Private company

Bauer Media Audio UK

Logo: Heinrich Bauer Verlag KG, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons3

UK-based radio division of the Bauer Media Group

Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

Feb 20, 2008Founded1

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Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio.2

Corporate structure

Bauer Media Audio UK is part of a group headed by Bauer Media Group. 16 entities, 10 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Bauer Media Group Hamburg
    • Bauer Media Audio UK
    • Box Television Subsidiary · 50% · London
    • Bauer Media Audio Ireland Subsidiary · Digges Lane, Ireland
    • Bauer Media Danmark Subsidiary · Skovlunde, Denmark
    • Bauer Media Finland Subsidiary · Helsinki, Finland
      • NRJ Subsidiary · Finland
    • NRJ Group Subsidiary · Paris, France
      • TowerCast Subsidiary · Paris, France
      • CHERIE FM Subsidiary · Paris, France
      • RIRE ET CHANSONS Subsidiary · Paris, France
    • Bauer Ausland 2 Subsidiary · Germany
    • Bauer Media Outdoor Subsidiary · United Kingdom
    • Free Radio Shropshire & Black Country Owned · United Kingdom
    • Interia Owned · Kraków, Poland
    • Jazz FM Owned · United Kingdom
    • Mix Megapol Owned
    • Mojo Owned
    • Motor Cycle News Owned
    • Practical Photography Owned · United Kingdom
    • Q Radio Owned
    • Radio Norge Owned · Norway
    • RMF FM Owned · Kraków, Poland
    • Rockklassiker Owned · Sweden
    • RTL Zwei Owned · Germany
    • Sheffield Live Owned · England, United Kingdom
    • Vinyl 107 Owned · Sweden

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

What it owns

What Bauer Media Audio UK reports owning in its annual reports to the SEC: buildings, land and equipment, real estate and locations, investments, intangible assets and inventory, at the end of its latest fiscal year and a year before.

Stakes and holdings (Wikidata)

Things Wikidata records the company as owning, with the share when stated.1

The story

In early 2008, German magazine publisher Bauer bought the radio division of British company Emap, which had been established as East Midland Allied Press in 1947. Consequently, Emap Radio Limited was renamed to Bauer Radio Limited.

Emap's assets included national stations Kiss, Kerrang! and Magic, and local stations under the Big City Network brand in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These included 22 local FM stations in Scotland which Emap had bought from Scottish Radio Holdings in 2005.

In April 2011, Bauer Radio announced it would be restructuring its radio portfolio into two divisions. Stations linked to geographic areas would come under the Bauer Place brand, while national stations such as Kiss, Kerrang and The Hits would come under Bauer Passion. The Big City Network identity was dropped as part of the restructuring.

In April 2013, Bauer announced it would merge its two North East England stations, Metro Radio and TFM. The stations broadcast shared programming from Newcastle and Manchester while carrying separate branding, news bulletins and advertising.

In September 2014, Bauer announced it would be restructuring its radio portfolio as from January 2015. Magic AM in England was dropped in favour of the stations reverting to their heritage station names. The stations then formed part of the new 'City 2' network serving both Scotland and Northern England. A 'City 3' network on DAB, replacing The Hits Radio in most areas, launched on 19 January 2015. As part of this restructuring, the Place and Passion network banners introduced in 2011 were replaced by the Bauer City and Bauer National divisions. The 'City 3' network was withdrawn in favour of reverting to the networked The Hits service from September 2017.

At the beginning of March 2016, Bauer moved two of its stations, Planet Rock and Absolute 80s, from Digital One onto the Sound Digital multiplex, reducing the availability of these stations (areas including East Anglia, the South West, parts of Kent, Cumbria, and large areas of Wales and Scotland had no Sound Digital network transmitters). The issue was reported in local media in some areas. Planet Rock and Absolute 80s on D1 began broadcasting just a retune message loop from 18 April, and the switch-off occurred on 30 April.

On 6 May 2016, Bauer announced it had bought Midlands radio group Orion Media for an undisclosed amount, reportedly between £40 and £50 million. It was subsequently confirmed that Orion's stations Free Radio (West Midlands) and Gem (East Midlands) would become part of the Bauer City portfolio, with Gem introducing a version of the City sonic logo device to its presentation from August 2016.

On 16 August 2018, Bauer announced that it had bought Jazz FM for an undisclosed sum.

Read the full text

In February and March 2019, Bauer purchased Lincs FM Group, Celador and the local stations owned by Wireless Group, and the following month Bauer purchased the ten FM stations owned by UKRD, together with UKRD's 50% share in First Radio Sales Limited. In August of that year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began an investigation into these purchases, which found that a substantial lessening of competition had occurred in the marketplace for advertising. The CMA considered enforcing a partial divestment by Bauer, but in March 2020 instead made a 'behavioural remedy' ruling which accepted Bauer's proposal to pass a certain amount of advertising business to competing stations for a period of ten years.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bauer Media Audio UK, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

Absolute

This comprises seven decade-themed services and dedicated classic-rock and country stations. The network is aimed at 35- to 54-year-olds.

Absolute Radio

Absolute Radio 70s

Absolute Radio 80s

Read the full text

Absolute Radio 90s

Absolute Radio 00s

Absolute Radio 10s

Absolute Radio Classic Rock

Absolute Radio Country

The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:

Absolute Radio 50s

Absolute Radio 60s

Absolute Radio 20s

Absolute Radio Acoustic

Absolute Radio Calm

Absolute Radio Chilled

Absolute Radio Classic Country

Absolute Radio Forgotten 80s

Absolute Radio Movies

Absolute Radio Rock'N'Roll Football 24/7

Absolute Radio Women of Country

Absolute Radio Women of Rock

Absolute Radio Workout

Andy Bush's Indie Disco 24/7

Haven't Heard It For Ages

Through The Decades

Seasonal:

Absolute Radio Halloween

Absolute Radio Christmas Party

Absolute Radio Summer

Former:

Absolute Radio Sisters

Hits Radio Brand

Greatest Hits Radio, a Classic hits radio network of 44 radio stations, available on local FM and DAB, with a national DAB station.

Greatest Hits Radio 60s

Greatest Hits Radio 70s

Greatest Hits Radio 80s

Hits Radio, a Contemporary hit radio network of 25 radio stations, available on local FM and DAB, with a national DAB station. Until April 2024, most stations operated as their heritage radio brands, such as Radio City or Free Radio, with a mix of local and networked programming, but from April 2024 only the Scottish stations such as Clyde 1 have retained their heritage names.

Hits Radio Pride, launched in 2020, playing music for the LGBTQ+ community.

Hits Radio Chilled, (formerly Magic Chilled)

Hits Radio 90s

Hits Radio 00s

The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:

Good Times Anthems

Greatest Hits Grooves

Greatest Hits of the 90s

Greatest Hits Radio Love

Greatest Hits Radio's Top 500

Simon Mayo's Album Tracks

Seasonal:

Greatest Hits Radio Christmas

Pop-Up:

Hits Radio Live

Former:

Ken Bruce's Secret 60s

Rewinds Greatest 80s Hits

Jazz FM

Jazz FM, DAB service available nationally playing jazz, blues and soul, based from London, acquired by Bauer in 2018.

From 7 May 2021, the brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:

Current:

Dinner Jazz

Jazz FM Presents Soul

Jazz FM Presents The Blues

Jazz FM's Greatest

Jazz Funk Party

Love Supreme

Players Lounge

Relax with Jazz

Robbie Vincent's Music Garden Party (originally called Rhythm - The Beat Goes On)

Seasonal:

Jazz FM Christmas

Former:

Clare Teal's Big Band and Swing

After Hours

Avant Garde

Best Live Jazz Performances

Big Band and Swing'

Big Easy

Carnival

Crossroads

Headliners

Jazz DNA

Move On Up - Funk and Soul

New Heat

Piano Jazz

Smooth and Soulful Jazz

Summertime

Vocal Expression

Kerrang!

A network similar to Absolute, dedicated to rock music.

From 7 May 2021, the brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:

Current:

Alt Rock 00s

Alt Rock 10s

Alt Rock 80s

Alt Rock 90s

Alt Rock Workday

Doomed!

Download 20 Bands

Everything Emo

Full Metal Racket

Kerrang Radio Gaming

Kerrang! Radio Unleashed

Klassic Kerrang! Radio

Nu Metal

Pop Punk Anthems

Skate Rock

The Moshpit

Former:

Alt New Rock

Alt Rock Anthems

Alt Rock Party

Alt Rock Workout

Fresh Blood

Goth Rock Party

Grunge Garden

Non Stop Headliners

Pop Punk Ruuules!

PWR Up Live

Rebel Rebel

US Rocks

KISS

The KISS network is aimed at a young 15-34 audience and predominantly plays contemporary pop music during the day with late-night specialist content on weekends.

KISS; Available on London 1 DAB in the Greater London area and on the Digital One DAB multiplex across the UK.

DAB stations:

Kisstory; DAB station, playing "old-skool" urban and dance, aimed at a more mature 25-50 age range.

Kiss Xtra; DAB station, dedicated to black music and culture (namely hip-hop and afrobeats).

From 7 May 2021, KISS, alongside various other Bauer brands, was given several subscription-only internet audio streams:

Current:

Kiss Afrobeats

Kiss Bliss, station playing slow paced and acoustic music relating to the Kiss brand.

Kiss Dance, playing the latest dance music.

Kiss Garage, dedicated to the UK garage scene.

Kiss Drum and Bass

Kiss Ibiza 30

Kiss in the Mix

Kiss R&B

Kisstory 00's

Kisstory 80's

Kisstory 90's

Kisstory Hip Hop

Kisstory R&B

Kisstory Slow Jams

Kisstory Trance

Kiss Workout

Seasonal:

Kiss Super Summer Anthems

Kissmas Office Party

Former:

Kiss Running Trax

Kiss Ibiza

Magic

Magic, melodic adult-contemporary music service aimed at 25 to 54 year olds, available on DAB nationally and on FM in London and Bristol.

Magic Mellow (also known as Mellow Magic), melodic classic hits and love songs.

Magic Soul, a mix of soul, funk, Motown and R&B music.

Magic Musicals, DAB+ station playing show tunes.

Magic Classical, (formerly Scala Radio)

Magic 100% Christmas, a format flip for the main Magic station from late November to Boxing Day, playing Christmas music.

The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:

Current:

In The Park - Classical

Magic at the Movies

Magic Boybands

Magic Girl Power

Magic Power Ballads

Magic Slow Dance

Magic Soul Floor Fillers

Mindfulness Music

Movie Blockbusters

Peaceful Piano

The Jukebox

The Study Space

Seasonal:

Eurosong Radio (Pop-up for Eurovision)

Christmas Crackers (September - December)

Christmas Carols (November - December)

Christmas Crooners (November - December)

Magic Classical Christmas (November - December)

Planet Rock

Planet Rock, DAB radio station, which plays primarily classic rock music.

From 7 May 2021, the brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:.

Current:

20 Years of Download

Acoustic Amps Off

Bloodstock Radio (18+)

Blues Power

Chilled Rock

Classic 70s Rock

Classic 80s Rock

Classic 90s Rock

Greatest Guitar Solos

Hair Metal Heroes

In Concert

Joe Elliott - This Is How I Roll

Planet Rockstock 10

Power Anthems

Rock Ballads

Stateside

The Prog Lab

UK Rocks

Workday Rocks

Seasonal:

Summer Rocks

Former:

Americana

Classic 00s Rock

Classic 10s Rock

Driving Songs

Main Stage Live

New Rock

Party Rock

Rock Your Workout (temporarily renamed Bloodstock Radio during the 2021 Bloodstock Open Air)

The Blues Bar

National/ part-national

Heat Radio, contemporary pop, co-branded with Bauer's Heat magazine. Online and Local DAB.

Local

Downtown Radio, Hot AC station on DAB in Belfast and FM/DAB in the rest of Northern Ireland, part of Hits Radio for advertising purposes.

Downtown Country, dedicated digital country music station on DAB in Northern Ireland.

Cool FM, CHR station on FM in Belfast and DAB across Northern Ireland, part of Hits Radio for advertising purposes.

The brand, combined with other Bauer brands, has additional stations available online with a single premium subscription:

Cool Old Skool

Former

Mojo Radio, classic rock, early pop, blues and soul; broadcast on digital TV and online; ceased broadcasting in 2008.

Q Radio, rock, alternative rock; broadcast nationally on Freeview and online; closed on 7 May 2013; replaced by Kisstory.

Radio City Talk, a talk format station which provided rock and sport to Merseyside and the North West. It closed in May 2020 due to no longer having financial viability. It was a sister station to Radio City and Greatest Hits Radio Liverpool & The North West.

Smash Hits Radio, contemporary pop hits; following its removal from DAB it continued over Freeview, until being withdrawn to release a slot for Kiss Fresh.

3C, country music station, based in Glasgow, acquired as part of SRH takeover, broadcast on DAB in various areas and Freeview nationally; closed 2007; replaced on Freeview by a relay of Clyde 1 for a time.

Radio Plymouth, local station based in Plymouth. Acquired by Bauer in 2020, and merged into Greatest Hits Radio.

Wave 105, based in Hampshire, acquired as part of SRH takeover. Covered part of the south coast and neighbouring counties; played the latest hits. Merged into Greatest Hits Radio South in 2024.

Scala Radio, classical music national station broadcast digitally (Sound Digital and online) from 4 March 2019. Relaunched as Magic Classical on 16 September 2024.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bauer Media Audio UK, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

Subsidiaries

  • Magic Soul

Also owns

From Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded EMAP Radio Limited1

Timeline

  1. Feb 20, 2008Founded Founded1
  2. Jan 29, 2008Acquired Acquired by Bauer Media Group1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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