| Broadcast area | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Branding | The Sound |
| Slogan | "The Greatest Music of All Time By the Artists That Still Matter" |
| Frequency | see frequencies |
| First air date | 1 January 2012 at 9am |
| Format | Classic rock, Oldies |
| Class | Terrestrial |
| Owner | MediaWorks New Zealand |
| Webcast | [1] |
| Website | http://www.thesound.co.nz |
The Sound (formerly known as Solid Gold) is a New Zealand radio network owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. It features "the greatest music of all time" from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The station has a classic rock format. Sold Gold began broadcasting in late 1997. It was rebranded as The Sound on January 1st 2012. The station appeals to an older market than most popular and rock music stations in New Zealand.
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Solid Gold FM was originally started in Auckland on 13 October 1997 broadcasting on 93.4FM, previously this frequency was used to broadacst Kool 93 a station that played a similar format to Solid Gold. After The Radio Network purchased Kool 93's parent company Prospect Media Ltd the Commerce Commission ruled that TRN had to sell or dispose of some of their Auckland frequencies as a condition of the sale, as a result TRN chose to close down Kool 93 with the frequency going to Energy Enterprises. For several months during 1997 93.4FM was used to play temporary programme advising listeners of the launch of a new station coming soon. Solid Gold's original line up was Blackie for Breakfast, Adam "Boom Boom" Butler (10 am - 2 pm), Big Tony Amos (2 pm - 7 pm) and Brian Staff (7 pm - midnight).
Following the launch in Auckland, Energy Enterprises (which later became RadioWorks) rolled the station out across New Zealand as they were able to secure frequencies in each market. In some markets local stations were closed down and replaced with Solid Gold, these were markets where RadioWorks had taken over more than one local station. Today Solid Gold is heard in 25 Markets across New Zealand.
During the stations early days the playlist featured music from mostly the 1950s and 1960s, music from the 1950s was dropped in the early 2000s with the stations emphasis on 1960s and 1970s music for most of the decade.
The station has run several promotions sending listeners overseas, for example, to see Bruce Springsteen, to Graceland, 10 friends to Fiji, 10 friends to the Gold Coast, the 1000 Greatest Hits of the 60s and 70s countdown and more.
In 2009, long-term Breakfast host Kevin Black retired, and Blackie's Big Breakfast (featuring Alan (AJ) Whetton and David Burke-Kennedy) was replaced by Muzza in the Morning, with host Murray Inglis.
Late 2010 Murray Inglis left his breakfast show and was replaced by Mark McCarron. From boxing day 2010 the station changed their positioning statement to "The Greatest Hits of all time", meaning they were no longer restricted to just 60's and 70's music.
Daytime announcer Macca had has last show with Solid Gold on December 30th 2011 and was not part of the new rebranded station. Macca had been with the station since 1998. Afternoon host Rick Rennie and Night host Peter Dakin also were not part of the new rebranded station.
The last song on Solid Gold before switching over to new station The Sound was the very much fitting song "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. The second to last song was "The Times They Are a-Changin'" by Bob Dylan.
MediaWorks Radio began broadcasting The Sound, from 1 January 2012. The first song played on The Sound following a 5-minute profile intro was Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend". Breakfast host Mark McCarron hosted the first show on The Sound.
The Sound features a classic rock format, which broadcasts on all existing Solid Gold frequencies over the country. [1] The change was made in response to competing stations Classic Hits and Radio Hauraki choosing to play newer music, the change fills the gap in 1970s and 1980s music no longer played by these stations.
The Sound also broadcasts online at www.thesound.co.nz.
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