Chorley FM

Chorley FM is a radio station based in Chorley, Lancashire, England. The station was created by volunteers back in 2001 to broadcast a special two week licence in conjunction with the Midsummer Festival which was located on Botany Bay near the M61.

History

The name "Chorley FM" is commonly associated to the name of a fictional radio station featured in comedy programmes That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. The fictional station uses a logo based on Century FM in the 1990s.

The 'real-life' station based in Chorley operated for short periods of time each year from 2000 under a temporary licence (RSL), located on Steeley Lane in the town.

On the 9th September 2005, Chorley FM Limited was awarded a five-year licence to broadcast round the clock to the local community, and was extended for a further five years in 2011. It also broadcasts worldwide via the Internet at www.chorley.fm.

The station's target objective is to broadcast to the local population and provide an opportunity to get involved and gain valuable experience in radio and the media.

Shortly after being granted their licence, the Chorley FM team created a competition in association with the Chorley Citizen newspaper, asking members of the community to design a logo for the station to use throughout its life, which was won by then 15-year-old, Rhys Griffiths. The logo however, changed to the current station logo during a full station re-branding exercise completed in February 2008 and then another rebrand in January 2012.

The station launched their full live output on 24 November 2006 on the frequency 102.8 FM, as well as streaming online via the station website.

In February 2008 Chorley FM saw a re-launch and implemented a new daytime music policy consisting of modern chart music, R&B, commercial dance, Indie rock and a few 80s, 90s chart classics. As of May 2011, the music policy relaxed, playing a wider variety of music. From 6pm, more specialist shows are common-place, comprising many forms of Dance music not covered by other radio stations including underground House, Old Skool / Retro House, Garage, Techno, Scouse House, Drum & Bass and Hardstyle. Other shows include the Flat Iron Show (featuring local unsigned bands), a Rock music show, Folk and Irish Music show, Camp classics & 80's Anthems and a sports show.

Chorley FM identified two objective target audiences. 15 to 25 year olds and the local LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) community. In late 2007, Chorley FM won the 'Community Service Award' at the National LGBT Health Summit and drew particular mention to the 'Breakout' Show targeted at the LGBT community of Chorley.^[1] More LGBT Programmes were included in the schedule including'Camp classics & 80's anthems. which played mainly 80s music from the LGBT scene.

In late 2008, Chorley FM worked in Conjunction with Search for a Star (Launched as a joint project with the Daily Star), a talent contest in partnership with Bobby Ball and Casey-Lee Jolleys. The show, hosted by Chorley FM's Nathan Hill and Steven Normyle with celebrity judges that included Bobby Ball, Casey-Lee Jolleys, X-Factor's Rowetta and Garry Bushell. Live theatre style shows took place weekly on the Blackpool North Pier.

2009 has seen the station continue to grow with much media attention; including a number of inclusions in reports on Granada Reports and a behind the scenes look into volunteering as a young person at Chorley FM as part of the national BBC Blast project.

In 2011 the station was awarded a five-year renewal of its community radio licence.

In 2014 the station was told that it was not meeting its key commitments by Ofcom. Ofcom's interpretation of the commitments being that the station should exclusively serve the two target groups. The Station announced dialogue with Ofcom regarding a change to the original Key Commitments on the basis that it was always intended to include specific content for the target groups within a diverse schedule rather than all output be exclusively for them.

From March 2015, the station began broadcasting commentary from Chorley F.C. games, linking in with internet-based "Magpies Live", to further their involvement in the local community. This was welcomed by the local community and the town, and will continue to give coverage to the "Magpies" throughout the 2015/16 season in the Vanarama National League North.

Also in 2015, Ofcom approved changes to the key commitments broadening the target audience to include the whole population of Chorley.^[2] New shows and community features including Business Lunch were rolled out.

References

External links

• http://chorley.fm Official Website