Q102.9
Encyclopedia
Q102.9 "Northwest's Best Music" is a radio station
based in Derry
, County Londonderry
. It broadcasts on FM 102.9 to the north west of Northern Ireland, Q102 also broadcasts via DAB
(Digital Radio) throughout Northern Ireland via the Score NI multiplex. It is part of the Q Radio Network
, which also owns a number of other stations in Northern Ireland
. The station also broadcasts to parts of County Donegal
, chiefly Inishowen
and East Donegal.
The station is one of the sponsors of local football team, Derry City F.C.
, for their 2007 season.
The Programme Director was Steve Marshall, who took the station from small numbers to 60 percent of the total listenership in the North West of Ireland
Steve was called by the CEO of Riverside 101, Frank Mc Laughlin, to turn the station round from a loss leader to a successful profit making enterprise.
Steve devised the Riverside 101 format, which was AC/CHR along with music rotations and slogans, including dreaming up the now famous "Northwest's Best Music" slogan(c)Steve Marshall 1989-2020.
Riverside 101 was also the first commercial station in the area, which was listened to by all parts of the community. A point enforced by the station rule that a dj could not mention Derry or Londonderry but should only refer to the city as 'the maiden city' or 'the capitol of the north-west'. (this is partly incorrect -> see Discussion section for this Article)
The station also gave away quite a lot of money on air, including the £500 Summer Splashout, in which Steve Marshall as Drivetime Host gave away the cash live on air one Friday afternoon!
Some of the original broadcasters on Riverside 101 included Steve Marshall, Vince Martin, Frankie's brother Pascal, Mike Henry, John Young (Mc Laughlin), Paul Mc Cafferty, Delbert Jackson, Nikki Walker/Joanne Savage, Peter Wright, Neal McClelland & Joe Ferguson, who went on to find success in both N.Ireland and Liverpool amongst other places as a broadcaster and a whole host of others.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. It broadcasts on FM 102.9 to the north west of Northern Ireland, Q102 also broadcasts via DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
(Digital Radio) throughout Northern Ireland via the Score NI multiplex. It is part of the Q Radio Network
Q Network Radio
The Q Radio Network is a group of three local radio stations in Northern Ireland, owned by the Northern Media Group. The head office is on Rossdowney Road in Waterside near Derry and the three stations are:* Q102.9 - Derry, Northern Ireland...
, which also owns a number of other stations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The station also broadcasts to parts of County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, chiefly Inishowen
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
and East Donegal.
The station is one of the sponsors of local football team, Derry City F.C.
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
, for their 2007 season.
History
Q102.9fm was formerly known (prior to license) as 'Riverside 101fm', which was an independent (pirate) commercial station, owned by Frankie Mc Laughlin and modelled on Chris Cary's Radio Nova Dublin.The Programme Director was Steve Marshall, who took the station from small numbers to 60 percent of the total listenership in the North West of Ireland
Steve was called by the CEO of Riverside 101, Frank Mc Laughlin, to turn the station round from a loss leader to a successful profit making enterprise.
Steve devised the Riverside 101 format, which was AC/CHR along with music rotations and slogans, including dreaming up the now famous "Northwest's Best Music" slogan(c)Steve Marshall 1989-2020.
Riverside 101 was also the first commercial station in the area, which was listened to by all parts of the community. A point enforced by the station rule that a dj could not mention Derry or Londonderry but should only refer to the city as 'the maiden city' or 'the capitol of the north-west'. (this is partly incorrect -> see Discussion section for this Article)
The station also gave away quite a lot of money on air, including the £500 Summer Splashout, in which Steve Marshall as Drivetime Host gave away the cash live on air one Friday afternoon!
Some of the original broadcasters on Riverside 101 included Steve Marshall, Vince Martin, Frankie's brother Pascal, Mike Henry, John Young (Mc Laughlin), Paul Mc Cafferty, Delbert Jackson, Nikki Walker/Joanne Savage, Peter Wright, Neal McClelland & Joe Ferguson, who went on to find success in both N.Ireland and Liverpool amongst other places as a broadcaster and a whole host of others.