Start of Birmingham commercial radio marked 40 years on
- Published
Commercial radio in Birmingham is marking its 40th birthday. BRMB, the first commercial station in England to be launched outside London, hit the airwaves from its Aston studios on 19 February 1974. Two years ago it was rebranded as Free Radio and still broadcasts to the people of Birmingham. This photo shows crowds at an early BRMB outside broadcast in Chamberlain Square in the city.
In the pre-internet era of three television channels and fewer radio stations on the dial, local radio presenters became huge names in their area. Some BRMB presenters were mobbed while collecting Christmas presents for Birmingham children in this photograph. Tony Butler, wearing the jacket, has been credited with inventing the football phone-in, years before the likes of BBC Radio 5 live's 606 and TalkSport. Butler and Ed Doolan, seen to the left of him on this photo, have also presented for many years on BBC WM in the West Midlands.
Long-serving BRMB breakfast presenter Les Ross joined in 1976 and finally left the breakfast show in 2002. He had earlier worked at BBC Radio Birmingham. In the late 1980s he presented breakfast on BRMB's medium wave "oldies" station Xtra AM before returning to the FM service in the 1990s. On the day of his final BRMB show, the railway enthusiast went on a train named Les Ross in his honour.
Short for Birmingham Broadcasting, BRMB hosted stars when they were in the city. Boxing legend Muhammed Ali chatted to Tony Butler (far right).
During the 1980s, mid-morning BRMB DJ Brendan Kearney played host to many stars, including comedy legend Eric Morecambe. Although the station faced competition from Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton, in this decade it was still the only commercial station in Birmingham before the launch of the likes of Heart and Saga.
BBC local radio had begun in 1967 and London Independent Local Radio stations LBC and Capital Radio started broadcasting in 1973. There were many public service elements on Independent Local Radio stations in the 1970s and 1980s. The fundraising BRMB Walkathon, launched in 1984, is still raising money today as Walk for Kids on Free Radio.
Travel reporter Charlie Neil (left), pictured next to the BRMB Eye in the Sky in the 1980s, is also known to Birmingham people for being a weather presenter on Central TV. Talk show host Jeremy Kyle is among other former BRMB names to have gone into TV.
Many pop stars have had a turn at being DJs over the years. Ronan Keating is seen here having a go.
Party in the Park was a "huge event" in the 1990s, radio station owners Orion Media said. Free Radio Live at the LG is the current incarnation of this annual multi-act event. In 1999 a couple met for the first time on their wedding day as they won a competition, Two Strangers and a Wedding, organised by BRMB. They completed their vows at Birmingham's Hyatt Hotel despite strong protest from church leaders that their plans were "a dangerous and immoral experiment".
The BRMB name disappeared in April 2012 when the FM service and sister West Midlands stations Beacon, Mercia and Wyvern became Free Radio. The company's chief executive, Phil Riley, said the names had been changed to create a single brand identity that was easier to promote on TV. Owners Orion Media said Free Radio "continues the tradition of mixing pop music and localness". Rizzle Kicks, above, performed on the roof terrace at the newly-opened Library of Birmingham last summer.
The first voice on BRMB was newsreader Brian Sheppard, who was also news editor for many years. Forty years on, Les Ross visited the studios for the anniversary and talked to current Free Radio breakfast hosts Foxy, Giuliano and Chiara. A reception was being held on Wednesday to mark the anniversary at the Birmingham Ormiston Academy in Birmingham.
- Published11 January 2012
- Published21 October 2011