GMG Radio was a British commercial radio company that operated as the radio division of the Guardian Media Group (GMG). It owned the Real Radio and Smooth Radio networks and was based in Salford, Greater Manchester. The company was founded in 1999 and was acquired by Global Radio in 2012, after which it was renamed Real and Smooth Limited and operated as a separate entity pending regulatory review until it was fully absorbed in May 2014.
History
GMG Radio was established in early 1999 when Guardian Media Group CEO Sir Robert Phillis enlisted John Myers to create the group's radio division. Myers had previously launched Century Radio in the North West for Border Radio Holdings. GMG Radio Holdings Ltd was formed, with Myers as Managing Director.
The company won its first FM licence in April 2000 for South Wales, launching Real Radio on 3 October 2000. In June 2001, it acquired Scot FM from The Wireless Group for £25.5 million, rebranding it as Real Radio Scotland in January 2002. A second Real Radio licence for West/South Yorkshire was won in July 2001 and launched in March 2002.
In May 2002, GMG Radio made a successful £41 million bid for Jazz FM plc, acquiring the company at 195p per share. The Jazz FM brand was later rebranded as Smooth FM in June 2005 following disappointing audience figures. In December 2006, GMG Radio purchased four Saga Radio stations, rebranding them as Smooth Radio in March 2007. In October 2006, it acquired two Century Radio stations from GCap Media, which were rebranded as Real Radio in March 2009.
In March 2005, the Guardian Media Group rejected a £115 million bid from the Chrysalis Group for the radio division.
Acquisition by Global Radio
On 25 June 2012, Global Radio announced it had purchased GMG Radio. The Competition Commission reviewed the acquisition and, in May 2013, required Global to sell stations in seven areas of the UK to address competition concerns. In February 2014, Global agreed to sell eight stations to the Irish company Communicorp for £35 million, including Smooth East Midlands, Smooth North West, Smooth North East, Capital Scotland, Capital South Wales, Real Radio North Wales, Real Radio Yorkshire, and Real XS Manchester.
Stations
- Real Radio – An adult contemporary station targeting listeners aged 25–45, broadcasting in northern England, central Scotland, and Wales.
- Smooth Radio – An adult contemporary station targeting listeners aged 45 and over, broadcasting in northern England, central Scotland, and Wales.
- Jazz FM – A contemporary jazz network controlled by GMG from 2002 until April 2009, when it was sold to Jazz FM Investments Ltd.
- Rock Radio – A classic rock station operating in Glasgow and Manchester.
Key People
- John Myers – Managing Director (1999–2009)
- Stuart Taylor – Later leadership
References
- Andrews, Amanda (28 February 2008). "John Myers tends Guardian Media's radio unit". The Times.
- Sweeney, Mark (25 June 2012). "GMG Radio sold to Global for £50m". The Guardian.
- Sandle, Paul (6 February 2014). "Denis O'Brien buys eight UK radio stations from Global Radio". Reuters.
