From Monday the 22nd June, Essex FM vanishes from our local airwaves, to be replaced by “Heart”
As we’ve reported before, Essex FM is owned by the largest commercial radio group in the UK, Global Radio. Their three-phase plan to rebrand over 30 stations with a local identity to “Heart”.
For the last couple of weeks, listeners to Essex FM will have noticed subtle changes to the music format and branding – getting listeners gently ready for Monday’s change.
What does this mean for local listeners? Many of the presenters remain the same, including Martin and Sue’s breakfast show. Some shows will now be “networked”, including the 10am-1pm weekday show with Toby Anstis, and the evening “Heartbreakers” show. Less local programming, new jingles, and a form of programming identical to the other 32 “Heart” stations around the UK.
The Good Old Days: Essex Radio started back in 1981, and has seen many changes over the years. Any of these ring any bells? “Somewhere Special”, “We’ll make it a great today”, “The Big SX”, “Greatest Memories, Latest Hits”, “Essex (swoosh swoosh) FM”, or “Today’s Best Mix”. Various identities that your first local station has been known by.
Want more? Keen to reminisce about local radio in Essex? Here’s some links: Essex Radio Remembered | Archive recordings and jingles | Longpier’s tribute.
Happy with Heart?: Happy to find your local station becoming part of a brand? Moved on to a different Southend radio station? Or happy to stick with Heart? Please add your comments below.
Farewell Essex Radio and Essex FM… and thanks for being “Somewhere Special”.
Queen: “All we hear is Radio ga ga… Radio goo goo… Radio blah blah…”
June 25th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Just come back from vacation to find my car sterio displaying Heart where Essex Radio used to be!Thought my radio was faulty and spent about 10 minutes trying to re tune to Essex FM!LOL!!
Hope Martin and Sue are still around ?!?!?!?!
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
dreadfull, no local news, dj's are crap bring back essex fm
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 pm
good riddance to basildon fm. all they need to do now is axe those terrible breakfast presenters. Does this mean now more stupid essex fm girls giving out car stickers "daaan at assda estgate" trash!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Things come and things go. I have seen so many changes over the years, that a radio station change means nothing anymore. Tune in elsewhere if you don't like it. recent tech allows you to get hundreds, even thousands of channels of radio music to please anyone, and at a fraction of the cost it was in the beginning. keep up with the times, change is good.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:00 am
hi all just back from london for christmas and was looking for essex radio and i couldnt find it then i read it changed to heart i hope the usual gang are still around luv the music and HAPPY CHRISTMAS xxx
January 14th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
What is the point of local radio with a national name. Looking at the RDS don't have a clue what your listening to or where it's coming from. More same old same old from UK broadcasting gone wrong!