97.4 Rock FM

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97.4 Rock FM

Broadcast area	Lancashire
First air date	October 5, 1982
Frequency	97.4 MHz (DAB—223.93MHz) 932 Telewest (NW region)
Format	Contemporary
Owner	EMAP

[edit] Information

97.4 Rock FM is an Independent Local Radio station based in Preston, Lancashire, it broadcasts across North West England at 97.4MHz FM. It is owned by EMAP and is part of their Big City Network of stations.

They play 'The Best Variety of Hits' — essentially commercial chart music from now and the last 20 years, with more recent music predominating. It should be noted that the name is a misnomer as very little actual rock music is played - People wrongly believe it's actually named after the famous confectionery Blackpool rock, its name `Rock` was a reference to the rocking music played on the station in constrast to the Gold, oldies music on its sister station Red Rose Gold.

In 1990, Red Rose Radio, which was transmitted on 97.4MHz and 999kHz, was split into two stations - Red Rose Rock FM using the FM frequency and Red Rose Gold on the medium wave frequency. The managing director was Dave Lincoln and at that time the station was owned by the Miss World Group, later known as TransWorld Communications (owned by Owen Oyston and which subsequently became Emap Radio].

Later the FM station became Rock FM and the AM Red Rose 999.

In 1997 the AM station became Magic 999.

Past presenters have included John Myers, Dave Shearer, Jeff Cooper, Mark Matthews, who have since progressed into radio management and established names who are still on air in the UK commercial radio industry, who all hail from the North West; Kev Seed, Rob Charles, Glen Hunt, Rick Houghton and Ian Roberts. Most recently Shaun Tiley who added 30, 000 listeners to the station.

In November 2006, a major changes were made to the schedule. Shaun Tiley left the station and Adam Catterall Evening Host, was moved to Breakfast and Dave Miller to Weekends.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• North West Radio Images of Red Rose presenters and schedule.
• Jingles.