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96.4 BRMB
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| BRMB | |
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| Broadcast area | Birmingham and the Black Country |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.4 MHz |
| First air date | 19 February 1974 |
| Format | Popular |
| Audience share | 5.6% (September 2007, [1]) |
| Owner | GCap Media |
| Website | www.brmb.co.uk |
96.4 BRMB is a pop/rock radio station based in Birmingham, UK. It recently changed its name to The New 96.4 BRMB, although it has now reverted to its original title. The letters BRMB do not stand for any particular words, but are extracted from the original company name of Birmingham Broadcasting. The notion that the name came from Birmingham Radio for the Midlands and Black Country is an urban myth. The station is part of the One Network, owned by GCap Media
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Launched on 19 February 1974, on mediumwave 261 metres, (1152kHz) and 94.8 MHz FM, BRMB was the fourth independent commercial radio station to broadcast in Britain after Capital Radio, LBC and Radio Clyde. Playing a wide variety of music coupled with local news, live football coverage and information, the station became an instant hit with Birmingham listeners, before changing to 96.4 FM Stereo in 1986.
Presenters such as Ed Doolan, Les Ross, Phil Upton, and Tony Butler became household favourites but they all now work for BBC WM, the local BBC speech station. Les Ross was the UK's longest-serving breakfast presenter when he hung up his headphones in 2002. Tom Ross also found fame on the station when it began broadcasting live commentary of West Midlands football and Premiership matches. Ian Crocker, now a commentator on Setanta Sports (and previously Sky Sports), was also involved in the coverage early on.
In 1989, and as a response to government disapproval of the simulcasting of programming on both FM and mediumwave, a sister station was launched on the 1152 kHz frequency, Xtra AM became BRMB's 'gold' service, playing classic hits, while BRMB itself began to cater for a younger audience. Xtra AM was on the air for nine years until the majority of its programming was switched to London, where it was simulcast with Capital Gold.
BRMB was originally based in Aston Road North, in the Aston district of Birmingham, near the Spaghetti Junction. The current headquarters are based in the Brindleyplace development, off Broad Street in the heart of Birmingham's nightlife.
BRMB is available on DAB Digital Radio in the Birmingham area, live on the Internet, and on 96.4 FM Stereo. BRMB often broadcasts the same content as Severn Sound, Wyvern FM, Mercia FM and Beacon Radio because all five radio stations are part of the One Network, owned by GCap Media plc.
In January 2007, BRMB dropped the tagline "Always a better song, always a better mix" and reverted to the previous tag line "Today's best music".
Notable events in BRMB's history have included: the annual BRMB Walkathon, BRMB's Aston Road studios being almost taken over by Irish activists and the station being fined £15,000 for injuring contestants in a game show which involved sitting on a block of dry ice. [1]
The station also attracted much controversy in 1999 with its Two Strangers and a Wedding competition, in which they endeavoured to find two complete strangers who were prepared to legitimately marry, despite never having met before. Although there was no "prize" as such, the "couple" were given items such as a car and luxury apartment to use during the length of their 'marriage'.
The wedding took place, despite much criticism of the stunt, although the couple split up soon afterwards. The bride then went on to have a long-term relationship with the late night presenter at the time - Jezza, who now presents The Jeremy Kyle Show on ITV1
Despite (or perhaps because of) all the controversy surrounding the original stunt, a second Two Strangers and a Wedding took place in 2006, but did not come anywhere near to repeating the success of the original version. The couple split up after just three months together [2]
BRMB originally launched the annual Party in the Park pop concert in 1995 to raise funds for local charities. Such was its success, however, it became an annual event, attracting an impressive list of pop acts, such as the Spice Girls, Jamiroquai, and Daniel Bedingfield. There's some confusion if GCap or BRMB themselves have axed the party in the park because it didn't happen in 2006.
BRMB also promotes the Party in the Park concerts each year in Birmingham. These concerts attract a number of internationally-renowned artists, including, in 2004, Sugababes and Lionel Richie. This concert attracted crowds of approximately 30,000 fans.
In February 2007, Elliott Webb, the main anchor of the station's breakfast show was told his services were no longer required, with the station opting for a re-shuffle. Elliott had been with BRMB for 10 years, taking over the breakfast slot after Les Ross in 2002. Co-host Caroline Martin took over as main presenter from Elliott. Elliott's removal from the breakfast show caused widespread condemnation from fans and listeners.
The local newspaper, The Birmingham Evening Mail, published an article claiming Caroline Martin only got the job because she lives with the Programme Controller Adam Bridge. This led to an on-air rant about the article by Caroline one morning. She also rubbished reports that Elliott left due to them not seeing eye-to-eye.
On 14th February 2007, Adam Bridge decided he would reinstate Elliott as Breakfast Presenter, and Caroline and Elliott were once again reunited. It is rumoured on various media forums that the changes - and subsequent media controversy - was a deliberate ploy to get the station into the public eye.[3]
For the first time since Global Radio launched the Galaxy radio network in the Birmingham area, Galaxy 102.2 has overtaken BRMB in listening figures.[citation needed]
- Les Ross
- Tony Butler
- Ed Doolan
- Adrian Juste
- Stephen Rhodes
- Gordon Astley
- Phil Upton
- Steve Priestley
- Jeremy Kyle (Jezza)
- Tim Shaw
- Tim Lichfield (Tiger Tim)
- Tom Binns
- Paul Bryant
- Carlos
- Graham Mack
 Car Sticker 1984 |
 1984-1988 |
 1988-1991 |
 1991-1996 |
 1997-2001 |
 2001-2007 |
2007-present |
Images courtesy BRMB Radio, BRMB FM, www.mds975.co.uk .
- ^ Radio station fined over dry ice stunt - BBC News
- ^ Wedding competition couple split - BBC News
- ^ UK Radio Forums debate BRMB breakfast changes - UKonair.com
- Official site
- www.MDS975's BRMB History & programme schedules & audio clips pages.
- www.mds975.co.uk - More radio interest & radio hobby pages.
- Langley Mill AM transmitter masts on MB21.
- Lichfield transmitter mast on MB21.
- Sutton Coldfield transmitter mast on MB21.
- elliottwebb.co.uk
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| FM Stations | 88.3 • 90.5 • 92.7 • 95.6 • 96.4 • 97.2 • 97.9 • 98.7 • 100.1 • 100.7 • 102.2 • 105.2 • 105.7 • 107.7 |
| AM Stations | 693 • 828 • 990 • 1152 • 1296 |
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United Kingdom Radio Markets: London • Manchester • West Midlands |
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