Gaydio

Gaydio is a radio station for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) community in the United Kingdom, and is broadcast on 88.4 FM in Greater Manchester, 97.8 FM in Brighton, on DAB digital radio in Greater London, parts of the Home Counties, Manchester, Stockport, Brighton, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne and Portsmouth, and online through its website, mobile apps, Smart Speakers and the UK Radio Player. Since October 2018 a separate company, Gaydio Brighton, also operates a service in Brighton on 97.8FM and DAB Radio. The majority of Gaydio is networked with several content splits and bespoke local programming in Brighton & Manchester.

Gaydio became the UK's first LGBTQ+ FM radio service when it launched full-time on Friday 18 June 2010,^[1] expanding into digital radio when it acquired the DAB licences formally owned by Gaydar Radio in 2013.^[2]

Founded in 2006 by Ian Wallace and Toby Whitehouse, Gaydio originally launched as a 4-week pop up FM station to broadcast over the Manchester Pride festival. After this trial, the station went on to complete a further three short term broadcasts and, in 2006, a joint broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester's DAB platform to mark World AIDS Day on 1 December.

Gaydio decided to submit an Ofcom application for a full term licence^[3] which was granted on 7 November 2008 when Ofcom announced that Gaydio had been awarded a 5-year full-time community service FM licence.^[4] This made Gaydio the first full-time LGBTQ+ service to win such a licence. The station launched their full time service on 18 June 2010, with presenter Nicksy and Black-eyed Peas, 'I've got a feeling' being the launch song. The community radio licence has subsequently been renewed in 2015 and 2020, each for a further 5 year period.

Gaydio relaunched as a national station on Monday 7 January 2013 following the acquisition of DAB radio licences previously owned by Gaydar Radio owners QSoft. The station now holds several UK radio licences including the original FM licence in Greater Manchester (88.4 FM), a DAB licence for London (11B DRg).

The new sound of Gaydio - a mostly upbeat dance format - was accompanied by a new slogan 'The Beat of Gay UK', and was launched at 7 am on Monday 7 January 2013 with the return of the 'Chris and Emma at Breakfast' show broadcast across all three licensed areas and online.^[5]

Following the expansion in the London market, Gaydio went on to launch in several other cities across the UK as part of the Ofcom small-scale DAB trial and later the permanent small scale DAB services.

In 2018 Gaydio applied for, and won, a community radio licence for Brighton, launching their FM service there in October of that year. With studios initially at the former Juice FM studios on North Street, before a move to The Ledward Centre on Jubilee Street.

The station operates a number of audio splits, used for targeted localised advertising and content. It also broadcast bespoke programming, mainly in Brighton and Manchester where they have FM community radio services.

In recent years the station has aims to broaden its appeal, with subtle changes to the music format which has seen pop music increasingly played and a more diverse lineup of presenters. From 2023, Gaydio now uses the slogan 'The UK's LGBTQ+ station'.

Alongside the broadcast service, Gaydio runs The Gaydio Academy, a training and skills development service for LGBTQ+ people. To date, they have offered courses in cities across the UK including Manchester, Birmingham, London, Brighton & Edinburgh and work with over 200 people per year.

Gaydio runs a number of events across the UK in addition to their radio output. This includes club-based events under the brand 'Gaydio Take-Over' and LGBTQ+ focused business networking events under the name 'Gaydio Presents: Networking'.

In 2023, Gaydio hosted the inaugural large-scale awards ceremony, 'The Gaydio Pride Awards' at the Hilton Hotel, Manchester, headlined by artists including Raye and Sigala. The event celebrated LGBTQ+ life across the UK and awarded a lifetime achievement award to the gay rights campaigner Peter Tachell. The event continues in 2024 with Jazzy (singer), Caity Baser, Tia Kofi & Ginger Johnson (drag queen) with Lady Phill from UK Black Pride winning the lifetime achievement award.

• Gaydio official site

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