion of hours, limited mainly by a shortage of financial resources. Will they make the 98th deadline? DLR are also now putting out Def.FM on Sunday evenings. Confused? Just tune in anyway.

Programmes

DJs on DLR and Nightbeats include James Lawson, Keith Flynn, Nick Day, Timbo, Lionel, Danny T, Godfather, J.D., Todd, Def Jeff, Brains and DJ Cyclone.

Radio Duck 89.9 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

Radio Duck are at last back on London's FM airwaves again, after only making appearances for several months on the Short Wave — though even this was prevented for a time when the aerial system blew down. However, Radio Duck have caused a few problems for Clockwork Wireless by resurfacing on an adjacent frequency to them.

Programmes

Radio Embassy 106.3 FM

London's only FM Rock "n" Roll station — a recent arrival on the capital's airwaves.

News

Radio Embassy was heard on Saturday 23 August around mid-morning playing rock 'n' roll. The station is understood to broadcast from the North London area, and has links with the longer established Radio Memphis, the medium wave rock 'n' roll station.

Faze1 FM 90.9 FM

The 'hippest and most happening alternative radio station on the airwaves', with soul, funk, hip-hop and more, 24 hours a day.

Information

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

News

One of London's more permanent stations now, only occasionally off the air with raids. Although they're kicking South of the Thames, reception In North London is a bit dodgy — they only seem to come through well for a couple to days each month.

Programmes

Radio Four 93.5 FM / 198 AM

Britain's network news and speech station: drama, comedy, quiz shows, music, magazine programmes, special interests and more.

Information

• Radio Four
  Broadcasting House
  London
  W1A 1AA
• News/Speech
• Londonwide
• Daily

Selections

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

After launching In June, Fresh FM have been on the airwaves with hardly a break since.

Selections

Watch out for shows by Keith James, Chris Johns, Mickie D, Doctor Quincy, King Soops Special K. DJ Blacka, Errol T, Trevor Da Costa, Chris Wright, Pat French, J.C., Gemma, Tony T, Doctor D and Lyndon T, plus many more.

Radio Gemini 104.2 FM

Providing programmes for the local community in the Streatham area.

News

Back on the air fallowing a raid in May, their first in five years of broadcasting — not a bad record. That should mean it'll be 1992 by the time they get round to raiding them again, when there should have been a few licences handed out.

The DTI were reported to be very cordial about the raid. We'll bring you the full story in the next issue.

Information

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

Programmes

Programmes are from AJD and Marty D, with mostly pop and requests.

Girls FM 96.9 FM

Pirate FMinists on air every day with dance music programming.

Information

• Girls FM
  77 Atlantic Road
  Brixton
  London
  SW9 8PU
• Soul
• NW/Central London
• 24 Hours

News

Girls FM returned to the air at the end of August and have been on and off the air ever since. Test tapes have been the most notable feature on 96.9, particularly In the early days of their return. Programmes are now going out at long last, but still with quite a lot of taped programming.

Greek Radio For London 88.4 FM

With Greek programming for North London, seven days a week from 8am through to 8pm.

Harmony 981 981 AM

The second channel from the MV Communicator, broadcasting in the North Sea with continuous MOR music and religious programming. Always assuming Caroline doesn't get to 981KHz first...

Hits FM 105.5 FM

Broadcasting to London with oldies every Saturday.

Information

• Hits FM
  BM Nectar
  London
  WC1N 3XX
• Oldies
• North/Central London
• Saturday 12pm-12am

News

Hits FM took to the air on September 26 and have been on the air each week since with their oldies programming. Presenters include Tim Stewart, previously with Radio Duck, and Geoff Palace.

Icehouse 90.5 FM

London's only dedicated Hip-Hop station, taking to the airwaves in November, from Starpoint's former Hip-Hop crew.

Radio Interference 106 FM

Anarchy on the airwaves, from South London every Friday evening.

News

Radio Interference say they will be back on the airwaves once they have sorted out a link transmitter to enable them to broadcast live programmes for a much longer time. Two members of the station are reported to have been in court recently — the outcome is unknown.

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

JBC have been forced to move frequency due to the arrival of Radio One on 104.8MHz. (They were kindly helped by the BBC and DTI to choose the new one.) Otherwise, the station is running as normal with their excellent programming for North East London.

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
• Friday 9am-Monday 1am

News

An extension of hours at Kiss FM recently, beginning on a Friday night. Several new jocks have joined the station, helping to keep them one of London's top soul stations. Kiss have just celebrated their second birthday, coming Into existence at just about the same time as Radio Today. Here's to the next two years!

Programmes

Kjazz 94.3 FM

London's only jazz station, on the air throughout Sunday.

News

Kjazz relaunched in October alter being off the air for two years. The station will be operating on 94.3 on Sundays, whilst the more soul oriented Starpoint will be on the channel the rest of the time.

LBC 97.3 FM 1152 AM

London's Independent Radio news and information station.

Information

• LBC
  PO Box 261
  London
  EC4P 4LP
• News/Information
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

News

Another station with programme changes. LBC are bringing in more music, tightening up the format and swapping half of the staff round. However, there have been internal rumblings about the reduction in news on London's news station...

Selections

Radio London 94.9 FM / 1458 AM

With soul music, news and phone-ins during the day, and specialist programming in the evening from the BBC's local radio station for London.

Information

• Radio London
  35a Marylebone High St
  London
  W1A 4LG
• Local Radio
• Londonwide
• Daily 6am-1am

News

Not a lot of news about the programmes over al Radio London — they don't seem to have indulged In much of the usual autumn schedule reshuffles that everyone else has gone in for. Behind rhe scenes, three Radio London managers were sacked in Mid-October as part of the Beeb's cost-cutting exerclse and there were rumours of more sackings to follow...

Selections

London Asian Radio 104.2 FM

A new addition to the airwaves with Indian music mixed In with soul.

Information

• London Asian Radio
  77 Atlantic Road
  Brixton
  London
  SW9 8PU
• Asian/Soul
• NW/Central London
• Daily

News

LAR took to the air In Mid-August with a strong signal across London on 104.2 (plus smaller signals on 105.5 and 106.8 — whoops...). The station should have started programmes by now after airing test tapes for some lime with requests for would be presenters to contact the station.

London Greek Radio 88.4 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

LGR are understood to have just returned to the air at the time of writing having been off for some time in the contusion following a series of very heavy raids at the station, now some months back. They've also made a move from their long-standing position at the top of the dial to a new location just south of Capital Radio.

London Music Radio 89.5 FM

London Music Radio And The New Age Wireless (to give it its full and rather unwieldy title) broadcasts every Friday to the South London suburbs with a mixture of programmes.

News

Anyone heard their rather sporadic programmes? Nope, me neither. So tar they've only covered West Norwood, but hope soon to cover the whole of South London. As music goes LMR plays mostly stuff from the smaller record labels, from Hip Hop to Indie rock bands. They also give up half of the transmission lime to New Age music.

Programmes

London Rock 89.5 FM

On the air every Saturday night with rock music from Phil Collins to Anthrax.

Information

• London Rock
  BCM RockRadio
  London
  WC1N 3XX
• Rock Music
• South/Central London
• Saturday 5pm-12am

News

London Rock have been slowly getting their act together, although the initial enthusiasm of some of the DJs seems to have dampened and a few jocks appear to have departed. Musically they seem to be putting out a fair mix from thrash metal to the softer side. Presentation is variable, but slowly improving.

Selections

The DJ line-up on London Rock changes from week to week. Regular DJs are Dennis, Richard Jones, Mark Anthony and Lucien, with occasional programmes from Matt, Tom, Diane, Jason and Russell H.

Radio Luxembourg 1440 AM

The Great 208 beaming in from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg every night.

Information

• Radio Luxembourg
  38 Hertford St
  London
  W1
• Pop
• Londonwide
• Daily 7pm-3am

News

Luxembourg keeps at it, thought with rather a shortage at DJs lately often just two jocks hosting a whole night. (Please send all demo tapes to the address above...)

Selections

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

At the time of writing enjoying a long spell without problems from the DTI. A few DJs seem to have left the station recently, and LWR is currently advertising for more jocks. Advertising seems to be healthy, with not just the usual station gigs being promoted. LWR is now back at Crystal Palace again after briefly using two transmitter sites when they lost their previous site after problems over the damage caused by the DTI.

Programmes

Mainline Radio 89.6 FM

Another new soul station, towards the jazz funk end of the soul spectrum.

News

Mainline FM began testing on 92.6 around the middle of August. and then moved to 89.6 where they began putting out announcements that 24 hours a day programming was soon to begin. Programmes did actually start at the beginning of October with a powerful signal across town, but then faded.

Melody FM 102.4 FM

With soul music for the London / Kent border.

News

Broadcasting most weekends for the past couple of months, although the announced frequency of 102.4 is closer to 102.7. Programming is mostly soul with a touch of reggae.

Radio Memphis 1260 AM

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

Programmes

MRS FM 105.3M

Putting the soul back in East London, every weekend.

Information

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

News

After a raid a few months back. MRS FM have been quiet until early September, when they returned to the air on a new frequency.

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

Not much heard from the station recently with only occasional appearances on the air it seems.

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.

Radio One 104.8 FM 1089 AM 1075 AM

Britain's Network pop station, on the air for 19 hours a day with the latest chart sounds through to specialist shows.

Information

• Radio One
  Broadcasting House
  London
  W1A 1AA
• Pop
• Londonwide
• Daily 5am-12am

News

20 years alter they first started, Radio One finally gets an FM outlet in London, with the rest of the country to follow as and when frequencies become available.

To coincide with its autumn schedule, Radio One has introduced a brand new jingle package, on CD, one of the first stations in the world to do so. Schedule Changes include the departure of Dixie Peach, for a career in the music biz.

Selections

Quest FM 92.7 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

Quest returned to the air in October alter a spell off the air following an extremely heavy set of raids In July and August. Maybe the DTI didn't like them playing the Metropolitan Police at football (Score: 2 all). Lucky escape of the issue goes to Quest's Gary M Who' was struck by lightning whilst holding the station's transmitter. Not an experience he will wish to repeat in a hurry no doubt.

Raiders FM 105.2 FM

With the latest hits and specialist music shows from some of the best DJs in London, Raiders FM touches down on the airwaves every weekend.

Information

• Raiders FM
  146/148 Lavender Hill
  Battersea
  London
  SW11 5RA
• Pop & Rock
• South London
• Weekends

News

Despite a lack of DJs at times, meaning shows have to be repeated, Raiders FM are fast becoming one of London's top stations with some excellently presented programmes. Shame they don't get into North London better.

Selections

Watch out for programmes from Ray Thompson, Lesley Doe, Dana Jay, Tom Ingram, Sally Roach, Mike Summers, Peter Knight and Claire Mansfield with everything from rock 'n' roll to soul, heavy metal, europop and alternative music.

Radio Free London 92.6 FM

Back on the airwaves once more Is Radio Free London, still playing those rock classics you know and love.

Information

• RFL
  PO Box 836
  London
  SE20 8BB
• Classic Rock
• South London
• Sunday Nights

News

20 minutes of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird... haven't heard that since, oh, the last time RFL was back on the airwaves. This Incarnation of Radio Free London took to the air on 19 July and has been on the air most Sundays since, including a special broadcast on the August Bank Holiday Monday. Reception seems to be variable due to getting squeezed by LWR and several hundred Radio Four relays (especially the Guildford one).

Selections

Programmes are from Ray Thompson, Kenny Myers, Mark Ashton, Pete Russell, John Dawson and others.

RFM 94.3 FM

RFM are London's leading rock station, on the air throughout Sunday with classic rock album tracks.

Information

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

News

A split at RFM, with Claire Mansfield and Monty Zero leaving to start a new station concentrating on the more modern, metal tinged material, leaving the rest of the guys (and Mrs Fuller) to drift off to classic AOR tracks. Raid-wise, the station hasn't seen the men from the ministry since February: the DTI's oldies tan, John Garlic, must be lapping up all those sixties and seventies tracks on Dave's show.

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

Rock To Rock 90.2 FM

Supplying soul, reggae, calypso, jazz and more to the radios of South East London.

Information

• Rock To Rock
  494 Newcross Road
  Deptford
  London
  SE14
• Reggae
• South East London
• 24 Hours

News

Apologies to RTR for missing them out of the last issue of Radio Today — somehow they got skipped in the process of putting AM/FM together The station has been fairly regular In Its broadcasts recently and seems to have returned from raids fairly quickly.

Sina Radio 90.8 FM

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

News

Always on the air, and now on 90.8 again — rather less in the way of Radio Three. The station is soon to start news bulletins sponsored by Asian World News, and programmes are also planned for East London.

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 were doing pretty well in July / early August until they suffered a couple of raids, which put them off course for a while. Advertising for local shops is picking up, and they're making a good attempt at providing local news and information for South London.

SOL 94 FM

With two hours of soul music every Wednesday evening.

Information

• SOL
  73 Ferntowner Road
  London
  N5
• Soul
• North London
• Wednesday 10pm-12am

News

On the air most Wednesday evenings, although the radio editor at City Limits doesn't seem to think too much at their programming standards.

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

Not too much success for Solar at the end of August and the start of September, losing four transmitters in a row. Despite thinking that they may not have been taken by the DTI, it does seem as if they were.

Solar is now gelling ready for a return to 24 hours a day broadcasting — so we should soon see more of Solar's much praised specialist programmes back on the air (the Clive R Fan Club keeps pressing me to campaign in Radio Today for him to be given more airtime!).

Selections

Because of the programming changes when the station gets back to 24 hours a day programming, we can't give you a full programme schedule. However, watch out for programmes from Andy Bailey, Jim Colvin, Mark McCarthy. Jez Nelson, Adrian Sykes, Les Adams, Robert Allen, Clive R, Tony Monson, Dave Collins, Barry Stone, Brian Hurst, Mark Wells, Jude James, Nicky Lawrence and several more. It's also likely that a few of the jocks previously on Solar who are currently on other soul elations may return.

Soul FM 91 FM

Broadcasting soul music to London: more jazz funk than the rest.

Information

• Soul FM
  94 Hoe St
  London
  E17
• Soul
• SE London
• 7 Days

News

Soul FM kicked off in October and have been noted most evenings since. Musically the station plays a fairly average range of soul.

South West Sound 105.3 FM

South West Sound broadcasts to South West London on Friday and Sunday nights with pop, rock, soul, what's on, local news and more.

Information

• South West Sound
  PO Box 129
  London
  SW15 5HZ
• Mixed format
• SW London
• Fri & Sun 8pm-12am

News

On the air most weeks, though they've drawn some criticism for chatting over the airwaves during the week. The station hgopes to increase power before too long to cover all of West London, when they may change their name to London Community Radio.

Programmes

Star Force 576 AM

With Europe's hottest hits from the MV Communicator anchored in international waters in the North Sea.

News

Yep, the new name for the re-re-re-relaunched Laser (echoes of Thunderbirds in the name?). The station will be going for a Hot Hits format like Laser, but obviously felt the name was jinxed and didn't inspire confidence in advertisers who associated the name with disaster. Plans are also reported for the station to come on with 100KW on VHF/FM — if they can find a free channel in the South East?

Starpoint Radio 94.3 FM

With soul music Londonwide, 24 hours a day.

Information

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

News

Not a great deal has been heard from Starpoint despite several attempts to get the station back on the road again. Last time was in August, mainly to try and hold on to the 94.3 channel they felt if they left it any longer there'd be no frequencies left.

The latest plan is for them to operate on Saturdays, whilst Starpoint's sister station Kjazz takes Sundays.

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

On the air every evening and all weekend, despite frequent attempts by the DTI to try and remove them — they've been claiming that Studio One is Causing interference to aeronautical communications, although apparently when the station contacted Heathrow this was denied.

Radio Three 91.3 FM 1215 AM

Radio Three broadcasts 18 hours a day with serious music, drama and speech.

Information

• Radio Three
  Broadcasting House
  London
  W1A 1AA
• Serious Music & Speech
• Londonwide
• Daily 6am-12am

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

News

Despite the departure of some of their DJs for pastures Fresh, Time are continuing as one of London's radio leaders. During the Notting Hill Carnival they were broadcasting live from the event on a second transmitter. Raids? Nope!

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

A fairly quiet time at TKO. They've now moved frequency back to 102.4 where they first started off a couple of years ago after the original demise of Solar. Raids are fairly infrequent, and when they do occur they usually are back on the air within a couple of days. On Sunday 2 August they were reported to have been taken off the air when their aerial was ripped down and the transmitter was stolen by an unknown group.

Programmes

Touch FM 96.1 FM

Broadcasting soul to London 24 hours a day.

Information

• Touch FM
  312 Westen Avenue
  Acton
  London
  W3
• Soul
• West/Central London
• 24 Hours

News

So far, most of the output from Touch FM has been in the form of a two-hour repeating tape going out 24 hours a day. When or if we're going to get any programmes isn't known as we've not been able to get in touch with the station.

Traffic Jam 97.9 FM

Aka Traffic Radio, with ragamuffin MCs presenting reggae for NorthWest London.

Information

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

News

Traffic seems to be going from strength to strength, and hardly seems to have missed a day since they began broadcasting back at the start of April last year. A few low-key events are now being promoted on the station, though otherwise they're commercial free.

Selections

Watch out for an excellent jazz show on Sunday afternoon, plus some great dub work with lots of heavy echo. The new DBC?

Trax FM 105.6 FM

With Asian soul programmes for North West London.

News

Back recently with tests and promises of 24 hour a day programming 'soon' Don't wait up...

Turkish Community Radio 103.9 FM

With programmes for the Turkish community of North London, seven days a week: Turkish music, drama, news and entertainment.

Radio Two 89.1 FM 909 AM

Radio Two broadcasts 24 hours a day with middle of the road music and entertainment.

Information

• Radio Two
  Broadcasting House
  London
  W1A 1AA
• MOR
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours

WLFM 106 FM

Broadcasting pop music to the West London / Middlesex area every Tuesday night.

WNK 102.8 FM

Wicked, Neutral and Kicking, 24 hours a day to North London.

Information

• WNK
  Room B10 Metropolitan Buildings
  Enfield Road
  London
  N1 5AQ
• Reggae
• North London
• 24 Hours

News

Wicked, Neutral and Kicking is what WNK stands for, to put you all out of your misery. A split from RJR, run by one of that station's founders. On the air most days, though with some problems with disappearing equipment of late, which they think may not have been removed by the DTI. Listeners In some parts of North London may also get a strange mix of WNK and BGCR on their radios. Well I guess it sounds different.

World Service 648 AM

The BBC's international English Language service. Broadcasts go out on 648AM between 0700-1130, 1200-1745, 2000-0445, 0545-0630 GMT and on Radio Four's 198AM transmitters from 0045-0550 GMT.

Information

• BBC World Service
  Bush House
  London
  WC2B 4PH
• BBC's International Service
• Londonwide
• 24 Hours (See text)

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