Licensing and FM radio in UK

The number of licenses granted may not be the best indicator of power in the sector, but some of these latter groups have been very well funded with few permits for large cities or areas led by a large population without covering dozens of small stations, which are held by the less prevalent groups.

A similar position was made 10 years ago in the UK Commercial Radio Report, published by the National Economic Research Institutions (NERA 1998). As of October 1997, there were only 180 analog commercial licenses, the largest of which four (Gore, RADIO, ICMB and Radio Scots) held only 41 per cent. Gore and later capital merger to form missed, while the Scottish Radio Holding was seized by the EMP and became Bauer.

Most local and regional commercial radio stations are group-owned, some of them concentrated in part of the country and others in separate forms, while the larger groups have a variety of services in most parts of the United Kingdom.

By the end of 2007, two of the largest groups were GCap, with 74 radio brands ranging from the capital FM and dozens of city stations in England and Wales to 25 gold and classical gold stations in London, Manchester and Scotland, and Crysalis with Galaxy Regional and Heart Mouth brands plus you on the AM & Mouth of London. In 2008, GCap (created by the former merger of Radio Capital Group with Gore) and the former Crysalis stations became part of the global radio group. It also runs the Global Radio Group. Global also operates the national station Classic FM.

Similarly Power Media now controls its own stations, previously ruled by IMAP, including the largest network of local FM stations, Magic brand, Kiss and Kerrang brands and Scottish stations including Clyde and Forth, previously managed by Scottish Radio Holding.

Group Guardian Media Group operates regional FM stations under the brands Radio Real, Smooth and Rock Radio, pre-including the former SAGA services in Century Radio's smooth and stable brand.

And, mainly other smaller local radio services are primarily groups in the hands of several groups, including CN Radio, Kent Messenger Group, FM LINCS Group, Local Broadcasting Company, Tindle radio, UKRD Group and UTV Radio.

With addition to the former UK radio stations Rhino’s Online Radio Stations and radio online services have also enhanced the competition.