More and more people are making the switch to MKFM following changes to local programming…

When Gaz Wesley bid an emotional farewell to listeners on 103.3 at the end of May, it marked the close of yet another chapter in the story of local media in Milton Keynes.

Over the last 10 years, our city has seen Horizon Radio move from a truly local radio station to a national brand.

The area has lost one newspaper MK News/One:MK, the remaining newspaper has cut its distribution and the BBC stopped its Good Morning MK Show with Helen Legh.

Horizon Radio in the eighties and nineties was essential listening. It provided the soundtrack to daily life in MK and was part of growing up with big events such as Summer XS. Its name was everywhere until the station was rebranded to Heart.

Radio has changed dramatically over recent years, with deregulation of the industry bringing with it a host of changes. Heart on 103.3 kept its local identity for a short while before becoming a regional station across Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northants.

As of 7pm on Friday 31st of May, 21 hours of Heart now comes from London with 3 hours per day coming from Milton Keynes but focusing on an area the size of the Anglia TV.

Over the last two and a bit years, more and more people have made the switch to MKFM.

According to the latest industry RAJAR figures Heart in Milton lost a quarter of their listeners between 2016 and 2019 (Heart MK Rajar Q4 2016 91,000 vs Q1 2019 66,000).

Research by MKFM last summer showed that 71.7% of Milton Keynes residents regarded MKFM as the local radio station for Milton Keynes.

The team at MKFM are passionate about Milton Keynes and providing a dedicated and local service.
∙ Local news, weather, travel and sport (on-air and online).
∙ Detailed school closure information during bad weather.
∙ Helping local charities and not for profit organisations.
∙ Support and help to grow the business community in MK.
∙ Offering a platform for local musicians to get heard.
∙ Doing what we can to promote and ensure an inclusive society.

This feature was published in the July 2019 issue of Celebrate:MK lifestyle magazine. Read the full magazine above or by clicking on this link.