Northsound Radio

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Northsound Radio broadcasts two commercial local radio stations serving Aberdeen and the north east of Scotland.

The first presenter on air was Bobby Hain, and the first record played was "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters. Nicky Campbell is probably the best-known broadcaster to have started his career at Northsound, which he joined after graduating from the University of Aberdeen.

Up until summer 1981, the only local radio available to the listeners in the North East of Scotland was from the BBC at Beechgrove , who broadcast specialist music programmes for just a couple of hours a week. There was a real appetite for radio from the North East to the North East, so a group of local businessmen applied for the franchise to broadcast to Aberdeen, Peterhead and surrounding areas, that was advertised by the then regulator – The IBA.

North of Scotland Radio Ltd won the franchise, and with a more user-friendly station name, Northsound Radio commenced broadcasting at 6am on the 27th of July 1981 from its original studios, which were in the old schoolhouse on Kings Gate. The original schedule only programmed till 8pm in the evening.

In 1995 the station split its services to become Northsound 1 on 96.9FM, targetted at young listeners and current music, and Northsound 2 on 1035MW, which follows a 'classic gold' style, and bears a greater resemblance to Northsound's original style than the brashness of Northsound 1. Both stations now also broadcast on DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting – i.e. Digital Radio).

Current presenters on Northsound 1 include Andy James, John Mellis, John Milne and Greig Easton. Current presenters on Northsound 2 include John McRuvie, Damien Mcleod , Cammy Campbell, Martin Ingram, Martyn Landles, Evelyn Brown, and Steve Aggasild.

For a history of Northsound Radio, including presenter pics, logos, trivia and audio of jingles and presenters visit Northsound 2's website.