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Bauer Media is set to launch a new national country music station, Country Hits Radio, celebrating the exciting and fast-growing country music scene.
Playing the very best pop country music, and the artists that are crossing over into the charts, Country Hits Radio's playlist will span artists including Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Florida Georgia Line, Dan + Shay and Carrie Underwood, and appeal to modern country music-lovers aged 25-44.
News of the ground-breaking new launch follows on from C2C: Country 2 Country music festival which took place over the weekend - the biggest festival of its kind outside of the US.
Esteemed country music radio host Baylen Leonard (BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4) will join the station for a daily weekday show, fresh from his win of International Country Broadcaster at the 2019 CMA International Awards. Bringing his passion and knowledge of country music, Nashville’s Ty Bentli will share the best music and news from the US country scene Monday to Friday and singer-songwriter Una Healy (The Saturdays, The Voice of Ireland) will also join the station for a weekend show.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Una Healy, said:
“When you look at the success of artists such as The Shires and Ward Thomas as well as huge events like Country 2 Country, it’s clear there’s a real audience for country music in the UK. It’s a genre I’ve fallen in love with and it’s thrilling that it now has a home in Country Hits Radio. I can’t wait to get started!”
The UK contemporary country music scene is growing rapidly with album sales topping 1.9M in 2017; singles sales up by over 31% in the last six years; and a burgeoning live gig & festival scene. With a reported 8.7 million fans now listening to country music in the UK, it’s the biggest genre of music to have previously been without its own radio station.
During launch week next month, the station will play host to guest appearances from some of the hottest stars in country music, including Case Rice, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Brett Elredge and Jimmy Allen.
As the third new station launch from Bauer Media this year – following on from Greatest Hits Radio and Scala Radio – Country Hits Radio is proof radio is thriving, with digital radio and online providing more choice for listeners than ever before.
Listen to Country Hits Radio from Friday 5 April on DAB Digital Radio, online, via smart speakers and mobile apps. Further information on how to listen can be found at www.countryhitsradio.co.uk
Brand-new classical music and entertainment radio station, Scala Radio, offering 'classical music for modern life', is now available on digital radio across the UK.
Launching at 10am on Monday 4th March, Simon Mayo welcomed listeners with the words “Greetings music lovers” and the first musical pieces played included Bizet's Carmen and a string quartet interpretation of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, giving listeners a taste of the range of music they can expect from the new station.
Scala Radio anticipates an explosive growth in classical music and an ever growing cross-over into the mainstream, bringing together familiar masters along with fresh and exciting new classical pieces. The station promises to surprise and delight listeners with its accessible tone and unique format, along with conversation and features. The line up features Charles Nove at Breakfast, Simon Mayo on Mid-mornings, Sam Hughes on Afternoons, Mark Forrest on Drive and Jamie Crick on Sunday breakfast. Music innovators Goldie and William Orbit will also launch their own series - Goldie’s Classic Life and William Orbit in The Space.
Evenings, from 7-9pm, will begin with a launch week series on the London Symphony Orchestra in Scala Radio Spotlight fronted by Jack Pepper. Magic’s Hannah Cox will present Late Night Scala, from 10pm to 1am, with ‘classical music inspired love stories.’
Angellica Bell will lead the weekend, while Mark Kermode will bring alive his love of film scores, and Chris Rogers and Anthea Turner will host a live Sunday brunch show with guests.
Also joining the line-up are comedian and trombonist, Faye Treacy (Saturday and Sunday 6-8pm), and Edinburgh-based composer, arranger and sound artist, Luci Holland, who will front The Console, a show dedicated to music in video gaming, on Saturdays at 5pm.
Pianist and composer, Alexis Ffrench, will present Music in Motion, a show set to take listeners on a journey into his musical influences, from neo-classical and ‘the piano chill zone’ to rebel composers. Listeners can expect everything from Chopin to Shostakovich and Beach Boys to Beastie Boys as he looks at the relationship between classical and contemporary styles.
Scala Radio features a broad and topical variety of music, including familiar masters from Mozart and Holst to surprising new works from living composers such as Karl Jenkins, Rebecca Dale and Thom Yorke. The station will also feature topical shows covering the influence of classical music in gaming, mindfulness and special guest weekly round ups.
Scala Radio is available on national DAB digital radio, online, via smart speakers and via mobile apps. Further information on how to listen can be found at www.scalaradio.co.uk.
