97.4 Rock FM - Overview

Overview

In 1990, Red Rose Radio, which was transmitted on 97.4 MHz and 999 kHz, was split into two stations - Red Rose Rock FM using the FM frequency and Red Rose Gold on the medium wave frequency. The managing director was Dave Lincoln and at that time the station was owned by the Miss World Group, later known as TransWorld Communications (owned by Owen Oyston) and which subsequently became part of Bauer Radio (previously EMAP Radio).

In early 2010, it was announced that Adam Catterall would be leaving the station's breakfast show: it was subsequently confirmed that he would be replaced by former Xfm London, Galaxy Yorkshire, and Absolute Radio presenter Graeme Smith and Jude Vause-Walsh, returning to the FM station after several years on Century 105 & Real Radio.

18 months later, the station announced drivetime presenters Hywel Evans and Jamie Atherton would move to the breakfast slot from Monday 26 September 2011 with Smith moving to Drivetime and Jude Vause-Walsh leaving the station. Smith left the station in May 2012 but continued as a weekend presenter on Key 103, as a breakfast presenter on the group's national digital station The Hits Radio, and appearing on BBC Five Live as a reporter. In 2011, the station announced tha arrival of Tim Shaw to host weekend afternoons. Shaw had previously hosted edgy late night zoo format shows on Absolute Radio and Kerrang Radio and is reputedly one of the most controversial radio presenters in the world.