Q Radio was an

online In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed "on line" o ...

, DAB and DTV radio station, broadcasting on digital television across the UK and online. The station launched in June 2008 as an alternative to the UK's rock and alternative stations, with a strong relationship with

Q magazine ''Q'' was a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1986 by broadcast journalists Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, who were presenters of the BBC television music series ''The Old Grey Whistle Test''. ''Q ...

. The station formed part of the Bauer Passion Portfolio. Coinciding with the launch of

Kiss A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...

spin-off stations Kisstory and Kiss Fresh, Q Radio closed on 7 May 2013.

History

After running for several years as an online digital jukebox, former controller of

BBC 6 Music BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available on ...

and

Capital Radio Capital London is a radio station owned and operated by the Global media company as part of its national Capital FM Network. As Capital Radio it was launched in the London area in 1973 as one of Britain's first two commercial radio stations. ...

, and

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most o ...

executive producer Ric Blaxill was recruited to form a full station. Q Radio launched on DAB in London on 2 June 2008 with a full schedule including Samanthi (formerly of XFM and BBC2's "Desi DNA") and comedian and 2008

If.comeddies The Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly the Perrier Comedy Awards, and also briefly known by other names for sponsorship reasons) are presented to the comedy shows deemed to have been the best at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. ...

nominee

Russell Kane Russell Kane (born Russell David Anthony Grineau; 19 August 1975) is an English writer, comedian, and actor. He has 4 times been nominated at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, winning the Best Comedy Show award in 2010. Although known mainly for sta ...

. Co-founder of Acid Jazz records

Eddie Piller Eddie Piller is a British DJ, radio show host, and founder/managing director of Acid Jazz Records. Early life and career Piller was born in 1962 and grew up in Essex. His father ran a firm of bookmakers and his mother ran the Small Faces' fa ...

also presented a weekly show and musician

Billy Bragg Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957) is an English singer-songwriter and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic themes. His music is ...

presented a monthly programme. The station launched with a

Coldplay Coldplay are a British Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey (manager), Phil H ...

interview with Samanthi on QPM, where

Chris Martin Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay. Born in Exeter, Devon, he went to Uni ...

revealed that the band planned to release sessions with

Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...

. Other guests in interview and sessions between June 2008 to March 2009 included

Lily Allen Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born 2 May 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. Her music career began in 2005 when she made some of her vocal recordings public ...

Kim Deal Kimberley Ann Deal (born June 10, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She was the bassist and the co-vocalist in the alternative rock band Pixies, before forming the Breeders in 1989. Deal joined Pixies in Janua ...

Jane Birkin Jane Mallory Birkin, OBE (born 14 December 1946) is an English-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg. She also had a prolific career ...

Pete Shelley Pete Shelley (born Peter Campbell McNeish; 17 April 1955 – 6 December 2018) was an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He formed early punk band Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto in 1976, and became the lead singer and guitarist in 1977 wh ...

The Futureheads The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland, formed in 2000. The band consists of Ross Millard (vocals and guitar), David "Jaff" Craig (vocals and bass guitar) and brothers Barry Hyde (vocals and guitar) and Dave Hyde (drums) ...

, The Young Knives,

White Lies White Lies may refer to: * White lie, a minor or benign falsehood Literature * '' White Lies (for My Mother)'', a 1992 non-fiction book by Liza Potvin Music * White Lies (band), an English post-punk band * ''White Lies'' (Deine Lakaien al ...

, Ladyhawke and

We Are Scientists We Are Scientists is a New York City-based rock band that formed in Berkeley, California, in 1999. It consists primarily of guitarist and vocalist Keith Murray and bass guitarist Chris Cain, with drummer Keith Carne joining the band in the stud ...

. The first song played live on the station was Rocks by

Primal Scream Primal Scream are a Scottish rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass), and Darrin Mooney (drum ...

. The station relaunched in April 2009 with a new playlist and all-new line-up. It moved to

Kerrang! Radio Kerrang! Radio is a specialist digital rock music radio station owned and operated by Bauer and forms part of the Kiss Network. As of September 2022, the station has a weekly audience of 341,000 listeners according to RAJAR. Stations Hist ...

's headquarters in Birmingham, West Midlands and was run by Kerrang! Radio's programming team. The playlist itself was managed by James Walshe and Loz Guest, both of whom also ran the playlist at

. In May 2009, the station was removed from Virgin Media and Sky, along with

The Hits Radio Hits Radio is a network of 25 contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Bauer Media Audio UK. As of October 2022, the network has a combined reach of 6.6 million weekly listeners according to RAJAR. Overvie ...

Heat Radio Heat Radio is a British digital radio station, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Kiss Network. It broadcasts online to the UK and on Digital Radio in Inverness. As of September 2022, the station has a weekly audience of 456,000 list ...

, Smash Hits Radio and

. In May 2010, it was taken off DAB. Although cost of carriage on DAB was suspected, the reason given by Bauer Media was: "At this stage of its development, it has become clear that Q Radio is best served by having national coverage on Freeview and online."DAB blow as Q Radio backs out
/ref> Coinciding with the launch of

spin-off stations Kisstory and KissFresh, Q Radio closed on 7 May 2013.

Former presenters

*Samanthi *

*The Broken Hearts *

David Quantick David Quantick (born 14 May 1961) is an English novelist, comedy writer and critic, who has worked as a journalist and screenwriter. A former freelance writer for the music magazine '' NME'', his writing credits have included '' On the Hour'', ' ...

*Mark Somers *Lynsey Hooper *Adam Catterall *Phil Marriott *Allan Lake *Dave Everly *Ted Kessler *Jim Coulson *Dan Morfitt *Simon Hill *Craig Pilling *Luke Wilkins *Amy Jones *Emma Scott *Stuart Cable *Henry Evans *James Everton *Matt Stocks *Simon James * Pete Allison *Jake Thomson *Paul Rees * Danielle Perry *Alex James *Vicky Warham *Andy Westcott * Matthew Rudd *Louis Chadwick *

Dan Black Daniel Black (born 16 November 1975) is an English singer-songwriter and vocalist. He was a member of alternative rock band the Servant, before their split in 2007. He is also a vocalist for the Italian British group Planet Funk. After relea ...

*Phil MacKenzie *Kevin Hingley *Loz Guest * Pete Bailey *Michelle Owen *Jon Jackson

References

External links

Official site

Q Radio at Media UK

QPM On Facebook

Q Radio on Facebook

Q Radio on Twitter
{{Freeview Digital-only radio stations Bauer Radio Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom Radio stations established in 2008 Radio stations disestablished in 2013

History

Former presenters

See also

References

External links