The Sound (New Zealand)
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| Broadcast area | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Branding | The Sound |
| Slogan | "The Soundtrack of our Lives" |
| Frequency | see frequencies |
| First air date | 1 January 2012 at 9am |
| Format | Classic rock - 60s/70s/80s |
| Class | Terrestrial |
| Owner | MediaWorks New Zealand |
| Webcast | Online streaming |
| Website | Official website |
The Sound (formerly known as Solid Gold FM) 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. Solid Gold began broadcasting in late 1997. It was rebranded as The Sound on 1 January 2012. The station appeals to an older market than most popular and rock music stations in New Zealand.
Solid Gold FM started in Auckland on 13 October 1997 broadcasting on 93.4FM. Previously this frequency was used to broadcast 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 The Radio Network had to sell or dispose of some of their Auckland frequencies as a condition of the sale, and as a result they closed 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 Breakfast with Blackie and Jennifer (Kevin Black and Jenny Marcroft), 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, as there 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 station's early days the playlist featured mostly music from the 1950s and 1960s. Music from the 1950s was dropped in the early 2000s, with the station focusing 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. A former breakfast host on Auckland's Radio Hauraki, Black was once the highest-paid private radio DJ in New Zealand. His 12-year spell with Solid Gold between 1997 and 2009 was his last on-air role until he died in 2013, just short of his 70th birthday.
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