Conclusion of MFR, Tay FM, and Northsound Breakfast Shows Announced

Morning programs on commercial radio, serving audiences in Scotland’s north and north-east regions, are scheduled to conclude next month. Bauer Media Group announced that the morning broadcasts of MFR, Northsound 1, and Tay FM will be succeeded by “Boogie in the Morning,” originating from Edinburgh, effective 6 January. Additionally, the company plans to introduce a new early morning breakfast program, broadcast across Scotland, featuring Tay FM’s Gregor Runciman and Lynsey Gibson as hosts. The statement indicated that MFR host Jodie McCluskey, along with Northsound 1’s Jeff Diack and Lauren Mitchell, are set to depart following their last broadcasts in December. These local morning programs are currently transmitted from studios located in Inverness, Aberdeen, and Dundee. “Boogie in the Morning” was recognized as the UK’s best music breakfast show at The Radio Academy’s 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards. Victoria Easton-Riley, who serves as the content director for Bauer’s Hits Radio portfolio in Scotland, expressed her pleasure that an increased number of listeners would have the opportunity to tune into the program. She further stated: “We share our huge thanks with Jodie, Jeff and Lauren for all they’ve contributed. “Each brilliant broadcasters, we wish them all the very best on their last few weeks with us and for everything in the future.” These modifications affecting local radio stations occur subsequent to a recent alteration in regulatory guidelines. The revised regulations facilitate program sharing among local radio stations, provided that obligations for local news coverage are fulfilled. Nevertheless, this development also signifies the conclusion of a distinct period. The affected stations were integral components of the initial network of local radio broadcasters established during the 1970s and 80s. Radio Forth, the precursor to Forth 1, will reach its 50th anniversary in January. Radio Tay, Northsound, and Moray Firth trace their origins to the early 1980s. The method of networking, involving the sharing of programs, had grown prevalent within local radio broadcasting. The listenership for the impacted Scottish stations remains broadly robust. Despite this, some listeners are expected to miss the unique programming, even though its gradual discontinuation has been observed over several years. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.