Sunny Govan Radio

Radio station in Glasgow, Scotland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sunny Govan Radio, also known as "Sunny G", is a community radio station based in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. It is run by the charity Sunny Govan Community Radio Group.

Frequency103.5 MHz
OwnerSunny Govan Community Media Group
First air date
1 August 1998 (1998-08-01)
Quick facts Frequency, Ownership ...
Sunny Govan Radio
Frequency103.5 MHz
Ownership
OwnerSunny Govan Community Media Group
History
First air date
1 August 1998 (1998-08-01)
Links
Websitewww.sunnyg.org
Close
a band onstage
The Girobabies playing a Sunny G fundraiser in June 2018

History

The station's first FM broadcasts took place over two weeks in August 1998, in an effort to challenge negative stereotypes about the area.[1] Following positive reception and successful fundraising, this was followed by a second broadcast over three weeks in December 2001.[1] The station subsequently began broadcasting digitally, and was awarded a Community Radio license for full time FM broadcast in March 2007.[2]

Run by the charity Sunny Govan Community Radio Group, the station uses radio to provide training and development opportunities to local people.[3][4][5] Programming supports the local arts, culture and music scene, but has also featured high-profile interviewees such as Rebecca Adlington, Ken Dodd,[6] and Nicola Sturgeon, in her capacity as First Minister for Scotland, and MSP for Glasgow Southside.[7] The interview, which received mainstream media coverage,[8][9][10][11] was described by presenter Anne Hughes as a lifechanging moment.[12]

In 2004, the station was recognised by BT Group for "Innovative Use of Broadband Technology."[1] The station featured on The Secret Millionaire in 2012, and was awarded £15,000 by the episode's millionaire Gordon McAlpine.[13] In 2020 the station was voted a High Street Hero for Glasgow in a campaign run by The Herald newspaper.[14]

Notable presenters have included station co-founder and Scottish hip hop producer Steg G.[15]

Community

The station has a history of community involvement and support for the grassroots music scene in Glasgow. Presenters have included local artists and musicians, such as Sarah "Sindigo" Simpson.[16] The station offers training for those who wish to get involved in radio, and all presenters are volunteers.[17] In 2011, the station was involved in a community twinning project organised by Oxfam, which brought together people from South Uist and Govan.[18] In 2014 presenter Ross Tomlinson, at the age of 11, was considered to have been Scotland's youngest DJ.[6] Darren "Loki" McGarvey has called the station a "radio legend", and made guest appearances on the station early in his career.[19]

Closure

The station temporarily closed its premises in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17][20] In January 2021, the station announced that they were at risk of closure, due to the loss of regular income streams such as partnership programmes and live music fundraisers.[17][21] A crowdfunder was launched, and the campaign received public support from Darren McGarvey, MSP Annie Wells, and Councillor Mhairi Hunter.[22]

References

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