Numbers listening to local radio in the North East falling

The number of people listening to local radio in the North East is falling, according to the latest JNLR/Ipsos MRBI report into radio listening for the 12 month period October 2012 to September 2013.

The report has found that a total of 81% of people listen to radio during the week in the North East and Midlands area, down 1% on the previous report which covered the period from July 2012 to June 2013.

That figure is below the national figure of 83% with the numbers tuning into national stations rising overall.

More than half (54%) of people in the North East and Midlands listen to national radio stations.

In the Louth/Meath area weekday listenership of local radio stations was 30.1%, a drop of 3.5% from the last report, and 23% at weekends, which was down 2% on the last report.

This compares with a national average of 57% who tune into their local or regional radio stations on an average day.

Local stations shortlisted for PPI Radio Awards

Local radio station LMFM has been nominated for a PPI award for the best On-Air Competition/Promotion.

The nomination is for their ‘Wash Your Dirty Linen in Public’ competition, which was run on the Late Lunch with Gerry Kelly and gave people a chance to win a Beko washing machine.

Also nominated for prizes at the awards are iRadio. iGo Home with Fergal D’Arcy is up for the best General Music Programme while iWake Up with Dave and Oonagh is up for best Breakfast Programme.

Unfortunately for iRadio listeners Dave O’Connor left the show in recent weeks.

Last year iRadio won the award for best Station Imaging, while LMFM’s last award came in 2011 for the best sports story for their entry – Leinster Final Fall Out, which documented the aftermath of Louth’s controversial 2010 Leinster Final defeat to Meath.

The awards will take place at the Lyrath House Hotel on Friday October 4^th.

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• Happy birthday LMFM (talkofthetown.ie)

Happy birthday LMFM

LMFM is celebrating 24 years in business today and to mark the occasion we thought we’d publish this newspaper clipping of the original team, along with the first line-up of shows.

LMFM first hit the airwaves on September 3^rd 1989 and has grown to be one of the biggest radio stations in the country.

Many of its original members had worked for the likes of pirate stations such as Radio Carousel and Boyneside Radio prior to its establishment.

The original team included Gerry Malone, Eddie Caffrey, Derek Flood, Joe McQuaid, Ray Stone, Olivia Carmody, Phil Cawley, Dermot Finglas, Shay Savage, Alan Fennell and Ken Murray.

Also involved in the early days were Richie McCullen, Charles Mitchell, Eileen Reid, Gemma Hussey, current MEP Mairead MacGuinness and former Dragon’s Den star Gavin Duffy.

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• LMFM have broadcasting licence extended (talkofthetown.ie)

LMFM have broadcasting licence extended

LMFM has had their broadcasting licence for the Louth/Meath area extended for another ten years by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Chief Executive of the BAI Michael O’Keeffe wished the local radio station well in continuing its service.

The new contract is effective from August 28^th this year and runs until the end of August 2023.

LMFM will celebrate its 24^th year in existence this September.