Magic 999
 |
|
| City | Preston |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Central Lancashire |
| Slogan | The Greatest Hits for Lancashire |
| Frequency |
MW: 999 kHz DAB: 12A |
| First air date | 5 October 1982 |
| Format | Oldies |
| Audience share | 1.5% (June 2014, RAJAR) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 53°43′11″N 2°48′32″W / 53.7197°N 2.8089°WCoordinates: 53°43′11″N 2°48′32″W / 53.7197°N 2.8089°W |
| Owner | Bauer Radio |
| Sister stations | Rock FM |
| Webcast | Online |
| Website | www.rockfm2.co.uk |
Rock FM 2 is a Bauer Radio-owned local radio station serving Lancashire on 999 kHz AM, DAB digital radio and online. The station broadcasts from a converted church (St Paul's) at St. Pauls Square in Preston and shares facilities with Rock FM.
Rock FM 2 launched as Red Rose Radio on 5 October 1982 at 6:00am on 301 metres medium wave (999 kHz) and 97.3 VHF stereo. The station's first presenter on air was Dave Lincoln - the first record played was "Evergreen" by Barbra Streisand. Other early presenters on the station included Dave Lincoln, Allan Beswick, Sally Moon, Derek Webster, Keith Macklin, Russell Harty and Steve Collins. At this point it was owned by Trans World Communications.
On 1 June 1990, Red Rose Radio split into two stations - the FM service became Red Rose Rock FM (now known as Rock FM, while the AM service became Red Rose Gold playing music from the 1960s to the 1980s, as well as airing other specialist shows. Programming director John Myers hired Colin Lamont, under his on-air pseudonym Scottie McClue, to present the late-night phone-in.
In 1994, Red Rose Gold and Red Rose Rock FM were bought by the Emap group. Towards the mid to late 1990s, Red Rose Gold became Red Rose 999, before morphing into Magic 999 to fall in line with all other Emap-owned AM stations which had all been renamed Magic. Networking at the station was introduced in late 2001 when mid-morning, evening and overnight shows from Magic 105.4 in London begun simulcasting. Towards the end of 2002, listeners were told to contact a special hotline to voice their views about what they think of the station. Around the same time, forthcoming changes to the station were announced such as new programming, a broader music policy and introducing dedicated newsreaders (rather than the local presenters having to be newsreaders, as was the case for a few months). These changes came into effect on Monday 6 January 2003. More locally-produced programming was introduced although output from Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool continued to feature in the station's schedule.
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