This week’s launch of a second community radio station for Harrogate, and the forthcoming rebrand of Stray FM, has reshaped the local radio landscape.
HG1 Radio, which employs 17 staff, began broadcasting on Monday.
The station, which is available online, as an app or on smart speakers, is owned by YO1 Enterprises, which also runs YO1 Radio, a community radio station for York.
Chris Marsden, programmes director at Y01 Enterprises, said the growth of community radio in Harrogate reflected the national picture as more and more independent local radio stations were bought by large companies. He said:
“The big guys are swooping in and taking over independent stations.”
He said people were “incredibly sad” about the changes to Stray FM, which was bought by Bauer Media last year and will become Greatest Hits Radio in September.
Bauer Media announced in May that Stray FM would become Greatest Hits Radio.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition set up by the local Liberal Democrats to save Stray FM. Marsden said changes to Stray FM created opportunities for community radio stations.
Marsden, who presented the Stray FM breakfast show 15 years ago, said HG1 Radio would attempt to emulate Stray FM’s traditional role by supporting community events and having high profile local presenters.
“It will be polished, commercially viable and easy to listen to,” said Marsden, who said Y01 Radio currently had “tens of thousands” of listeners.
He added the station would apply for an FM licence.
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The arrival of HG1 Radio provides an alternative to Harrogate Community Radio, which will celebrate its first birthday on 1 August.
Andrew Backhouse, one of three co-founders of Harrogate Community Radio, said he wished HG1 Radio “the best of luck”.
He added:
“We all cater for different audiences. We are run by volunteers and don’t have adverts. We try to be as democratic as possible. We are a not-for-profit organisation that is run by the community, for the community.”
Backhouse said the number of listeners had increased on average by 20 per cent each since the station launched. He said:
“We don’t want to make any money out of it. We just want to let people who don’t have a voice, have a voice.”